While innocently perusing pages of Facebook, I was quickly distracted by an advertisement for DecorDreamHome.com. Since I’m such a sucker for beautiful things, I couldn’t help but investigate further. The pillows! The accessories! Very exciting…

Where do I begin? Just the thought of writing this post has my mind racing with excitement!!! That, or perhaps I’ve had too much coffee. Either way, Target is a fantastic resource for just about everything. Rather than walking you through, aisle by aisle, I will do my best to focus on that which is most relevant.

The images below reflect a lot of my own personal style. Aren’t they fabulous?! If you happen to disagree, don’t count them out alltogether. Between their retail stores and online, Target has a huge selection of bedding, lighting, window treatments, home decor, tableware, and the list goes on…

There are numerous facets to working with green design - creating a healthy environment, reusing furniture and accessories to extend their lifecycle, and designing for longevity, to name a few. These techniques are also inherent qualities to my approach with interior design.

As I have mentioned before, it’s impossible to be 100% green. Each product has it’s green advantages and disadvantages. The trick is to find the best balance for each individual client. To complicate matters, rising awareness and preference for using green products has lead to “Green Washing”. This term describes false or exaggerated claims of environmental friendliness. So how do you make the best choices? Aside from hiring your’s truly, organizations such as USGBC (US Green Building Council) help by certifying fact from fiction. To learn more, I recommend GreenHomeGuide.com. Their article “Navigating the Flooring Thicket: Finding the Greenest Way to Meet Your Needs” is excellent.

Go Green!

What a find! Located at 57 North Main Street (lower level) in Concord, many of you have probably passed this store countless times. Peggy Anne carries a fantastic selection of colorful textiles you simply can’t find elsewhere. The geometric and modern floral patterns top the list of my favorites, but the batiks and vintage designs are great too.

Whether you are looking for materials to sew a sensational quilt or spruce up a space with new pillows, be sure to stop by Peggy Anne’s shop for unbelievable fabrics.

Located on South Main Street in Concord (next door to Vinnie’s Pizza), KAZA is a sensational addition to the Downtown community. They offer a variety of home decor products including organic, mid-century modern (my favorite!!!), international merchandise, and much more.

For those of you who are wondering, the name KAZA means “fortunate accident” in Turkish. And how fitting — it so happens that a catalyst for Lisa Swan to open the store was the availability of cowhide rugs from family friends in Turkey. These extraordinary rugs and other Turkish furnishings are exclusive to KAZA.

What I love most about KAZA is the style that they bring to Concord. For someone who leans in the funky/eclectic/modern direction, KAZA is a breath of fresh air for New Hampshire. Also, the variety of international products are genuine works of art from countries such as Mexico, Peru, Morocco, Bulgaria, Italy, and Turkey. In addition, KAZA features the talent of local artisans regularly.

I highly recommend that you take a trip to visit the shop. You can also go to www.kazashop.blogspot.com.

Believe it or not, there are tons of ways to be Green for the holidays. You may even be taking Green initiatives without recognizing it.

Decor - Use natural elements such as flowers, fruit, pine boughs, laurel, etc. Not only will you appreciate their fragrances (vs. the toxic fumes off gassing from their plastic counterparts), but these organic materials will break down completely without harming the environment. When shopping for a tree, look for one with roots so that it can be planted in the spring.

Lights - If you plan on purchasing new strings this season, opt for LED’s. Light Emitting Diodes require minimum watts for operation and can last 100,000 hours. In other words, while these may cost a bit more than the typical string, you will save in utility costs to run them and won’t have to replace them so soon.

Gifts - This is a great time to encourage the Green movement among friends and family. Check out stores that offer green, organic products. If you are in the Concord area, Main Street alone has lots of opportunities to buy green. Here are some to name a few:

• Real Green Goods;
• Your Home, Your World;
• Earth Made;
• KAZA; and
• Concord COOP.

Gift Wrapping - Depending on how crafty you are, give fabric a try. A dab of hot glue would be your best bet as an adhesive. If wrapping with paper is preferred, look for recycled or FSC certified products. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international agency that promotes sustainably harvested wood, gathered from well-managed forests.

Gift Receiving - Your Great Aunt Bessie has the right idea by opening her gift with incredible care. Try salvaging wrapping paper this year; done right, you could save money and a tree for next season. Gift bags, ribbon, and bows can also be reused. At the very least, PLEASE RECYCLE all that you can.