Notes

Interior Design Trends
When I think about decorating trends today, a number of things come to mind. I see more and more people residing in their homes longer and buying upgrading what they have and to make their home adjust to their changing lifestyle. Clients are replacing windows, trim, baseboards and adding cove moldings to the ceiling. They're removing carpet and exposing or installing hardwood floors. Faux paint finishes on the walls are replacing wallpapers, especially in bathrooms.

Previously most clients were decidedly traditional: Queen Ann, cherry wood, polished and purposeful or very contemporary: modern, clean lines, austere or country collectible: cluttered, cutesy and charming. Now I enjoy working with clients wanting to mix the best of all these styles. Antiques, collectables and mid-century modern working together and creating an eclectic look could be enjoyed in a timeless and less trendy way.

Today's biggest trend is more then a passing fad. The buzz of building green, friendly to the environment, sustainable design is everywhere you turn. T V programs, newspapers, magazines, books, conferences and expo centers are devoting time, energy and space to the idea: You can make a difference in how to live your everyday activity and how it impacts the earth your home is on. As you feel more aware of the surroundings, look around your home, do you see areas that need attention? Exactly what will be your next remodeling project? How do you want to proceed, knowing that when you upgrade, it'll produce waste and things you no longer need? Where will the debris go? And the items you select to displace the worn out, no more needed, where will they result from? How are they made? What resources are used to produce the item? Here is the first step to being green. That's: To become aware.

For example: You have become sick and tired of your dated 1970's kitchen. The hardware is pitted; there is a build-up of scum or missing finish on the cabinets, some of the drawers are don't close properly, the counter tops are scratched and stained. Cabinets can simply be re-purposed. Meaning they could become extra storage in the basement, garage or craft room. Another option is to add wood veneers to existing "boxes" alongside new doors, drawers, and hardware to generate an updated choose a fraction of the expense of new cabinets. Local non-profits, such as for example Building Hope, will need your unwanted, but salvageable cabinets (along with other building materials). You do your part to keep your cabinets out from the land fill, helping a non-profit and obtaining a tax write off for carrying it out!

Recycled content paper, glass or granite chips incorporated into a concrete like binder, are popular options for counter tops. Use low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds-bad for the health) paints and finishes. Renewable or sustainable flooring: cork, bamboo, or linoleum are becoming more available and priced competitively with traditional vinyl options. Replace inefficient appliances with Energy Star Appliances, standards set by the united states Department of Energy. "If just one single in 10 homes used Energy Star qualified appliances, the change would be like planting 1.7 million new acres of trees". WOW!

REMEMBER TO: REUSE, REDUCE AND RECYCLE

Consider: "Could someone else need this or uses this?" Before you throw it away
Purchase quality, long lasting, durable products and appliances
Search for recycled or sustainable content products: flooring, countertops, fabrics, wallpaper
Request FSC-Forest Stewardship Council wood and paper products, That is a nonprofit organization that certifies the merchandise produced are from responsibly managed forests
Buy locally. Just how much fossil fuel is used to obtain the product to you?
Consider adaptive reuse - Antiques, re-upholster furniture, repurposed items
Use lighting and day light better. Turn lights off when you aren't with them. Use compact fluorescent bulbs, LED (leds), dimmer switches on incandescent bulbs or install light tubes
Use low or no VOC paints and finishes
Turn off and/or unplug appliances and computers you should definitely in use. They are phantom energy eaters
Use earth friendly /non-toxic cleaning products
Bring fresh air into your home or business
Buy carbon offsets, contribute to groups that plant trees or spend money on renewable energy-a voluntary tax to make up for the fossil fuels we eat
Home design trends today are often incorporated into our everyday living. Weather it is to re-purpose an existing piece of furniture or to bring oxygen and day light into your house. By becoming more eco-friendly, you are doing your part to lessen energy consumption as well as your carbon footprint. Therefore reduces global warming, conserves our finite natural resources and saves your money by using less energy. When choosing to work with Erin O'Brien and Erin Designs, LLC, together you can create beautiful, healthier, greener places to call home and work.

By Erin O'Brien
Allied Member - American Society of Interior Design

Erin O'Brien, Allied Member of ASID-American Society of Interior Designers and owner of Erin Designs LLC, is focused on understanding the environmental impact of all her home design projects. By incorporating "Green Building" practices.

Creating healthy, beautiful interiors
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