Asparagus Interiors

I was inspired by my favorite new coffee mug. Rehabilitated Dishware, by artist Sarah Cihat, was introduced to me by a friend over at unit 4-e. Sarah finds dishware at local thrift shops, applies a graphic and reglazes the piece in vivid colors. She transforms the dishware into functional pieces of art.

My inspiration becomes interpreted by using her concept and painting the ceiling. The ceiling is often the most disregarded plain in the home interior.

1) Paint the ceiling in a flat paint
2) Cut out a graphic on craft paper
3) Paint the cut out in semigloss paint of the same color
(Don’t forget to use low-odor/low VOC paint)

A subtle yet effective way to add interest to any ceiling. Isn’t inspiration wonderful.

There’s an interesting graphic over at Kitchens.com, depicting the breakouts of home energy usage. Although it’s from 2004, I think it’s still valid and puts a pulse on what appliances and fixtures in the home suck up the most energy. I’ll be looking for an updated graphic after this post.

Interesting enough, it’s the big guys like water heating, fans/AC, lighting and washers and dryers that are the energy hogs.

Simple ways to reduce energy consumption that can begin today:

• Wash clothes in cold water
• Reduce your hot shower from 30 minutes to 15
• Keep your heat at or below 68 degrees in the Winter
• Consider layering your clothes and bedding to get warm and cozy
• Although, I’m not a huge fan of fluorescent light bulbs, consider compact fluorescent and compact halogens. Add soft white or cream lamp shade shaped for indirect/direct lighting that will soften the bright light and diffuse it up to the ceiling and down to the ground.

Acting efficiently means saving more coin for the fun stuff.

For additional information on energy efficiency check out How to Reduce Home Energy Usage, from Wikibooks.

Reuse can be interpreted in many different ways. For me, I love antiques and thus ultimately reusing products that were previously owned, saving them from waste and destruction.

I took the girls this weekend to the big city, Chicago. We ventured out to Vintage Pine. According to their website, “Vintage Pine is Chicago’s premier source for antique and custom furniture from the English and French countryside.”

Angela was looking for an arrangement to flank an antique frame that we updated with a mirror. A reused item that is gorgeous over her antique buffet.

These items are cherished, valued and continue to be used for many years to come. Updating seat pads and sprucing up the furniture can make the old new again.

Mixing the old furniture with a modern lamp makes my love for antiques with a modern sensibility come to life.

How can you take steps to go green in your own home?

Consider using low odor, low-VOC paint for your next color update. VOC’s, volatile organic compounds, are often used in paint and emit gasses into the air contributing to sick building syndrome, poor air quality and releasing air pollutant’s into the environment.

Many paint companies offer low odor, low VOC paint products. Consider the following products:

Benjamin Moore – ECO-SPEC
Sherwin Williams – Harmony
American Pride

I personally have used the Eco Spec Primer, Flat, Eggshell and Semi-gloss products. The low-odor allows my family to live in our home during a color change, with little impact on their heath and our indoor air quality.

Look at the Featured Design for a low-odor, low VOC paint application.

Check out Wikipeida for additional information on VOC’s