Shea’s Take On All Things Green

Sasha Duerr, a California-based artist, designer, and educator, is a leading figure in the world of natural plant-based dyes, known for her innovative work in sustainable fashion and textiles. Her practice centers on extracting colors from various natural sources, including weeds, food waste, and local botanicals. This approach aligns with the slow-fashion movement and promotes regenerative design practices. Duerr's fascination with plants and their color potential stems from her childhood experiences in diverse ecosystems. She integrates ancient dyeing techniques with modern ecological awareness, transforming often-overlooked materials into vibrant pigments. Her work demonstrates that the unique attributes of natural dyes, sometimes seen as limitations by the industry, are precisely what make them beautiful and distinctive. She emphasizes that working with natural colors fosters a deeper connection to nature, communities, and the planet, as it requires operating on nature's schedule. Her creative process utilizes a wide array of plant-based materials. Weeds and invasive plants, such as sour grass, are repurposed to create striking colors, challenging perceptions about these often-discarded resources. Leaves and flowers from various species, including eucalyptus and loquat, provide diverse palettes ranging from earthy tones to vibrant yellows. Redwood cones contribute deep brown hues, adding a natural aesthetic to her dyes. Seaweed is also explored for its potential to yield a range of colors from subtle greens to rich blues. Additionally, Duerr champions the concept of 'food as dye,' transforming kitchen scraps like onion skins, pomegranate rinds, avocado pits, and citrus peels into natural dyes, thus offering a sustainable alternative to waste. Sasha Duerr's expertise is documented in several books. 'The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes' offers a comprehensive guide to plant-based dyeing techniques. 'Natural Color' explores the intersection of slow food, slow fashion, and natural dyes, highlighting the environmental and social impact of her methods. 'Natural Palettes' presents a collection of color palettes and essays linking colors to landscapes and lifestyle experiences. Her book, 'Natural Color: Vibrant Plant Dye Projects for Your Home and Wardrobe,' provides a guide to utilizing commonly found natural materials for dyeing various items, offering seasonal recipes for home goods and apparel. This book details sustainable methods and artisanal techniques to apply these colors to homes and wardrobes. Beyond her artistic practice and publications, Duerr is an Adjunct Professor at the California College of the Arts, where she teaches courses on natural color, slow food, slow fashion, and social practice. She also conducts workshops and collaborates with organizations like Fibershed and Greenpeace to advance a more sustainable textile industry. In 2007, she founded the Permacouture Institute to promote regenerative design practices in fashion and textiles. Her work has received significant recognition, featured in publications such as The New York Times, American Craft Magazine, Domino, and Elle Decor UK, and on podcasts like Sustainable World Radio and Green Dreamer, thereby increasing awareness of the potential of natural dyes. #SashaDuerr #NaturalDyes #SustainableFashion #PlantBasedColors #EcoFriendlyDesign #TextileArt #SlowFashion #RegenerativeDesign #BotanicalDyeing

The article profiles Christie Green, ASLA, a landscape architect based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, who runs a one-woman practice called Radicle. Green's work is driven by a mission to repair humanity's fractured relationship with nature, particularly with the plants and animals consumed for sustenance. A significant aspect of her personal life and professional philosophy involves hunting for the majority of her meat, an activity that has profoundly influenced her understanding of ecological systems and her design approach. She views hunting not merely as a hobby but as a visceral connection to the natural world, fostering an awareness of vegetation, water availability, and wildlife patterns that she integrates into her landscape projects. Green's journey into landscape architecture was unconventional. Raised between Alaska and Texas, she developed an early appreciation for wild landscapes. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, and working with an environmental education organization called Bioneers, she became deeply involved in the politics of food. This led her to start a design/build company focused on edible plantings and backyard gardens, aiming to counter monoculture agriculture. However, the commercial demands of larger projects often compromised her initial vision, leading to dissatisfaction. The 2008 recession forced her to scale back, inadvertently providing an opportunity to reassess her career path. At nearly 40, she enrolled in the graduate landscape architecture program at the University of New Mexico, where she was recognized for her intelligence, humility, and dedication as a student, even as a single mother commuting daily from Santa Fe. After completing her graduate studies, Green rebranded her firm as Radicle, symbolizing the embryonic root of a seedling. She committed to undertaking only projects that aligned with her core values, such as an outdoor recreational facility for the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo and the landscape for an immersive art installation. She also ventured into art, using a rented warehouse as a studio to host salons and create installations that explored themes of consumption, waste, and societal ideals. Her art often draws parallels to ecological processes, such as a piece involving mounted elk scat to highlight nature's efficient nutrient cycling. A recurring theme throughout Green's work is food and challenging the mindless approach to consumption. She advocates for a deeper connection to the provenance of food, emphasizing the importance of understanding where sustenance comes from, whether wild or cultivated. Her projects demonstrate a pragmatic and ecologically conscious aesthetic, often utilizing natural or repurposed materials and focusing on long-term sustainability. An exemplary project is the Española Healing Foods Oasis, a community garden developed with Tewa Women United. This project transforms a neglected urban space into a public ethnobotanical garden, employing traditional Tewa techniques for dryland cultivation and water harvesting. The garden not only provides edible and medicinal plants culturally significant to the Tewa people but also serves as a testing ground for innovative ecological strategies like mycoremediation to address environmental contamination. Green's approach is characterized by an intuitive and iterative process, often involving years of soil building and allowing landscapes to evolve naturally. Her designs are not merely aesthetic but deeply functional and responsive to the environment and human behavior. Her work is seen as a bridge between indigenous knowledge and Western technology, translating complex ecological ideas into tangible, community-focused projects. While her uncompromising environmental ethic may limit her clientele, it underscores her commitment to a holistic and integrated understanding of humanity's place within the natural world, reflecting a life lived in the liminal space between urban and rural, wild and cultivated. #ChristieGreen #Radicle #LandscapeArchitecture #EnvironmentalDesign #SustainableDesign #FoodSystems #IndigenousKnowledge #EcologicalRestoration #CommunityGardens

The article highlights the importance of outdoor rugs in enhancing outdoor living spaces, drawing a parallel to how indoor rugs anchor a room. It emphasizes that outdoor rugs are not only practical but also add a stylish touch, providing comfort underfoot. The guide covers essential considerations such as material, maintenance, size, and patterns, offering expert advice from designers like Shea McGee of Studio McGee and Kate Marker of Kate Marker Interiors, and Regan Baker of Regan Baker Design. Regarding materials and maintenance, the article recommends durable, weather-proof, and easy-to-clean options. Shea McGee suggests PET due to its low moisture absorption, while Kate Marker adds polypropylene, polyester, and nylon for their durability and resistance to elements like dirt, moisture, and sunlight. These materials are noted for their ease of cleaning, a crucial factor for outdoor use. When it comes to sizing, the article advises measuring the outdoor space in conjunction with furniture, applying the same principles as for indoor rugs. For lounge areas, the rug should be large enough to accommodate the front feet of sofas and chairs. For dining areas, it should extend sufficiently to cover the entire table and chairs when in use. Custom sizing options are also mentioned for unique patio configurations. For prints and patterns, Regan Baker suggests favoring neutral options with texture, as loud patterns tend to fade outdoors. However, the article also acknowledges the appeal of colorful and maximalist designs, assuring readers that durable options exist for those preferences. The article then proceeds to list and describe eleven top outdoor rug picks for 2024, categorized by their best features: * **Best Overall:** McGee & Co. Hanlon Indoor/Outdoor Rug, praised for its handwoven, weather-resistant design and natural tones. * **Best Stain-Resistant:** Dash and Albert Diamond Flatweave Geometric Rug, known for its ultra-durability, fade resistance, and subtle pattern suitable for high-traffic areas. * **Best Neutral Designs:** Loloi Rugs Isle IE-04 Area Rug, offering soft yet durable options with eye-catching patterns in neutral shades. * **Best Custom:** Ernesta Rugs Indoor/Outdoor Flatweave Rug, which provides custom sizing and design assistance within a reasonable budget and timeframe. * **Best Lightweight:** MontVoo Waterproof Reversible Patio Rug, an affordable, stain- and fade-resistant, quick-drying, and reversible option available on Amazon. * **Best Splurge:** Serena & Lily Perennials Corsica Rug, a high-performing chenille yarn rug with fringe detailing, offering UV, mold, mildew, and stain resistance. * **Best Handwoven:** Lulu and Georgia Thatcher Handwoven Indoor/Outdoor Rug, featuring a distinct basketweave style made from recycled PET for easy cleaning. * **Best Washable:** Ruggable Outdoor Ranier Copper Sage Rug, ideal for households with kids or pets, as it is machine-washable and comes with a patented two-piece system including a rug pad. * **Best Value:** Unique Loom Anguilla Jill Zarin Outdoor Rug, a highly durable, low-maintenance, and budget-friendly option available in many sizes and designs. * **Best Prints:** Rifle Paper Co. Veranda Terracotta Cream Outdoor Rug, a bold, maximalist design that is UV- and mildew-resistant, a result of a collaboration with Loloi. * **Best Round Rug:** CompanyC Camellia Hand-Tufted Indoor/Outdoor Rug, perfect for small balconies or patios, creating an illusion of space with its curves and offering fade- and water-resistant properties. Finally, the article reiterates key purchasing considerations, including UV-stabilized materials for fade resistance, breathability through open weaves (without backing), and sufficient weight to withstand outdoor elements. It also confirms that appropriately made outdoor rugs are designed to get wet but should be brought indoors during extreme weather conditions. The article concludes by highlighting ELLE DECOR's authority in home furnishings and design trends, ensuring readers receive expert-approved information. #OutdoorRugs #HomeAccessories #PatioDecor #InteriorDesignTips #WeatherResistant #HomeDecoration #ShoppingGuide #OutdoorSpaces #Rugs

Melissa Rappaport Schifman, author of "Building a Sustainable Home: Practical Green Design Choices for Your Health, Wealth, and Soul," discusses her journey into sustainable building and offers advice for those looking to adopt greener practices at home. Her interest in sustainable commerce began in the 1990s after reading Paul Hawken’s _The Ecology of Commerce_. After a corporate career, she dedicated herself to sustainability in 2003, especially when she had the opportunity to build her own home. Schifman's own residence, built in 2009 by Streeter & Associates in collaboration with architect David Salmela, is LEED Gold certified. This personal project led her to become a LEED Accredited Professional and subsequently a consultant in the green building industry. She emphasizes that sustainable building offers measurable, tangible, and impactful results. For individuals feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of living more sustainably, Schifman recommends a broad approach. Key actions include electrifying home systems, reducing lawn size in favor of planting wildflowers, and filtering water. These steps contribute to reducing reliance on fossil fuels, enhancing aesthetic appeal, minimizing waste, and ensuring access to healthy drinking water. Reflecting on the decade since her home's completion, Schifman notes significant advancements in the sustainable building landscape. Architects have become more knowledgeable about the LEED rating system, and a growing number of professionals have embraced the green building movement. Technological improvements have made sustainable materials more accessible in the market. However, she also acknowledges that there is still considerable progress to be made until sustainable design becomes an inherent part of the design process, rather than a specialized category. Schifman addresses common misconceptions about sustainable living, particularly the idea that it requires sacrificing comfort or convenience, such as good shower pressure. She clarifies that modern sustainable homes are designed to be more comfortable, healthier, and more durable, without necessitating a reduction in quality of life. The notion that going green involves turning down thermostats or enduring weak showers is a myth; instead, sustainable solutions like efficient showerheads maintain performance while conserving resources. Ultimately, she asserts that embracing sustainability does not mean making sacrifices, but rather enhancing living standards through thoughtful and environmentally conscious choices. #GreenLiving #SustainableBuilding #LEEDCertification #HomeDesign #EnvironmentalSustainability #MelissaRappaportSchifman #EcoFriendlyHome #BuildingPractices #SustainableDesign

As summer concludes and Labor Day approaches, the interior design world shifts towards deeper, moodier shades for fall 2025. Interior designer Shea McGee identifies a bold burgundy as a key trend for the upcoming season, moving beyond traditional fall colors like golden mustards and oxblood reds. She highlights a sophisticated chocolate-burgundy paint, identified as Benjamin Moore's 'Barista AF-175', which she has incorporated into her recent projects and fall collections with Target and McGee & Co. This shade is featured prominently in rustic decor and large-scale furniture items within her new lines, signaling a significant move towards this luxurious color. Experts agree that burgundy, particularly Barista AF-175, offers significant versatility and depth. Helen Shaw, Director of Marketing (International) at Benjamin Moore, describes it as a sumptuous, velvety dark brown with red undertones that provides warmth and depth. Shaw notes its dual capability as a confident backdrop or a striking accent, suitable for various settings from intimate snugs to expansive kitchens. Notably, McGee has utilized this color in smaller spaces like a walk-through pantry and a powder room, challenging the conventional wisdom of using lighter colors to expand small areas. Shaw explains that dark shades can create an illusion of greater space while also imbuing a room with warmth and depth, qualities that are often difficult to achieve in narrow confines. Shaw recommends a bold application of this shade, suggesting painting all walls and the ceiling to create a space that feels unexpectedly larger and inviting. She advises pairing burgundy with brushed brass for a golden glow, creamy whites for balance, or soft blush accents for a modern romantic aesthetic. McGee's liberal use of burgundy paint in her projects exemplifies this approach, creating an environment that combines comfort with luxury. Hannah Yeo, Senior Manager of Color Marketing at Benjamin Moore, supports this extensive use, describing the hue as a rich, roasted coffee brown with an earthy red undertone that fosters an inviting atmosphere. For those seeking a Shea-inspired look, Yeo suggests pairing the burgundy hue with leather accents and navy blues, or layering it with wood tones and creamy neutrals for a cozy, grounded feel. The article also provides a selection of burgundy decor items for those who prefer to incorporate the trend without a full paint project. These items include a Four Hands Merlot Marble End Table for a timeless accessory, an Arteriors Scarlett Pendant light fixture to add enduring sophistication to a kitchen, a Target Accent Table with a lacquered finish for a sophisticated fall touch, a McGee & Co. Broadleaf Tea Towel for rustic charm, a Target Coffee Table in a dark red lacquer for a luxurious statement, and a McGee & Co. Louis Vase for a subtle pop of rich color and rustic appeal. These suggestions offer various ways to integrate this deep, luxurious shade into a home, promising a rich, warm, and sophisticated autumnal ambiance. #InteriorDesign #ColorTrends #FallDecorating #SheaMcGee #Burgundy #BenjaminMoore #HomeDecor #PaintColors #SeasonalTrends

The article discusses Pantone's selection of "Greenery" as its Color of the Year for 2017, highlighting the color's significance and various applications across different aspects of life. The author expresses personal delight in the choice, considering green an underappreciated color. Pantone describes "Greenery" as a "fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring," with Pantone Institute CEO Leatrice Eiseman noting its role in providing hope, rejuvenation, revitalization, and unity in a complex social and political landscape. The article explores several categories where green plays a significant role. It begins by examining "Green Plants," emphasizing their literal presence across Earth and their environmental benefits. It mentions that while much of the planet is blue, green is crucial, with a single leaf producing approximately five milliliters of oxygen per hour. Houseplants like ivy are highlighted for their ability to produce oxygen and filter toxins from the air, linking this to the author's personal experience with asthma and houseplant ownership. Next, the focus shifts to "Green Foods That Are Naturally Green," identifying nutritious vegetables such as spinach, kale, asparagus, and broccoli. These foods are recognized for their high fiber content, numerous vitamins, potassium, and anti-cancer compounds. The article acknowledges the health benefits of these natural green foods and the author's commitment to incorporating them into their diet, even if it's primarily for the visual appeal they add to a plate. The discussion then moves to "Green Foods That _Aren’t_ Naturally Green," showcasing faux-green foods that are delicious despite being unhealthy. Examples include the soft drink Surge and traditionally green-dyed bagels and pizza for St. Patrick's Day. The article explains that the green coloring in these items makes them special rather than attempting to mislead consumers about their nutritional value. "Green Power Dresses" explores the historical and cultural impact of green in fashion. Figures like Scarlett O’Hara from *Gone With the Wind*, who fashioned a dress from green drapes to project confidence, and Jennifer Lopez's iconic plunging green Versace dress at the 2000 Grammy Awards are cited. The article also touches upon art history, referencing the green pigments used in art, sometimes toxic, and the bundled green gown in Jan Van Eyck’s *The Arnolfini Portrait*, which has inspired extensive interpretations. "Green (Lantern) Mythology" delves into the presence of green in pop culture, specifically through DC Comics' Green Lantern. The superhero's green strength is attributed to willpower, inspired by 1940s train engineers' green lanterns. The article also traces the historical significance of green lanterns in New York City, where 17th-century "Rattle Watchman" used them for patrolling, a tradition still reflected in many police stations today. Finally, "Green Characters of My Childhood" lists beloved childhood characters associated with the color green, including Rainbow Brite’s Patty O’Green, Good Luck Bear from Care Bears, *Ghostbusters*’ Slimer, and Tinker Bell, all of whom hold a special place in the author's heart as embodiments of their favorite color. #PantoneColor #ColorOfTheYear #Greenery #InteriorDesignTrends #SustainableLiving #HealthyEating #FashionHistory #PopCulture #EnvironmentalBenefits