Under The Lid

Every Day is Earth Day at Dunn-Edwards

04/10/2019 | Dunn Edwards |

“What’s the use of a fine house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on.”
—Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau's words ring truer than ever, especially as we are in the midst of celebrating Earth Month. Throughout April — and in particular, Earth Day on April 22 — more than 1 billion people in more than 192 countries across the globe raise awareness of the importance for caring our planet.

At Dunn-Edwards, every day is Earth Day, as we have, since the beginning, been proud pioneers in formulating the safest, most-effective paints possible — from voluntarily removing lead, mercury biocides and ethylene glycol from our paints, to introducing our line of low- and Zero VOC products.

Led by our Greener by Design philosophy, we have continued to make our planet’s and our customers’ health and well-being our top priority long before our competitors and even before federal regulators called for these changes. From our Earth- and human-friendly ingredients and our transparent labeling, to our LEED Gold-certified paint manufacturing facility and other innovative equipment and processes, we have always been on the cutting-edge of eco-consciousness.

In honor of this “greenest” of months, here are three Earth-friendly projects that we have been honored to be a part of:

So Cal Modern — Cliff May in Long Beach

Tucked into a small area of Eastside Long Beach, Calif., lies a neighborhood of Cliff May “Rancho” homes. When realtors Rochelle and Doug Kramer realized the historical significance of this property, they set about honoring that aesthetic, while still being conscious of their environmental impact.

In addition, they found themselves a niche housing market, specializing in Mid-century, Ranch and modern real estate — and they advise their clients that using Earth-friendly paints can be a benefit for potential buyers. Learn more here.

Products used:

Main interior: SPARTAWALL^® Interior Velvet and Eggshell — Zero VOC latex paint — in Whisper DEW340
Kitchen cabinets: ARISTOSHIELD^® Interior/Exterior Eggshell Paint — ultra-low VOC enamel — in Mythical Blue DEC787

H3K Designs – Green Gables in Palm Springs

Palm Springs, Calif., is a mecca for Mid-century modern architecture. It’s also home to the annual Modernism Week, a celebration of all things Mid-century. Originally built in 1958, Green Gables by H3K Design, is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom gem that recently underwent a full renovation.

Its high gable roofline is a perfect illustration of Mid-century modern design, while the home’s expanded master bathroom, restored atrium and kitchen honor the home’s original aesthetic.

Products used:

Front door: EVERSHIELD^® Exterior Flat Paint — ultra-low VOC, 100% acrylic paint — in Pearl Necklace DEW343
Exterior trim: EVERSHIELD^® Exterior Flat Paint and Eggshell — ultra-low VOC, 100% acrylic paint — in Stuffed Olive DE5529
Exterior primer: EZ-PRIME^® Premium— performs well against the desert heat

Claire Thomas — Historic L.A. Ranch-style

On the corner of a quiet L.A. cul-de-sac is a beautiful Mid-century home restored by Claire Thomas and her husband. Thomas, the founder of The Kitchy Kitchen and co-founder of L.A.’s Sweet Laurel Bakery, found this wooded jewel and instantly knew it was a perfect fit. Thomas immediately began restoring the home, maintaining as many of the Mid-century Ranch touches as possible.

Thomas loves to cook and has a young son so it was important to use products that would keep her family safe. Therefore, when it came to selecting a color palette that would honor the home’s style, as well as the safest paints available, she worked with the Dunn-Edwards.