When I come across some great new products on the market, I love to share them with you, my treasured readers.  When a new product is both functional and very “green”, well even better.

When you think of healthy surfaces for a kitchen sink, stainless steel certainly would be a top choice because it is a sterile metal.  When I worked as a nurse, all the instruments, sinks and surfaces in the hospital are stainless steel.

Clearly, stainless steel is non-porous and anti-microbial, and hygienic by nature.

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The downside to stainless steel is that it is a cold surface, literally to the touch and in color, it is a cool color.  Which is why I am impressed with this new product that popped in my email box by Nature Trails.  This company is using the natural, hygienic qualities of copper in their handmade sinks.

Plumbers, builders and electricians have long looked to copper for the gold standard in piping, wiring and decorative roofing.  Two redeeming qualities of copper apart from its natural beauty is the health benefit and its recyclability.

Okay, to be perfectly honest, I did not know that copper had the same positive qualities of stainless steel, but this is great news for me as a designer, and for you as a homeowner!

According to Native Trails website, “In 2008, the EPA deemed copper-alloy an antimicrobial touch service” that naturally kills harmful microbes within two hours or less.  These properties make copper a great sink material, and while the sink won’t actually clean your dishes, it will keep harmful bacterial from building up on the surface of the sink while you eat dessert.

Hand hammered copper sinks have been on the market for some time, but the cost scared many of my clients away from purchasing one for a design project.

Native Trails sinks are made from 100% recycled material making them sustainable socially and environmentally.

Navigating the world of kitchen surfaces can be a daunting task.  I am here to help!  With a design consultation, I will guide you through the best choices of surfaces for your kitchen or bath.  Give me a call at 661 430-0127.

Tami Smight Interiors, a full-service interior design firm, has been gracing southern California homes with warm, accessible designs since 2004.

As a certified professional interior designer, Tami Smight shares expert design tips, tricks and trends in her column. Check out her articles in our SCV “Your Home Inside And Out” section.