GREEN FURNITURE

Where do I buy "green furniture"?

Many clients ask this question, both residential and commercial.. here are a few tips for purchasing furniture in a sustainable way;

• plan your room - spend some time planning the room you want furnished, using exact measurements and incorporating pieces you want to keep

• reuse - look around! reuse existing furniture where possible, not only is it cheaper but already reflects your style..

• recycle - spend some time upgrading old pieces with a new coat of paint or updated joinery handles. Sand back old paint varnish and refresh upholstered items

• dont be afraid to ask! your furniture retailer who supplies sustainable product will be happy to share their knowledge. Often they are local manufacturers that are using recycled timbers, FSC rated timbers or sustainable sources such as bamboo- the oldest green product in the world

• For inspiration in Sydney try
• Koskela
• Planet Furniture
• Stylecraft

• buy smart - if you are staring afresh, use your head. Look at materials, manufacture and warranties.
• materials: if the product is timber is it from a sustainable source? example would be FSC rated, recycled timber or bamboo
  
• manufacture: is it made locally? if so, there is less carbon used to transport the furniture to your door
• warranty: does it have one? a good warranty is 10 years.. you don't want to have to replace your furniture in two or three years time
• does the supplier have a buyback scheme?

• useful links
  
• the green building council provides guidelines on sustainable architecture and interior fitouts
• the good environmental choice label rates products in the marketplace based on sustainable credentials
  
• ecospecifier provides information on furniture, products and materials
  
• greenpages is a directory of sustainable goods and services Australia wide

artist profile ALISON MCDONALD

Watermark - coral bomby in progress - ABC 'Hit the bottle', anti plastic bottle campaign

Alison McDonald describes herself as an artist revaluing everyday materials.

This seems a somewhat modest explanation when you see the calibre of her work. Many of her sculptures, whilst using recycled raw materials – consumer waste – are carefully and thoughtfully engraved, carved and shaped into beautiful artworks Using recycled PET bottles and lids, Alison transforms our rubbish on various scales.

From single bottle hangings to larger, public installations using hundreds of bottles, her works inspire me as they really push the boundaries of today’s values…is it rubbish? is it art? or both? or simply the start of a important dialogue between art and consumerism..

Ripple effect aerial detail - Recycled PET lids

Recently Alison collaborated with Jane Gillings in Newcastle, creating an artwork made with plastic bottles donated by listeners of ABC Newcastle as part of the Hit The Bottle campaign on the ABC Local Radio breakfast program. Click here to see more

Domino effect - The Sierpinski triangle fractal at 15 ° intervals -
Recycled PET plastic bottle

FRIDGE BUYBACK

"Fridgehenge" found on Treehugger

Fridge Buyback is an energy efficiency program that collects working 2nd fridges, it is supported by the NSW Government's Climate Change Fund to collect 19,000 fridges over the next three years, reducing residential greenhouse gas emissions by over 152,000 tonnes and saving residents more than $29 million on their electricity bills

Removalists will collect your fridge free of charge from your home if removal involves 20 stairs or less. The refrigerant gas in your fridge will be properly removed and safely disposed of and the metals recycled. Apply online www.fridgebuyback.com.au or call 1800 708 401

PROPERTY STYLING

It has been proven time and again that styling a property for sale will increase the sale value to prospective buyers. Real estate agents acknowledge the importance of presentation as their primary marketing tool.

Recently, we installed furniture, accessories and artworks into a tiny studio in Elizabeth Bay, Sydney. Greg McKinley of Richardson and Wrench, Elizabeth Bay believes a recent installation we did added value and helped prospective buyers visualise the space, ".. the apartment was looking really tired and Alena's few choices of furnishing, colour, linen and art really transformed the apartment, added value and has a higher appeal to home owners as they can now see the space..."


By carefully adding furniture that complemented the style of the apartment, prospective buyers were able to visualise how to use the space. Styling is an emotive and powerful way to appeal to a wider audience when selling a property, and costs only a fraction of your marketing budget. For more info email Alena Smith

BUDGETING

Whether your project is a full new build or tiny splash of paint, always always put together a budget. It amazes me how many clients put more thought, more planning and budgeting into their annual holiday than their renovation.
Now more than ever, prospective renovators should be vigilant and honest with themselves when it comes to budgeting.

Home Design Directory provides ball park estimates based on the quality of work and areas of the home including a Bathroom calculator and Kitchen calculator.
For more accurate costing, use a Quantity Surveyor, the cost of their service will be a fraction of the costs of the project, and will help you make more informed decisions and guide your priorities.

For Interior styling and furniture projects, your interior designer should provide a schedule of furniture, accessories and artworks that are all geared towards your overall budget. For more information on budgeting your project email Alena Smith

GOVERNMENT REBATES

Are you renovating or building a new home?

Recently, the Federal and State governments have offered incentives to "green" your space. There are several ways of increasing the efficiency of your home, including installation of ceiling insulation, switching to solar hot water and installation of rainwater tanks. There are also rewarding consumers for purchasing energy and water efficient appliances such as washing machines as well as a fridge buyback scheme. There is even a low emission assitance plan for renters.

As well as making your home cooler in summer, warmer in winter and using less energy, you can save so much money in the long term. If you already have solar panels, the NSW Govt intends to pay for electricity that is fed back into the grid!

To see if you are eligible for a rebate check the following sites:

Australian Government Dept of Environment, Water and the Arts

New South Wales Dept of Environment and Climate Change

Economic Stimulus Package

New South Wales Dept of Energy and Water

EARTH HOUR

Don't forget Earth Hour 8.30pm March 28th!
Switch off all the lights for an hour and enjoy the intimacy of being under the stars.. this event which began as a local Sydney night has bloomed into a world wide phenomena with now over 50 million people committing to switching off their lights.
Architectural landmarks such as Sydney Opera House, Golden Gate Bridge and Times Square have all participated, changing the night cityscape as well as saving tonnes of greenhouse gases..