The ASID sponsored webinar “Don’t Get Lost in a Sea of ‘Green’” brought up a lot of interesting challenges and issues to be faced while transitioning to a sustainable lifestyle. One challenge is the sheer amount of information available and how to determine what are false claims.

Luckily, here is a compilation of resources listed by the webinar to help you along the way:

So many people have come up with SEVERAL ideas to use reclaimed wood and recycle an amazing product. Urban Woods shares their take on reclaimed wood:

The term “reclaimed wood” may conjure many different images. Some might imagine sunken logs that have been rescued from Amazonian river bottoms, or old barn siding from a dilapidated Southern plantation, or a peasants home razed in the third world because the value of the ancient timber is more vauable than the shelter it provides. All of these woods are reclaimed by some one, some where for some purpose and by some different method.
Here are a few fun and inspiring ways to use this fabulous material!

We wanted to share this fabulous product with you! It's whiteboard paint and it can be applied in numerous applications! Tabrasa by MDC Wallcoverings is paint that transforms any smooth surface into a seamless high-performance dry-erase writing surface. It has been used in education, healthcare, hospitality, corporate, retail, and government locations.
 

It is applied in the same way you would paint a wall but they recommend that you have a professional install tabrasa. Here are a few ideas for installation:

Food TV

This is a great cohesive design for someone who enjoys having a TV in the kitchen. Follow along with a cooking show, catch up on the news, or keep the kids entertained for a few while you are finishing up cooking. This hood also has a DVD input and RCA Cable outlet with touch screen commands.

Marco Valerio Agretti is the accomplished Italian designer behind this fantastic VELA Rangehood design from ILVE. Born in Perugia in Italy, Marco graduated from the University of Venice in 1991 and is recognised for his cutting edge designs. VELA is a perfect example of his creative genius. With its sleek and attention-grabbing design, the VELA Rangehood has the power to remove all cooking fumes, including indoor barbecuing and the most intense grilling or stir-frying cooking with its fantastic 4 speed touch control extraction. It also has an optional automatic switch-on and speed regulation.

We at KDG are pleased to announce that Judi Kieffer has received her accreditation as a certified Auditor and Consultant for Green Globe International. Green Globe is an organization that offers certification and other sustainable programs for the Lodging and Travel industry.

She joins 59 other consultants throughout the world, representing over 187 countries. She is the only professional Consultant for Green Globe in Idaho, and the Intermountain States, although able to certify properties nationally and internationally.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
- Theodore Roosevelt

I think deep down inside, everyone wants to make a difference in their community in one way or another. Yet, many times opportunities come up that are missed, whether it is due to being too busy, not enough funds to hand out, forgetfulness, or the belief that your ‘little’ amount or limited time will not make a difference anyway. Although these are real feelings and thoughts, they are part of our ‘limiting beliefs’ that hinder us from finding some real joyous moments and heartfelt feelings you get when you make that effort and give back.

This term has been floating around now for a while in this era of sustainability. What does it really mean and why is it important? The Biomimicry Institute defines the term as:

“The science and art of emulating natures best biological ideas to solve human problems.”

"Our color yearnings are now part of a deeper desire: to get back to basics, to re-evaluate and simplify complex lives, embrace what is important to us and let go of the rest."

One of the prime actions that the interior design industry has been embracing is improving sustainable efforts. It is our job to be knowledgeable about new products and procedures so that when we are creating environments, we are specifying products and suggesting processes that will make less of a carbon footprint. Not only as designers, but as a community we can ALL do something for the environment.

These drinks are full of amazing colors and design! After reading about these fabulous cocktails in the Sherwin Williams magazine 'STIR' we could not resist sharing some of the recipes with you! Scott Beattie, the bar manager for Cyrus Restaurant in California's Sonoma Valley, literally prepares artwork in a glass... and any type of glass for that matter. Not only does he create new concoctions of his own but also takes classic cocktails and adds a dramatic twist. How fun would it be to serve some of these at one of your upcoming holiday parties!