Did you know linoleum is made from flaxseed?

One of my clients is having a full remodel of her 1924 kitchen done, and has a 6 year old son with asthma. Home renovations can really worsen asthma symptoms, so we spent most of our time talking about materials and strategies to avoid that as much as possible.

Minimizing VOCs and Particulate Matter (AKA, chemical smells and ultra-fine dust) was one of our top priorities, because they're both well-known asthma triggers. Two things stood out to her that I wanted to share:

1. First, it's super easy to monitor levels of VOCs and PM in your house. She had heard of air quality testing, but thought it was just done at a single point in time. So, I recommended a continuous air quality monitor so she could leave the house with her son, or increase ventilation, any time levels were above the safe zone.

2. Second, I recommended linoleum for her flooring. Most people think it's plastic-based, or old-fashioned. While it IS around 100 years old, it's having a comeback...and its ingredients list is amazing. Linoleum is made from flaxseed oil, jute, wood flour, tree sap, and natural pigments. It doesn't off-gas at all, and you attach it to the subfloor with a water-based, zero-VOC adhesive. These designs by Dutch artist @sigridcalon for @forboflooringsystems are proof that it can look really good, and really modern!