Fifth Anniversary of Kitchen-Exchange
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the day I started this blog on February 20th, 2005.
Kitchen-Exchange was one of the very first blogs dedicated to kitchen design. Since that day I have been joined by many talented blogging designers.
It seems very apropos today that the fifth anniversary gift is wood. I love wood in an almost visceral way. Always have, ever since I can remember. I love the feel of wood and its smell.
Today I toured the Palo Alto Net Zero House and saw a TorZo wood counter in the powder room. I was in LOVE! I really, really didn't want to leave that powder room.
Now. I must first say that I am NOT fond of wood counters in the kitchen unless they are completely separate from any sink or cooking surface. I have seen too many wood counters marred with mildew and burns to ever recommend one anywhere but where it can't be soaked or burned. They are so impractical!
But OH this Torzo! It is made of myriad wood chips in light and dark colors in an non-toxic acrylic resin. It is so deep looking, so rich. Pictures can't do it justice.
If I had a desktop of TorZo Orient, I would just sit here admiring it all day long and never get a thing done!
I have asked for a sample to test, since TorZo claims that their product is durable and resistant to water. I shall see about that and report back.
Thank you TorZo, for your gift of beautiful wood on my fifth anniversary.
Peggy
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I was not aware that it has been 5 years for you! Congratulations and many, many more. You have a wealth of experience to share!
ReplyDeletecongrats Peggy! You have an excellent blog! I check it often!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary Peggy. I consider you the forerunner in kitchen design blogging. Keep up the excellent work.
ReplyDeleteWow, love the TorZo! If its resin, what would you use to clean it, since abrasives might scratch?
ReplyDeleteI have received a sample box from TorZO now (thanks).
ReplyDeleteIt is a wood product in a resin binder. The countertop I saw at the Palo Alto Net Zero House had several (10?) layers of clear acrylic applied. So there was that deep "bartop" look to it.
The TorZo itself is a fairly hard surface that looks much like laminate on a substrate. The material is solid all, the way through though, not laminated. The surfaces, front and back are sealed and polished.
The 4"x4" samples came in 3/8" and 3/4" thicknesses. The edges are chamfered with some places where the flat wafers of wood on the surface have been chipped away by the router.
It scratches when I gouge it with a metal tool. Probably would work much like particleboard or MDF, with woodworking tools.
It is fairly resistant to scratching and gouging. Harder than all but the hardest woods (like walnut).
It is NOT waterproof at all. Soaks up water at the edge, much like particleboard or MDF would. The surface is "water resistant".
They recommend mild and non-abrasive cleaning.
Below is some further information from TorZo, where they have downloadable spec sheets, on available sizes:
Peggy
Currently, sheets come standard in 36” x 10’ dimensions (Indure & Seeta), in 36” x 8’
dimensions (Orient & Durum) and 36” x 6’ dimensions (Tiikeri). They come from the
manufacturer in the following forms;
Indure (MDF): sanded to 220 grit, both sides
Seeta (Sunflower seed hull): UV filled and sanded to 220 grit
Orient (OSB): fill and sanded to 220 grit
Durum (Wheat stalk): filled and sanded to 220 grit
Tiikeri (Sorghum): filled and sanded to 220 grit
Happy anniversary! One of the best kitchen blogs, I'm always coming back to dig through the archives
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