Permeable pavers installed on walks and driveway let water soak into the soil, preventing storm water runoff (www.belgarddesignpro.com).

Established trees were preserved to shade the house from the sun. The house was built on a city lot close to retail outlets and transportation.

Architect: Cunningham/Quill Architects, 1054 31st St. N.W., Suite 315, Washington, DC 20007; 202/337-0090, cunninghamquill.com.
Builder: Mark Turner, GreenSpur Inc., 2807 Summerfield Rd., Falls Church, VA 22042; 202/438-3794, greenspur.net.
Developer: Mark Lowham, West Group, 1600 Anderson Rd., McLean, VA 22102; 703/356-2400, west-group.com.
Landscaping: John Clime, T&J Lawn Service Inc., 301/774-4050, tjlawn.com; Greg Brandon, Skye Design Studio Ltd., 202/403-1864, skyedesignstudio.com.

From the salvaged barn beams and ceiling trusses to the terrazzo floor, virtually every material in the living room of this eco-friendly house has a green story. Even designer Barry Dixon's choice of motifs is a nod to green. "We played with the circle concept, referencing the circle of life and ideas such as reuse and recycling," he says.

An east-facing wall of 8-foot-tall windows and French doors topped with transoms fills the room with sunlight so that less electric lighting is needed during sunny days.

Organic linen curtain panels are embellished on the hems with overlapping appliqués of sheer and solid linen circles suggestive of bubbles-"paying homage to the lap pool just beyond the French doors," Barry explains.

Luxurious upholstered seating, including a sofa, daybed, and fireside chairs designed by Barry, is made with sustainable wood frames, soy-based foam cushions, and eco-kind casein-based finishes. Proving good design can co-exist with eco-materials, Barry upholstered his furniture with sustainable fibers, such as natural linen, cotton, bamboo, and even a fabric made of recycled plastic bottles for the banquette in the dining area.

The room is warmed by a cozy EcoSmart Fire, a ventless unit that burns denatured ethanol, a renewable and clean-burning fuel. Barry turned the fireplace into the room's focal point, adding a classic limestone mantel surround against a dramatic accent wall fabricated from riveted metal.

Opposite the fireplace is a huge mirror set into a salvaged factory window. Nearby, an old cheese-packing crate serves as a drum table.

Every corner of the room is designed for function. "There are spaces to curl up by the fire and read a book or take a nap with the dog," Barry says. "It's a room for everyday living."

Organic linen draperies embellished with appliqués filter morning light. A natural fiber, organic linen is grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides (pindler.com).

Sustainable balsa wood pieces fit together to form the lacy pendant lights. Balsa is a fast-growing, easily replenished wood. Designed by New Zealand architectural designer David Trubridge, the pendants are also made of bamboo.

The silky rug from Karastan is made from renewable bio-based polymer fibers that use 30 percent less energy to produce than standard nylons.

The living room and kitchen share a 42x21-foot space in the heart of the house, and are subtly separated by a 10-foot-tall mesh panel made with recycled metal. "It's a translucent divider that provides a visual separation without blocking views, light, or conversation," says designer Barry Dixon.

Comfortable seating is a must-have for today's kitchens so Barry designed a graceful curved bench that connects people with the living and kitchen spaces. Built of sustainable wood, the bench is upholstered in a soft-to-the-touch and durable fabric made of recycled plastic water bottles. To shield views into a messy kitchen, Barry thoughtfully made the bench back 18 inches taller than the kitchen counters.

A round pedestal table--another Barry design--is made of cast concrete and anchors the eating nook. "Concrete is basically made out of rubble and sand--very eco friendly," the designer explains. Many of the furnishings, including the table and bench, were made locally¬--another way to be environmentally responsible, Barry adds.

The efficient galley-style kitchen features handsome SieMatic cabinets in two finishes and manufactured with sustainable materials. One wall of cabinets houses wall ovens and conceals the energy-efficient refrigerator and freezer.

More storage is provided by a walk-in pantry by Eco-Nize Closets, a company that builds with particleboard made with recycled and recovered wood.

Barry allotted plenty of work space for multiple cooks, with long stretches of elegant Eco by Cosentino countertops. The durable surface is made of 75 percent recycled content -- mirrors, sinks, and windshields -- in an eco-friendly resin made in part from corn oil.

For a dash of glamour, Barry covered the kitchen's largest wall with a glittering wallpaper made with mica flakes applied to a recycled paper backing.

Barry couldn't resist one final tribute to green living: open shelves lined with homegrown and home-canned produce from his Virginia farm.

Mica flakes embedded on a recycled-paper backing create an eco-responsible wall covering. Maya Romanoff's Wallmica is free of heavy metals and formaldehyde.

Designer Barry Dixon

Barry Dixon Inc., 8394 Elway Lane, Warrenton, VA 20186; 540/341-8501, barrydixon.com.

Michael Roberson softened the windows with all-linen curtains that were hand-printed and colored with low-VOC dyes. The sheer roman shade is also linen that was tinted with natural dyes. Bedding is organic cotton and linen, plus a bamboo fiber throw.

Susan Gulick combined the coziness of a family room with the sophisticated technology of a home theater--and did it all with sustainable materials.

A sink-in sectional that seats practically an entire family is constructed of woods from responsibly managed forests. Cushions are soy-based, springs are made of 80 percent recycled material, and upholstery is a bamboo and organic cotton fabric. The fabric was even manufactured using wind power.

Susan chose sound-absorbent and cushy cork for the floor. Cork is a renewable resource and is harvested without damaging the tree. For added comfort, Susan layered the floor with a wool rug colored with vegetable dyes.

The room's acoustics and elegance are enhanced by decorative hardwood paneling that is formaldehyde free and bonded using soy-based adhesives. Two other walls are softened with a Phillip Jeffries wall covering made of hemp, a rapidly renewable and biodegradable material.

The 46-inch Samsung TV may be large, but its LED (light-emitting diode) technology uses 40 percent less energy than a standard LCD or plasma television, plus it contains no mercury.

Designer Susan Gulick

Susan Gulick Interiors Ltd., 12021 Sunset Hills Rd., Suite 200, Reston, VA 20190; 703/674-0332, susangulickinteriors.com.