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Eco Designs
Top Design, Episode Six: "Eco-Offices"
In the latest episode of Top Design, the remaining designers tackled a project near and dear to my heart: renovating a space in a green fashion. Guest judge Danny Seo, whose green designs and ideas I love, offered the contestants advice on remembering the R words (reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, and be resourceful, among others) in their spaces.
The designers were challenged to use all materials in the office (including ugly desks and bad carpet).
Eco-Friendly Outlet Banishes Power Vampires For Good
Vampire power month may be over (how appropriate that it was in October, no?), but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying to find ways to reduce our electric bills! We are living in a digital world, which means nearly everything needs to be juiced up to work. I've already got my laptop working overtime at the office and at home, so you can imagine that I'm a pretty powerful energy vampire on my own.
Before and After: Landscape Makeovers From SB Garden Design
For over 10 years, Stephanie Bartron and her team at SB Garden Design have been transforming West Coast outdoor spots into livable, lush spaces. With a focus on sustainable residential design, the firm also offers design consulting and garden coaching. See some of the dramatic before and after photos from the firm's portfolio.
This (New) Home: Summa Canum, the Obama Dog House
Perfect for a dog living in the actual White House, the eco-tastic Sustainable Pet Design created this habitat as a gift for the Obama family's future pet. Consisting of donated materials as part of Project Summa Canum (Latin for "top dog"), the house even has presidential origins – it's made with wood from Tennessee Aromatic Cedar trees that Andrew Jackson planted along the driveway of his estate, The Hermitage. This white house looks pretty amazing – see the sandblasted logo on the back – and I can't wait to find out what kind of pooch will be living inside!
Preview Metropolitan Home's Modern by Design Showhome in San Francisco
Yesterday, I toured Metropolitan Home's Modern by Design showhome in San Francisco, a historic, 7,700-square-foot house in the heart of the exclusive Pacific Heights neighborhood, which has been transformed into an exquisite example of contemporary design with the help of a savvy developer and a handful of the country's top designers.
The house, known as "Baker Acres," was originally built in 1904 as a single-family home, but over the years has served as a boarding house for service men and women, a guest house for recent graduates and San Francisco transfers, and a hotel. Along the way, the building's exquisite architectural details, grand rooms, and dramatic staircase were destroyed, and the home was stripped down to a shell.
Designer Spotlight: Susan Woo
Susan Woo is new in fashion town so let's welcome her. The designer received her BS in fashion design and business, then put her degree to practice at Louis Vuitton, Derek Lam, and Chanel. Not bad.
Casa Verde: Ali Sandifer Studio
If you love the streamlined look of midcentury modern furniture, but want something that looks at home in your 21st century home, take a look at Ali Sandifer Studio. A furniture company based out of Chicago, Ali Sandifer Studio creates modern, beautifully designed furniture from sustainable sources.
Another thoughtful element of this furniture is that storage — a must-have in modern homes — is integrated into much of the furniture.
Simple Soda Bottle Bird Feeder Isn't Squirrel-Friendly
Back in 1984, a designer by the name of Norman Earl created the aptly-named Soda Bottle Bird Feeder ($15). The cast zinc contraption seen on the right is an eco-tastic solution — simply fill any two-liter plastic jug with seed to feed chickadees, robins, and other birds that favor hanging feeders. Better yet, it solidly screws on to keep those unwanted four-legged pests guests like squirrels out of the flutter's dining establishment.
Green Habitats from Petchitecture 2008!
As you can tell from the partying pet piccys, this year's Petchitecture event was not only eco-friendly, but totally fun as well. The unique fundraiser to support the PAWS organization featured specially designed habitats that were auctioned off and all had two things in mind: pets and Mother Earth. Thankfully, that nod to the planet extended all the way to the inner workings of the event itself, which cut its mailed invites from 10,000 to 1,500 (printed on 100 percent recycled paper with soy-based ink), eliminated event programs, and had any posters printed on recycled paper as well.As for the designs, this one by William Duff Architects was my fave – with a solar device that cools the inside – perfect for your cat or small-sized pooch.
Casa Verde: Sleek and Green Furniture
Environment Furniture Inc. creates compellingly sleek furniture that's also notable for its eco-conscious design. Located in Los Angeles, the company sources much of its furniture from reclaimed and recycled wood.
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