Giveaway details follow are at the end of the post, but we suggest you read the review first!

When I first started to focus strictly on sustainable design five years ago, the pickings were thin when it came to green interior design books..  As in, there were exactly two books, only one of which was really any use.

Even as I watched the list of available books grow, I still considered writing one of my own, because I didn’t find anyone addressing the subject of green residential interior design the way I thought it should be.  Luckily, I never got around to it because Sunset Design Guides has just released the book I probably would have written (if I had the talent!).

Taking full advantage of Sunset Magazine’s wealth of images, author Bridget Biscotti Bradley has created an inspiring collection of sustainable design ideas and arranged them in her easy to understand book, The Green Home.  Assisted by a “design panel” made up of such green design luminaries as Eric Corey Freed, Kelly LaPlante, and Michelle Kaufman, Bradley makes a compelling case for the ease with which green design principles can be woven into any remodeling project. Read the rest of this entry »

I have a soft spot for wisteria.  I know it is one of those things, like tea-cups and lace curtains, that evokes the early 1990s and old issues of Victoria Magazine.  I can’t help it.  It’s still just so darn pretty and it reminds me of Spring.

But I really think Farrow & Ball has done a beautiful job with their new Wisteria wallpaper.  Block printing and their own eco-friendly paints are what give the paper it’s sense of depth and quality.

If pastels don’t suit your taste, no worries.  Farrow & Ball offers this paper in 20 different colorways, including this stunner… Read the rest of this entry »

I’m so excited to introduce this  weeks guest blogger, David Johnson of Sidecar Furniture!  An accomplished craftsman, David is also a member of LA Box Collective, a select group of professional Los Angeles based furniture makers, committed to environmentally conscious design and production.

David: Being an independent furniture designer/maker is no easy job. Comparing artisan or locally made furniture to IKEA or the Pottery Barn is like comparing apples and oranges. I often encounter people who question and often frown upon my time consuming methods and prices. We are so used to seeing and buying furniture made by big manufacturers that it becomes hard for one to appreciate quality, hand crafted, heirloom furniture. Rather than reading a blog entry about me defending myself and my craft, I decided to have my wife write a blog about her love of artisan furniture from the perspective of an outsider who is now a big fan of artisan made furniture. Read the rest of this entry »

Wow! Here we are, our first real milestone – post #100!  I can’t believe it’s here already.  Of course, we’ve had help the last two weeks from our first two guest bloggers, Christina from My Sparrow, and Wes from Harding Construction and Sustainable Solutions.  Let’s give them a hand!

Now on to business…

image via Green Your Decor

First up, GreenYourDecor found some pretty pillows from Gianna that are not only organic, but Fair Trade too!

Next, some new mod wallpaper from Mod Green Pod, an old-fashioned folding bathtub, and a bed made of plumbing parts… Read the rest of this entry »

Our guest blogger this week is Wes Harding, President of Harding Construction & Sustainable Solutions. He is a college instructor, general contractor, certified green home rater, and energy auditor. He can be reached at www.hardingconstruction.biz

Some homes just blow and other just suck.

After reading your Home Performance Energy Audit Report you found your home was built too tight. Meaning, there are not enough holes in the home and there is not enough fresh air entering.

The goal of any general contractor should be to build the tightest house possible to stop air infiltration and provide the most durable and sustainable product for his or her client. On existing or traditional homes, built before energy code, it is difficult and costly to tighten a home to the point that it is too tight. (I didn’t say it can’t be done.) Read the rest of this entry »

The latest thing in countertops is also the oldest thing…  Wood.

Whether it’s due to a backlash against the cold, shiny surface of the ubiquitous granite countertop, or a desire for something with an old-fashioned, great-grandma’s kitchen feel, wood is really seeing a comeback as a countertop surface.

One beautiful option to achieve this look is teak.  Because of it’s density, durability and natural oil content, teak has long been the wood of choice for boats, buildings and outdoor furniture, all of which get a great deal of exposure to the elements.  It’s those same characteristics that are giving it a foothold in the modern kitchen. Read the rest of this entry »

Weathered wood is getting quite popular in interiors, what with its silvery grey patina and rough hewn texture.  And of course, there are many ways of accomplishing that look, such as scraping, painting, pickling and staining.  However, those methods take a lot of effort (not to mention being less than sustainable).  Why not let Mother Nature do all the work for you?

People (from places other than Wyoming), let me introduce you to this amazing thing called a “snowfence”.  Apparently in Wyoming, the snow runs free across the prairie, and they have to put up fencing to keep it from roaming onto the highways, or some such thing.  I don’t know – I’m from Southern California.  I am officially clueless about snow.

In any case, this fencing is subjected to wind, rain, sun, snow and ice, so it surely qualifies as weathered!  Not surprisingly, it can only last so long before it needs to be replaced.   Thankfully, Centennial Woods has found new uses for all the old, discarded planks, turning them into beautiful boards and flooring. Read the rest of this entry »

Our guest blogger this week is Wes Harding, President of Harding Construction & Sustainable Solutions. He is a college instructor, general contractor, certified green home rater, and energy auditor. He can be reached at www.hardingconstruction.biz

Take a safety pin and stick a bunch of holes in a balloon. Now try blowing it up. Eventually what happens is you run out of breath trying to keep the balloon full of air (hopefully you didn’t pass out and you can keep reading). This same concept can be effectively transferred to our homes.

Obviously we don’t live in inflatable homes, but the holes represent areas in which air and heat (both hot and cold) can travel bringing in containments, dust, and allergens. Read the rest of this entry »

If all flashlights ever make you think of are spooky stories at sleepovers, or late night runs to the campsite porta-potty, then you haven’t seen how cool Conant Metal & Light can make them…

And if you think a pendant fixture from a repurposed flashlight has a sly sort of style, wait till you see the fun they had with a table fan… Read the rest of this entry »

Our guest blogger this week is Wes Harding, President of Harding Construction & Sustainable Solutions. He is a college instructor, general contractor, certified green home rater, and energy auditor. He can be reached at www.hardingconstruction.biz

Baby steps are a good start!

So you’ve taken all the steps during your remodeling project to make sure what you bring in to your home doesn’t have toxic chemicals which could off gas and make you sick. You installed cabinets made out of grass, used zero VOC paints, non toxic based glues, FSC certified wood flooring and tile containing recycled content. Do you have a green home? The answer is no. Why? There is no silver bullet to green home and lifestyle, but instead a thousand silver BBs. Doing just a few green things, although very important, are only small steps. Read the rest of this entry »