Could Your Bathroom Be Healthier

BALTIMORE, April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Baltimore-based company says now there's a healthier bathroom option for you and for the planet. A new line of eco-friendly bathroom cabinetry will be unveiled by bluehouse next week, just in-time for Earth Day. The furniture is made by hand from sustainable materials and without many of the harsh chemicals found in traditional cabinetry.

Katharos Collection Wall-Mounted Vanity and Countertop

Traditional cabinets are made from pressed wood that may use chemical additives including formaldehyde. The new Katharos Collection 2007 includes cabinetry, countertops, and mirrors made from sustainably-grown bamboo and recycled concrete. Bamboo itself is good for the environment because it regenerates without replanting and provides 20 times more timber than trees on the same amount of land. It also helps curb erosion and reduce carbon dioxide gases and does not need harsh chemicals to be water and insect resistant.

The furniture is produced by bluehouse in conjunction with Luke Works, also of Baltimore. It is available to style- and eco-conscious consumers either online, or by visiting the Baltimore showroom. The furnishings will be unveiled in Baltimore at a press conference on April 19, 2007.

The Katharos Collection vanity is wall-suspended bamboo cabinetry available in two colors. This is topped by a counter made from a proprietary blend of 30-percent recycled concrete and glass, cast in one piece with a basin. The countertop is available in three different colors in lengths of 36" and 48" and with three configurations of cabinet doors and drawers.

Rounding out the Katharos Collection are a unique bamboo-framed mirror and L-shaped exposed shelving, also fashioned from bamboo. Every piece is made by hand, signed, and dated by fairly compensated craftspeople.

"These pieces are works of art," bluehouse proprietor David M. Buscher said, noting the recessed cabinet and drawer pulls, and the aligned bamboo grains that are suggestive of a solid block suspended 12" from the floor. "We're excited that consumers now have a choice to make a difference for their homes and for the environment."

"Katharos is Greek for clean," said Luke Works founder Mark Melonas. "That's the spirit we wanted for this furniture. Its lines are clean, its manufacture is clean, and its function is clean."

The unveiling of the furniture will take place at 10:00 am at the bluehouse showroom at 1407 Fleet Street in Baltimore, Maryland. Consumers across the nation can view and order the products at bluehouseLIFE.com.

Luke Works is a studio that handcrafts furniture, counters, metalwork, and other architectural elements. bluehouse is a leading retail purveyor of eco- friendly furniture and home accessories.

Founded in 2005, bluehouse is an independent furniture and home accessories retailer committed to the promotion of stylish, fairly traded, and environmentally conscious merchandise. Its Baltimore, Maryland flagship store in fashionable Inner Harbor East is also home to The Cafe at bluehouse, which serves organic coffees, teas, and light fare. Their website is www.bluehouselife.com

Luke Works is a custom manufacturer of contemporary fine furniture specializing in the use of alternative, green and sustainable materials. Each piece is made by hand in Baltimore. Their website is www.lukeworks.com

CONTACT: Amanda George Sherman of bluehouse, +1-877-276-1180,amandageorge@bluehouselife.com