jkbinteriors

Our story (the latest version)

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 15:10:33 GMT

Let me (re)introduce myself

Our business was started in 2017 to serve Jaco's aging community of condominiums. For the first 3 years, we primarily, we focused on Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, & became known in the area as a premium service provider in that space. As our business grew, we found a growing need for a full service design studio to better address the needs of our clientele. An idea that lived in my head for years finally came to fruition in December of 2023, when Jaco Kitchen & Bath officially became JKB Interiors and the rebranding complete with a new website & small showroom.

JKB Interiors is powered by Wendy Greenwald (me) & Melissa Solano. We are two working mothers who have a passion for bespoke design & creating spaces that become the backdrop to spending quality time with family & friends. We are both avid home cooks, dedicated parents & have each spent more than 20 years in the local design & decorating fields in Costa Rica & beyond.

Our core values:

Timeless, legacy design -

We are happy to trade trends for tried & true building methods & materials. Building in the tropics comes with its own nuances, tropical rainfall, humidity, earthquakes, you get the picture. Not every great pinterest or AI generated image is going to be practical and timeless for the legacy of your home. That's where we find our 25 years of homebuilding in the area offers a unique perspective of what works, and more importantly, what does not.

Creating spaces uniquely suited for you -

We take the time to understand our clients, their family dynamics & lifestyle preferences to build spaces around their needs. Through our understanding of them, we create a design strategy & educate them on how to maximize our talents & the possibilities of their new interiors.

Time is our most precious nonrenewable resource -

Your project's prompt completion is our top priority. The spaces that we create are specifically crafted to encourage spending time & sharing moments with your loved ones, in the ways that are most applicable to you and your loved ones. Being that our company is powered by two working mothers, we fully appreciate the precious resource of family & friend time, while also creating work areas in the home that efficiently serve its inhabitants.

Craftsmanship & reliability are nonnegotiable -

We are the only area company in this field (that we know of!) that offers a full one year warranty on remodeling installations. When we cannot guarantee reasonably priced quality products from local providers, we import what is needed to offer our clients the most comfortable & attractive fixtures & furnishings for an exceptional design experience.

Travel enhances our understanding of the human experience & aesthetic prowess -

Due to the international nature of our business, we are frequently boarding planes & earning new stamps in our passports. Once rather private about the crazy nature of my life, I have come to learn to celebrate the fact that we are afforded this special opportunity to travel, learn & share our experiences through our work & letters.

In this age of AI generated everything, I have come to the conclusion that using a more authentic voice to share our JKB family story is the best way to connect with our clients & audience. Thus, you will be hearing more about our travels, the true nature of our business, splitting time between Costa Rica & the Florida Keys, maybe some mom stuff, and who knows what else.

We look forward to sharing our work & stories through a more vulnerable & authentic lens. We never stock images or AI generated "how to" articles. Please feel free to share feedback and hopefully we look forward to working with some of you in the future.

Kindly,

Wendy

Water Quality in the Home

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 01:08:03 GMT

Water Quality in the Home

*This article first appeared in the July / August Issue of KBB, the official publication of NKBA

“Thousands have lived without love but not one without water.”

-WH Auden, famed English poet.

The importance water is so essential in kitchen and bath design that we may take for granted the central role it plays in the lives of our clients far beyond a project’s completion.

According to the CDC about 7.2 million Americans become ill every year from contaminated drinking water. Cancer causing “forever chemicals” known as PFAs & PFOs are virtually everywhere in our environment now. Scientists today estimate that more than 200,000 Americans are subject to drinking water containing levels of these chemicals that can cause long term health concerns. With the lack of government oversight in this area of public safety, it is helpful to share knowledge and information on how to mitigate risks for ourselves and our clients.

Filtration systems should be among the first considerations for any remodeling project. For areas with mineral rich water especially in coastal regions Some of the best types of filters to remove forever chemicals are granular activated carbon as well as reverse osmosis filters.

When choosing a water filter, be sure to check if it removes PFOs and PFAs, as well as other contaminates including volatile organic compounds, pharmaceuticals and hard metals.

Many designers prefer under counter / under sink solutions for water filter when a larger homewide system is not an option. Earlier this month, a review by the New York Times’ Wirecutter website ranked the Aquasana AQ-5200 as the best solution for under sink filtration.

These types of systems usually come with their own faucet, typically in chrome finish, which can be a deterrent for a selective designer who does not like to mix and match metals. Although still limited, we are happy to learn that some options on the market this year include faucets in different finishes offering more decor versatility.

As environmental concerns have led to many people using refillable water bottles, one industry leader has created an interesting innovation for residential water bottle filling stations. Elkay has introduced a bottle filling dispenser now available for residential use. Although their filtration does not remove PFOs or PFAs, it does remove sediments & other contaminants. This is an excellent addition for family homes and vacation homes, when large groups require drinking water to go.

Remember to do a little research to find out more about the filtration needs in your area to best equip your projects with proper filtration for the long term health of your clients and their families.

By Wendy Greenwald, founder and co-owner of JKB Interiors ,

a full-service interior design firm in Costa Rica and the Florida Keys

Contact JKB Interiors

How to incorporate safer air solutions by design

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 01:17:25 GMT

How to incorporate safer air solutions by design

Two of the leading influences in design today are biophilia (an innate human desire to connect with nature) & promoting wellness. Minimalist, spa-like atmospheres are nearly ubiquitous in today’s kitchen & bath trends. Designers may consider many elements to create a space that promotes wellness. But often we might forego consideration of one intangible constant, the air we breathe. How can we incorporate safer air by design?

My first introduction to the harms of household air pollution was in an effort to create a pure environment for my first born baby. I found that many activities that enhance our modern lives also contribute to household air pollution, such as indoor stovetop cooking, scented candles, incense, cleaning agents that emit volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), beauty products & everything else that is either scented or sprayed.

These harmful yet invisible particles floating in the air we breathe can cause serious health issues, especially for children & family members who spend more time at home. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 3.2 million people die every year due to complications from household pollutants. The most common and dangerous air pollutants found in homes world wide are a result of cooking indoors. Maladies from particles produced on a cooktop can cause cardiovascular & pulmonary diseases that may take years or decades to develop.

VENTILATION IS KEY

In kitchen design, adequate venting systems are absolutely essential. A range hood with an external venting system is ideal but must be thoughtfully considered if there is not a previously installed duct. Adding a soffit can help provide a duct work solution for an externally vented hood. Designers should have current market knowledge of the most suitable ventilation appliances for their projects, as technology & manufacturing constantly evolve.

MAXIMIZING WINDOW PLACEMENT & COVERINGS

Cross ventilation is another practical approach to improve air flow & quality. When designing for a new construction project, encourage clients to always place a window in the bathrooms when possible.

Also consider ventilation when choosing window treatments in kitchen & bath designs. Find a solution that allows for easy access to open the window freely without having to maneuver too many layers or mechanisms. Depending on the window design & size, it may be a roller shade or drape that can easily be opened to access the window & closed for privacy when necessary.

LOW MAINTENANCE HOUSEPLANTS

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to improve home air quality is to incorporate atmospheric cleansing plants. In 1989, Nasa published a widely noted (and often misquoted) study that tested common houseplants & their ability to remove toxins from the air, specifically, formaldehyde, benzene & trichloroethylene (TCE). These substances are present in almost every indoor setting & prolonged exposure to them is linked to a variety of health concerns & cancers. The plants used in the study included bamboo palm, snake plant (aka the mother-in-law’s tongue), warneckei & marginata among others. All of which were successful at removing harmful toxins from the controlled environment.

Living walls & other plant features are suitable applications for the natural humidity present in bathrooms. By leaning into today’s trends of biophilic design & calm spa-like spaces, incorporating low maintenance plants can dually offer aesthetic benefits as well as air purifying solutions.

Kitchen & bath designers cannot influence the habits of our clients once they occupy the spaces we help create, but we can mitigate health risks through product selection & best practice solutions. By considering air quality, purification & ventilation strategies, we add even more value to the services we provide. After all, today’s focus on wellness is likely much more than a passing trend, but a new standard for interior design.

By Wendy Greenwald, founder and co-owner of J KB Interiors ,

a full-service interior design firm located in Costa Rica and the Florida Keys

Photo credit: Francesco Scatena/Adobe Stock

Contact JKB Interiors

jkbinteriors

Our story (the latest version)

Let me (re)introduce myself

Water Quality in the Home

Water Quality in the Home

*This article first appeared in the July / August Issue of KBB, the official publication of NKBA

How to incorporate safer air solutions by design

How to incorporate safer air solutions by design

﻿