Not your ordinary kitchen sink

Are you familiar with apron front sinks?  They are usually installed in traditional kitchens, country kitchens and summer homes.  This year, APRON FRONT SINKS ARE BACK with zest!  And they are significantly different than the existing styles.  Some apron front sinks require custom made cabinets that can support 200 pounds!  Hand made sinks can have enough variance in dimensions that you have to wait until the sink arrives to start building the custom cabinet. NOT THESE NEW SINKS. 

Straight from KBIS (annual Kitchen and Bath show), is the new Apron-Front sink from Kohler; the Whitehaven self trimming under mount sink.  Kohler is smart;  they made this sink for both new construction and for remodelers.  This new, clean lined sink is available with both a 9" and a 7"  front that can fit into an existing 36" sink cabinet.  Available in all the standard colors it comes with a counter top cutout template for "perfect, predictable  installation results." 

  

I am REALLY excited about the new Vault sink.  This is a Contemporary Apron-Front Sink. Isn't that an oxymoron?  This sink is sweet, clean lined, under mount and contemporary.  PLUS, if one of your objections to apron-front sinks is the single basin feature, wait no more.  Kohler is smart again, they have a version of the Vault that has a low divide, providing division, but still retaining the apron-front sink look.   Even sweeter, they come with a metal bottom basin rack at no extra charge!  I'm sold!

For more information on the Vault sink visit our 'Featured Products' page on this website. 

I look forward to hearing your comments and responses to these products.  Please email, call or respond to this blog! 206.517.4424   Ciao!

Banquette Seating expands useable space

update to blog of February 28, 2010

I'm a big proponent of maximizing the space you are given. Banquette seating is great for the home with the 'small' eating space in the kitchen that really is never big enough for a table and four chairs.  Some people have very small dining rooms that also have the same challenge.     

We just finished a recent project that had this issue.  The clients wanted to be able to seat 8-10 people in their dining space.  We designed/built a banquette that fits nicely under the window sill, coordinates with the other furnishings in the home and accommodates the heat vent.  Plus, the fabric selected is anti-microbial and stain resistant!  A channel in the base funnels the heat from the duct on the wall to the new vent cover in the toe kick.

Both the seats and the back have springs in them similar to commercial grade restaurant booths keeping them comfortable but firm.   The fabric is pulled tight (no loose cushions) and there is a coordinating welt that marries the back of the cushion to the wall.  This contemporary style fits in nicely with the decor and architecture of the home.  It looks like it was meant to be there  - which is what we want.  :)

We have added Banquette Seating to our featured products page, as I am a proponent of locally made custom seating that maximizes space!     As usual, contact me with questions, Chiao!

Green Talk - Nature's Free Energy

Can I ask a dumb question? Since we are YET AGAIN in an crisis over the cost of ENERGY, both in dollars and in the effect on our environment, (nuclear radiation, oil spills), why are we not maximizing the FREE energy of the sun and rain? 

Yes, I know, solar panels are expensive and rainwater harvesting systems can also be pricey.   Plus, I have been informed that our electrical bills are 'too cheap,' and our water and sewage bills are 'too low' to make it worthwhile to conserve water and electricity.    Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't we built big damns to generate this cheap energy?  Damns that destroy our wildlife and block salmon and other fish upstream to spawn?  Also, we (taxpayers of King County),  have built a new sewage treatment plant so 'we need to use it' since we have already paid to have it constructed.  That's like saying we 'can't afford' to recycle because we built a new landfill and we have to fill it up. What is wrong with this?Rainwater storage tanks that will be buried

I'd rather invest in solar energy and rainwater harvesting at my home than pay for a bigger sewage plant.  How can a regular home owner afford solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems?  Our government could offer heavy tax credits for the installation of these systems into homes.   The home owner would benefit by receiving an energy harvesting installation (sun and water) along with ETERNAL SAVINGS on utility bills.  Germany does it. That's why Germany is so energy independent.  Why can't we do it?  What, you say? Our government can't afford to give us tax credits?  Then why are we currently giving $35 BILLION in tax breaks to the oil companies?  Just tell me why.  I'd really like to know.

Comments can be posted at /design-inspirations-blog/2011/4/11/green-talk-natures-free-energy.html#comments  

Stormwater - Stormwater is a big polluter in our area.  Stormwater is rain and snow melt that runs off surfaces such as rooftops, paved streets, highways, and parking lots. As water runs off these surfaces, it can pick up pollution such as: oil, fertilizers, pesticides, soil, trash, and animal waste. When stormwater goes into a storm drain, it is not treated. It goes directly into Washington waters. Rainwater harvesting and treatment reduces stormwater pollution.

Why are kitchens layouts so Mid-Century?

Have you ever wondered why and who decided that all the washing of the dishes is going to be at the same location as where you wash and peel your vegetables, which is usually the same location as your garbage disposal, which is usually the same location as your garbage can (under the sink) ? I'm sure it made sense 50 years ago or so, but why do we continue with old traditions that do not work any more?

Is there a reason why the layout cannot reflect the way we prep, clean and cook in the 21st century? NO! Let's move forward with our lives! Let's make our environments work for us, not the other way around!

It makes sense to separate the 'prep' area from the 'clean up' area.  The clean up area can have the large sink, and dishwasher.  The garbage can should be in a 'pull out' by the clean up area NOT under the sink.  The pull out garbage unit should have TWO bins, one for regular garbage and a second one for recycling.

The 'prep' area should have it's own sink such as the Crevasse  from Kohler.   This has been my favorite sink (and an under appreciated one)since it came out a couple years ago.  You can scrape your scraps right off the cutting board into the narrow sink drain which is compatible with all garbage disposal styles.  Plus you can either center that sink on an island allowing access for two people across from another, or, you can pull that sink closer to you towards the edge of the counter.  You can also straddle the sink with the cutting board and toss your scraps off on the side into the sink.  All sorts of options! One push of a button and 'whoosh!' water flows down the angled sink, bring all the scraps into the garbage disposal.  Now that's progress!

Plus, I'm sure you Seattle-ites know that I didn't forget the composting garbage bin!  This type of garbage should be located by the 'prep' area NOT at the main sink.  Check out this model whose lid opens and the entire unit slides forward as the door is opened.  No more food marks on the lid!  As you know, the tops are important in order to contain the small of these bins.  The inner container has a built-in handle for easy removal.  All of these composting bins are necessarily small, because you just do not want to have that much food rotting in your house.

Now don't get me started on refrigeration!

Contact me (206) 517-4424 if you have questions or more solutions! Ciao!

Sustainability & Interior Design Articles

I've been writing a monthly column about sustainable interior design called "Green Talk"  for around two years.  The main audience has been interior designers, but I now realize that the content may be of interest to any and all of my clients and customers.  From now on I will post the article on this blog for your reading pleasure.  For past articles I have posted links to /publications-press/  The following is the February issue of

GREEN TALK

Take care of Nature or Nature will take care of you.

Alicia Silva, Allied ASID, LEED AP, used to say that polluting our environment is like "peeing in the swimming pool." Even if you were not the person who peed in the swimming pool, you are part of humanity that has to swim in it. As our world gets smaller, we are increasingly aware that we are all connected. When one person pees in the pool, we all have to swim in it. From the scarcity of certain shellfish to controversies on oil drilling and our dependency on oil, to social conflict half way around the world, we share our joys and pains with the rest of the world, and they with us. Our "green" movement has to encompass more than just us, be bigger than the Northwest, and cover more territory than the United States. It really HAS to be a global movement.

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece
of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by
the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's
death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and
therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for
thee." 

– John Donne

Selecting Counters for your Kitchen

Remodeling a kitchen is a big project and selecting the right counter can make or break your project.   The three main considerations that everyone needs to address are:

a)  Durability/wear ability

b)  Installed Price

c)  Color & patterning in relation to other materials in your kitchen

For kitchen counters the durability debate has been between granite and quartz with stainless steel and marble being thrown by the wayside. (picture:  Vyara Gold granite counter)

QUARTZ:  The truth is, if you want a counter that never stains and has a consistent pattern and color without variation, you need to stick with manmade quartz products (Silestone, Caesarstone, etc)  These products are made with real quartz stone in a binding resin.  The upside is that you have a durable counter that will withstand heat and will be the exact color and pattern as the sample that you were given.  Another positive is that you can select 'patterns' that look like limestone or marble but have the durability of the quartz material.  The downside is that it is just as expensive as granite and you do not get the unique variations that natural stone provides.

GRANITE:  is extremely dense and therefore is less likely to stain in comparison to other natural stones.  Granite is a stone, a natural material.  All natural materials can absorb stains, just in varying degrees.  All natural stone counters should have be sealed to protect the stone against staining. The beauty of granite is the unique one of a kind patterning available in a multitude of color variations.  The downside of granite can be the intense pattern activity (It can be very busy)

MARBLE:  This is a neglected beauty of a stone.  Yes, is is slightly less dense than granite, making it more prone to staining.  But if you have been to Europe, you probably sat at marble tables and counters and walked on marble tiles that have been installed for hundreds of years - and they look great!    Marble has less veining than granite, giving it an elegant look.  Marble is a favorite of pastry chefs, both professional and ameteur.    I often add marble counters into a kitchen design for a contrast to the primary counter material.  Marble tends to be less expensive than granite or quartz.

STAINLESS STEEL:  Another neglected material.  It is durable and you do not have to worry about matching colors.  Scratches blend together to become invisible (think of your stainless sink.)  Be careful of reflecting under cabinet lights onto a stainless steel counter.  Either select a different type of light source for task lighting or keep the stainless counter away from upper cabinets.

ALTERNATIVE materials:  There are numerous counter top products that should be considered, but are too numerous to explore in this article.  They range from recycled glass, recycled porcelain, recycled paper, recycled walnut shells, etc.  The durability of these products range from marble to granite in comparison and vary just as much in price. 

The CHALLENGE for a successful kitchen design is to coordinate the patterns and colors of the cabinetry, the flooring, and the counters.  A very strong patterned granite can 'take over' the personality of the kitchen.  This can be a good thing, OR it is the nightmare of the home owner ('all I see is the busy granite!') 

The QUESTION that you want to ask yourself is 'What do I want to be the visual star of attraction in my kitchen?'  If it is not the counter, then you want to stay away from most granites (the exception being black absolute, which has little to no pattern.)  The pickle that many homeowners find themselves, is that they have already selected/installed the flooring as well as the cabinetry and then they start looking at counters.   If your selections for flooring and cabinets cannot be changed, your good options for kitchen counters are extremely limited.  

The best advice I can give is to hire professional to help you successfully coordinate your patterns & colors and avoid the pitfalls that can present themselves in this extremely expensive venture.

Painting your bedroom for health & wellness

We spend 6-8 hours a day sleeping in our bedrooms.  What we are surrounded by, what we breathe, touch, see and feel, all affects our health and well being.  Many of us are blissfully unaware of the chemicals in the backing of our carpet, the VOC's in the paint on our walls, or the toxins in our bed covers.  Many of us are also unaware of the HEALTH BENEFITS of painting your bedroom.

1)  Specific colors/color frequencies can help relax your body, reduce tension, lower blood pressure.

2)  Paint with zero VOC's is good for your health.  The alternative being paint with VOC's (VOCs are volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals that off-gas into the air and into your lungs.  Yes, they are bad for your health.)

3)  Painters that are EPA Certified Renovators know how to provide the extra care needed to keep the dust and related particles contained and away from your loved ones and pets.  (This includes lead dust from lead paint that might be on a layer of paint on your home that is older than 1978)

Of course, I cannot flaunt this information without offering a package deal for the Valentines day month of February!  FEBRUARY SPECIAL:  Professional color CONSULTATION, zero-VOC PAINT, and professional EPA certified Painters to paint your bedroom for only $400.  Call or email me for more information! 206-517-4424 (Restrictions apply, projects must be scheduled by Feb 28, 2011 to qualify for this offer.)

Light & privacy-balancing the benefits

Natural light is a wonderful commodity.  It provides a sense of the outside  a connection to nature, and a peacefulness that settles our circadian needs.  Whenever possible, the addition of skylights or solar tubes in your home is the best investment for your interior health.  The light that comes through a skylight is significantly brighter and more expansive than the light that comes through a window.  The light that comes through a window is often shadowed by a roof overhang, or, gasp, it may be facing north and receive a dimmer light than the south side. 

Glass is commonly the material of choice to allow natural light into homes and offices.  Because of its transparency, the use of glass will make a space look and feel bigger.  Glass has its downside, however, generally in regards to privacy.  There are several options to consider:

1) When presented with the choice of having windows with natural light or looking into your neighbors bedroom, we chose a third option in this bathroom.  We added decorative film onto the windows, creating a 'light diffuser.'  To coordinate, we installed the same film onto the glass of the adjoining closet door.  

This decorative fim has a 'scratch' pattern to it, however there are many other choices, a popular one being the rice paper pattern. 

2)  The next picture shows upper cabinets with etched glass inserts.  We still get the benefits of glass, however the view through the etched glass is slightly diffused.   The apples were pulled forward in this picture to be seen.  Anything 3" back from the glass is seen as a blissful blur. (Do you want to arrange the interior of your kitchen cabinets?  I don't!)  Also, recent tests with AV equipment confirm that remote controls WILL work through etched glass.

3)  My latest favorite is the next alternative - Lumicor.  Lumicor is an architectural product  made of resin panels fused together with textural items placed between the panels.  In this case, there are reeds that are between the panels creating a very unique interesting texture.  Lumicor panels are also used as shower enclosures, light diffusers, inserts into french doors and counters.

4)  I recently founda 4th option from my colleague Tish Oye of Glassworks.

Glassworks designs, fabricates and installs kiln-formed glass, which “embosses” flat glass with interesting textures and patterns.  It can be made in clear glass or any color to match your interiors.  In addition, the glass inserts can be made of 100% recycled glass.  As with all Glassworks glass, it is inert, does not emit any VOC’s has a very long life and is easily recyclable, unlike acrylics and/or resins.  This picture shows the slumped glass option.  I hope you’ll keep this option in mind when thinking of using glass! 

Bathing in Style in a 60x32

I have found that people either love to take baths or really don't like or use bathtubs.  For those who love to take baths, it is often a therapeutic, ritualistic experience.  Steamy hot water, bath oils or salts, scented candles, music, a good book...There are thousands of wonderful bathing options that help you achieve this experience, but when limited to a 60" x 32" area (the typical size of an existing bathtub), those options become limited.  Here are some ways to create the Personal Spa Experience that you have dreamed of in your 60x32  space.

Select a tub that allows you to personalize your options.   MTI Whirlpool tubs (left, Andrea 6) allow you to select water jets, air bubbles, heated (inline heaters), aromatherapy, chromatherapy, pillows, factory installed hand held showers, non slip bottom, integral grab bars in many finishes, stereo speakers, integral arm rests and a removable teak seat to use with the arm rests.  The teak seat is great if you are like me and like to sit slighting above the tub floor.  MTI also offers a teak seat that is attached to the wall and can fold down. 

 If you recall my foot surgery experience, you'll remember my new found appreciation of bathroom fixtures that use 'universal' design concepts.  This means designing for people of all ages and abilities.  In my case, I asked 'how do I safely get in and out of the bathtub while standing on one foot?'  The first option is a seat or bench that acts as a 'transfer' area. (The drop down teak bench is a good example)  It is a bench that is easy to sit on (because it is at chair height), allowing you to swing your legs around into the tub.  This is the safe way to enter the tub, from a seated position.  The next step in the transfer solution is to sit down into the tub.  Since the tub is presumably filled with water, it can be very slippery so a carefully placed grab bar is the safe solution.

While there are tubs made specifically to 'walk in,' (SafetyTub), that fit within our 60x32 space, they look fairly institutional and you still have to 'walk' in, stepping over the curb, through a fairly skinny opening to sit down on the seat.  The plus side of this tub is that it has a ONE MINUTE drain feature.  Which means you will be shivering for only one minute while the hot water drains.  It also features all the bells and whistles as options, aromatherapy, different hydro massage options, etc. 

There is a new third option available.  It is the Kohler Elevance Rising Wall Bath.  Basically, the bottom of the tub is at chair height, the side of the tub slides down, allowing you to easily transfer and sit in the tub.  You swing your legs into the tub, raise the 'wall' and voila! You are in the tub and seated safely.  The tub has a nice design and offers a bubble massage and integral hand shower option.  The grab bars are integral to the tub, and Kohler boasts that the tub will drain in under two minutes. Upside, it provides a safe way to bathe.  Downside, it is only offered in white, it is 33.5" wide and we lost most of our hydrotherapy, chromatherapy and aromatherapy options. 

These are the latest bathing options for your bathroom remodel that stays within your existing space and layout.  Talk to you soon - I am going to take a long, hot bath!

Storage Solutions for Short People (and others)

I'm a short person, have always been vertically challenged.  I remember using a step stool to climb up onto the kitchen counters, stand on the counter and open up that top cabinet to try to see what was in it.  The problem was that you needed to climb down and stand back around ten feet to see what was inside and then you only got to see the items in front.  We were so intent on using every bit of space for storage that we lost track of the fact that if it is so difficult to get to and virtually impossible to see, then it is really not useable, it was trick we played on ourselves thinking that we were smarter than 'others.' 

I used to look at those sleek Italian kitchens with the skinny upper cabinets and laugh "Oh, look how much storage is wasted, look at that empty wall space above that cabinet!"  But, HONESTLY, is it really wasted if you cannot access it?  What is REALLY wasted is the money we spend to build/purchase cabinets that we cannot access, therefore cannot use.

Luckily, there are now 'options'  that will avoid future generations of 'short woman' complexes. Introducing the 'double tilt up door' that allows you to lift up the doors for the entire upper cabinet with one soft push of the handle.  Look, you can see what is inside without climbing onto the counter!  Now reaching some of the contents on the top shelf is another matter.  For help with that, we can add a 'premiere pull-down shelving system' that will safely bring the shelves (and the items on them) forward and down to counter level.

 What about pantry storage?  We all wanted 'deep' pantry cabinets so that we could store more food.  Getting the food into the pantry was one thing, getting it out is another.  Have you ever had to crawl into the pantry to get to the stuff in the back?   Admit it, how many of you have sent a small child in there? 

The truth is, those pantries are inefficient for the same reason as our ceiling cabinets, you cannot see the items, and you cannot easily retrieve the items.  And this time being tall doesn't help.  In fact you probably have a harder time crawling into the cabinet.   Voila!  Our storage solution is the tall pull out pantry.  24" deep, this cabinet can store a lot of food.  But the food comes to you, via smooth gliding hardware that pull the shelves forward to you.  Furthermore, you can view the pantry contents from both sides.  You will never lose another can of chicken and rice soup again!  Everything is visible and accessible.  You can even adjust the wire basket shelving up and down to accommodate both tall and vertically challenged people.  The same 'pull out' concept applies to base cabinets.  Instead of having shelving that you have to crawl into to find cookware, select large drawers that easily roll out for your search    One final 'show me the money' item is the pot filler.   This glorified faucet brings the water to me and my pot (located at the back of the cooktop) as opposed to making me walk tragically across the room to the sink. 

As always, let me know your thoughts, good and bad!  Happy New Year!!

Sustainable living -Let's stay home

Most of us want to stay in our homes until the very end.  In other words, none of us wants to go to a 'rest' home or skilled nursing facility.  Unfortunately, the biggest obstacle to remaining in your home, Is Your Home.    As interior designers, we have both the knowledge to design safe environments as well as the aesthetic talent to keep your home looking sophisticated as opposed to clinical.  Almost of all of our suggestions can easily be incorporated into your current remodeling projects.  It just makes sense to plan for your future. 

There are quite a few opportunities to create safe healing environments so I will start off with a basic challenge:

BARRIERS.  Look at the picture above - this is one example of a curb less shower. It is not only barrier free, but it looks great!  While we are looking at it, notice the hand shower and the built in shelving for toiletries.  Other barriers in a home include doorways that are too narrow for a wheel chair to pass, unsafe or non existing transfer seats to safely enter a bathtub, and regular stairs.  Stairs to get in the house, stairs or level changes to move from room to room, etc.  For small elevations, ramps can safely be installed.  For a flight of stairs, there are chair lifts available that can move you from floor to floor.  If you have a 'vertical' home, consider adding an elevator during one of your remodels.  A typical closet or powder room is often located directly above/below another closet or powder room, making it the perfect location for your elevator!

Other 'sustainable living' issues that I will address in future blogs are safety and healing environments.

Keep safe!  Christine

Cabinetry & Formaldehyde

Did you know that 'regular' cabinetry off gasses urea formaldehyde into your home for up to five years?  And, if you have a done a great job insulating and weather proofing your house, those voc's (volatile organic compounds) don't leave the house, you simply breathe them into your lungs.  This is one example of why EPA has determined that the indoor air quality of our homes is 5 TIMES worse than the exterior air quality. 

The quick solution is to purchase cabinetry that is made with a plywood box.  Careful, there is plywood available that DOES have added urea formaldehyde in it.  Make sure that the plywood that you are paying extra for (and you will be paying an up charge) is formaldehyde free.

There are other options to complicate our decisions:  there is a new particle board (EcoCore) that consists of 100% recycled materials that also contains no urea formaldehyde.  There is also 'Environmentally Preferred Particleboard' which has extremely low amounts of urea formaldehyde.  Or, you can purchase cabinets and allow some time to 'air them out' in an area that circulates air out of the home (open the windows?).  They will still off gas into the years, but the majority of the formaldehyde will be gone.

Many of you may be asking the same question that I asked - why do all these products have urea formaldehyde in them?  And why can't we use 'solid' wood?  The answer is that solid wood reacts to water and moisture in the air which causes warpage.  That is why, if you order a 'slab' style door, it is never 'solid' wood, it is a wood veneer on a substrate that does not warp.  And, that is why cabinet boxes are not made of solid wood, because they would be constantly expanding and contracting and warping.  The materials that do not warp significantly are plywood (many layers of wood) and particle board.  Particle board is made up of many particles that are held together with binding agents.  Most of these binding agents contain urea formaldehyde.  That is why some plywood and most particle board off gas voc's.  Sometimes, by solving one problem, we seem to have created others.

Breathe well & Have a Happy Thanksgiving,

Christine

Appliance Niche

Last March I whined about appliance garages and the lack of really good options.  The ideal solution that I espoused is reflected in the picture on the left.  Shallow counter space to get close to your appliances, a 'hidden' storage area that is both convenient as well as discreet.  In this case, the storage area is located behind the 2' deep pull out pantry unit.

Amazing things can happen when you design your remodel to accommodate all of your needs!  Here is the same kitchen from behind the island.  Can you tell that there is a functioning work station back by the window?

Let us know your solutions to appliance use and storage!

Color your World

  (Before) 

To be honest, I just figured out how to add a picture to my blog!  So, my first picture needed to be in color and about color! Bold beautiful color!  Most people are very hesitant to add strong colors on their walls, and for good reason.  Many people have tried and failed to get the 'right' shade of color on their walls and have debated about the 'accent' wall having the strong color against the remaining white walls.  Will it make the room seem smaller?  What wall should I put the color on? etc.  So, let's cut to the chase and give you some guidance.

1)  It REALLY helps to have before and after pictures to convince yourself and your loved ones that color can be a wonderful thing.

2) Strong colors work really well with other strong colors. (see the picture above)  If you are working with a pure hue, then the supporting colors should also be a pure hue.  If you are working with a greyed down muted color, then the supporting colors should also be greyed down.

3)  Most people make the mistake of choosing one strong color to put on one wall and leaving the rest of the walls white.  NO, no, no.  Contrasting colors such as a red wall against a white wall, are attention getters.  It is not the red color, it is the contrast of the red against the white.  In this example the contrast will jump out at you, making the room seem smaller.  What you want to do is have equally strong colors on the supporting walls (see picture above), or, perhaps the strong color on all the walls.

 

 This 'living room' was 9' x 10', doesn't it look much bigger?

4)  If you have nice architectural features you should show them off by utilizing alternate colors (see the picture at the top).  If you hate the architectural features, hide them by painting everything the same color.

5)  Keep everyone healthy, purchase low to zero VOC paint.  If you are scraping off old paint and your home was built before 1978, please read my blog on lead poisoning.

6)  Finally, save yourself some grief and hire a professional to help you.  Two hours of consultation will save you hours of painting and repainting your rooms.  It will also save you the cost of the gallons of unused paint that will be sitting in your garage for the next 10 years. :)

Color & Light Therapy - Frequencies that Heal

As we go into the Fall and Winter months, many of us actually FEEL the change in our bodies and psyche as we exchange the sun for the 'dead mouse' grey skies and the increasingly dark days.  Do I sound depressed? (Where are my anti depressants!!)  For those affected by SAD (seasonal affective disorder), winter in the Northwest can be challenging.  There are 'natural' solutions that are not surprisingly related to the causes of our depression. (Darn, no drugs this time!)

The quick explanation is that different colors have different frequencies.  All color require light to be perceived.  Different colors of light have different frequencies (these are measured in Kelvins and called color frequencies.)  Our bodies are made up of frequencies (See The Body Electric by Robert Becker.)  As we leave the summer months, the color of light changes and the amount of light is reduced, leaving us with 'frequency withdrawals.' l Luckily, we can recreate these lost frequencies through  the use of color and light in our surroundings.  Many people are aware of the 'blue' light that can be purchased, put on on a timer and is meant to mimic daylight.  The trick is, you have to sit in the light (or carry it around with you)  for a period of time for it to really have an affect.  The other option is to add color into your environment.  The largest amount of surface that we are surrounded by are our walls.  Seeing/feeling color frequencies can help ward off the Northwest blues.  Select color(s) that not only stave off the depression, but ones that you will enjoy year round.  (Call me for color consultations.)  Use eggshell finish for the walls, semi gloss for the trim.  Make sure to purchase low to zero VOC paint to keep this venture healthy.  And for goodness sake, read that stack of books you have been staring at, and call me in the Spring.

Lead Based Paint and Healthy Home Remodels

Remodeling to add some 'greeen' features to your home?  Concerned about the formaldehyde that off gasses from most cabinetry?  Do you know how much lead it takes to cause a difference in IQ with your child, how much lead that can cause miscarriages?  Take a packet of Equal (the sugar substitute) and pore it onto the table.  Extract 15 (yes 15) granules.  That's is how much lead can cause lead poisoning.  Did I mention that it causes learning disabilities, lowered IQ and attention deficit disorder?

Lead based paint was banned in 1978.  So all homes that are older than 1978 have a chance of having lead based paint in them.  If you are lucky and live in one of those beautiful classic homes in our area, you can just about guarantee that somewhere under the many layers of paint on your wall, you have lead based paint.  Like asbestos, it is harmless unless it is disturbed.  What do we do in remodels?  We cut up the walls, removed some, add others.  In other words, we disturb the heck out of it.

I have been very concerned about the health of our families and the affect that our homes have on their health.  We are always talking about eating the correct foods to stay healthy.  How about breathing the right air?  There needs to be a different kind of construction/remodeling that takes place.  A different set of standards.  I have implemented a new safety and dust plan to capture all dust (lead or not) that may come from a remodeling project.  We need to keep everyone healthy, the home owners, the workers, our environment.  There is a new level of safety/health concerns and conversations that have been weaning its way into the Interior Design /Architectural /Construction set of morals, codes of conduct and codes of law. We're all still working on this one step at a time.  One day we will figure out how to provide good shelter for our bodies without poisoning ourselves.  On that happy note, I am proud to say that I am now an EPA Certified Renovator!  I can now Officially test for lead paint and perform quality remodels without harming the people who live and work in that home.  One baby step in the right direction.....

My Green Toilet Water

Many of you know about my obsession about water conservation.  I fully believe that without water there is no life - the full WATER=LIFE mantra.  There are MANY people in the world that do not have potable (drinkable) water at their fingertips.  Those of us that have grown up in industrialized countries often have no idea that we are the minority, we are a dot in the impressionistic oil painting of the earth.  That most people in the world do not have indoor plumbing, cars or electricity.  Do you realize that we use drinkable, treated water (it costs a lot of money to treat water) to flush our toilets?  I know that it is strange that as a person living in a very wet location of the earth in a city that has to GIVE away water efficient toilets to apartment building owners and commercial property owners because water is SO cheap in the Northwest, that I am determined to make a difference in water usage and conservation.  If no where else, at least at my own home.  Thus began my 'water' project, aka 'Christine walks the talk.'

THE PROJECT:

I am using locally obtained rainwater and directing it to a 'designed' perforations in my gutter and reusing the rainwater to create a waterfall outside my window.  The rainwater will drop into a tank disguised as a shallow pond and will filter through several layers of of rock, sand and various materials that will clean the water.  The water is then stored in underground tanks that are located underneath my deck.  The filtered recycled rainwater will be pumped to my toilets to be used for flushing.  If I run out of stored rainwater, the system will revert to obtaining water from the city.  In the end, I hope to save up to 7,457 gallons a year in water bills by re-using the rainwater that falls on my roof.  And, I will be able to look in the mirror again.

Who Needs a Hand Shower?

On my checklist for 'must include' in bathroom remodels is the hand shower.  For those who have never used a hand shower, many ask 'Why do I need a hand shower, I've been just fine without one?"  Good question!  Just think of the hand shower as a parallel to the sprayer in your kitchen sink.  A hand shower is connected to the wall via a hose so you can 'hose' down particular areas of the tub/shower in cleaning as well as hose yourself down without having to strategically stand in 'the spot.' 

These are added features to the real benefit - hand showers can be used for people of different heights such as the taller of our species as well as the small ones we refer to as children.  Hand showers can be used by people who are sitting down whether on a bench or in a wheel chair.  They allow YOU, the person holding the hand shower to direct the water to or away from your body.  Many hand showers have a selection of shower styles, from forceful to raindrop style (ala Northwest), so you can imagine yourself at the base of Mount Saint Helen during the blast or naturally moisturizing yourself in the produce section of your local grocery store.  There is a shower style that fits everyone.  And with a hand shower, everyone can shower.

Christine's 'book report' on Dark Green Religion

Dark Green Religion, Bron Taylor

Bron Taylor’s book is an in depth analysis of what he concludes is the materialization of ‘dark green religion’ (DGR) which began with Charles Darwin’s the Origin of Species.  Most organized religions are ‘anthropocentric’ which focuses on the superiority and divinity of the human species.  DGR is a biocentric religion which incorporates all living species.  EG ‘we abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us.  When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.’

The essence of this emerging religion is a feeling that all species have a right to be here, a sense of belonging and connection to nature and a consecration of the evolutionary story.  There is a belief that nature is sacred and deserving of respect. 

This religion is not ‘recognized’ by the Parliament of World Religions, it does not have priests or official institutions or an officially adopted sacred text.  It does have revered elders, creative leadership and texts that some claim are sacred.  Rather than being ‘rescued’ from this world, it promotes a belief that everything in the biosphere is interdependent, intrinsically valuable, and sacred.

Proponents, charismatic leaders, originators of DGR are as varied as humanly possible ranging from those that are radically leftist to those that are right wing, libertarian and even anarchistic and include such leaders as Darwin, John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, Jane Goodall, Duke Kahanamoku, Paul Hawken to name a few.  Paul Hawken concluded that ‘environmental activism, social justice initiatives, and indigenous culture’s resistance to globalization, all have become intertwined’ and are precipitating ‘the largest social movement in all of human history.’

Scientists (Hans Bethe, Freeman Dyson, Carl Sagan, etc), who are traditionally secular, have proclaimed “As scientists, many of us have had profound personal experiences of awe and reverence before the universe.  We understand that what is regarded as sacred is more likely to be treated with care and respect.  Our planetary home should be so regarded.  Efforts to safeguard and cherish the environment should be infused with a vision of the sacred.”

What often creates a ‘radical’ wing of a religion is a belief in an apocalyptic vision of the world and a belief that it is a religious duty to resist the impending cataclysm.  But the DGR’s apocalyptic vision is radically different than others– this is the first time in history than an expectation of the end of the known world has been grounded in environmental science.

Although DGR is not an ‘organized’ religion, or one with set rules or predetermined leaders, the values of the religion (or movement) are popping up independently throughout the world.  Most religions or groups are defined by nationality, gender, regional or ethnic differences.  This religion has been overlooked as a religion because it emphasizes the commonalities, connections and bridges. Bron Taylor concludes …’everywhere I find the same thing:  people with wildly different backgrounds sharing “dark green” perceptions and values…They sometimes feel isolated and alone.  But best they can, in their own ways, and against long odds, they stand up for life. “