Cosentino helps "Make It Right"

The pink house, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry now resides in the Lower Ninth Ward through the efforts of Make It Right Can you even believe we're still on day three of the NOLA blog tour adventure?  There's just so much to write about!  After our visit to Gentilly we enjoyed yummy lunch at Mondo with the folks from Cosentino followed by an excursion  to the Lower Ninth Ward.Mondoj's was yet another amazing culinary treat! Following this salad, I enjoyed swordfish tacos which were the BEST fish tacos ever! This salad was more picturesque and my phone was charging so no pic of the tacos (sorry Linda)I remember hearing a lot about the area during and after Hurricane Katrina.  It's where the levees over flowed and wreaked the most havoc.  It's also a community already struggling to make ends meet before the devastation.Some parts of the Lower Ninth still look like this. Today the Lower Ninth Ward is one of the areas being assisted by Make It Right, a non-profit organization founded by Brad Pitt.  This foundation builds healthy, green homes for communities in need and is aiming to bring 150 families back into affordable, green and storm-resistant houses.  So far 90 homes are complete with work continuing.2013-04-18 15.04.56 Homes are designed by high profile local and international architects including world famous Frank Gehry!  What I like is that they really do collaborate with the home owners who have a voice in the final designs and all the color selections.2013-04-18 14.59.25Countertop maker Cosentino, famous for their amazing Silestone quartz tops, supplies their ECO line of counter tops to the project.  Not only is it beautiful and durable but it's composed of 75% recycled raw material, including glass and mirror.  You can find out more about it here.  More about Cosentino to come.  They introduced all kinds of new products, colors and textures at KBIS. This is one of the kitchens in a Make It Right home. Those counter tops are ECO by Cosentino, the maker of Silestone.Someone erected a "take it, leave it" book stop!Ann is the owner of a Make It Right home. She explained to us how the organization worked with her to locate windows and was very accommodating. She has lived in this neighborhood since 1966 and was displaced for four years. She says her new house is the same size as her old one but with a new and improved layout. She hosted 50 people on her first Christmas in the new home!I have heard it said, no good deed goes unpunished and I'm afraid this project is no exception.  Many feel slighted by the ultra contemporary designs that do not reflect the typical New Orleans style and architecture.  Architects were simply instructed to "use the city’s existing narrow lots...elevate houses out of the way of future flooding and include rooftop access to simplify rescue; feature prominent porches or front stoops for socializing; and use materials that are tough enough to survive hurricanes but that also approach “cradle to cradle” re-usability "  The foundation states that homes  being replaced were substandard post war tract homes. There's some interesting commentary over at  Curbed that addresses the controversy here.  I'd love to hear your thoughts. Next up:  KBIS2013 new products and trends for your kitchen and bath