Five Reasons to go Green in Your Home or Office:

Reason #1: Going green costing more is only a myth. There are lots of green products that can make your home or office greener with out adding more costs to your project. Replacing old floor or cabinets with a new bamboo product costs the same as other options and is made from a quickly renewable natural resource. You can also shop Craig’s list or antique shops for good used products, refurbish them and make them part of your new design. This is a great idea for those of you who enjoy the eclectic look. Reusing items is great for the environment and can save you money!

Reason #2: Think about your kids and their kids and future generations. If we all continue to want everything we own to be new and never recycle, we will we eventually run out of space in our landfills, contaminating water, soil, and air with the byproducts of what we dispose. Also, none of us want to live near a land fill due to the smell and risk of what it might be doing to our ground water supply. We risk running out of land for recreation such as hiking, camping, and hunting as our land fills continue to grow out of control.

Reason #3: Being more energy efficient actually saves you money. If you use less you spend less. If you buy energy efficient lighting and appliances you will save money on your electric bill. With the money you save, you can add new energy technologies such as solar panels for electricity or hot water, which increases your long term savings. A house is a long term investment; the more you put into the energy efficiencies of the building, the more you save in energy costs and increase the resale value for your property. It is a win-win situation.


Reason #4: Upfront cost versus long term cost: We all want to save money today, but so often when we do it costs us more money in the long run. Some green products do cost slightly more than other products, but if you have allergies, lung or heart disease, the pennies you save on a gallon of paint are less than what you will be paying in co-payments at the doctors office. Products that admit high levels of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) put you at higher risk for illnesses. See Wikipedia for addition information on VOC’s: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volatile_organic_compound#Environmental_effects

Reason #5: The bottom line is it’s just good for your health! Eliminating VOCs from businesses and homes lowers our risk of becoming ill. There just isn’t anything better in life than good heath. Schools have been slowly going green for years as studies have shown that children learn better, have less absenteeism and reduced lawsuits from parents for cases of sick building syndrome.

Check out the Top 5 Environmentally Friendly Innovations for the Modern Homes by Popular Mechanic’s Magazine. (http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4212727.html)

Designing for the Aging Population:

As a designer, I know and have seen just how important it is to design for the aging. What amazes me is how little attention is given to it from the general public. How disconcerting it can become to families who are confronted with an unexpected turn of health with a close family member or friend. This is a result of reactive planning which rarely produces satisfactory results for the individual who is no longer able live on their own. I had a taste of this myself this summer when my father unexpectedly fell ill. I am luckier than most, as my father is on a path to recovery, but that wasn’t expected when he first became ill.

As with our healthcare in general, it is always better to be proactive instead reactive, leaving this job to our children and friends, or even worse, total stranger. When left till the last minute, we have a tendency to look at just the physical needs of an aging body and none of the physiological or social aspects of our lives.

We of the baby bloomer generation should all be taking a hard look at our lives and realizing that we may or may not have our health for many more years. We are at the age when our friends are beginning to leave this world and we read the obituaries to keep track of them. This is the time to look at our social circles, new and old, think about how we want to spend our final years, and prepare for those days both physically and mentally. Growing old isn’t a bad thing, but as with everything else in life it requires good planning.

We should be positioning ourselves in homes that can accommodate our physical needs whether we’re mobile or not. We need to locate ourselves around those we are closest to, be that family or friends. Studies have shown that those of us with a minimum of ten close contacts will have better metal health in their latter years. So take a good look at whom you would like spend your time with. If you don’t have at least ten close contacts, find a group you can join. Volunteer where you can make friends and enjoy your life and share that joy with others so that they too can enjoy life. Act now: don’t wait until you can’t get around anymore.

As a designer, I’ve learned how critical universal design is to our society. When we design today to meet the needs of all, no matter what those needs are, we are designing to meet our own future needs. Planning ahead allows us the freedom to live our lives how we want to live them, rather than how someone else thinks is best for us. So take control of your destiny: you will be glad you made the effort.

Women Power

Women Power

It’s truly amazing, maybe even a bit scary, what a group of women can do when they put their heads together! The Lady’s Room Consignment Boutique is a great example. Located on the corner of route 27 and River Road in Boothbay, The Lady’s Room is the brainstorm of Pam Olson of Boothbay. Armed with the knowledge that about 80% of all new business fail, Pam set her goals on being in the 20% success group. To ensure that this goal was met, Pam applied and was accepted in to the New Ventures program, which is sponsored by Women, Work, and Community. The course covers all the nuts and bolts of owning and operating your own business. Eola Ball of Newcastle is the instructor and positive energy of the class.

Pam, along with 14 other students of New Venture looking to be successful in their new businesses, began the tedious process of writing their business plans, doing market research, and gaining great networking opportunity. It wasn’t long before Pam and her fellow classmates realized how their different disciplines could be of service to one another. It first started with fellow classmate Lori White of InEx Interior Design volunteering to help create the store atmosphere and working out the spatial planning of the boutique. From there Artist/Muralist Carole MacDonald was asked if she could assist with some faux finishes to give the space a fresh new look. Sarah Szwajkos of Damn Rabbit Studios specializing in interior photography photographed the boutique’s interior. On opening day Alice Merry of Alice’s Sleep Ezzzzz Pillow Covers came armed with coffee and donuts along with pillows for a seating arrangement. This group of New Venture women, along with several close friends of Pam’s from the Boothbay region who assisted with lots of moral support, curtains, flowers, pricing, and tagging of women’s clothing, created an awesome team of “Women Power”.

The shop officially opened on April 24th . The boutique offers new and “gentle used” unique women’s clothing, jewelry, shoes, handbags, and accessories. Pam offers free consultation of wardrobe assembly for anyone wanting assistance and new consignors are welcome. It’s sure to be a great asset to the Boothbay region. A grand opening is planned for Friday May 9th from 4 to 7 pm, featuring “The Art of Dressing” with local women showcasing the unique apparel that makes up the The Lady’s Room. All are invited to experience this collaborative work of local women.

The contact information for the The Lady’s Room and Pam is 207-633-4555, for Interior Designer Lori White is 207-215-7872. Artist/Muralist Carole MacDonald 207-832-7857, Sarah Szwajkos photographer 207-232-8541, Alice Merry 207-882-7733. Additional information on the New Ventures program can be found online at http://www.womenworkandcommunity.org/

Blooming Color!

The joys of spring are here, the days are longer, the temperature is rising and Mainers are moving out of their winter hibernation. It's time to get out in the yard and do a little work. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a garden slowly peek out of the earths thawing surface. Little by little the snowdrops and crocus appear with a burst of color, signs that more is to come. Soon after the sunny warmth of the daffodil pop their little heads out and the rainbow of color from tulips, phlox and other spring plants splatter our landscapes. All the while the green of summer and fall perennials fill in the vacant gaps with texture, color and dimension to bring a more mature appearance to our gardens. Our gardens will be enjoyed throughout the remainder of our short growing season. But why is it so many of us plant our garden for the neighbor to see and we have minimal views of them for ourselves? Lovely border gardens that surround our homes are so often hidden from our view within the home. Seeing our gardens requires us to leave the security of our air conditioned home to remove those unwanted weed that seem to go on a rampage as we hide from the heat or worst yet the black fly! Some who live for their gardens have figured out that those charming gardens around the foundation may hide the undesirable concrete strip between the ground and the siding, can not enjoy it from with in their home.

Maybe this is the summer to add a new garden where you can enjoy its blooming color in all it’s glory. Or maybe its time to create an outdoor living space that will get you outside enjoying the fresh sweet scent of spring & summer! A screen room addition will bring you out into the fresh air and protect you from the herds of the black flies that many of us are raising in our backyards.

While you’re adding your new garden, keep in mind its winter design. There are many plants that create great shapes and forms to add interest to your back yard during those snowy months of the year, making your newly designed garden a year round treat! I know you don’t want to think about winter so early in the spring, but now’s the time to plan ahead.

For now start by creating a space you can enjoy during our wonderful Maine summer and enjoy your existing garden as the process of spring sets those lovely little gems in motion for burst of color! Happy Gardening!

Winter Garden

Designer vs. Decorator?

Today these terms are often used interchangeably, but don’t be confused because there are differences. A decorator typically lives in the "Color Me Beautiful World" of paint, wallpaper, furniture and color; many were born with great taste but have not been professionally trained. An Interior Designer knows color, but has learned to digs deeper into the space and apply the concept of form follows function. To determine which is better for you, determine what you want from the professional. Do you just want to freshen up the look of your home or office? If this is the case you can call either one, but get references. I’m a strong believer in references because this is where you find out if the professional is trustworthy. Interview them and ask around town to find out what people are saying about the professional you are planning to hire before you sign a contact. Be comfortable that they can offer you what you need. If you are looking to do a more drastic renovation of space along with you face lift, this is a time to look for an Interior Designer. The reason for this is simple. They having been trained in space planning, they understand state and local codes which could effect your project and they understand the health safety and welfare issues and know how bad design can affect the well being of those using the space. Don’t assume that because a professional calls themself an Interior Designer that they have this more in-depth training. Many decorators like the term designer, but don’t have the training or the background to do these larger projects. The other term you may also run into is "Interior Architect". This is a term created by today’s higher educational system to make a distinction between the terms interior designer and interior decorator. An Interior Architect, after completing college, will typically have the same certification as an interior designer. That being said, check to see if your state certifies Interior Designers. If not check to see if the interior designer you’re planning to hire is a certificate holder of the "National Council of Interior Design Qualification" (NCIDQ). This will be a good indication you’ve found a qualified designer. But don’t stop here. It is still recommended to review portfolio’s and get references. None of us want to create a room for an aging relative and find out the beautiful drapes that were specified don’t meet flammability codes and have gone up in flames when a friend who smokes came to visit! Check out the following websites for more information on designer qualifications.
http://www.ncidq.org/
http://www.asid.org/
www.iida.org/
Check out my website for additional links to the State of Maine and their certification of Interior Designers in the State of Maine.
http://www.inexinteriordesign.com/Website/web-content/Pages/Links.html