Asparagus Interiors Inc.

I was asked by The Chicago Collection magazine to come up with a top ten list of green design tips for the new year.  Here’s my list! Have a safe, prosperous and green new year!

1.  Give Your Furniture a Face-lift
Consider painting a table or re-staining the legs on your chair a deep
mocha.  Add new seat cushion in an eco-friendly fabric.  Enhance the
pieces that are loved but not lost.

2.  Add Greens to Green Up Your Space
Consider adding plants for color, texture, and height.  Unexpected
places for plants are mantles, bathrooms, a side table and the entry.

3.  Think About What’s Under Toe
Need new flooring?  Choose sustainable or recyclable options.  Bamboo
is a rapidly-renewable resource, highly durable and sustainable.  Many
carpet manufacturers offer product made of recycled materials and FLOR
will allow you to return your used carpet squares to be recycled.

4.  Follow the Sun
Solar shades, cellular blinds, roman shades, and treatments of all
sizes can help reduce energy costs due to the heat loss of windows.
Shades, blinds and drapery can also keep the warm sun from over
heating your space in warmer climates.

5. Get Real with Natural Fibers
Grass cloth wall paper, linen panels, wool carpet, sisal rugs.
Natural fibers are rich in texture, durability and made of renewable
sources.

6. Local Sources Are Our Friends
Shop in your local area, meet retailers, get expert opinions and forge
a new relationship.

7.  Paint With Low VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), It’s That Easy!
Repaint your space or punch up your living room with an accent wall.
Consider Low VOC and no VOC paint solutions.  They’re just a good as
the original paint options only better.  Low odor, low VOC and you can
even sleep in your home the same day you paint.

8.  Enhance Your Exterior Spaces
New landscaping, decorative containers and object’s de art add a
welcoming and artsy touch to any home.  Plants, grasses, sticks,
succulents and sculptural artwork add depth in variety and interest to
your front door setting the tone for your new stylized space.

9.  Illuminate With Levels
Layer your lighting levels with dimers, timers and motion sensors for
on demand lighting and creating a cozy ambiance.

10.  Get In on the Green Design Buzz
Get educated about green design.  Research and select materials,
fixtures and design accents that support sustainability and a renewed
approach to interior design.

My new favorite blog PrairieMod, offers homage to the Arts & Crafts movement and Frank Lloyd Wright all-the-while introducing you to modern stuff with an artsy, rootsy beat.

PrairieMod is having their first ever warehouse sale and is conveniently located in the neighboring town, Wheaton.  I’m hoping we can make it back from our Christmas festivities in time.

Prairie Mod brought me to this little crafters site  Spool Sewing.  Offering a free bird pattern download.  Who wouldn’t want to make this must have mobile.

Interested in modern pre-fab construction, but wonder what its really like inside.

Lost River Modern, a “modern pre-fab cabin” now offers a stay for the night, a weekend, or a week in one of their prefabs located in the mountains of West Virginia.

I kinda like the idea of trying the shoe on before I know it fits.

This year I’m feeling xtra festive, even though the economy is slow, I have hope.

I decided to make my own wreath and swag for the house with help from my parent’s farm and their gigantic pines.  Dad and I found pine limbs that had fallen, the kids found pine cones, and I harvested some dried grasses, berries, and foliage for accent.

I decided to make a square wreath this year. Our home has evolved and so had our tastes, it was time to "shape" up our holiday decor.

Fun tips for greening up your holidays with "greens".
1) Look at what’s around: pines in your yard, grasses, bushes, sticks, berries
2) Find some festive ribbon
3) Decided on a shape that best fits your style, round, square, tailored or wild!

Have fun and be merry!