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Green Design
Coveted Crib: A Minimalist and Sublime Summer House
While this is technically more of a room than a house, I'm still lusting over this remote, woodsy Norway Summer getaway. Part of its appeal is the location, of course. Situated on the 170-kilometer-long Hardanger Fjord, this area abounds in insanely beautiful landscapes, with waterfalls, glaciers, gardens, fields, and mountains to choose from.
House Tour: A Net-Zero Energy Home in Vermont
I recently visited beautiful northern Vermont, and the South Farm Homes development in Hinesburg. This six-home development aims for "net-zero" status, meaning that the homes will generate as much power as they use over the course of a year. Environmental features include active PV solar panels integrated into the metal roofing of each home and significant southern glass, which provide solar gain (as well as lovely views of the surrounding valley).
Coveted Crib: A Sleek Hamptons Home
When it comes to coveted cribs, beach views, sleek modern architecture, and poolside lounging are definitely enviable features. This gorgeous vacation home in East Hampton comes complete with three different water sources: a pond, a solar-heated pool, and views to nearby Barrier Beach.
The home, which was recently renovated, admirably merges the structure with the surrounding landscape.
Cool Idea: Rural Studio's Student-Built Homes
If you're searching for examples of modern, affordable, green architecture, look no further. The Rural Studio project of Alabama's Auburn University College of Architecture does just that. Through this program, architecture students are provided with the opportunity to design and build homes and other projects that benefit rural, impoverished Alabama communities and families.
Coveted Crib: A Craftsman Remodel
San Francisco Bay Area remodeling firm Harrell Remodeling specializes in renovating homes with a focus on comfort, beauty, and eco-conscious materials. In the case of this two-story home, the firm considered the needs of the environmentally conscious, active family who lived in it, and developed a low-maintenance expansion on the existing home. Using sustainable materials for this whole house remodel, the remodel focused on supplying the family with what they needed for their easygoing, active lifestyle, including additional storage space and easy maintenance.
Casa Shops: Eco Housewares From Celery Street
Looking for another online source for eco home products? Then check out Celery Street, a well-designed and easily navigable website that was started by a husband and wife team. This web retailer gathers up the best eco-friendly, organic, reused, and refurbished products across the globe, and then offers them to the earth-conscious consumer.
Casa Verde: Michelle Kaufmann's Quick Construction
Whether she's making cool eco craft projects or designing innovative homes, Michelle Kaufmann is definitely one of my eco heroes.
Michelle designs green, prefab homes that are both beautiful and cost-effective. These homes are guaranteed to achieve either gold or platinum LEED ratings, the two highest ratings from the US Green Building Council.
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).
Casa Verde: Whyr'hymer Furniture
One of the highlights of West Coast Green for me was meeting Brandon Morrison, the designer and craftsman behind Whyr'hymer Furniture, an eco-furniture design business he owns and operates with his wife, Sundeep. I love their furniture's lines, which in some pieces are very Arts and Crafts-inspired, and in other designs, seem to blend this sensibility with a modern aesthetic.
All of the furniture from Whyr'hymer is made from FSC-certified wood, and the finishes are either water-based or natural waxes and oils.
Casa Verde: A Handmade Home Gets Some TLC
Last year, I told you about my brother's handmade home, which he built in an eco fashion for a surprisingly small amount of money. However, nothing much had been done with the home's interior. This year, he and his wife made a lot of interior changes in the home to spruce it up.
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