Highly Recommended Reading: Green Books, Magazines, and Websites
Urban Eco Chic, by Oliver Heath. This will be joining the books below on my reference / inspiration shelf shortly.
(this article was first published in January 2008 in vol.1, no, 1 of the ecoDomestica reDesign newsletter)
Here are a selection of the publications that inspire and inform my work. Enjoy!
Books:
Alan Berman. “The Healthy Home Handbook: Eco-Friendly Design” (2001) …This practical, British guide to making eco-friendly choices for the construction and decoration of homes is wildly inspirational, with photos of sustainable interiors in a variety of styles from around the world.
Kari Foster, Annette Stelmack, and Debbie Hindman. “Sustainable Residential Interiors” (2007) …The definitive reference book for North American interior designers on environmentally and socially responsible design principles and practices. Quote: “The finishes in a home can exemplify environmental responsibility, as well as reflect the inherent beauty of design.”
Robyn Griggs Lawrence “The Wabi-Sabi House” (2004). …Most decorating books are eye candy; this one is soul food. If you aren’t familiar with wabi-sabi, it’s a Japanese philosophy closely tied to Zen Buddhism, almost impossible to explain in few words to people from western cultures. But for the sake of a book review, I’ll attempt it… The concept of wabi includes harmony, balance, simplicity, and humility; sabi translates literally as “the bloom of time”. Taken together, the words describe the beauty of everyday, functional objects that we cherish because they are well used, patinated, handmade, and tied to memories. It’s living in the moment, modestly and authentically. The author — also editor of Natural Home magazine — explains the concepts and their history thoroughly, then suggests ways to bring them into our modern lives and homes. So inspiring!
Moira and Nicholas Hankinson “Salvage Style In Your Garden” (2001) …Full of ingenious ideas for creative reuse of materials as planters, edging, and garden furniture – although some of the materials are peculiarly British (chimney pots and roofing slates, anyone?).
Linda Mason Hunter and Mikki Halpin “Green Clean” (2006) …A fantastic little (non-paper!) reference book to help you keep house using environmentally friendly methods and products.
Kimberly Rider “The Healthy Home Workbook: Easy Steps for Eco-Friendly Living” (2006) …My favorite book of this type, due to its practicality (with a chapter for each room) and approachable you-can-do-this tone. Quote: “Every choice you make when you create your home environment is important in that it is an opportunity to select materials and practices that can improve your family’s and your own health. In the long view, a healthy household is healthier for the environment as well.”
Rebecca Tanqueray “Eco Chic: Organic Living” (2000). …One of the first décor books I read that specifically extols the virtues of eco-friendly design; the photos still inspire me.
Emilie Tolley and Chris Mead “Flea Market Style” (1998) …Tolley was a contributing editor at Victoria magazine and it shows in the white-on-white, heavily layered rooms. This guide to the decorative treasures that await at flea markets and antique malls holds up amazingly well for being a decade old.
Adria Vasil “Ecoholic” (2007) …Fast becoming the go-to green reference book for Canadians, Now columnist and occasional The Hour correspondent Vasil has a light-hearted, approachable writing style. Here’s hoping the next edition has a chapter for Edmonton as well as Calgary!
Elizabeth Wilhide “Eco” (2002) …Divided into chapters on design strategies, case studies from around the world, surface finishes, and long-term practices, this book lives up to its subtitle, “an essential sourcebook for environmentally friendly design and decoration”. The photos are terrific, too. Quote: “You may not, for example, be able to change the siting, orientation, or basic construction of your home, but you can improve its insulation, install solar slates in place of conventional roofing, or extend your home in such a way as to benefit from passive solar gain.”
Magazines:
Natural Home – This magazine is my go-to resource for sustainable home décor products and ideas. They have a great website, too, with lots of articles archived from their back issues.
KIWI: Growing families the natural and organic way. I love their common sense approach and the lack of “buy-this-stuffity-stuff-stuff” marketing that seems to be the raison-d’etre of certain other parenting magazines. Quote: “Do the best you can, and that doesn’t mean doing everything…. Over time, little bits add up to a lot.”
ReadyMade – Always full of well-designed projects that feature creative reuse and upcycling, this magazine is the one I pick up first when I’m feeling crafty.
Websites and weblogs:
Grist have been covering environmental news since 1999, and have just released a book that will likely make my list above.
eHugger has been bought for an outrageous amount of money by the man (well, OK, the Discovery Channel), but they still rock the how-to guides for greening every conceivable aspect of your life.
National Geographic’s Green Guide are my go-to place for product reviews and tips, and are launching a full-scale print/e-magazine in March.
EcoFabulous always seem to be first to profile green products to make our lives virtuous and stylish – or at least make us green with envy.
Tags: books, going green, magazines, reviews