Eco Decorating

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.

Painting is surely one of the easiest and most budget-friendly decorating tricks to brighten up your home. And if you use paint that’s safe for both for you and the environment, you can’t go wrong (except, of course, when the color looked so different on your wall than it did in the store … ).

Carbon-neutral consumption at its best!

Wood is a renewable resource, especially when it comes from responsibly managed forests. And there’s another way to help the planet when purchasing wood furniture — one that can also help your budget: buying used!

If you think about it, flea markets are green markets, and I can’t help but get that pat-myself-on-the-back feeling of satisfaction when I give a piece of furniture a second chance at life.

Most of the outdoor furniture you’ll see at your local big box stores is plastic or metal, but there is a wide array of outdoor furniture made with natural fibers or other eco-friendly materials. Here’s a guide to five types of materials to look for in eco-friendly patio or deck furniture:

I was surprised when some friends of mine recently installed cork floors in their bathrooms. I’d heard that chefs love cork floors for their kitchens because it is 50 percent air and very buoyant. It is also incredibly durable, as is noted in the New York Public Library, where the 50-year-old floors are as good as new despite heavy traffic. But bathrooms?

It was 80 degrees last weekend (don’t shoot the messenger; it’s one of the perks of living in the South) and I spent some time relaxing on the patio. Cold glass of water in hand, I surveyed my surroundings: worn furniture and barren pots as far as the eye could see. Time for a patio makeover … and since I wrote a book about making green choices all year long I have no real excuses not to do it green. I’ve learned a lot about how to choose products that are green yet also practical and affordable.

My latest spring bedroom update: A breath of fresh air!

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.