Healthy House on Wheels

Vintage Airstream from Taylor Design Healthy Homes

Dreaming of vacationing with one of these babies.   Cool Vermont firm, Taylor Design Healthy Homes, retrofits vintage Airstreams to make them healthy for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), as well as for anyone seeking healthy materials in their living environment.

Airstream interiors are gutted and then completely rebuilt with people-friendly materials.

Now, if only I could figure out a way to haul it behind the Prius.   :)

Reclaimed Lighting for a Beach House

Just ordered one of these gorgeous pendants for the beach house dining nook - Oversized Whitewashed Pendant from Vagabond Vintage.

I am happily working on interior design for a beach house renovation on the Maine coast.  Great way to get in the summer spirit.  Reclaimed lighting is the perfect fit for what will be a casually elegant atmosphere -- just add sandy feet, mix in stylish family entertaining, and stir.

A pair of these beauties will flank the master bed - Reclaimed Wood and Chrome Sconce Light from Clayton Gray Home

Three of any of these Vintage Metal Steel Funnel lamps would lend a cool industrial vibe over a kitchen island - also from Vagabond Vintage.

Art-Inspired Interiors

Learn how to build beautiful interiors around inspiring works of art.  Reception on May 7, from 4-7pm at Powers Gallery in Acton, MA

Cool New Magazine features Concord Green

New England Finery Magazine's current issue is devoted to green living, in honor of Earth Day, April 22, 2011.  Thanks for the mention!

I was delighted to learn that this blog would be featured in the upcoming issue of New England Finery Magazine's Propagating Green section.  This new online magazine's second edition covers many aspects of green living in New England, including shopping vintage, building green, growing a garden and finding eco-friendly furnishings and finishes.

I encourage you to check it out!

Lisa

Inaugural Issue

Double Duty Rooms: Dining Room / Library

Dining Room / Library of THE CONCORD GREEN HEALTHY HOME  Design by Lisa Kauffman Tharp.  Photo: Eric Roth

A core strategy in building with a lighter footprint on the planet is to build smaller.  Assigning double duty to the traditionally under-utilized rooms in the American home is a perfect way to achieve the goal.  One of my favorite examples is the dining room that doubles as a library.  Key elements include a large table, comfy chairs (non-matched seating is like a good party that mixes different personalities), storage for books (displayed or hidden is up to you), and lots of sunshine during the day.  At night, dimmer switches and candle lanterns completely transform the mood.

A different daytime view of the Dining Room / Library.  Design and photo: Lisa Kauffman Tharp

Here are some of my favorite inspirations for the "Eat In Library":

Design by Diane Bergeron

Design by Miles Redd

Design by Darryl Carter, as featured in O at Home

Adding Patina...

Black iron rods are transformed with a non-toxic rust patina. 

The design plan for this New England farmhouse called for drapery rods that had a bronze/rust patina.  Short leadtimes would have made custom rods very expensive.  Why not give some standard black rods a little aging and color with paint?  Turns out, it was quite simple:

I found cool black rods, brackets and rings at Restoration Hardware.  Then I called the nice folks at ECOS Organic paints, who speedy-shipped a quart each of their non-toxic Feng Shui Multi-Surface Paint in Gallery (a reddish orange) and Brushy Creek Brown.   They assured me that this benign paint would stick to metal.  They were right.  :)

Rods were lightly sanded (inside plastic with wet sanding sponge to control dust).

Next, "sock puppet hands" (with plastic bag liners underneath) dip alternately in each color paint to get the right mix of patina and rub it on.

Dry and ready to hang in about 30 minutes.

Voila!  The bronze and rust tones beautifully complement Jim Holland's gorgeous Two In The Dunes oil painting, from Powers Gallery.

For interior design or healthy/green design services, email me at Lisa@KTharpDesign.com.

All photos:  Kauffman Tharp Design

Find your haven at home...

A sunny place to relax and refresh.    Photo:  Eric Roth

"A room of one's own"... "an escape hatch"... "a tiny retreat under the eaves"...  many ways to describe a space carved out somewhere in your home where you can leave the stresses of daily life behind, and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul.

Reclaimed wood desk is complemented by vintage factory stool, artist easel, tin pail with rolls of antique wallpaper, seagrass basket with vintage wallpaper printing cylinders (very cool!), wire gym locker for holding fabric swatches, a birds nest display under the glass cloche, and a linen-covered nail-head bench I scored from West Elm.   Nautical sconces and mercury lamp with netting overlay complete the look.  Photo:  Eric Roth

This sunny loft was the perfect spot to create such a space.  The finished attic houses exercise equipment at one end, and an area for creativity at the other.  It's quiet, with windows on three sides.  As you sit at the desk, perched on the tall stool, views of the treetops and town inspire fresh ideas.    I think I may never come down.  :)  And if you ask me whether it is better to finish a basement or an attic, I will vote attic every time.   Dark and dank vs. sunny and breezy.  Which would you choose?

Resources:
Nail-head Bench - West Elm
Stool and Accessories - Nesting On Main
Art - Grand Battement by me
Floor Paint - ECOS Organic Floor Paint

How to use Nautical Charts to Map out a Feature Wall

Home Office of The Concord Green Healthy Home.  Design by Lisa Kauffman Tharp.  Photo:  Eric Roth.

Nautically-inspired interior design is a wonderful way to connect your home with nature.  It can veer into the land of cliche however, so one has to execute carefully.   For this Office space, I actually pull from several thematic territories - nautical, barn and flight (with that gorgeous antique propeller) - but it works because each element is quietly adding to the overall beauty of the space without calling too much theme-y attention to itself.

Of course, the nautical chart wall is one of the principle elements that pulls the room together.   I have always loved nautical charts for their muted tan and aqua colors, and ability to conjure up daydreams of sailing the seas.  (Hmm, perhaps I wouldn't get much work done at that desk.)

Here is how you can recreate this look:

1.   Plan.   Select a focal point wall (or get crazy and cover the entire room).  Measure to calculate the square footage of chart material needed.

2.  Source and prep chart material.  Expired edition charts are easier to find at reasonable prices in large quantity.  Trim up to the colored areas with an exacto knife and straight edge.

3. Layout.  Spread out the trimmed charts on the floor to make sure the design is pleasing.  Pay attention to the balance between colors and white space.  Don't be afraid to cut and piece different charts together to make the design more interesting.

4.  Tack up charts (and paste, if desired).   Using push pins, tack up the trimmed charts to the wall.  I used clear pins and smoothed the charts tightly as I covered the wall, trimming for a perfect fit as I went along.  I planned the tacking as a prep-step prior to pasting the charts with homemade wallpaper paste, but it looked so good that I didn't need to go the extra step.  If you do want to paste them to the wall, here is a great non-toxic recipe for wallpaper paste.  Be sure to test first, to make sure the colors will not run.

Barn Doors: I designed the tall sliding barn doors to provide ultimate flexibility between the Office space and the adjacent Dining Room / Library.  When all four doors are slid to the side wall, the two spaces feel like one larger space.  When closed, the Office has privacy, while still sharing light and views through the upper glass.  

Resources

Nautical Charts - Maryland Nautical Sales

Barn Doors - Design by Lisa Kauffman Tharp.  Built by Circle B / Barn Depot.

Propeller and pillow - Nesting On Main

Chair - Arhaus

Custom Drapery Panels - Acorn Interiors

Art and Model Sailboat - Powers Gallery

Indoor Green: Healthy Plants and Flowers bring the Outdoors In

 Photo:  Courtesy of Copper Penny Flowers

Nothing connects our interiors to the outside world better than plants and freshly cut flowers.  There are even great choices for minimizing water use, and for those who suffer from allergies.  Check out these beauties from Copper Penny Flowers.

 Seedums, such as these "Hens and Chicks" add fresh succulent beauty, and require very little water.     Photo:  Kauffman Tharp Design

Orchids are not only beautiful, they are rated a 1 for "Best" on the OPALS allergy rating scale.  Photo:  Kauffman Tharp Design

Jennifer Eaton, owner of Copper Penny Flowers, can provide beautiful plant selections based on your own Healthy House goals.  Here, she makes sure that everything looks perfect for the recent television and print shoots.

A big thank you to Jennifer for the gorgeous finishing touches!

Lisa

Add Architectural Dimension with Built-In Furniture

Photo: Kauffman Tharp Design

3-D isn't just for hit Hollywood movies these days.  Adding dimension to walls can completely transform a room.  By framing this triple window with a window seat and pair of bookshelves, we add inviting seating, not to mention lots of open and closed storage.  These improvements even repair proportion issues in the space.

BEFORE: Notice the wider space to the right of the triple window, leaving the room lacking in symmetry.

SOLUTION: Custom-built pair of matching bookcases by Bostonwood will establish much needed symmetry around the triple window.  Installation by Aedi Construction.            

IN PROGRESS: Next, we added a window seat, also crafted by Bostonwood, finished with non-toxic Mythic Paint.  Tons of storage hides under the lift-up lid.

AFTER: Seat cushion, window treatments (all by Acorn Interiors), comfy pillows and sconces help to create a cozy place for relaxing.

Bostonwood is a great choice for custom furniture and built-ins because they offer:

• Local craftsmanship
• Sustainably grown local woods, such as eastern white pine 
• Solid wood will not off-gas toxic fumes like composite furniture
• Option to buy unfinished, or finish with non-toxic paints or stains from ECOS or Mythic
• Reasonable pricing
• In-home measuring service included

Nick at Bostonwood will happily sketch up your piece before it goes into production.

Ahhhhh.  Finished, and enjoying the sunset views...

All photos in this post: Kauffman Tharp Design.

Sneak Peek: Living Room Test Photos

Photo:  Lisa Kauffman Tharp

Above, is the first of many test photographs I took for shoot week.   Far superior professional pictures from Eric Roth to soon follow.

The living room design epitomizes my aesthetic vision for the entire home... natural and organic elements, artistic connections with nature, reclaimed materials in the woods of the tables, and spare sculptural lines that are softened by natural fabrics of linen, cotton and silk.

Photo: Lisa Kauffman Tharp

Resources:
Custom window treatments and window seat cushion by Acorn Interiors.
Custom bookcases and window seat - Bostonwood.
 "Poem for Nauset Afternoon" oil painting by Teri Malo - Powers Gallery.
Verellen sofa and Oly Hanna chairs - Hudson of Wellesley.
Vintage glass pie display (used as a side table) and other accessories - Nesting on Main.
X-Brace Console Chest - Interim Furnishings.
French chimney piece on low table - Encores Antiques.
Hens and Chicks succulents by Copper Penny Flowers.
Fabrics - Kravet.

A special thanks to the folks at Aedi Construction for all of the last minute installations to make the home camera-ready.  Thank you as well to ZeroEnergy Design for their productive efforts to publicize the project.  I am so pleased that we can share this experience so that others might shortcut right to better, healthier design.

TV and Photography Shoot Days are Fast Approaching...

One of MANY projects still to be done before shoot days -- apply an aged zinc paint wash to this pair of lanterns from Vagabond Vintage, which will be hung between the beams over the 10' X-Brace dining table.

Preparing for television filming and photography shoots happening in just 9 days.  Whew!  I am thrilled that we can share the healthy and eco-friendly design features of THE CONCORD GREEN HEALTHY HOME with so many more readers and viewers.

Filming will be done for a national television show, to be announced.  Photography will be handled by the amazing Eric Roth, who shoots gorgeous architecture and interiors for local, national and international publications.   I have always admired his portfolio, and am absolutely delighted that our project will be captured through his lens.

Eric Roth, as featured in The Boston Globe

Eric Roth shot Brooke Gianetti's home (of favorite blog Velvet and Linen) for New Old House Magazine

Announcing Healthy Design Consultations by Phone

After several inquiries by readers, I am now offering Healthy Design Consultations by phone, for your interior design, renovation and new construction projects.

In a Healthy Design Consultation, I will:

1. Identify the important health considerations for your particular project
2. Prioritize critical steps to ensure you are getting the most for your investment
3. Direct you to the best resources for achieving your goals
4. Spare you significant investigation and decision time by sharing my own knowledge and experience -- gained from years of research and work on new construction, renovation and interior design projects
5. Explain how additional services work -- and even get started right away, with the first consult, such as interior design, color, sourcing of furnishings and accessories, etc. -- all which can be done remotely with the wonders of modern technology.  :-)

Please note that I am a healthy home consultant / interior designer.  I am not an architect, engineer, air quality expert, etc.  I will not provide expert advice in these areas, but rather highlight important considerations, make general recommendations and then, steer you to best expert help, if needed.


Please contact me at lisa@concordgreendesign.com to learn more.

In Praise of Bed Alcoves

Extreme Bed Alcoves
Hotel Aire de Bardenas in Spain via Remodelista

In his landmark tome (and my favorite architectural book of all), A Pattern Language, Christopher Alexander explains why Bed Alcoves are a winning design idea.

Pattern #188 - Bed Alcove 

Bedrooms make no sense. 

 

Therefore:

Don't put single beds in empty rooms called bedrooms, but instead put individual bed alcoves off rooms with other nonsleeping functions, so the bed itself becomes a tiny private haven.

 Floor plan view of Bed Alcove
Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language

Imagine having full use of rooms that go largely uninhabited during the day, just because there is a big bed hogging the middle.  Bed alcoves save so much space, you might find yourself being able to build significantly smaller, or forgo that addition altogether.  Plus, they are an incredibly cozy and delightful place to sleep.  That is why all of the bedrooms in THE CONCORD GREEN HEALTHY HOME will employ Alexander's clever pattern.

Some inspiration:

Cottage

Modern

Exotic

Kid favorite

Clearly, designer Suzanne Kasler is a big fan of the bed alcove concept, as these next three photos show:

Credits:
Cottage - unknown, Modern - Piet Boon, Exotic - unknown, Kid Favorite - Sandell Sandberg.