The Afternoon Wrap: Wednesday

Way better than any MLB or NFL or NBA award, REBNY's Rookie Salesperson of the Year award has gone to Corcoran's $25-million-woman, Julie Pham. It took six seconds for Ms. Pham's Web site to boast about her new honors. [The Real Deal]

Warhol's artful seaside Montauk estate, once listed for $50 million, may be going to J. Crew's CEO for less than $30 million. But don't weep for Warhol's estate. [NY Mag via Curbed]

Bonus PR Release of the Month: Ever wonder what age-old material makes for a "Uniquely Beautiful, Durable & Environmentally Safe" add-on to the wealthy New Yorker's home? It's 2-inch planks of solid bamboo, of course! Click below to read more about the marble of the Green Era. (And it's from Hollywood!)

- Max Abelson

Solid Bamboo Kitchen Countertops Prove Uniquely Beautiful, Durable & Environmentally Safe. www.totallybamboo.com (Hollywood, California) - High-grade bamboo is a wood that has proved popular in recent years for cutting boards, kitchen utensils and even flooring, but now it is making it's way to the top -- the countertop that is. After years of research and endless hours of kitchen testing, Totally Bamboo has unveiled its new solid bamboo counter tops. Totally Bamboo is the first company to market this new 1.5" & 2" thick planks ready to be fabricated into kitchen counters or islands.

With the experience gained from crafting over one million cutting boards, Totally Bamboo has succeeded in perfecting the manufacturing process of thick, stable planks that not only look incredibly beautiful, but are a green alternative to traditional wood butcher block tops. 16% harder than maple, bamboo is simply a great choice for durable countertop surfaces.

All Totally Bamboo brand countertops are constructed with cross-band laminates called Multilam. "In our early testing, it was discovered that this is the ideal way to glue-up bamboo," says Totally Bamboo President Tom Sullivan, "keeping the plank both flat and true, as wel! l as greatly reducing the tendency to twist or warp." Sulli van says this unique Multilam glue-up has the benefit of providing a striking edge profile as well.

Totally Bamboo brand countertops are laminated with a completely non-toxic, food grade, and most importantly, formaldehyde free adhesive. In 2004, the World Health Organization re-designated formaldehyde-based glue as a proven human carcinogen. The Totally Bamboo countertops are offered in four different grain patterns: Caramelized Flat Grain, Caramelized Vertical Grain and an exclusive Caramelized and Natural Parquet End Grain. Both the Flat Grain and Vertical Grain are available in 1½" and 2" thick, x 30" x96" planks and the parquet is only available in 60 "lengths. The company also offers a wide variety of inlayed or solid bamboo back splashes, as well as a patent pending edge trim that makes a 1 ½" counters or island look up to 3" thick.

Planks come unfinished and sanded to 180 grit; ready to be spliced to! gether for a kitchen island or installed as countertops. Edges can be routed to suit any individual kitchen styles. Totally Bamboo recommends installation by a qualified woodworking professional for home installation, but this bamboo material is simple to work with and can be easily installed by the do-it-yourselfer as well. Totally Bamboo uses all-natural material, and as such, the material will have natural variations in its coloration from plank to plank.

Sullivan says he knew this would generate a lot of interest but was totally blown away with the avalanche of information request he has received. "People feel good about using this renewable resource and they are surprised that they can get such beauty and strength a without breaking the bank or the environment."

The Totally Bamboo countertops sell for $30 per square foot and are available or online at: www.TotallyBamboo.com # # #