Depending upon how much time you spend browsing online home decor sites, you may or may not have come across the HGTV Green Home 2010.  In honor of Earth Day, it seems appropriate to share a few things from the home this week.

HGTV GREEN HOME

Living room in the HGTV Green house.

One of the things I like about this house (at least from the photos) is that it’s not a McMansion sized home but is more realistically sized.  There was also an effort made to include lots of natural elements worked into a basically modern style.  And the home is an example of how a very traditionally built and designed home can be furnished in a more modern and whimsical style and still work.  Notice the tree trunk side table; furniture is upholstered in organic cottons and walls are painted with low VOC paint.

Another view of the living / dining room. Photo via HGTV.

In this view of the living room you can better appreciate the actual size of the room.  Natural elements mingle with modern touches throughout.  The stone fireplace, branches sculpture, and wood floors bring the outside in.  The dining table is of reclaimed wood and the kitchen countertop (far right in the photo) is Caesarstone with recycled elements.

The master bedroom from the HGTV Green Home 2010.

The master bedroom continues the color palette though the stark white walls are softened with a lovely gray.  The simple 4-poster bed frame is made more dramatic by being in red and the simple curtains around just around the head of the bed soften the sharpness of the lines.  The scale of it is wonderful in this room.  To see more of the home and get more green ideas, visit the HGTV site here.

More Green Design Rooms

Photo by Preston Schlebusch via TheNest.com

The above room uses bamboo flooring (sustainable wood) glued and sealed with low VOC products, fluorescent bulbs (use less energy), and double paned windows with Low-E glass (low emittance).

The next few pictures, all from Better Homes & Garden (bhg.com) show examples of one of the best ways to be good to the environment:  reuse, recycle and repurpose.  Take those wondrous finds from thrift stores or even picked up beside the road and turn them into treasures for your home. 

Photo via BHG.com

 Old window frames abound and can be hung on the wall as an architectural feature or between rooms as a faux transom like above. 

Photo via BHG.com

Old barn doors (complete with old soft drink label) repurposed inside and hung from a sliding rail for a fun entrance to a bedroom.  

Photo via BHG.com

Simple and graphic art created from an old game board picked up for $5 at the local thrift store. 

Photo via FunkyJunkInteriors.blogspot.com

This creative woman took an old pallet board she had on hand, cut it up, added a couple of support boards and built this repurposed TV stand.  She shares her complete how-tos on her blog Funky Junk Interiors.

Share Green Design Ideas

Have you embraced green design in your home?  Have you made any adaptations to help the environment or reduce your footprint?  Share your ideas – design related or otherwise – so we can all become better stewards of our planet.   

Birthday Good Wishes

Cindy celebrated a birthday over the weekend, so I just want to take a little space to wish my dear friend all the best this year.  Even though we live too far apart to visit on birthdays these days, you were certainly in my thoughts all day, Cindy.  Hope the surprise party was a success and that you had a lovely day with friends and family.   And remember, Bill Cosby says, “Old is always 15 years from now”.  Whew – what a relief! 

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