Living Being Design is Featured in Redfin Blog
Living Being Design was among the expert firms asked to contribute to Redfin’s blog on sustainable decor choices in January. Clink on the link below to see Living Being Design’s recommendation!
Style & Sustainability: Eco-Friendly Decor Tips to Upgrade Your Space
Being more conscious of your decorating decisions doesn’t have to be difficult. In reality, eco-friendly can suit any type of budget and design style. But if you’re not sure where to start, we thought who better to consult with questions about where and what to buy (or not to buy) when blending style and sustainability than the experts themselves?
Whether you’re looking to freshen up your chic Toronto, ON, apartment, or exploring ideas to upgrade your Miami, FL, home, we’ve got you covered. Read on for our eco-friendly decor tips to give your pad a green makeover.
Style & Sustainability: Eco-Friendly Decor Tips to Upgrade Your Space
Thinking Spring: Shopping For Green Furniture
With each passing week the sun sets a bit later as nature inches closer to Spring encouraging us to imagine making changes to our dwelling including buying new furnishings! But something remains the same, like misleading marketing statements from manufacturers and distributers. “Greenwash” is the common term used for descriptions that are specifically misrepresenting the environmental impact of a product. But whether intentional or not, what is not stated in the product’s presentation is often part of the problem. Lack of information makes it impossible to determine if what you are considering for purchase is truly ecologically sustainable.
Not long ago I was in a furniture showroom browsing when I was drawn to a small cocktail table made of wood and metal. At first glance it seemed like it could be a green item. It had the rough natural aesthetic associated with sustainable pieces. The growth rings visible in the table top made it clear that it had been cut from a single large log with only the outer bark removed. The black metal legs terminated with what appeared to be hand-hammered feet. But as I read the description and tags attached to the table a red flag went up.
The wood top was described as “sustainable” but there was no identification or origin of the species. Without a wood expert along with me I couldn’t assume the wood was acquired from a sustainable source. There was also no information on the metal legs other than they were described as “painted.” Then I discovered the piece was imported from halfway around the planet.
While it could have been made of sustainable materials I had no way to verify it. In addition, knowing that it likely came by container ship and these are major polluters, (due to the unrefined crude oil used in their engines), there wasn’t any reason to recommend it to a client.
So, what are some descriptions of furnishings that will cause the least amount of harm to the environment? Here are a few guidelines:
1. The wood comes from a reclaimed log recovered from a body of water. In this instance the wood has been sitting in water as a lost resource from the logging industry. Alternatively, the wood has been recycled from an old structure or building and has been recut into new boards.
2. The wood originated from a Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC) forest and has the label to prove it. This third-party certification is the most trusted for verifying that the wood is sustainably grown and harvested without traveling to the forest.
3. You know the tree the wood came from and it was one that needed to be pruned or removed due to an imminent threat to humans or property.
4. Other materials such as metal or plastic are from recycled pieces either pre or postindustrial, meaning either recovered from used items or leftovers from production. Either way these materials are being kept from being thrown into a landfill.
5. The table or other piece is crafted locally, ideally within 300 miles from your home, eliminating the need for long distance hauling whether by land, sea or in the air.
Keep in mind that when shopping in person or online you are relying on statements from salespeople and manufacturers’ labels or brochures. It is important that these are measurable and verifiable. Don’t be hesitant to ask for verification from more than one person in the supply chain.
Lastly, remember that these guidelines are the ideal and some part or material of the furniture piece may not meet these standards. But partial alignment is a step in the right direction by shrinking negative impact.