Nuts About These Colorful Bowls

Posted on 09. Nov, 2010 by Sesshu Design in Blog, eco-friendly design, eco-friendly interior design, gifts, home decoration, locally made, recycled, sustainable, sustainable design, sustainable interior design

A room is never quite finished until it is accessorized – and a touch of whimsy or personality is exactly what is called for.  I just love these fun and functional bowls made from Macadamia nut husks because they provide both.  Each one is unique, and still contains bits of the original shell that show through in the colorful interior coating.  The wood-like outer shell contrasts with the vibrant colored hand-polished lining, created though a process of grinding, polishing and waxing.

Designed and crafted by Marc Harrison in his native Australia, he hopes these bowls create an emotional connection between the product and the end-user.  Hand-crafted with local materials and manufactured using low-impact processes these Husque bowls are a great example of artistic and sustainable design.  Each one arrives packaged with the story of the design’s origin and the history of the macadamia nut.

Available in an array of bright colors, these bowls would add a nice accent to any room.  Used to serve nuts, display fruit, or just as a piece of art they are sure to grab attention and the story of their creation makes a great conversation starter. In addition to the bowls which come in two shapes, the Husque collection includes a tray and vase in the same colorful options.

Easy LEED-Homes Platinum Certification?

Posted on 12. Oct, 2010 by Sesshu Design in Blog, cost of green design, eco tips, eco-friendly, eco-friendly design, eco-friendly interior design, eco-friendly lighting, energy efficient design, energy saving, energy-star, environmentally friendly tips, flooring, green building products, green design, healthy homes, LEED, recyclable, recycled, repurposed, resources, reuse, sustainable, sustainable design, water saving tips, zero-VOC

Here’s a great true-life story of how it is possible to design a great green build home easily and within your budget.  This is reprinted from Green Building Advisor and chronicles the complete gut rehab green design of a row house in Washington DC by the owner utilizing an experienced green builder and the LEED Checklist as her guideline.  She also shares some of the pitfalls and things she wished she had done differently.

Washington, DC

Sep 3 By Peter Yost 

This photo shows Levin’s completed LEED Platinum gut rehab of her row townhouse. From the scourge to the envy of the neighborhood. And those beautiful river run stones at the front of her yard? Reclaimed from the excavated basement.

Green realtor Amy Levin uses her background in construction, housing market savvy, and sheer will to achieve Platinum on her LEED for Homes gut rehab of a DC rowhome

“It was easier than I thought,” says Amy Levin when first asked about her LEED for Homes Platinum gut rehab. This would not be the last time my jaw would drop when dealing with Amy; she is a completely unflappable, sharp as a tack, force of nature. She is a born problem-solver and her favorite retort is most certainly “why not” rather than “why.” The devil is always in the details; here is the rest of the context on Amy’s “easy” version of LEED Platinum.

Using the LEED for Homes checklist to drive the process
Amy used the LEED for Homes rating program and checklist to drive her own green building learning curve as well as her design and building process. “I had done some green building in the past,” recalls Amy, “but it was not a comprehensive or integrated process. We did not use the LEED for Homes checklist as prescription, we used it to learn, evaluate, and prioritize. The LEED for Homes program checklist is a really great organizational tool.”

“While this approach is not the ideal, it is quite common and can work” says Asa Foss, Amy’s LFH rater, her primary green building consultant and now Manager for LEED Technical Development at the USGBC. “The danger in having the checklist in the driver’s seat is turning your project in to a point-chasing exercise. While point-chasing was definitely not an issue with Amy’s project, it’s an important hazard to avoid.”

Fully utilizing local green resources
Amy is quick to point out that she was fortunate during her project. “First,” says Amy, “I had Asa as my ace; his availability, knowledge, and willingness to work with me as the general contractor was a huge green advantage.” “And discovering local resources like Marcus Sims (Treincarnation) and The Community Forklift were key for green rehab.” TreIncarnation supplied lots of surplus salvage finish materials and The Community Forklift’s salvage retail operation was a great two-way street for the project, taking from and supplying to Amy’s project.

Making the numbers work
While Amy had a substantial budget for her project, it was definitely finite: “My budget was $500,000 and we came in at $495,676.92. I kept expecting the green building BigFoot to come and crunch the project, but I really believe that there was no real premium. Think of it this way: my apartment rental income covers more than what my mortgage would be on this project. My peak monthly utility bills are less than half those of my neighbors, and my home is more comfortable with better air quality.”

Amy is clear that some individual components came at a premium: higher SEER AC unit, her solar water system, top-of-the-line household appliances. But here is a list of project elements where she is sure she saved money going green: a salvaged kitchen cabinet and granite countertop for her rental unit kitchen ($500), powder room vanity made from site-salvaged lumber ($50), river-run fieldstones for front yard landscaping (free from her 4 feet of basement excavation).

And as a realtor, Amy is confident she can take the value of her LEED Platinum project with her if and when she sells her home. “There is real value here that I can show, from the comfort and health perspectives, but also by simply sharing my utility bills!” says Amy with a smile.

An interesting twist: Salvaging art as well as the building
The emphasis on salvage is pretty clear in Amy’s home: the reuse of the original heart pine flooring, rough framing planed and used for the powder room ceiling exposed latticework, the upstairs laundry framed with salvaged two by fours. But the most impressive and unique salvage during the project was not building materials. It was the paintings of EJ Martin that Amy discovered half-buried in the dirt of the basement and even behind drywall from previous renovations. EJ Martin lived at 1834 Ingleside Terrace for many years, at times even paying his rent with his work.

“They were far too beautiful to toss,” says Amy. “It was more than worth it to restore what we could and keep them with this house.” EJ Martin’s paintings are hung throughout Amy’s home.

Lessons Learned

Amy was not particularly fond of being a green guinea pig for some of her materials. “The Columbia Forest Product Purebond door on the largest cabinet never worked; it warped badly,” says Amy, “and we finally just had to replace it.“

“I also completely underestimated the need for residential lighting design,” adds Amy. “We got energy-efficient lighting products, but the location of lighting is sometimes an issue and also the balance of task and background lighting is wrong.” Amy wishes she had known about residential lighting design guidance from IBACOS (High Performance Lighting Guide) and from RPI (Builder’s Guide to Home Lighting).

“Frankly,” says Amy, “it was the regular headaches that had little to do with green that I wish I could do over again, like finding the right plumber!” Amy wrapped up by saying how hard it is to figure out the right way to “divvy up” four stories of a rowhouse between the rental and the live-in portions.

Peter Yost

Tags: LEED for Homes, LEED Platinum, remodel, Gut rehab

---

Image Credits:

1. Amy Levin
2. EPA Energy Star

Easy LEED Platinum? | GreenBuildingAdvisor.com

General Specs and Team

Location: Washington, DC
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 3
Living Space : 2600 sqf
Cost (USD/sq. ft.): $190/sqf

The rowhome has a finished basement that is a fully independent rental unit, quite typical of the area.

General Contractor – Amy Levin
Builder – Leon Home Improvement
Insulation contractor – Anchor Insulation
Electrician – Michael n Sons
HVAC – Argent Heating and Cooling
Renewable energy systems contractor – Capitol Sun Group

Construction

Click here for REMRate report with construction details

Energy

- Air tightness = 4 ACH50
- Heating efficiency (heat pumps): 9.0/8.2 HSPF
- Cooling efficiency (heat pumps): 17 SEER
- All ducts in conditioned space
- Water heating: 0.82 EF (see below for solar water heating)
- Energy Star windows (U-value=0.3; SHGC=0.29) (glazing to floor ratio=12%)
- Seagull Energy Star Lighting
- KitchenAid Energy Star appliances
- Evacuated tube solar water system (supplying 77% of total hot water)

NOTE: Jeldwyn Doors and Marvin Windows from Midsouth Building Supply Co. (only companies meeting size and historic requirements)

NOTE: All sealants from AFM Safecoat

“>”>Click here for REMRate report with energy efficiency details

Water Efficiency

- Limited turf: 17% of landscaped area
- Drought-tolerant plantings: 100%
- Roof rainwater harvesting system: 63% of roof area
- High Efficiency Fixtures (toilets, faucets, showerheads)

NOTE: All plumbing supplies, including Toto dual-flush toilets, from Thomas Somerville

Indoor Air Quality

- Ducts sealed off during construction
- Home flushed continuously for one week prior to occupancy (windows open)
- No attached garage
- MERV 13 air filter

Green Materials and Resource Efficiency

- Framing waste factor = 0%
- Advanced framing techniques
- Construction waste diversion rate = 90%
- Salvaged heart pine flooring
- Salvaged kitchen countertop and cabinet set (basement rental unit)
- Site-salvaged river stones for landscaping

NOTES:
a. Metal stairs with FSC-certified treads from The Iron Shop
b. Paint – Harmony
c. FSC-certified interior doors- MidSouth Building Supply
d. Concrete – Fly ash, recycled aggregate: DC Materials
e. Cabinets – Eco Green Living
f. Countertops and bath sink Eycon
g. Recycled ceramic tile – Nature Neutral
h. Trex decking – MidSouth Building Supply

Certification

LEED for Homes Platinum Rehab (Click here for Amy Levin’s Final LEED for Homes checklist)
HERS Rating = 63

Greenwashing – How to Avoid Being BAMBOOzled by Green Labels

Posted on 05. Oct, 2010 by Sesshu Design in Blog, eco tips, eco-friendly, eco-friendly design, eco-friendly interior design, energy efficient design, energy-star, environmentally friendly tips, green building products, green design, green living tips, healthy homes, indoor air quality, innovation, LEED, new technology, recyclable, recycle, recycling, resources, sustainable, sustainable design, sustainable interior design, Uncategorized, water saving tips, WaterSense, zero-VOC

Green-wash | green’wash’ | verb: The act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service

If you look around, you’ll see that companies left and right are all jumping on the “GREEN” bandwagon.  Unfortunately, this has become a case of buyer beware, because too often they are just slapping on an ‘ECO-FRIENDLY’ label and that does NOT mean the product is actually environmentally responsible.  To add to this confusion, there is often no consensus on what ‘GREEN’ means.  This ‘Greenwashing’ has become a real problem for consumers looking for products and materials that are eco-friendly, sustainable and responsible.

The best defense against this type of deception is doing your homework, and looking for third-party certification seals.  These show that a process of independent, reliable testing has been applied to the green building material or product in question.  Even here there have been a number of imposters who try to make something look official when it isn’t.  Learn to recognize the following green labels on products and services which are truly ‘Green’.

ENERGY STAR

A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy which is dedicated to helping consumers compare and buy energy efficient products.  Energy efficiency is an important first step in protecting the environment.  The ENERGY STAR mark is the national symbol for energy efficiency.   www.energystar.gov

Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label and Green Label Plus

You have probably never heard of the Carpet and Rug Institute, much less their green labels. Your designer probably has – if they are educated about green interior design.  The labels refer to a carpet’s VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and other chemical emissions. The carpet, adhesives, cushions and even vacuums are tested by an independent laboratory using a methodology developed with the help of the EPA.

Unfortunately, indoor air quality is usually considered a small (and very under-emphasized) component of the environmentally sound life. Things like sustainable material sourcing, durability, and green company practices are too often seen as being more important to green living.

WaterSense

Launched in 2006, WaterSense is an EPA-sponsored partnership program designed to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by promoting water efficiency and water-efficient products, programs, and practices.

WaterSense helps consumers identify water-efficient products and programs that meet WaterSense water efficiency and performance criteria. Products carrying the WaterSense label perform well, help save money, and encourage innovation in manufacturing.  www.epa/gov/watersense

Green Seal

Green Seal is a non-profit independent agency that uses science-based environmental standards to certify green design products, materials and services.  Green Seal works with the manufacturers, purchasing groups, industry sectors and the government to improve the ‘green-ness” of the production and supply chain.  Only after undergoing a strict evaluation beginning with product creation and through recycling and disposal can a product be Green Seal Certified.  www.greenseal.org

Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Cradle certification evaluates products using a series of environmental and social criteria based on the principles of Cradle to Cradle design, developed by design and consulting firm McDonough and Braungart and detailed in their book by the same name. Their basic principle is that a product should be designed such that it can be used for something else at the end of its original life – nylon carpet into fuel, for example.

Cradle to Cradle is one of the most rigorous of the green labels for certification of eco-friendly design products. Their standards are publicly available, and they get at the heart of the problem of sustainability for a culture of consumption.

UL Environment

UL Environment is a subsidiary of Underwriters Laboratories which helps to support sustainable  products by assisting businesses in standards development, education, as well as third-party assessment and certification.  www.ulenvironment.com

Forest Stewardship Council

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies timber and wood products as well as forest management. An international organization founded in 1993, FSC provides certification other agencies which label products and companies as green certified according to the FSC’s standards. Standards for wood include: no genetic engineering, no harvesting in conservation areas, and no harvesting from conversion of natural forests.

The FSC green label has been criticized for conflicts of interest because anyone can join the General Assembly that sets the rules, even if they have allegiances elsewhere. The certification has also been accused of not making clear distinctions between natural forests and managed forests, which are seen as little more than plantations, and standards that change too frequently.

LEED

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council is rigorous and thorough. It is still constantly being refined and updated, although professional builders often find faults with the system. To get LEED-certification on a home you must focus on things like energy efficiency, water conservation and indoor air quality. There are four levels to the LEED certification point system– Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with each one increasingly elite.

Although government buildings have been required to achieve LEED Silver or better and the USGBC works closely with the government on legislation, USGBC is a non-profit not affiliated with the federal government.

The LEED program legitimacy is well-established and the standards are strict. The program certainly encourages green design, especially the provision that awards credits for innovation.  www.usgbc.org

These are just some of the many legitimate certified green label programs.  I’ll be continuing this listing in future posts, so check back to keep learning what you need to look for and shield yourself against unscrupulous businesses.  (Subscribe to our RSS feed with the orange button on the top of the page to get them delivered directly.)

Please share your thoughts, questions and comments- I’d love to address them.

12 Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Green Design Material

Posted on 28. Sep, 2010 by Sesshu Design in Blog, carbon footprint, eco-friendly interior design, energy efficient design, green building products, green design, healthy homes, innovation, LEED, luxury design, new technology, scottsdale interior design, sustainable design, sustainable interior design, Uncategorized

A green interior design material, finish or fixture must first be a good product. Here’s what to look for even before considering a product’s green claims.

Selecting the right eco-friendly materials is one of the most important challenges you will face in building your green home. Real progress has been made by manufacturers in developing green design products and backing up their performance claims, but the question still remains – what is right for my home?

This is something I deal with on a daily basis as an interior designer committed to green interior design. There is a huge gray area between cutting edge technology and risk. You might feel you have to choose between building an eco-friendly home and wanting to ensure that your home will be comfortable and function well – without problems or extra expense.

“Green interior design is always about making choices, compromise, and setting priorities,” is what I tell my clients.  “It’s never going to be ‘perfectly green’, so you have to decide what matters to you.”  You want to feel confidence in your decisions and have the information you need to weigh the trade-offs associated with them.  Still, how do you know what is the best choice for you?

Adapted from EcoHome Magazine’s recommendations for builders and designers, here are 12 questions you should ask about any green design product you’re considering—before you make your selection:

1. How will it perform its basic function as a building material or product?
2. How does it compare with products I am considering or have used before?
3. Is it code approved for my intended use? (Ask your builder, architect or interior designer about this)
4. Is it third-party certified, or is it just a claim by the manufacturer of being eco-friendly?
5. Will it contribute toward project certification, i.e. LEED, Green Build, etc?
6. Is it available now (or will it be when I need it)?
7. How will it affect my budget?
8. Is there any uncertainty about it’s safety or performance?
9. How will it improve the level of energy efficiency, water conservation or indoor air quality of my home?
10. How will it contribute toward sustainability?
11. Will it require special installation skills or adaptations?
12. Is it worth the investment for the benefits?

After answering these 12 questions, talk with your building team to determine if the material or fixture fits within your comfort zone and meets the goals of your project.  You should also ask, “What makes this a green design product?” and “Can you verify the manufacturers’ performance claims?”  Then you can focus on the product’s green attributes and how they will integrate with the other elements of your green home.

Building a green home can be very rewarding, once you work through the layers of documentation and research to determine the best solutions.  Working with a knowledgeable, experienced design and building team will make it much easier and more enjoyable.

Handcrafted Furniture from Reclaimed Teak Creates Sweet Dreams

Posted on 13. Apr, 2010 by Sesshu Design in Blog, eco-friendly design, home decoration, local companies, luxury design, recycled, scottsdale interior design, sustainable design, sustainable interior design, woods

A hand carved chest from Jason Scott Collection

The Jason Scott Collection line of reclaimed teak wood furnishings has options that are rustic or refined, in traditional or contemporary styles.  All are beautifully hand-carved by craftsmen who have honed their skill for many years.

All the teak is reclaimed from architectural structures from Java, and then created by Javanise craftsmen who have been woodworkers for generations.

Headquartered in Phoenix since 1995, the Jason Scott Collection has become well known for the beauty the carvers find in each piece of wood and the history they preserve in each piece of furniture they create.

For more photos and examples of their work, visit their website: http://jasonscottcollection.com or contact us to commission your very own piece.

High-end Sportscars Go Green

Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by Sesshu Design in alternative energy, Blog, carbon footprint, cost of green design, eco-friendly design, electric car, geneva auto show, green design, hybrid sportscars, new technology, sustainable design, Tesla Motors, zero emission transportation

Several of the luxury sports car manufacturers have just recently announced plans to develop or introduce hybrids soon, including Porsche, Lotus, and Ferrari.  Personally, I am thrilled!  For far too long the car enthusiast had to choose between performance and fuel economy.  While the typical Ferrari owner isn’t concerned with the price of a gallon of gas, those who wanted to be conscious of the environmental consequences of their choices weren’t so lucky.

I love fast cars, and luxury models, but just couldn’t justify the measly 13-15 mpg most of these cars get.  The Tesla Roadster is a great option, but the limits of geography for repair work was a serious drawback for anyone who lives somewhere other than in California, Texas or Washington, D.C.

Being highlighted at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show , these newcomers to the green car craze are going all out.  Ferrari, which just unveiled its first hybrid: the 599 HY-KERS, designed as a ‘laboratory car’ that brings Ferrari’s latest racing technology to the streets, the vehicle features a 100hp motor linked to a kinetic energy recovery system, taken straight from last year’s Formula One program.

Porsche‘s freshly unveiled electric concept car is their first plug-in hybrid ever.  The 918 Spyder, this stealthy-looking ride supposedly gets 78 miles per gallon, has emissions of 70g CO2/km, can go 16 miles on electric charge alone, and does 0-60 in just 3.2 seconds. Oh and it’s drop-dead gorgeous too- even to a non-Porsche lover like myself.  The technology is a parallel hybrid just like the Prius except much, much sexier.

Lotus entered the field with its recently unveiled Evora 414E Hybrid concept, a sleek supercar that looks ready to take on my beloved Tesla Roadster. Lotus has used green technologies before, including the omnivore engine and the Eco Elise, and now they are getting serious about fuel efficiency. Two of the most exciting features the vehicle claims- its extended range of 300 miles and two electric motors capable of going from 0-60 in 4 seconds.

Magnificent Flooring with a Story to Tell

Posted on 30. Jan, 2009 by Sesshu Design in eco-friendly, eco-friendly interior design, green building products, green design, luxury design, reclaimed flooring, recycled, scottsdale interior design, sustainable design, sustainable interior design

One of my favorite eco-friendly products is reclaimed wood flooring, and a fantastic source here in Scottsdale is Vintage Hardwoods. They offer a wide variety of wood species sourced from the US and Australia. Reclaimed wood already has that beautiful patina of wear and a story to tell – something we often try to achieve through artificial aging processes, with sometimes less than fabulous results.

By using the wood from old barns, sheds and other structures which are going to be torn down, we save new trees from being cut down, avoid sending smoke and ash into the air (because often these buildings are burned rather than torn apart), and are able to experience some incredibly beautiful woods that may not even be around anymore.

Vintage Hardwoods resources, gathers and re-mills all their own wood. They specialize in longer planks which, while more difficult to remove from the old structures they were originally a part of, create a longer lasting and more beautiful floor. Often their wood comes from smaller structures, as well – those that many people don’t want to hassle with disassembling and transporting.

Vintage Hardwoods uses water based stains and low VOC glues to finish and install the planks in your rooms. Each installation is provided a plaque that identifies the wood species and where it was sourced from, as well as the approximate date of its first use.

By its nature, reclaimed wood is always unique and available in limited quantities. Some of my favorites are shown below.

Reclaimed Australian Sheep Wood

We call it “sheep wood” because it is authentic floor planking removed from original sheep shearing facilities and wool sheds in Western Australia. The white gum species were used because their extreme hardness and durability were able to withstand the constant traffic of the sheep.
We locate this wood, import it and then restore it in our mill. We preserve it’s original character while revealing a new beautiful complexion. The result is a luxurious floor reminiscent of the frontier days of the outback.
Woods from these eucalyptus families are beautiful and elegant. They are characterized by a smooth, creamy grain and original nail holes darkened by decomposed nails. The natural color is a light reddish brown with hints of chocolate.

Reclaimed Australian Spotted Gum

Historically, spotted gum was used in Australia for construction piles and shipbuilding. Its long fibers give it an excellent “power to weight” ratio and high resilience. The original timbers came from Australia’s east coast in a section from the far south to Queensland. Spotted gum has varied grain patterns and colors ranging from light mocha to pale blond with peach undertones.

Reclaimed Vintage Oak

For hundreds of years oak has been used to build barns and warehouses. Oak is a popular choice for reclaimed flooring because of its very fine grain patterns, interesting knots, and nail holes with mineral stains left by decomposed nails. Other characteristics include saw marks, hairline cracks, and occasional worm holes. Reclaimed oak has beautiful nut-like tones ranging from a deep mocha to light cream.

Reclaimed Vintage Heart Pine

With its strength and durability, heart pine was used extensively in shipbuilding, as well as for houses, barns, factories and warehouses. The supply of this wood is limited because the old-growth yellow pine trees were all cut down by the early 1930s. This beautiful reclaimed flooring is characterized by its varied grain patterns and unique colors of light gold, shades of red, orange, brown, and dark honey. The dramatic coloration is created by an oxidation process; the planks change color as they are exposed to season after season of heat, cold, snow and rain. The planks expand and contract as they go through the seasons, becoming harder as the colors deepen. The sapwood begins to crystallize and deepen in color. Other characteristics of reclaimed heart pine include knots, nail holes, mineral stains and occasional saw marks.

Reclaimed Vintage Sycamore

The hearty sycamore tree has the largest leaf of any tree native to North America. It was used primarily for barns built in the mid 1800′s. The sapwood of sycamore is white to light yellow, while the heartwood is light to medium brown. This beautiful wood has a fine, close texture with an interlocking grain. Reclaimed sycamore is characterized by its light, creamy color, dark knots, nail holes with mineral stains and occasional saw marks.

Green fabrics come in all colors

Posted on 29. Jan, 2009 by Sesshu Design in bamboo, eco-friendly, eco-friendly interior design, fabrics, green building products, green design, luxury design, recyclable, recycled, scottsdale interior design, sustainable, sustainable design, sustainable interior design

Brentano Fabrics has added a new label to their line which features exclusive eco-friendly textiles in a variety of styles, and materials. Their commitment to a green awareness while still designing with beauty and performance in mind led to the creation of Brentano Green, which includes both woven textiles and faux leathers.

The Brentano Green labeled materials are qualified with the following criteria:
Raw Materials must have either biodegradable or recycled content
Process evaluation of the dying and weaving as well as other environmental aspects in manufacturing the textiles
Facility & Social Responsibility accounting for working conditions, public health and green programs

The eco-fabrics are made from bamboo, eco-intelligent polyester, eco-wool, 100% post consumer recycled polyester and biodegradable polyurethane. In 1993, Brentano was searching for an alternative to environmentally harmful leather and vinyl textiles. After learning about polyurethane, they made the decision not to produce either leather or vinyl products, instead developing beautiful and environmentally friendly faux leathers.

Bamboo is 100% biodegradable and a rapidly renewable resource. It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Bamboo also has the ability to absorb carbon dioxide and produces a large amount of oxygen as it grows.

Brentano’s Eco-intelligent Polyester is MBDC Cradle to Cradle Gold rated and part of a closed loop system designed to be upcycled (after use, it can be recovered and remanufactured safely and effectively). It is manufactured using 100% hydro-power.

Eco-wool is a naturally environmentally friendly fiber that requires less water and fewer pesticides than linen or cotton. The fibers have almost no toxic residues and it is compliant with EU Eco-label standards, Environmental Choice New Zealand certified and the mill is ranked Enviro-Mark Silver.

100% Post consumer Recycled Polyester if rated MBDC Cradle to Cradle Silver. Using post consumer polyester fibers preserves virgin oil, reducing use of this natural resource. The fabric is recyclable and the dyestuffs contain no harmful chemicals or heavy metals.

Faux Leather is made from biodegradable polyurethane, it is naturally soft and flexible and does not require plasticizers often used to soften vinyl or heavy metals used to tan leather.

Brentano Fabrics are available through your designer.

Celebrating 40 years with new Eco-Friendly Collections

Posted on 22. Jan, 2009 by Sesshu Design in eco-friendly, eco-friendly interior design, green design, locally made, luxury design, scottsdale interior design, sustainable, sustainable design, sustainable interior design, wallcoverings

Maya Romanoff, the artistic creator of the luxury wallcovering line by the same name utilizes both ancient and new production techniques. He has created some of the most innovative and exotic surfacing materials available -everything from glass bead and seashell encrusted papers to vinyls and inlaid wood veneers.

The design philosophy of the Maya Romanoff company, based in Chigaco, is simple: It has to be beautiful. While everything they design is governed by their collective definition of beautiful, Maya remains the ultimate decision maker, guiding color choices, and pattern repeats based on his feeling for what is most pleasing to the eye. The company also likes to support American jobs – more than 50% of Maya Romanoff’s wall coverings and surfacing materials are made in their Chicago studio by long-term employees. “Instead of exporting jobs to India and Asia, we export wallpaper, says Laura.

Their products are consistently intriguing and increasingly eco-friendly. Existing collections include: the Mother of Pearl wallcovering made from a thin layer of Capiz sea shells; Bedazzled, a wallcovering featuring glass beads; and True Metals, flexible tiles of brass, copper or aluminum.

What all these have in common is that they are flexible and made of natural materials. We strip away the unnecessary finishes so the material itself can be appreciated. The glass beads are right there on the surface; nothing covers our woods; and there’s only a thin layer of varnish on the seashells, explains Laura Romanoff, daughter of the firm’s founder.

In honor of their 40th Anniversary this year, they’ll be releasing the Meditations collection-an entirely green product made of Tibetan prayer papers and produced without electricity, and putting a more contemporary spin on the existing collections.

A very exciting new addition to the line is Sunburst, a wood veneer made of Paulownia, a fig tree that is flexible and fast renewing. Sunburst is part of the Ajiro collection, a product which recently received Interior Design Magazine’s Best of Year award. The veneer’s extraordinary hand-inlaid pattern and sustainable aspects make it an ideal product for today’s eco-conscious luxury homes.

The Maya Romanoff company has never been a slave to design trends, but instead creates products with the timeless appeal of natural materials. With this focus, Maya Romanoff will certainly be celebrating many more anniversaries in the years ahead.

Maya Romanoff wallcoverings are available exclusively through the Trade – contact your designer for samples, pricing and ordering.

Perfect Harmony

Posted on 21. Jan, 2009 by Sesshu Design in eco-friendly, green design, luxury design, mountain architecture, sustainable, sustainable design

A Montana home resonates with the surrounding land as much as it does with the owner’s heart

This beautiful sustainable home is in harmony with its surroundings due to some careful thought and planning by the homeowner and her designer. She liked the look and feel of NY lofts but also wanted something that fit in with the farms that dot the landscape around her home.

The result is that her place looks like it has been part of the landscape for ages. The designers’ challenge wasn’t limited to a farmhouse exterior look- the homeowner asked that the interior have the feeling of a New York City loft.
“The two ideas may have seemed totally incongruous to some, but these design pros quickly found common ground. Some real creativity came out of thinking about how to marry the two concepts, says [the designer]. [The owner] wanted to use as many sustainable materials as possible, and I thought about the post-and-beam aspect of city lofts; I used to live in New York, so I had a pretty immediate reference to that. We thought if we could have the house come out of the idea of a barn structure, which is also typically post-and-beam, that [construction technique] could be our common departure point, she explains. While it would look like an outbuilding, it would only reference one, not replicate one.”

- for more see the article in Mountain Living Magazine, November/December 2008 issue

Amazing Glass (Tiles)

Posted on 20. Jan, 2009 by Sesshu Design in eco-friendly, eco-friendly interior design, glass, green design, luxury design, recycled, scottsdale interior design, sustainable design, sustainable interior design, tiles

Just found these 100% recycled glass tiles from Bedrock Industries – they use only post-industrial and post-consumer glass and NO added oxides or colorants. Each tile is handmade, creating a distinctive appearance and wonderful color variations.

These are available through designers and tile showrooms nationwide. People have used them in many creative and unique ways – I love the idea of using them on the porch transom to create wonderful light play outside.

The tiles are available in many sizes, shapes, designs and colors – there is sure to be one that fits your style whether that is traditional or modern.
You can bet I will be specifying them somewhere in upcoming projects!

A Green Idea for Gift Wrapping

Posted on 22. Dec, 2008 by Sesshu Design in eco-friendly, gifts, green building products, green design, green living tips, luxury design, recycled, sustainable design

While it makes a fun tradition, gift-wrapping packages with paper and tape is an inherently unsustainable practice: think of all the paper and ribbon that goes into the trash each holiday season for the sake of making presents pretty.

Here’s a lovely green gift-wrap idea: wrap your present in a silk scarf this year! Not only do scarves make beautiful, easy gift wrap that requires no tape or scissors – but the durability and multiple uses of scarves mean that the gift-wrap itself becomes part of the present that can be worn and reused again and again.

BOBO wrapping scarves are silk scarves that are designed for the express purpose of wrapping presents. They can mold into a variety of shapes and the cloth material can be re-used over and over again.

Luxury Recycling

Posted on 15. Feb, 2008 by Sesshu Design in eco-friendly, eco-friendly interior design, green building products, green design, luxury design, recycled, recycling, scottsdale interior design, sustainable design, sustainable interior design

Here’s a juicy little tidbit you probably didn’t know -

Nearly 85 percent of all the gold ever mined is still being used today. Because it has been highly valued throughout history, it has always been recycled.

(Source: Discover Magazine)