A re-post of a great blog post by our former design assistant Tammy Romer. We love educating our clients to think beyond the granite slab. Great information to share.
Eco-Friendly Bathroom Ideas
S Interior Design is pleased to bring you this guest post on ideas to help make your bathroom environment eco-friendly. Like any room or space in a home or office, using materials derived from nature (cotton, linen, plant-based), versus chemical compounds is taking a step in the right direction. So forego the PVC vinyls and harsh chemical cleaners. When it is time to replace your toilets, look for low water usage or dual flush options which are readily available. And don’t forget your lighting options-go LED for long-lasting beautiful light, and whenever possible day light from windows or Solatubes.
How to Keep your Bathroom Eco-Friendly
If living in an eco-friendly world is important to you, then it’s time to start with your own home. Which room do you utilize the most? Other than the kitchen, the bathroom comes in at a close second. This is a great place to start, though you may not consider it at first.
TheEnvironmentSite.org suggests, “… You will be amazed how much you could do to make your bathroom more environmentally friendly. This can start with the cleaning products you use end with how much water you use for flushing your toilet.” From cleaning supplies, to your basic bathroom items, you can go green from every angle.
DIY Cleaning Ideas
Photo Credit: onyxdistribution.com
If you feel ready to take this project into your own hands, get ready to make your own cleaners. Utilizing many products that you may already have in your house, this is an easy task that’s worth taking on. Not convinced? Care2.com says, “Ounce for ounce homemade cleaning formulas cost about one-tenth the price of their commercial counterpart.” Time to get started; here are your basic formulas.
- Shower: Baking soda and water or lemon juice and vinegar.
- Mirror: Mix vinegar and water – 2 tablespoons of vinegar to a whole gallon of water.
- Clogged drain: Put half cup of baking soda into your drain and wash it down with 2 cups of boiling water.
- Toilet cleaner: Baking soda, washing soda, distilled vinegar, liquid soap and tree oil
Buying the Right Cleaners
If DIY cleaning isn’t your thing, you can head to your local grocery store to find some eco-friendly products. Because environmental awareness is on the rise, almost every bathroom cleaning company offers recycled or earth friendly options. Before making your purchase however, look for these key ingredients. Greenhome.com suggests looking for:
- Avoid any cleaner with phosphates or chlorine, which are harmful to people.
- Look for plant born ingredients such as d-limonene or lauramine oxide.
Eco-Friendly Bathroom Items
Photo Credit: theuptown.net
While you may consider keeping your cleaning supplies eco-friendly, it’s important that your bathroom is green all over. That means you want to be stocked with all the right products. You can find all your basic bathroom necessities in organic, recycled or bamboo materials which are better for your bathroom, your family and the environment.
- Natural fabric shower curtain: The plastic curtains that eek that ever-recognizable “plastic smell” are made with PVC and should be avoided. Find naturally made curtains in your local home goods store.
- Recycled toilet paper: Many mainstream companies now offer recycled version of their traditional product, such as Seventh Generation.
- Towels: Find bamboo and organic materials. According to Bliss.com, “Both are better for you and the environment because they aren’t made from plants sprayed with insecticides and pesticides and often use low-impact dyes.”
If you’re serious about going eco-friendly in the bathroom, there are a number of ways to incorporate bits and pieces or go the whole way. From cleaners to your everyday necessities like towels, you can do your part for the world while making a healthier environment for yourself, your family and visitors.
Sara Fletcher enjoys learning about all aspects of the home ranging from affordable double vanities, interior design, and green furniture. She one day hopes to build her own dream home, complete with luxury bathroom vanities.
WALLS That Satisfy a Sweet Tooth
Here at S Interior Design we are always on the look out for unique and environmentally friendly options to use in our design projects. When we were asked to take a look at this product, it got an A+ rating on both counts. So, we are pleased to share with you, and promote the product for the manufacturer.
That’s right –these are eco friendly 3d-wallpanels made out of Sugarcane bagasse
Eco 3d-wallpanels give an extra dimension to your walls!
WallArt will bring your walls to life with their eco friendly 3d-wallpanels made out of the fibrous residue of sugarcane also called bagasse. This fibres of crushed sugarcane stalks, remaining after raw sugar is extracted from the juice of the sugarcane by shredding it, is now the raw material that forms the base of this easily installed eco friendly interior product. The raw material used for WallArt 3d-wallpanels is 100% recycled, compostable and therefore 100% biodegradable.
WallArt 3d wall panels are all made out of a renewable source which is biodegradable and therefore contribute to sustainability. Bagasse, as a residue of sugarcane, is one of the world’s most renewable sources because sugarcane can be harvested up to 3 times a year. The total harvest worldwide is more than 1.2 billion metric tons yearly and out of each 3 ton of sugarcane there remains 1 ton of bagasse. By using this recycled raw material we can say this 3d-wallpaper is a real eco decor product.
WallArt introduced their 3d-wallcovering in Europe in 2011. They’ve been the first entering the market with this eco friendly home decor and interior product. At this moment there are 12 different models of the WallArt 3d wall panels available, for more information about WallArt and their 3d decorating wall panels please go to their website www.mywallart.com and check it out. WallArt 3d decorative wall panels are not only environmentally friendly but the 3d effect give an extra dimension to your walls!
www.mywallart.com
A Guide to the Latest Interior Design Trends for Flooring in Your Home
When we were approached to host this guest blog, about one of our favorite topics, flooring, we jumped at the idea. Choosing the proper flooring from a functional and aesthetic point of view (always consider both!) is one of the most important items when re-modeling or simply re-decorating. Selecting the perfect hard or soft flooring helps to bring a room together and to unify the overall design. Sometimes for us, it all starts with the flooring and we design-out from there.
The three biggest current trends in the flooring industry are reviewed in this post and there is a suggestion that we are entering a new and hopefully more positive atmosphere with regard to consumer attitudes and desires.
Sustainable flooring is now a particularly important issue to a lot of people, and as a result, manufacturers are focusing on eco-friendly ranges and consumers are now certainly taking the environment in to consideration with their purchase, and thereby making a statement at the same time as acquiring a beautiful floor covering.
There maybe a few signs that the end of the recession may be in sight, in any case, consumers are looking to make plans to improve their surroundings and maintain or even raise the value and desirability of their homes. This is prompting a welcome increase again in new homes being built and a rise in home renovations, both requiring new flooring and pushing demand higher.
It seems to be a more widely held belief that products such as solid wood floors and high quality carpets will add to the value of your home and these choices are now seen as an investment rather than just a purchase.
With brighter news for the economy and the environment there is no surprise that the flooring style of the moment is all about bright colors.
Although interior design trends have mainly focused on neutral shades in recent years the mood and purpose for home improvements has changed and fewer people are now decorating with the intention to sell and are now more likely to want to put their own personal touches to a home.
Selecting flooring in your home is significant because the color, texture and pattern of the floor will set the mood for the rest of the room’s design. Many designers call their designing model the “floor-up” model for this very reason. When selecting a color, texture and pattern for your floor, consider the overall design you wish to pursue in a room, and select flooring that will compliment the walls, trim work and furniture.
If you are a person who changes furnishings often, you are best advised to select a neutral floor, which will easily work into any decor. This will protect you from purchasing a new floor to fit in with your design change. Ideally, a floor like hardwood could be purchased to accent the room’s trim. These floors typically look good with any furnishings. Select a hardwood that is a shade lighter, or a shade darker than the wooden trim in the room to give the room depth, and create distinction between trim and the floor. Generally, dark woods with a high sheen are considered appropriate for formal rooms, like a dining room, while lighter woods with a more natural finish are preferred in rooms with a rustic decor, or a less formal purpose, like the living room.
In an area where there is heavy traffic, or where there is a risk of water damage, avoid both wood and carpet. Instead select a tile, laminate, or vinyl flooring that will both hold up well to use and clean easily. In a bathroom, take the time to look at the permanent fixtures. If they are bright white, the floor is an opportunity to include a splash of color. If the existing fixtures contain color, a more neutral flooring is appropriate and will prevent clashing.
In an area like the kitchen, there are a lot of other design elements to consider when selecting a floor. Most importantly, the counter tops and cabinet fronts should be considered. Also, if the kitchen has canister sets, family heirloom kitchen elements or other existing decor, the colors already present in the room should be considered. Select flooring that can be worked into the room in other ways. If you are laying large tile, find one that is similar too or complements a small tile that can be used as a backsplash. If you are laying laminate, take a sample of your countertops and look for a laminate flooring that closely coordinates in terms of texture and color.
No matter what furniture and decor is in the room, remember that the floor takes up one-sixth of the visual space, more than any other uninterrupted space, with the exception of the ceiling. Select a flooring that ties all the furniture, decor and natural elements of a room together. Try to find flooring that contains the same color palate as the walls, the room trim, or the furniture. Avoid colors that are too bold, especially in small spaces where they will become overwhelming. Consider the room’s natural or artificial light source, and consider how that will affect the appearance of the flooring after it is installed. Finally, take home samples of the flooring and see how it looks in the room before purchasing enough to do the whole space.
About Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID
Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID, is the owner and founder of S Interior Design, the exclusive provider of Pawprint Design Services™. Suzanne works with her clients to develop a winning combination of design elements that result in warm, comfortable and functional spaces that reflect each client’s personal style. Suzanne and her team specialize in residential, contract and hospitality interior design, from simple color selections, to office build outs, to restaurant, spa and hotel designs. Suzanne shares her years of expertise through the power of social media. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and at this blog. To speak to Suzanne about your interior design needs, please call 480-220-4659 or visit her website at www.sinteriordesign.com.
Keeping Your Period Home Cozy Without Compromising on Style
Do you live in an older house? If so, you might feel like the winter cold is straining your heating budget. This guest blog gives those who treasure their period style homes some great ideas on how to create energy efficiencies without changing the styling of your fabulous home.
Making a beautiful old house more energy efficient can be difficult. Victorian and Georgian buildings are notorious for leaking heat and letting in the cold. But no one wants to compromise on style. So the question is, how do you make your house green and beautiful?
Here are some simple energy efficient solutions for period homes.
Eco Friendly Sash Windows
Often one of the first things to go when trying to make your home more energy efficient are the beautiful sash windows. Especially with so many double-glazing salesmen knocking on doors! But now you can get double-glazed and energy efficient sash windows with a U value of at least 0.8. However, they can be pricey. The good news is that a recent study by the English Heritage has shown that by simply getting your sash windows repaired you can reduce heat leaks by as much as a third. And if you add draft proofing you can improve the efficiency by as much as 86%.
Stunning doors that lock the heat in
Normally when we think of energy efficient front doors it conjures up images of ugly white plastic. Not exactly in keeping with the style of a period home. But this needn’t be the case. Most good composite door manufacturers provide you with a choice of period styles ranging from Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian to contemporary. In addition to the style you should also be spoiled for choice in the color department. But, best of all, they should all have low U value scores (the measurement of heat transfer) of 1.0W/(m2.K) giving them and your home great thermal performance.
Cavity insulation
Post 1920s houses are likely to have cavity walls so filling them with insulation can boost efficiency and shouldn’t affect the outside look. But with older walls there’s little that can be done without hiding away the beautiful stone or timber work. The good news is that a recent survey conducted by SPAB showed that 79% of old walls including timber, cob, limestone and slate retained heat better than expected. If you do choose to insulate your walls, make sure you choose a suitable material. Older walls need to “breathe” to function properly and a non-breathable material could cause damp problems down the line.
Attic insulation
Of course no one is going to see this so you don’t have to worry about style. But if you’re keen on keeping it contemporary to the period of the building you might consider insulating with sheep’s wool. It breathes naturally and unlike some man-made insulating materials won’t cause problems with damp.
This article was brought to you by Nick Williams and Yale Door. Yale Door manufactures new composite front doors; each door complies with strict U-value legislation and looks outstanding.
About Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID
Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID, is the owner and founder of S Interior Design, the exclusive provider of Pawprint Design Services™. Suzanne works with her clients to develop a winning combination of design elements that result in warm, comfortable and functional spaces that reflect each client’s personal style. Suzanne and her team specialize in residential, contract and hospitality interior design, from simple color selections, to office build outs, to restaurant, spa and hotel designs. Suzanne shares her years of expertise through the power of social media. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and at this blog. To speak to Suzanne about your interior design needs, please call 480-220-4659 or visit her website at www.sinteriordesign.com.