In the dining room the ceiling beams, painted orange when the family bought the house, were sanded and finished with natural beeswax rather than being chemically stripped with toxic products. Clerestory windows and an open floor plan allow light to fill the home, reducing the need for electric fixtures.

Paints from Benjamin Moore Aura collection are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The blue on the wall is a custom mix; white is "Sailcloth."

Vintage dining chairs designed by Paul Laszlo are padded with natural latex rubber foam. The chairs and table are from the 1stdibs shopping site.

The kitchen counters from Coverings Etc. are recycled cellulose, Portland cement, and fly ash. Marble backsplashes were quarried and finished in Italy, where stone cutters keep waste to a minimum.

Keeping the range and vent hood saved resources--nothing was consumed to make and install new appliances. The existing oak floor remained, too.

Walnut harvested from a defunct nut orchard was fabricated into cabinet veneers. The kitchen cabinets are built without formaldehyde glues or toxic finishes.

Foot pedals control water flow at the kitchen sink faucet, reducing the amount of water consumed and contributing to sanitation. Standard hand controls adjust the water temperature.

The chocolate-and-cream draperies were vintage finds bought at the Alameda, California, antiques fair. Two classic chairs, re-covered in remnant silk fabric, flank a new table made with recycled metal.

Bookshelves in the library were built with Forest Stewardship Council-certified mahogany. The Regency chairs in lavender silk were purchased on eBay, one of Zem's favorite shopping sources.

The zebra rug is llama wool, hand-loomed in Peru for designer Jonathan Adler by weavers working with Aid to Artisans. Organic cotton and wool mattress is from Ergo Sleep Studio, and organic bedding is from Pottery Barn Kids.
 

Cork flooring in ocean blue won't harbor dust mites or other allergens. Cork is a rapidly renewable resource made from the bark of cork trees and harvested without harming the tree.

Zem Joaquin is a nonstop activist for environmental causes and is particularly active in Global Green, a national environmental nonprofit focused on fighting global climate change by creating green buildings and cities.

Six years ago, she was instrumental in launching the organization's signature fund-raising eco-fashion event, the Gorgeous and Green Gala, which attracts such celebrities as Leonardo DiCaprio.

In addition, Zem is an active board member of other environmentally focused groups, including Healthy Child Healthy World, Teens Turning Green, and Architecture for Humanity.

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Traditional Home  /  Design  /  GreenSpace

Eco-Friendly Design from Zem Joaquin

Zem Joaquin offers advice on how to live a sustainable and stylish life

Written by Amy Elbert
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