If we’re really honest with ourselves, none of us are really “green enough”, are we? I mean that to say that the nature of our lifestyles in this country and most of the modern world dictates that we sometimes do things that aren’t really sustainable. We drive cars — most of which are not hybrids or electric vehicles (and even those are only but so green), we buy mass-produced food, and the list goes on. Of course, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make more sustainable choices whenever we can. Speaking personally here, I like pretty things. I like for my home to be beautiful, and I love dressing ..read more

We are currently living in one of the most ecologically conscious periods of human history. This increased awareness is partly due to better and more comprehensive education regarding climate change and other environmental issues. But we are also more aware of climate change because its effects are starting to become manifest. We no longer have the luxury of burying our heads in the sand with regards to climate change. Now that these effects have become undeniable, society as a whole is starting to wake up and take climate change more seriously. As a result, people as individuals are doing mor ..read more

Roughly one-third of the energy you burn through at home vanishes into thin air. We can’t put 100 percent of the blame on windows, but they are definitely responsible for a lot of that waste. Now that you know it’s happening, it’s time to do something about it, and it doesn’t have to mean replacing all your windows. There are tons of window treatments that are capable of keeping heat inside or outside your home. Here are a few options you can implement to reduce your energy use 1. Coat Your Windows With Low-E Film If you live in a very chilly city, consider adding low-E film to your windo ..read more

My family and I love Christmas — though I’m probably the ringleader in terms of holiday cheer. I love all of it — the Christmas spirit, the decorating, the gift-giving. The latter is probably my favorite part — particularly now that I have kids. I spend months planning amazing gifts for my family, and I delight in seeing their surprised faces on Christmas morning. But if we’re all honest, Christmas in this country also tends to be a time of over-consumption. I believe that with a little extra effort, we can reduce the impact Christmas has on the planet. Here are the ways we attempt t ..read more

There’s lots of information out there about doing DIY projects at home. You can find everything from full furniture building plans to bathroom remodeling tutorials and even tutorials for building entire decks and staircases. But let’s be honest. The average homeowner would have a hard time with projects of this size and intensity without the help of professionals. As much as I wish I could build a beautiful deck in my backyard with stairs up to a second platform, I know well enough to stay in my lane and stick to what I can handle. Here are a few DIY projects you might actually be able to do t ..read more

Photo by sfgirlbybay Having been a renter for so many years, I have often wondered what tips other interior designers and green experts had about what renters can do to make their homes as eco-friendly as possible without ticking off their landlords. This week, I’ll be offering up some of the best suggestions. Today, I’ll offer up the warning to be careful about what you bring into your home. To put it simply, indoor air quality is pretty crappy. In fact, it can be significantly more polluted than outdoor air, a fact that’s very disconcerting when you consider how much time most of us spend in ..read more

Photo by BastArd StarFiSh My husband and I have long dreamed of being homeowners with the means to renovate or modify our home to make it as green as possible. Alas, life had other plans for us, and we’re living in a rented home, at least for now. This comes with a bevy of limitations in terms of what we can do to make our living space greener. It is essentially limited to non-permanent changes, so solar panels and skylights aren’t installations we’re likely to make during our time here. We got the apartment through Bwalk.com apartment rentals who have been brilliant in helping us with what yo ..read more

My husband and I have a vision board posted in our kitchen. On it are all the things we want out of life, from the building my husband would like to buy to house his dream business to a multi-million dollar check to plans for the dream house we’d like to build. We’ve always had this unspoken agreement that we’d like to build our dream house, because we have distinctive, modern tastes, and in Georgia, we have only ever seen one or two homes that match our desired style. But lately, I’ve been thinking about that long-term plan. I’ve been wondering whether it would be greener to build a new home ..read more

I hate getting up in the morning. No, really. I hate it. I love sleep, and I tend to be very cranky when I don’t get enough of it. Of course, as fate would have it, I have a toddler who wakes up promptly at (or before) 7:30 every day. And it kinda sucks. This is true even though my previous bed was only marginally comfortable, thanks to a mishaps with my husband, the washing machine, and the mattress cover which contained wool.Yeah. That didn’t end well. So we were desperately in need of a new mattress. When I discovered Essentia, a brand that makes the only natural memory foam mattress, it fe ..read more

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BigLotsHoliday #CollectiveBias So we spent hours upon hours finding the highest quality materials and roofers that we could stand behind for 50+ years. As a result, any roof we install carries a lifetime warranty on both materials and labor. I know. I know. Halloween has just come and gone and Thanksgiving hasn’t happened yet. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about Christmas. This is the one holiday each year for which I always make a big deal about decorating. This ..read more