For interior designer Jillian Pritchard Cooke, going green is more than a color palette. It's a lifestyle.
Pritchard Cooke, the creative mind behind the Rutherford and Laura Turner Seydel's EcoManor and president of design firm DES-SYN, believes that being Earth-conscious means being mindful of everything from the energy-efficiency of appliances to using chemical-free textiles to knowing where (and how) your furniture was made.
The Atlanta-based designer is behind the Eco-Friendly Decorator Showhouse for the Cure at The Brookwood, Atlanta's first green high-rise designed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, standards.
We recently chatted with Pritchard Cooke about the showhouse and being green-conscious at home.
Q: What did you want to convey in the design of this show house?
A: [Designer Katie Cobb and I] were extremely mindful in showing consumers creative ways to decorate their home while utilizing Mother Nature in a respectful way. We've reclaimed, recycled and reused. [Examples include a rug woven from dried basil vines, chandeliers of oyster shells, wallpaper made from recycled newspapers and artwork made from down pillows.] Every item has a story; our homes should have a story.
Q: It can be confusing for the consumer to distinguish between truly green products and those that make murky claims. How can we know what we're really getting?
A: We must ask the questions. We must do the research. The [Internet] has opened up so much for us. The more we ask questions as consumers, the more we force manufacturers to . . .use good, healthy green products.
Q: How can we decorate with color while being eco-conscious?
A: With regard to interiors and finishes, they need to be sustainable and green, but there's also a move for them to be healthy ... The color should come out in the no-VOC paint and textiles should be natural, such as linen, cotton, hemp, silk, wood. [Pritchard Cooke likes Benjamin Moore's new Natura line, free of volatile organic compounds.]
We should be using all that Mother Nature has to offer without pillaging.
Q: What are some other tips for going green in home decor?
A: Use the 500-mile radius guide [only buying furniture available within 500 miles] or buy in-stock. I try not to buy anything out of the country. I'm one of [Scott Antique Market's] biggest patrons."
Q: Proceeds from the show house benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. What is your connection?
A: I'm a survivor. Three years ago, when I was involved in EcoManor, I approached that project with 100 percent eco-intentions. I was diagnosed during the project, and then I refocused to going completely green and healthy.
Event preview
Eco-Friendly Decorator Showhouse for the Cure
Today through May 17; tours open from noon to 4 p.m. At The Brookwood, 1820 Peachtree Road. Free admission, but donations accepted. www.thebrookwood.net
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