When staff at a Vermont independent school, The Bellwether School, realized its furniture needed to be refinished, there was no more obvious choice to look than Vermont Natural Coatings. The school offers a community based learning style guided by a holistic education philosophy, and the decor itself features beautiful wood accents that add a natural, wholesome appeal. When it was time to choose a coating for furniture and cabinetry, staff wanted a product that illustrated the same values. Peter Bullock, then head of the school, chose Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey® All-in-One Stain and Finish in Creek Road Oak.
“I really wanted to find something conducive to having young children there. When we started working with this stuff, it was great. It was easy to spread-easy to apply I should say-and there was minimal odor. There was no feeling of getting a headache or anything like that. We felt really good about putting it on,” says Bullock.
Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey All-in-One Stain and Finish delivers eight beautiful, vibrant colors and a durable topcoat in one product. Manufactured only 60 miles away from the school in Hardwick, Vermont, the finish uses whey protein, a byproduct of cheesemaking, to displace toxic materials found in typical finishes. The result is a finish that’s easy to work with, dries quickly and has little to no odor—perfect for a setting like a school, where kids will be nearby as the finish cures. Even more importantly, it’s safe for adults and little ones alike, since it doesn’t contain carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxins.
Throughout the first several months of school, parent volunteers gathered to do the work. Cupboards, counter tops, trim, wooden furniture and oak chairs were refreshed with coats of PolyWhey Stain and Finish Creek Road Oak. Preschool chair seats and cabinetry received an extra coat of PolyWhey Natural Furniture Finish for added durability.
“It’s just night and day,” continues Bullock. “We had this great oak furniture and you had this great “Creek Road Oak.” It blended right in! …It made everything richer and deeper. It made it look brand new.”