Green Is No Longer Just a Color

Everyone's talking about "green", "go green", "green design." For many years, green has been nothing more than a family of hues on a color wheel to the design profession. Recently, green has become a way of life for many - a life that continues to be creative, practical and innovative, yet has an environmentally conscious emphasis with a long-term awareness for future generations.

The 21st century has witnessed a revolutionary change in the field of sustainability, and the hype is finally being matched by actions on many levels. Several industries, including the interior design profession, are taking strides to stay on board with the wave of "going green." However, it has been difficult for residential designers, in particular, to embrace eco-friendly design due to a lack of guidelines, resources, products and demands in our industry.

For years I have re-cycled, used my own canvas bags for groceries, and opted for paper over plastic (when given the choice), but only recently have I started to think about how to combine my love for great design and beautiful things with a commitment to environmental consciousness and social responsibility.

A comment by kitchen designer Vasi Ypsilantis in the September 2007 issue of Traditional Home inspired me to "re-think" green design in my design practice. "You don't have to compromise on quality and good design because a product is green. Even if only a handful of products in a building project are from sustainable sources, that's a start."

An article by Laura Seydel in the Spring 2007 issue of Garden & Gun further inspired me on the subject of residential green design. Laura and Rutherford Seydel built "Ecomanor" in Buckhead, Atlanta, which is the South's only environmentally certified house. "People don't seem to realize that an environmentally sound house can still look and feel like a traditional one." You may want to visit www.ecomanor.com for a tour of this beautiful Tudor home. It graciously combines classic, traditional design with sustainable design.

Sustainable design will not be for everyone. Some people may take small steps to recycle more, drive their cars less or perhaps change out their light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs. Others, however, may take a giant step and build a LEEDS certified home. There are hundreds of choices to fit both your own personal commitment to environmental consciousness and your budget. One step at a time is far better than ignoring the state of our earth today and future generations altogether.

For our part in this green revolution, the team at Anita Holland Interiors will continue to educate ourselves about eco-friendly design, elect to choose products with little negative impact on the environment and search for new products (including fabrics, wallcoverings, flooring and furnishings) that meet higher standards. I believe that unless professional designers like myself demand these products, major manufacturers are not going to change their products or the way they manufacture them. With persistence from our side, we hope to provide options to our clients that are exciting and on the cutting edge of sustainability, yet are also practical and manageable, time and cost-efficient.

As you can see, combining my passion for great design and beautiful things is a personal challenge that I now welcome with the advice of a fellow interior designer in New York and a committed house owner in Atlanta. I think the term, "eclectic", may be re-defined in the future as "a mix of old, new and sustainable" for clients who want it all!

Anita

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