2 Projects, 1 common goal: Feng Shui

Currently, I have the privilege of working on a professional office  space and a family’s daily living space in the heart of their busy home.  These are 2 very different clients and 2 totally different spaces for me to conceptualize. But I am excited because  each client has emphasized their desire to include principles of Feng Shui into the design.

Feng Shui is the ancient art of placement, with the main goal of calling in the good energy (chi)

into a space. It is believed that incorporating good energy into our interior spaces will bring abundance in all aspects of our lives.  As an interior designer, that has always been my ultimate goal for the spaces I create for my clients.

My client with the professional office space has consulted a Feng Shui master. He advised her about orientation of the building, the most productive area of the office, the least productive area, the overall flow of the space from the entry door, and how the five elements of Feng Shui (fire, earth, water, metal, wood) affect her in the most auspicious way. What she wants from me, as the designer of the space, is to incorporate his recommendations while making the office space functional and beautiful for herself, her employees and clients.

My client with the residential project has a strong belief in creating good energy in her daily life and specifically in her home. We are looking at making sure that the path ways into the room are not restricted, that the room is light, airy and uncluttered, and we are incorporating natural elements such as wood flooring and live plants.  Along with the Feng Shui concerns, it is my commitment to my client to make her family room functional and stylish to meet the needs of her growing family while making it comfortable to entertain guests as well.

“In particular, the energy of our homes, our offices, or any place where we spend a prolonged amount of time, interacts with the energy of our bodies to affect all the other related aspects of our lives, such as health, love lives and relationships, work performance, financial prosperity, and overall success.  This energy runs through our bodies, and our bodies interact with it at all times, whether we are conscious of it or not.”  This quote from Simona F Mainini, Dr. Arch in her book Feng Shui for Architecture.

http://www.pbid-interiordesign.com

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Living Simply / Eco-Friendly Fabrics

Recycled fabrics.  Organic fabrics.  Non-toxic, hypoallergenic.  Greenguard.  Oeko-tex Standard.  Cradle to Cradle Certified…

What does it all mean?
If you are concerned with making your home and working environment eco-friendly (or I love the term “future-friendly”)  I’m including an overview here to give you some valuable information pertaining to fabrics.  At PBID, we specialize in greening your interior spaces as an important part of our interior design service.

Recycled fabrics are often produced from a high percentage of post-consumer recycled polyester (even plastic bottles), petroleum byproducts, recycled cotton, recycled silk, and soybean husks

Organic fabrics are produced without toxic chemicals during all stages of the production process from fiber to fabric yardage.

It’s worth it to check out the websites for these certification groups, as they are full of valuable information:

• http://www.greenguard.org      “The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) was founded in 2001 with the mission of improving human health and quality of life by enhancing indoor air quality and reducing people’s exposure to chemicals and other pollutants. In keeping with that mission, GEI certifies products and materials for low chemical emissions and provides a free resource for choosing healthier products and materials for indoor environments.”  You will see this listed on many products from fabrics, to manufactured window shades, to products used in schools and hospitals.
• http://www.oeko-tex.com
  

  Confidence in textiles – this has been the motto of the independent test institutes of the International Oeko-Tex® Associationsince 1992, with their tests for harmful substances according to Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 for textile products of all types which pose no risk whatsoever to health.For companies in the textile and clothing industry, the Oeko-Tex® criteria catalogue provides for the very first time a uniform, scientifically founded evaluation standard for the human ecological safety of textiles, against the background of the globalised and extremely fragmented nature of the textile manufacturing chain.The Oeko-Tex® label indicates to interested end users the additional benefits of tested safety for skin-friendly clothing and other textiles. In this way, the test label provides an important decision-making tool when purchasing textiles.Confidence in textiles – an international synonym for responsible textile production – from the raw material to the finished product on the shop shelves. For industry and retailers throughout the textile manufacturing chain just as well as for users of fashionable, functional, colourful textiles.

• http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm   “Remaking the way we make things.”  McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry MBDC, employs eco-effective strategies that promote the reuse of products at the end of their life, eliminating product waste.  A Cradle to Cradle Certified product has been evaluated for its human health, environmental health, life cycle attributes, renewable energy, water stewardship and social responsibility.

To gain in-depth knowledge of organic fabrics, I highly recommend spending some time on the oecotextiles.com website.  

“O Ecotextiles wants to change the way textiles are made by proving that it’s possible to produce luxurious, sensuous fabrics in ways that are non-toxic, ethical and sustainable.”  This website offers beautiful organic fabrics with an explanation of the hows and whys regarding organic textiles.

nature photography by PBID Interior Design.

Lots to think about…better choices mean healthier environments in which to live and work.

http://www.pbid-interiordesign.com  

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Sustainable Kitchens Part 3, Function

Designing an efficient kitchen that is not only beautiful but also eco-friendly and functional, is a designer’s challenge and this designer’s dream project. All of these things must go together and be given equal weight while in the midst  of  the planning process.  The desired result:  a kitchen that functions well  and meets the needs of the family.

In part 3 of Sustainable Kitchens, I’m going to break down the functionality priorities as best I can. (Please be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of Sustainable  Kitchens series at pbid.wordpress.com, for additional info.)

First of all, it’s important that the client and designer establish the client’s needs.

• Who does most of the cooking? One cook, or multiple cooks?
• What are the priorities? For example convenience, storage, professional quality appliances, open shelving, task lighting, overhead lighting, multiple work stations, area for recycling and compost waste, and the list goes on and on.
• How important is incorporating sustainability into the overall plan?
• What’s the budget?
• What can be reused?
• How can the space best incorporate a multi-use plan?  How important is multi-use for this kitchen plan? Where does the family eat?  Do the kids do homework there? Do you need to include an area for computer? Wine storage? Hobby space? Collection?
• How can we scale down? In other words, fit all of these needs into the existing space?
• Ease of maintenance

Then, take a look at the client’s wish list.

• Pantry space
• pot racks
• spice racks
• drawers, cabinets, open shelving
• surfaces
• Energy Star appliances
• recycled glass tiles and sustainable counter top
• island workspace with room for counter stools
• Vision / Style

Once these things are determined through consultations and a survey of the space, the designer goes to work to develop the plan and fine tune the client’s goals into a functional kitchen, while being mindful of sustainability and educating the client with each recommendation.

A sustainable kitchen’s priority is function first, as that will sustain its useful life for many years.

Photos used were sourced from Pinterest or manufacturer’s websites, and this designer’s drafting table.

http://www.pbid-interiordesign  

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Sustainable Kitchens Part 2, Surfaces

Selecting the surfaces, finishes and “visuals” for the kitchen are definitely the most fun part of a kitchen remodel.  Keeping them within an eco-friendly framework is not a difficult task at all, especially if you have a clear vision of what you want or if you are working with an interior designer or kitchen designer.

In part 2 of my sustainable kitchen series, I have compiled some guidelines to help you achieve your sustainable design goals for your kitchen remodel with regard to surface selections. The choices keep increasing, as manufacturers become more aware of this niche in the marketplace and continue to improve their triple bottom line (people, planet, profit).

• Flooring:   Reclaimed wood, natural cork, bamboo, FSC certified wood, brick, concrete, salvaging existing floor
• Counters:
  Concrete, Ice stone (as shown in photo), Vetrazzo (recycled glass counter tops), FSC certified butcher block, salvaged metals such as stainless steel, engineered stone (stone / resin composite)
• Backsplash:
  Glass and recycled glass tiles,
• Cabinetry:
  FSC certified woods, MDF, and reclaimed /re-purposed cabinetry and shelving
• Metals:
  Stainless steel, copper, zinc, salvaged metals and metals made of recycled content
• Recycled Materials:  reclaimed wood beams,
  (in addition to other recycled items previously mentioned).
• Repurposed furnishings:
  Unique antique pieces used for center islands and pot racks.
• Lighting:
  Repurposed fixtures, recycled glass fixtures, LED fixtures and flourescent bulbs in can lighting
• Paint:  Zero VOC      Wallcoverings: Wallpapers made of recycled content

Shown: Bamboo flooring, reclaimed wood flooring, and open kitchen;  photo sourced from Pinterest to show the beauty of reclaimed beams and antique stools.

http://www.pbid-interiordesign.com

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Sustainable Kitchens Part 1, The Mechanics

This is the first in a 3 part series on how to design a kitchen that incorporates green principles in terms of the mechanics, surfaces, design aesthetic and function. 

I am a strong proponent of REGREEN, which is a certificate design program sponsored by ASID and the USGBC.  Through the REGREEN guidelines, all of the major elements of sustainable residential renovations are addressed and total design integration is the cornerstone. This three part blog is intended to give helpful information to anyone who is considering a kitchen remodel and is focused on incorporating sustainable decisions.  As an interior designer, I admit that great remodeling design is my passion!

Things to consider when redesigning a kitchen while being mindful of precious resources:

• Lighting:
• Maximize natural light with large windows (use climate appropriate high-performance windows)
• Be mindful of strategically placed florescent lighting and LED lighting
• Consider using fixtures made of recycled glass or vintage / re-purposed and refurbished fixtures
• Provide adaptable lighting for multiuse spaces
• Provide appropriate indoor lighting controls
• Water Efficiency:
• Install low-water-use kitchen faucet
• Install on-demand hot water recirculation system as well as high efficiency water heater
• Footprint:
• Stay within existing footprint but consider re-configuring adjoining spaces to increase kitchen size and function without increasing the total footprint of the house.
• Right-size for your family’s needs.
• Plumbing:
• Install undersink water filtration system
• Consider solar water heating
• Insulate all accessible hot-water pipes
• Consider Gray-water system ( but first, check legality of this in your area)
• HVAC:
• Install high-efficiency HVAC equipment
• Appliances:
• Use all Energy-Star appliances
• Plan for Convenient Recycling and Composting

This photo taken from Pinterest and has been selected for the natural lighting that floods the room.  Top photo is one from a current work-in-progress kitchen remodel by PBID.

Part 2 in this series will feature surfaces and materials.

Part 3 in this series will address function. 

http://www.pbid-interiordesign.com

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My Design Style Favorites

I love rustic furnishings that have naturally aged over time.  You may have read that I use the term “brutally elegant” in my blog posts. I feel that that description is well suited to my design favorites.  I have always loved rustic antiques and things that are older than I am. But I’ve never been a fan of anything too “goopy”,  ornate or highly polished. We call that “patina” in in the design world.

As a big proponent of sustainable design, I would like for my readers to understand that this is sustainable design at its finest, in terms of home furnishings.

I have studied sustainable remodeling concepts, indoor air quality and environmental responsibility. But as an Interior Designer, often what you hire me to do is take care of suggesting ways to make your home more eco-friendly while making it beautiful, organized and comfortable to live in.  I love putting all of these elements together.

All room photos courtesy of Pinterest and chosen to represent rustic styling. Photo of lovely designer screen, original photography by PBID, taken at the SF Grange furniture showroom.

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A Sense of Place and our own space

We all need a space where we can take refuge after a long day. The day-to-day demands we face can take their toll on us physically and emotionally, without leaving room for much more. As residential interior designer, I whole-heartedly recommend setting up a place of comfort in your home where you can rejuvenate.  It can be as simple as a comfortable chair in your bedroom where you can put your feet up for a quiet moment, a window seat, or a sheltered area on your backyard patio where you can sit for a while to catch your breath. It’s in these sacred spaces that we can regroup and call in the good energy we need in our daily lives.

http://www.pbid-interiordesign.com

We have been designing those spots in our client’s homes for over 26 years.

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What’s so GREEN about it? (Remodeling)

As a homeowner considering a remodeling project, here are some things to consider that will help you to upgrade your project to a more environmentally friendly home remodel. Evaluate your priorities based on these guidelines:

• Increased energy efficiency
• Healthier indoor environment
• Lower operating costs
• Higher comfort level
• Improved lighting quality
• Increased property value
• Water conservation
• Higher-quality, longer-life materials
• Improved indoor air quality / increase fresh air filtration
• Functional / useful/purposeful space planning
• Reuse or re-purposing of existing materials
• Use of recycled materials and/ or sustainable materials

The ASID and USGBC REGREEN guidelines provide an excellent basis for understanding the importance of considering and prioritizing your remodeling goals.

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