My Design Secrets

The Dominica Rectangular End Table from Green Culture has lovely carved details in a stunning mahogany finish. Eco-Friendly Factor: It's made of sustainably harvested wood.

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As an interior designer, I keep my knowledge current by taking continuing education classes each year.  A wonderful benefit of the Internet is that cutting-edge classes that used to require travel and time away from my office in Wellington, Florida are now offered as online seminars like the one I am going to tell you about…

I just completed an intensive course in sustainability and received my certification as an Accredited Professional from the Sustainable Furnishings Council.  The course is approved by the Rainforest Alliance, World Wildlife Fund and one of the co-founders of US Green Building Council /LEED.  The course focuses specifically on residential furnishings and other interior design issues.

It provided a lot of detailed information on the environmental issues affecting our choices and the wide range of product solutions, most of which don’t cost any more than ordinary ones. It’s simply a matter of knowing the right places to look and the right questions to ask.

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Organic cotten draperies from The Antique Drapery Rod company. 52" wide panels - 30% off while supplies last!

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I am thrilled by how much of an impact we could all make by the choosing sustainable furnishings for our homes.  You might picture that sustainable furnishings all have a modern or tropical (think Bamboo) look but that simply isn’t so!  There are so many options our there and it’s all about the how a company sources and manfactures its products.  Where they get their wood, how they process it and what types of fabrics do they use? 

From Classic to Modern styles, there is a world of Sustainable options to explore in My Secret Database.  When you Search by Style, one of your choices is Eco-Friendly, so click that button and check it out!  I plan on sharing all I have learned as well as showing you some fantastic Green furnishigns here at My Design Secrets.  So don’t be shy if you have a question.  Just drop me a note and we will all start going Green together!

Join My Secret Database Today and start searching for Eco-Friendly Furnishings for Your Home!

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I get loads of questions about paint and I certainly understand why.  It’s one of the easiest ways to make a bold design statement on a budget.  Color is usually King but now I am suggesting that you make content Queen.  This is what I mean…

I always recommend that you go with a “Low VOC” or “No VOC”  paint.  Volatile Organic Compounds (aka VOC’s) are the chemical compounds that make your room smell bad on Day 1 and then quietly emit noxious chemicals into the air over the years.  I whole-heartedly recommend Benjamin Natura Paint.  I have used it in my home so I can promise you that it’s durable, fast-drying and has no odor.  It’s available in more than 3,000 Benjamin Moore colors and it’s available locally so that helps too.  So I was interested when I saw this piece by Stephen Treffinger in the New York Times, testing out some of these non-toxic paints.   He got down to business and tried them out himself.  Click below to read the article.  It’s very well done  Short and to the point.

Finally, Good-Looking Nontoxic Paint?

I urge you to try a low-VOC paint on your next project.  You get what you pay for with paint.  For a small investment you will get  better coverage and you can sleep in your room that very night without getting a headache!

One of my favorite prints is Ocean Breezes. A more classic take on the brown and blue combo with both colors having a gently worn feeling.

My Design Secrets is the perfect outlet for my obsessive habit of collecting decorating sources.  Even with a busy design practice, and the homes of my friends and family, I still have overflowing amounts of advice and sources that are here for the taking!  Today I stumbled onto a site that makes me giddy.  Saffron Marigold carries exotic, handmade, eco-friendly bedding and linens that are bursting with gorgeous colors and good Karma to boot! 

A versatile tablecloth that goes from everyday to festive and then just throw it in the wash.

This black and white shower curtain lends some modern flair to this traditional paisley.

The owner, Anisha, is a girl after my own heart.  She has a Masters degree in Human Resources but her love of Indian Textiles was so overwhelming  that it led her to create Saffron Marigold.   It’s a small business run out of Petaluma, California that has a large heart that extends over the Indian Ocean and into Pune, India where the magic happens.  All of their products are hand-crafted according to traditional block printing techniques and each piece is an original work of art distinguished by the work of the artisan, the particular lot of dye, and even varying weather conditions.  They work with a couple of artisan studios with whom they have a close relationship.  They visit the studios to make sure they follow Fair Trade practices that Saffron Marigold values, as well as helping the craftspeople become more economically self-sufficient.

These white lace curtain panels are perfect for a soft touch that's a bit more sophisticated than most country curtains.

A 17" x 17" pillow cover is only $19.99. This is the most stylish sofa makeover bargain you are going to get!

With a broad selection of bedding, shower curtains, table linens, pillow covers, and sheer curtains you are sure to find something to spice up your home.  Cool blue and turquoise, spicy saffron and cinnamon, and breezy white on white. You can shop by the item or by prints with names like Lavender Dreams, Paisley Au Lait or Memories of Shalimar.  You will enjoy browsing the site and the fantastic prices are a wonderful bonus.

Enjoy!

~Lorrie

A British company named "olli & lime" created the "George" pattern you see above. It's meant for kids, but with a color described as "milk chocolate", I have decided it's good for adults too! It's printed on paper made from sustainably harvested wood.

As I start using more eco-friendly paint on my projects, it has really gotten me thinking about wallpaper, too. Unfortunately, many wallpapers are vinyl and can off-gas harmful compounds into your home for years to come.  Plus the adhesives, inks, and finishes can be hazardous as well.  The good news is that fantastic eco-friendly wall-covering designs are popping up every day so you can have the beauty of wallpaper without the concern of harmful chemicals in your home.  

How to choose and eco-friendly wallcovering:

1. Look for wallcoverings that are printed on paper instead of vinyl.  Vinyl not only emits harmful gases in your home but the chemicals it is made with can harbor mold.  And once it gets to a landfill the problems continue.  Also, it is best if that paper is FSC certified.  This means that the Forestry Stewardship Council has approved the forestry methods used by the company that harvests the trees that eventually become paper.
2. Make sure the company uses natural water-based paints and dyes so you are not adding VOC’s to your environment.  You might be surprised at how beautiful vegetable dyes can be.
3. Lastly, use an eco-friendly wallcovering adhesive or make your own like they did in the old days.  This is not the time to cut corners and bring the chemicals back into the equation!

I hope you consider an eco-frendly wallcovering when your walls need sprucing up.  These great options will show you that they are short on harmful chemicals but long on style.

I LOVE these wall flats from Inhabit, but I am not sure why they are called wall flats when they are full of texture! They are made from 100% molded bamboo pulp, come 10 panels per box, and come in 5 textures. They an also be painted!

This beautiful wallpaper from Graham & Brown has a modern and classic feeling, all at once. The textural pattern is created from the bird feather patterns. All papers from their Eco Collection are printed on paper from managed timber sources and are printed with only water-based inks.

Mod Green Pod designs and sells beautiful eco-friendly wallpapers and fabrics. They use water-based inks on a cellulose paper and give the paper a water-based glaze that can tolerate light wiping.

Prefabricated houses have a long history in the United States.  In the first half of the 20th century alone, Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold more than 100,000 prefab homes.  For less than $2,500, the home buyer received a kit containing about 30,000 pieces – including everything from lumber to nails and hardware to paint and shingles — plus a book on how to construct the home. 

Since then, prefab homes have come a long way!  Personally, one of my favorite architects of prefab homes is Michelle Kaufmann.  Her firm, Michelle Kaufmann Designs, is a full service architectural design firm that specializes in sustainable, innovative, high-quality prefab homes.  Check out the following video to learn more!

One of the most compelling books that I have read in the last several years is Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by authors William McDonough & Michael Braungart.  Guided by the principle that waste equals food, McDonough, an architect, and Braungart, a chemist, explain how products can be designed from the outset so that, after their useful lives, they will provide nourishment for something new.

Using a cherry tree as an example, they note how “wasteful” it is.  Each year it dumps a great pile of fruit and leaves on the ground to rot.  But all of this waste goes back into nature to be reborn as new trees, bacteria, and other parts of the natural ecosystem.  According to the authors, we should try to emulate this natural system instead of replicating the “cradle to grave” model that has been so popular since the onset of the Industrial Revolution.

The following video, which I highly encourage you take the time to watch, has William McDonough asking what our buildings and products would look like if designers took into account “all children, all species, for all time.” 
 

It is nice to know that there are forward thinking companies that have already instituted the cradle to cradle design philosophy.  Take a look at these beautiful pillows from LoooLo Textiles.

Every pillow or blanket  the company makes uses hand and machine knit biodegradable textiles.  You can even throw them in your composter at the end of their useful lives and they will biodegrade within one year.  That is truly eco-friendly!

Are you following me on twitter?

~ Lorrie

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If you are going to remodel your kitchen and would like to do it in an eco-friendly fashion, consider using the following materials in your new design.

Appliances- Certified with an Energy Star label.  Use a convection oven versus a conventional oven to save energy. 

Cabinets – FSC-certified plywood, wheatboard, bamboo, formaldehyde-free MDF, reclaimed wood, recycled timber, or recycled steel.

Countertops – Granite, engineered stone, recycled ceramic tile, FSC-certified wood, recycled steel, recycled glass, recycled plastics.

Flooring –  Bamboo, cork, linoleum, stone tiles, recycled glass tiles, recycled metal tiles, reclaimed & sustainable woods.

Lighting – Copper light fixtures, recycled glass, recycled aluminum, recycled steel, sustainably harvested wood, and post-industrial waste products.  Be sure and use energy-saving fluorescent bulbs.

Storage – Store food in glass and ceramic pieces instead of plastic.  They are easier to clean, do not hold odors, and if on display, aesthetically much more pleasing.

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Are you following me on twitter?  You should be!

~ Lorrie

Today’s giveaway is sponsored by Jenny Lee-Katz Designs.  Born in Wales, Jenny Lee-Katz is an award winning textile designer.  Now, working from her own studio in Pennsylvania, Jenny offers a variety of collections and standard products including pillows and eco-friendly floor cloths. 

The beauty of the Welsh coast line, and a photograph of a seagull taken on a visit to Newport, Rhode Island, inspired many of the shapes and patterns used in her latest collection, called Glan y Môr, which translated from Welsh means Seaside.

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Jenny designs are printed using eco-friendly textiles.  Both the hemp and 100% certified organic cotton have been whitened without the use of bleach.  The water-based pigment inks contain no volatile organic compounds (VOC’S), and there are no post-printing chemical finishes applied.

Jenny’s bespoke designs have won international design awards, been auctioned internationally to support African charities and have been created for one of kind corporate gifts.

Gwylan Pillow - $126

 

Would you like to win the Gwylan Pillow?  To Enter Simply…

1. Visit Jenny Lee-Katz Designs website and browse around.

2. Leave me one comment below telling me which product from Jenny’s website is your favorite.

If you are receiving this via email, go back to the site to enter.  Replies by email will not be accepted. 

One entry per person.  You have until 11:59PM EST on Wednesday, May 13th to enter.  One random winner will be chosen and announced soon after.

Are you following me on twitter?  You should be!

~ Lorrie

Front Porch - HGTV Green Home 2009

Today, I want to share a video tour and some photos of the 2009 HGTV Green Home with you.  In case you haven’t heard, HGTV is giving away a 2,430 square foot, eco-friendly, three-bedroom, three-bath home.  And if that wasn’t enough, they are also throwing in a new 2009 GMC® Sierra Hybrid.  It’s a grand prize package worth $750,000! 

This idyllic, eco-friendly home can be found in the town of Tradition, which is located in Port St. Lucie, Florida.  Tim and I live about 60 miles south of Tradition and we are very familiar with this area.  Lately, most news regarding real estate and the city has been, putting it mildly, awful.  According to a recent article in the Palm Beach Post, there are more than 10,000 empty, bank-owned houses in Port St. Lucie.  The area has the 10th highest foreclosure rate in the United States.  Frankly, the growing hype about the home could not have come at a better time. 

Livin Room - HGTV Green Home 2009

Master bedroom - HGTV Green Home 2009

Master bathroom - HGTV Green Home 2009

The house recently won platinum-level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program.  Here is a short list, compiled by the experts at HGTV, of some of the very cool eco-friendly features that can be found both inside and outside of the home.

1. Water Efficient Fixtures – Using low-flow toilets reduce water usage while maintaining water pressure. Aerators on sinks and showers are added to reduce water flow. (Products from sponsor KOHLER.)
2. Water Heating- By using both solar and tankless water heaters the home will save energy by allowing the sun to create hot water, and any additional heating will be generated by the tankless heater on an as needed basis. Also, a recirculation pump has been installed to ensure that all fixtures and appliances receive hot water on demand, which increases the water efficiency of the house.
3. Solar Power – The house includes a photovoltaic (PV) system that provides about 40% of its required power.
4. Countertops- The countertops are not only gorgeous and durable, but are also made with recycled glass.
5. Permeable Pavement- Allows rainwater to naturally seep into the ground rather than running to the stormwater system.

For your chance to win, click here to enter!  Rules allow for you to enter the giveaway once daily.  But you better hurry though, this giveaway will end at 5PM EST on June 5th.

Stylish and Sustainable:  Innovative ‘Green’ Home Décor Products

by Greg Hakim

The media claims that living sustainably and purchasing eco-friendly and organic products is the socially responsible thing to do.  In the last couple years, newspapers, magazines and broadcast outlets have flooded consumers with the following message:  ”Go Green!”  With the current economic situation, however, most homeowners do not have the ability to spend large amounts of money on big-ticket ’green’ products like solar panels and hybrid cars.  But have no fear, for I have scoured the Internet to find the greenest, trendiest and most affordable home décor and interior design products available today.  Here are a few of my favorites.

The Natural:  Furniture designer Bob Naboicheck, third-generation owner of Gold Bond, recently released The Natural;a stylish, eco-friendly and affordable futon.  The Natural, which was designed specifically for the ‘Greenest House in America,’ is made with 100-percent rubber wood, the most ecologically friendly wood in the world.  While most trees are cut down prematurely to make products and furniture, rubber wood is only used after its 25-30 year life cycle.  It is never cut down or burned prematurely.  Priced at just $279, the modern style and flexibility (couch and mattress) of this futon makes it a great sustainable purchase for the home.

Hawthorne Chaise:  Hand crafted of entirely non-toxic, sustainable, all-natural materials, this chaise is as comfortable to lounge on as it is good for you and the environment.   Better yet, the modern and sophisticated white style is a safe bet for all interior design savvy homeowners.  The Chaise is made by using only reclaimed woods, which help preserve the earth’s forests, along with all natural and organic product options.

Stylish Glass Tile:  Recently featured, interior designer Eli Mechlovitz, CEO of GlassTileStore.com, has released a new line of high-end recyclable glass tiles, perfect for the modern day kitchen backsplash or bath.  Priced at just $14 a square foot (50 percent below retail!), a backsplash of GreenTile by GTS can be installed for around just $500 and will completely transform the look of any room.   In addition to attaining a luxurious and eclectic look, homeowners help reduce landfills and conserve energy by choosing recycled glass tiles. Typically, producing recycled glass tiles requires 50-percent less energy usage as compared to ceramic tiles, and 25-percent less as compared to regular glass tiles.

 OrganicPedic Pillows:  OrganicPedic by OMIproducts are made in the first Eco-Factory in the US – crafted in a chemical-free, smoke-free and fragrance-free environment with an exclusive ozone sanitation chamber.  The purity of the plant is so closely guarded that employees are forbidden from wearing deodorant, fragrances and even using fabric softeners on their clothing. Specifically, the Wool-Wrapped Organic Buckwheat-Hull Pillow and Wool-Wrapped 100% Natural Shredded Rubber Pillow are high-end and extremely comfortable, stylish and eco-friendly bedding options. 

Tansu Collection:  The Tansu Collection, by Viva Terra, will bring an old-fashioned yet chic look to any bedroom.  Perfect for storage or display, the tabletop’s small, compact shape is perfect to organize rings, necklaces, and bracelets. All of Viva Terra’s products are made with only the most sustainable products.  The company even ensures that their business partners have an element of sustainability to their practice.  With most products priced 50-percent off, Viva Terra home products are perfect for those looking to go green in their homes.

3D Mattress:  Hollandia International has recently revolutionized the eco-friendly bedding industry with the release of their new 3D Mattress, the first 90-percent recyclable mattress on the market.  With millions upon millions of fibers to provide comfort and support, the 3D braided fabric is the most hygienic material available for mattresses today.

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