Norton Co., acquired by Saint-Gobain in 1990, opened its research and development center in Northboro in 1985. Now some of its 360 professionals are contributing to innovation in 55 partnerships between Saint-Gobain and innovative materials startups around the world. Among those is Los Angeles-based Grenite Sustainable Solutions, a maker of so-called sustainable materials used to make countertops.

On June 20, I interviewed Erik Johnson, a managing partner of Grenite, which sprung up in 2005 from Greneker, the 75-year-old mannequin and retail display company where Mr. Johnson is the chief executive officer.

Greneker has an interesting history. Its founder was Lillian Greneker, a sculptress in New York City whose work found its way onto the Broadway stage. From there, various department stores decided she could do a great job designing and making mannequins. Ms. Greneker moved the company to Los Angeles in the 1950s, after which it passed through the hands of several owners before Mr. Johnson acquired it.

Mr. Johnson was not pleased that Greneker and its peers lagged in the adoption of sustainable materials. The industry continued to make mannequins and displays from fiberglass and other petroleum-based materials. And Mr. Johnson decided to do something about this problem.

To that end, one of his green colleagues introduced him to recyclable materials. Specifically, Grenekers R&D labs started testing so-called refractory ceramics, which were used to insulate steel mill furnaces and glass kilns. This resulted in Grenite sustainable, engineered stone counters made of 85 percent recycled materials with maintenance-free properties that customers found quite appealing. As a result, Mr. Johnson and his partners, Randy Riley and George Cox, introduced it to Wal-Mart, an existing customer, which asked GSS to manufacture enough for the big retailer to use as countertops in more than 100 stores. Orders soon followed from other big retailers interested in sustainable building practices.

And this success left GSS at a strategic crossroad to decide whether it should go out and raise the capital needed to invest in manufacturing, distribution, R&D and service, or find a partner. Mr. Johnson decided that Greneker lacked the capabilities to manage Grenites growth internally, so he started looking for partners.

Among those considered initially were some of the traditional counter-top companies. These included Formica and Wilsonart, who were introduced to Mr. Johnson through a mutual colleague. After meeting with them, however, Mr. Johnson concluded that despite their burgeoning efforts in the field of sustainability, their infrastructures did not fit with Grenites long-range vision.

However, when Mr. Johnson met with Saint-Gobain, he realized that it was the perfect fit. From Saint-Gobain, Grenite would get a deep corporate commitment to the development of sustainable materials, along with the ability to convert his artisanal manufacturing process into a mass-production one housed at a new Saint-Gobain plant in Ravenna, Ohio. Moreover, Mr. Johnson saw an opportunity to benefit from Saint-Gobains global presence and its extensive R&D capabilities.

For its part, the 350-year-old Saint-Gobain was getting an innovative product that was consistent with the mission of one of its corporate groups. That group, called NOVA External Venturing, is an international group of Saint-Gobain analysts (founded in 2006) that identifies and evaluates startup companies for partnerships with the company. As Michael Mahoney, North American manager of Saint-Gobain External Venturing, explained in a June 20 interview, Saint-Gobain has a large annual budget for R&D and is looking for ways to commercialize it. Specifically, the company has 15 R&D centers, including the 360-person R&D center in Northboro, where Mr. Mahoney is based.

NOVA tries several different approaches to finding innovative companies that fit with Saint-Gobains vision of becoming the global reference in sustainable habitat in construction products, advanced materials, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability (including recycling materials such as wood, using green materials and improving indoor air quality).

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Saint-Gobain forms innovative partnerships

338 Spear St., San Francisco

Beds: 2 Bath: 2 Square footage: 1,2o0 Price: $5,000/month

This apartment is only steps from the Embarcadero, the Financial District, San Francisco's famous Farmers Market, and some of the city's finest restaurants. Highlights of the kitchen include stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and large windows overlooking the San Francisco skyline. Carpeted flooring lines the master bedroom, which features a master bathroom equipped with dual vanities and both a shower and a jetted tub. This unit includes a single-car parking space.

Leasing agent: Jeanne Zimmermann, McGuire Real Estate, (415) 901-2779,

jzimmermann@mcguire.com.

2187 Braemar Road, Oakland

Beds: 3 Bath: 2 Square footage: 2,715 Price: $3,600/month

Constructed in 1955, this property features a fine Oakland hills setting and exquisite interior detail, along with an ideal location. Highlights of the kitchen include modern appliances, tile countertops and adequate cabinet storage. The entryway features hardwood flooring, which flows into the grand living room and the formal dining area. A fireplace is found in the living room, along with bay windows and a tall ceiling. This property provides a two-car garage.

Leasing agent: Frank Hennefer, Wells and Bennett Realtors, (510) 485-7235, fhennefer@sbcglobal.net.

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What you can rent in San Francisco for $5,000 and Oakland for $3,600

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess, KNS/2012

photos by AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL A vanity top produced by Virtuous Products Inc., made of Sedonite on Saturday, June 23, 2012. Sedonite consists of crushed recycled glass and a proprietary bonding agent that is activated with water, the material can then be cast like concrete.

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess, KNS/2012

Mark Wasserman, president of Virtuous Products Inc., with a table made of Sedonite;

A Knoxville company has developed a proprietary material made from recycled glass that can be used for flooring, countertops and casual outdoor furniture.

Virtuous Products Inc. is the exclusive producer of Sedonite, named for the colorful "Painted Desert" around Sedona, Ariz. where the company was founded in 1999.

Founder Mark Wassenaar recently won the "What's the Big Idea" business plan competition sponsored by The Development Corp. of Knox County, Knoxville Chamber and Tech 2020.

Sedonite is made from crushed recycled glass bonded with a unique glue-like material that can be cast like concrete.

Unlike concrete, which can take several weeks to completely dry, Sedonite can be poured into a mold and removed within a few hours, according to Wassenaar. The water-based binding agent is easier to work with and less expensive than epoxy resins, he said.

"Lowering the production cost has allowed us to offset the increasing price of fuel. We can now afford to ship our products," he said.

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Different kind of recycler

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --A well-known Myrtle Beach family tradition, Springmaid Beach Resort, has recently completed a seven million dollar property-wide renovation.

Specifically, renovations to Springmaid Beach Resort's Live Oak guest rooms feature decor with new carpet and porcelain tile; new window treatments; new American-made furniture; new wooden cabinetry, Five Diamond Series mattresses with plush bed toppers, pillows and linens; contemporary artwork; granite countertops; all new energy efficient lighting fixtures; new appliances; flat panel televisions; and new balcony flooring. The Resort's Live Oak tower features new corridors, elevators, refurbished parking areas and newly renovated pool areas; resurfaced and tiled water features, resurfaced decorative pool decks; new pool furniture and landscaping.

Renovations to the Resort's Palmetto guest rooms feature; Five Diamond Series mattresses with plush bed toppers, pillows and linens; new American-made furniture; new window treatments; contemporary artwork; granite countertops; all new energy efficient lighting fixtures; new appliances; flat panel televisions; and new balcony flooring.

A majority of the Resort's oceanfront meetings and conference facilities have been renovated to feature new carpeting; updated bathrooms with granite countertops, lighting, partitions and decor; window treatments; updated foyers with new furnishings; and crown molding.

Resort-wide upgrades include decorative corridor flooring; enhanced resort signage; landscape enhancements with new vegetation; renovated pool areas including resurfaced and tiled water features, and new pool furniture; an upgraded fitness center with all new equipment including treadmills, elliptical, exercise cycle and nautilus weight machines, gym flooring and wall coverings.

Springmaid Beach Resort also now features a newly constructed tackle shop stocking all necessities for the perfect day of fishing on the Springmaid Pier; an enhanced General Store and renovations to the Resort's Harbor Oaks miniature golf course; as well as extensive renovations to the Resort's on-siteMarlin's Restaurant.

"We are already receiving overwhelming positive feedback from our guests on our renovations," said Don Singletary, Springmaid Beach Resort's general manager.

For more information about Springmaid Beach Resort, visit http://www.SpringmaidBeach.com.

Springmaid Beach Resort is managed by Charlestowne Hotels, Inc., a full-service hospitality management company offering innovative, yet proven expertise in hotel development, operational controls, marketing and revenue management and financial reporting. For more information about Charlestowne Hotels and to view the hotel portfolio, visit http://www.CharlestowneHotels.com.

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Springmaid Beach Resort Completes Multi-Million Dollar Renovation Project

There are now a thousand reasons to fix your lawn mower.

In this depressed real estate market, sellers need granite countertops and new stainless steel appliances just to compete. And sellers better hope they live on a street with white picket fences and ornate gardens to obtain fair market value.

But what happens if you have neighbors who just refuse to tidy up their lawn? A town in New York thinks it found the solution with a lawn mowing fine.

So if you're unhappy with a neighbor's efforts at cutting his grass, you can now report him to the appropriate officials resulting in a $1,000 fine to your neighbor for the first offense and a possible $10,000 fine for repeat offenses, reports CBS.

Officials at Massapequa Park on Long Island rationalized the big fines by saying that unkempt property lower home values and create a health and public safety hazard, reports CBS.

While this fine may seem unfair to some property owners like the elderly and those who just don't care, home owners should know that while they usually can do what they want on their property, the local government does have general powers over health and safety when it comes to land. So they can make you mow your lawn if there are health and welfare reasons for doing so.

The best way to combat the lawn mowing fine would be a grass roots movement (excuse the pun) by residents to repeal the ordinance. Residents can let lawmakers know they are not happy with the law, can seek a modification of the penalty, or a reduction in fine by exercising their voting rights.

This lawn mowing fine was passed on Long Island, sure. But receiving a $10,000 fine for neglecting the lawn seems a bit extreme. Expect some pushback on the lawn law as soon as someone is dinged. These are New Yorkers, after all.

Related Resources:

Continued here:
$1,000 Fine For Not Mowing Your Lawn

The first house we ever owned was a 3-bedroom floor plan that we chose to build in a cookie-cutter neighborhood in Florida. We were so excited to go through the process of new construction. There were numerous choices to make - tile, carpet, padding, appliances, countertops, paint color, window treatments, and so on. These decisions had to be made in one day. Yep, we spent a single, very draining day in the design studio of our homebuilder, trying to figure out what we should upgrade and what we should leave alone.

You see, we were anticipating (even at that beginning stage) the features that would add value to our home for resale purposes. After all, this was our beginner home. It wasn't our dream home. Yet, we wanted to be comfortable in it while we lived there. And, it needed to have certain upgrades included or it wouldn't attract any buyers when the time cameso we thought. But, we could not have anticipated what ultimately happened with the housing market crash of 2007. Essentially, the "extras" that we put into the house - and paid for with a higher mortgage - were quite possibly the reason why we didn't come close to breaking even on the sale of that home.

There were several things that we upgraded during that "decision day" that I can almost guarantee were of no importance to the person who bought our house. We paid for more padding under the carpet; we chose 42" cabinets in the kitchen; we opted for double front doors with glass inserts; we picked cultured marble countertops for the master bathroom; and we sprung for a better quality washer and dryer. All of these upgrades (and some that I'm forgetting) cost us a total of $30,000 above and beyond our base package.

When the time came to sell the house, it took 13 months for a buyer to come along. At that point, the housing bubble had popped and people were trying to (and could) steal houses out from under you. Our particular buyer not only didn't care about the extra nice padding we put under the carpet, he wanted a check for the cost of replacing the carpet with tile. You can see how the situation of selling our home became frustrating rather quickly. We thought we were on to something with our upgrades, but the timing was all wrong. It wouldn't have mattered if a Porsche were included in the sale of our home, the one and only buyer that wanted our house wanted it for the cheapest he could get it.

In the end, we had to write a rather large check at the closing. In fact, it wasn't much more than the cost of the upgrades themselves. We always say that had we not done those special extras, we might not be so far behind in our savings plan right now. Had we stuck with the standard options included in the original package, we may not have had to write a check at all!

*Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Do you have a real estate story that you'd like to share? Sign up with the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own finance articles.

More from this contributor:

First Person: We'll Pay YOU to Buy Our Home

First Person: We lost Money on Our Home Sale...Twice

First Person: Transitioning from Two Incomes to One

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First Person: Upgrades on New Construction Cost Us Thousands Upon Resale

You've already made that first trip to the family cabin this year, opened the shades and dusted the countertops and furniture.

Now it's time to have some fun with the details. Accessorizing your cabin is a perfect occasion for all things kitschy, rustic and outdoorsy. To set the mood, consider these locally themed cabin accents:

LAKE PRINTS

Whether Gull Lake, Lake Calhoun or another local favorite, this wall-art series offers vintage-inspired prints of some of Minnesota's favorite bodies of water.

Print ($79.99); select Love From Minnesota stores (including 2465 N. Fairview Ave., Roseville, 651-697-7007; and 178 IDS Center, 80 S. Eighth St., Minneapolis, 612-333-2371); lovefrommn.com.

DISH TOWELS

When lithographer/fine artist Faye Passow visited the Minnesota State Fair a few years ago to sell her silk screens featuring Minnesota's favorite hot dishes, they sold like crazy. Now, she's selling her retro-themed designs in dish towels, oven mitts and other items. She also has a design highlighting Minnesota landmarks.

Dish towels ($10); available at several Twin Cities stores, including Bibelot and Patina shops; keepthefaye.com.

LOG CUTTING BOARDS AND COASTERS

Boards by Joel uses tree rounds from native Minnesota hardwoods -- specifically, from the Red Wing, Lake City and Cannon Falls areas -- to create home-accent pieces. Each piece is cured,

Originally posted here:
Cabin culture: Locally themed items put the accent on easy living

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xf98ks/state_of_the_indus) has announced the addition of the "State of the Industry: Wood Cabinets and Countertops in the U.S. (7th Edition)" report to their offering.

The State of the Industry reports are concise, yet detailed studies filled with priceless data, forecasts, and objective analysis. The amount of valuable data and analysis in this report far outweighs its cost and is well worth the investment. Depending on the topic, State of the Industry reports include historical, current, and future sales data; drivers of market growth; consumer data; a summary of the leading companies; distribution channels, foreign trade, and other relevant data and analysis. This information is a vital part of any successful business plan.

Report Benefits:

Key Topics Covered:

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xf98ks/state_of_the_indus

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Research and Markets: State of the Industry: Wood Cabinets and Countertops in the U.S. (7th Edition)

VAN NUYS, CA--(Marketwire -06/11/12)- Caesarstone announces the launch of a "lifestyle" platform for their trade partners to connect with consumers. The Interior Collective will be an interactive site rich with compelling content and conversation that is centered on the inspiration of design. The site will feature various social media-driven photo and video contests on an ongoing basis for user-generated content. Submissions will highlight projects completed with Caesarstone, as well as consumer driven kitchen remodel ideas and wish lists.

"Caesarstone has always been committed to finding innovative ways to support our professional partners and the consumer we all serve. We take great pride in our ability to create a real opportunity for them to connect, share and participate in a meaningful way. We are thrilled to present The Interior Collective and we look forward to its growth, evolution and success," said Karen Schakarov, VP Marketing, Caesarstone USA.

The Interior Collective will launch with a contest geared towards design professionals. Beginning June 11, professionals will have the chance to login to the Interior Collective, submit a photo, name the color used in a past project and explain how Caesarstone enhanced the overall design for a chance to be featured in ELLE DECOR! Additionally, every week for three weeks, Caesarstone will give away an iPad to one lucky user just for submitting. You can enter the contest by visiting:

http://interiorcollective.com/contests

In addition to the contests there will be a fan engagement element encouraging community members to join the online conversation for chances to win subscriptions of Elle Dcor and House Beautiful.

About Caesarstone USA Caesarstone is the original quartz countertops and surfaces manufacturer. Caesarstone is headquartered in Southern California with sales divisions and major distribution centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Colorado, Miami, New York, Atlanta, St. Louis and Dallas. Caesarstone's Independent Distributors are located in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Philadelphia, North Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Arizona and Utah. Caesarstone's premium quartz countertops and surfaces complement any design, from traditional to contemporary, for both home and commercial applications. Caesarstone products are available through kitchen and bath retailers, fabricators, architects, designers, builders and distributors nationwide. Offering a Residential Lifetime Warranty, Caesarstone countertops and surfaces are nonporous, stain, scratch and heat resistant. Caesarstone has earned the respected Good Housekeeping Seal from the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and is in compliance with stringent international environmental standards including ISO 14001 (environmental management system), ISO 9002 (quality management standard), and NSF (public health and safety).

Using only sustainable materials, Caesarstone is GREENGUARD certified and is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). For more information about Caesarstone and its products, please visit the company's website at http://www.caesarstoneus.com, or call toll-free 877-9QUARTZ (877-978-2789).

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Caesarstone Launches New Interactive Site and Design Contest

Food-borne diseases strike one in six people in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thats about 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths annually. You cant see, smell or taste pathogens in food. So if youre not careful, they can spread throughout your kitchen, and if ingested they can make you sick. Heres what you can do to reduce your risk:

Wash your reusable grocery bags

Youre doing your part for the planet by toting your groceries home in a reusable bag. But research has found that if reusable bags arent washed regularly, they can harbor potentially harmful bacteria. Gerba says that increases the risk of contaminating the food they carry. It also makes it more likely that bacteria will be transferred to your hands and your kitchen countertops. Gerba suggests washing reusable bags in hot water, either by hand or machine.

Refrigerate food right away

Always refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, eggs and other perishables as soon as you bring them home. That helps slow the growth of harmful bugs in raw food, as long as your fridge runs between 32 and 40 degrees and your freezer stays at zero or lower. Toss any suspect items, and wash your hands after handling them and the trash. Use an appliance thermometer to check temperatures, and arrange food so that cold air can circulate throughout the fridge. Thaw, marinate and store raw food in leak-proof containers below produce and other ready-to-eat food.

Disinfect your countertops

Avoid placing anything on them that might transfer germs, including your purse or backpack. When handling food, take care not to splash liquids from raw meat and poultry onto countertops. After preparing raw food, mop up spills with paper towels, clean kitchen surfaces with hot soapy water, and wash your hands and anything else you might have touched.

Clean your sink

Drains, faucet handles and sponges are among the more heavily contaminated areas of the kitchen, according to Gerba and others who test for potentially harmful bacteria. To avoid spreading germs to food youre preparing, clean the sink with products that are meant for kitchen surfaces and that are fortified with bleach, a powerful bacteria killer, especially after preparing raw meat, poultry or fish. Put sponges in the dishwasher or washing machine at least every few days. Wash dishcloths in hot water, or use paper towels.

Use separate cutting boards

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Careful steps in the kitchen can cut risk of illness from food-borne diseases