The "Ask Me Alberto" Glider...now who does not like to glide?

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Q Collection, a company that makes gorgeous eco-friendly sofas and chairs, sent me an email announcing their new website and that they were “lightening up” their image.  Wow, that’s relief!  These days everyone seems to be getting increasingly uptight and it’s way more pleasent to purchase furniture from people who are happy and bright:-)

Their new website is fun (who can resist names like the Sweet Cheeks Sofa and Kiss My Arse Recliner?) plus they are eco-friendly with an emphasis on the FRIENDLYpart.  Formerly a trade-only resources they now have a retail line on their website that can be purchased through their NY retail store.  And by visiting or calling you can purchase designer quality eco-friendly furniture yourself at reasonable prices.  And you know me, I believe a sofa is an investment, not a short term commitment.  If you spread the cost of your sofa over the number of years you have it, a high quality sofa is a much wiser purchase.

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One Sweet Cheeks Sofa for your sweet cheeks:-)

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You can choose one of their many neutral, eco-friendly fabrics (bamboo, cotton, hemp, linen and many more) or even send them your own.  The insides are made of 100% certified sustainably harvested woods, natural latex foam rubber, organic cotton batting, wool batting and natural jute webbing.  Plus you can customize until your heart’s content. 

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Neutral Fabrics galore...or send them your preference.

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The sofas, chairs and ottoman could meld easily into any modern, beach house or classic look.  The lines are graceful yet unfussy.  My next sofa is definitely going to be eco-friendly.  I am done with furniture made from over-forested woods and petroleum-laden cushions.  Q Collection is getting back to basics and helping us all breathe easy!

Q Collection is just one of my Many Design Secrets. 

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Join My Secret Datase today to find more!

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Use Room Creator to change the fabric and wallpaper in this cute little room. Cat included!

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I am not much for video games.  My niece and nephew cream me every time.  But when I found an online game where I could mix and match beautiful fabrics in a mini room, I knew I had found something up my alley.  Mod Green Pod is where I found this fun and addictive tool!

The company was created by three brilliant women who combined their  passion for textile design and the environment with some modern day business sense.  The company is based in the creative mecca known as Austin, Texas which keeps the design juices flowing.

Mod Green Pod creates modern organic fabrics for every room your home.  They are fun, bright and at $39.75 a yard it’s tempting to choose more than one.  Cover it all…pillows, sofas, draperies and dog beds.  The patterns are printed on sturdy 100% organic cotton that is made in the good ‘ol USA.  Plus the pigments are free of dangerous chemicals that can off-gas in your home.

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A wonderful selection of wallpapers at $75 per roll.

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They also have a wonderful selection of coordinating vinyl-free wallpapers that are created with water-based inks and can tolerate light wiping (paying attention, parents?).  That might be just the ticket for the powder room that gets frequent visits from the neighborhood kids.

So hop on and use the Room Creator to plan your next decorating project.  But wait until your kids go to bed so you won’t be interrupted!

Mod Green Pod is an example of one of the wonderful companies featured in My Secret Database.

Join My Secret Database for all the Best Sources!

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On Saturday I was quoted as a Green Expert in the Sun News in an article by Elaine Gaston.  It included some easy tips and you might be surprised that you have already incorporated some into your home.  Give the article a peak and let me know what you’ve done to Green Up your space by commenting below!

~Lorrie

10 Ways to Save the Environment and a Few Bucks

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