Green Confessions

Sometimes I wish I could be part of that somewhat elite circle of interior designers  & green architects I've been meeting.  The combination of artistic sensibilities, real life applications & a green mission is quite appealing.

However, I am, afterall, just a novice trying to do something extraordinary in our home, while keeping an eye on my eco-friendly priorities.  It's a wonderful hobby & it complements my mission to create healthy homes & families.

Today, I must admit that sometimes it is a challenge making the choice between sustainable design & my own aesthetics.  I visited a chic new Leeds certified hotel in Laguna Beach last week.  While everyone oohed and aahed, I thought...if this is green design perhaps many will be turned off by the concept.  It reminded me of a prison, all grey & sterile.  Hhhmmm...I love color!  It inspires me & reminds me of Nature & why I want to protect it.  I love texture & hand crafted materials, even if they come from around the world & cost a bit in energy to transport them.

Then yesterday, I detoured my search for eco-friendly backsplash materials by falling in love!  Yes...I saw this glass & fell head over heals!  But...I find out...it's from China, has to come on a boat thousands of miles, manufactured under who-knows-what kind of conditions & at what environmental cost?

Still...I could rationalize because I was in love.  It's glass...not granite or marble or something causing horrific scars on the landscape.  It's non-toxic...a big plus for ME.  Someone in China is supporting a family making this stuff, so I think I'm contributing to world peace.  AND...it's just a few pounds of glass that will turn my kitchen into a "masterpiece".

I've always had a love for handcrafted, so I'm also enchanted with the idea of using hand woven Guatemalan fabric for my window seat cushion & pillows.  They may have to travel a few thousand miles, but they use "clean" German dyes, are cotton that's hand woven by women who need income for their families & don't have the synthetics & chemicals treatments so common in most fabrics.  Sustainable design means sustaining indigenous cultures & economies, as well as protecting the environment, so it all fits for me.

Just another quick note.  I found this great web site while browsing some design blogs.  This one makes me hungry to travel so I can collect all kinds of handcrafted treasures from around the world.  Novica is operated in association with National Geographic to support local craftspeople from around the world.  Awesome home decor options & more!

That's it for the week...enjoy & check out those wildflowers for more inspiration!