Cheryl Terrace

"My unique talent is creating a healthy environment in a home," says Cheryl Terrace, owner of New York City eco-decorating firm Vital Design, Ltd. "There's no specific locale or boundary about that. It's about opening your mind to the possibilities. The connection of mind, body, and spirit reflects your real home — your heart." Known for eschewing superficial, status-oriented style, Cheryl's design work, described by one client as "human and earth-friendly," has been featured on Planet Green network's "Simply Green with Danny Seo" and in magazines including Westchester Home, New York Living, Natural Home, Domino, Sustainable Residential Interiors. She's also a self-described "yoga addict" who says, "Although this business can be stressful, I am blissed out instead of stressed out. When I see my clients (usually in my yoga outfit), they smile. I do believe they appreciate that energy."

What exactly is green about green design? It’s a very complex term. In fact, it’s so complex that I’d prefer “Conscious, Healthy, Thoughtful, Mindful, Authentic, Integrity Driven Environmentally Responsible Design” … but what a mouthful!

I have always been a frugalista, eco-fashionista, and precycler — I just didn’t know the labels! Eco thinking is embodied in my everyday behavior and the natural way I have always designed spaces, which I refer to as conscious design. Having elements from nature in a home environment signals a presence of life supporting systems, which inherently give us a feel-good-green-vibe. The good news (really good news these days) is that it is not expensive; in fact, it’s often free!

It’s a “staycation” kind of year. I’ve been super-busy helping my clients gear up their homes for summer entertaining. Since many folks are choosing to stay home instead of traveling this year, lots of my clients are focusing on making their decks, balconies, patios and backyards more fun and welcoming for guests — and more and more want to do that in an eco-conscious way.

Hurray, we made it! With the vernal equinox this weekend, spring is finally here — and I’m in my element! I adore a big spring clean in every sense of the word … breathing fresh new life into everything from my bedroom to my outlook.

Mardi Gras is this week — and its colorful mix of cultures brimming with delicious spices is fantastic inspiration for home design. Bold use of COLOR is the new trend in all the design magazines; I think it reflects the times — a bold new world and mold-breaking new administration.

The bedroom is a place where we are embraced and held dearly, and where we get to be totally uninhibited. Yet all too often I see this room as one of the most neglected. Because it is our own private space, out of public view, it often tends to be the ‘catch all’ for projects, laundry and junk.

The inauguration of Barrack Obama represents a turn toward our better selves. Humility. Mindfulness. Compassion. Honor. Respect. Service. Giving back. Making a difference. It is the fulfillment of Yes We Can. But it is only the beginning.

The following quote is taped to the inside of my medicine cabinet; it reminds me that everyday is a new day to connect with something greater than myself.

I don’t watch regular TV news because I am not desensitized to the hype and hysteria of the ‘if it bleeds it leads’ mentality. However, with a new administration taking office (yay!) there seems to be an air of optimism everywhere, even in the news. I flipped on my set to watch my favorite news show: Rachel Maddow, and while channel surfing during commercials, I saw great stories about kindness and good deeds.

Although I prefer intentions to resolutions, January is a time of starting over with a clean slate. Be it ‘Juiceless January’ (meaning no alcohol) or ‘Gym January’ (we all know what that means), many of us partake in some sort of cleansing and/or fitness ritual. In addition to making my (always long) lists of hopes, dreams and intentions, I am ramping up my yoga practice.

I have been accused of putting the mental in environmental. I truly believe the most successful spaces always get the details right: proper use of varied lighting, complexity of texture, subtle art, and the many other nuances that transform a space to make it exceptional. Taking it one step further (hence the mental reference), I also delve into the ordinary elements that make up one’s home. It’s all great and good if it’s an ‘environmentally friendly room’, assembled with eco paint, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) furniture, pure vegetable dyed rugs, etc, but try to dig a little deeper to appreciate the impact of the ordinary items we use everyday but don’t usually think about. Stuff such as healthy cleaning supplies, non-petroleum based candles and cosmetics, recycled paper goods. Even nail polish!