walk the talk

Furnishings are imported from around the globe, but the designs have no style boundaries. “We want to bring in eco accents that complement modern or traditional design. Because the materials are of the natural world, they are beautiful in any setting,” she explains.

When Bonnie dreamed up Viva Terra in 2000, the green movement was barely moving, she recalls, and most eco products were beige and bland. “I thought you should be able to bring color, life, and vibrancy into a home and also respect our resources and the people who create them.” She brought years of retail and catalog experience (at Smith & Hawken and Banana Republic), as well as writing talents (she’s written several garden and design books) to the business, and she does much of the product selection and design herself.

“At Viva Terra, we walk our talk in every way. Every product is thoroughly checked, and if it doesn’t meet our standards, we walk away.” To make the cut, “it has to be beautiful, functional, and, of course, eco.”

In Bonnie and Stephen’s dining room, the sustainable wood monkeypod is made into a dining table with a “live edge.” Simple chairs have bamboo seats and backs. Dishes are from recycled glass (vivaterra.com).