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Nifty Thrifty:  Any advice for green decorating?  |
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Kyria
True Blue Farmgirl
213 Posts
Kyria
Carthage
TX
USA
213 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 17 2010 : 3:25:52 PM
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I'm looking at the requirements for the "Build It Green" badge and I'm at a loss. It says "Familiarize yourself with ways to decorate your home that are green." and "Find ways that you can make subtle changes in the way you are decorating your home."
I've done some Googling, but really can't find anything to clarify. What have some of you ladies done? Does this mean decorate with things from nature? Or with things you've recycled? Or with things that didn't cost much? 
Help! 
Kyria
www.crossyr.blogspot.com
Sell Books Online at Cash4Books.net
http://www.cash4books.net/index.php?ref=122916 |
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J.F. Brown
True Blue Farmgirl
130 Posts
Jamie
Beaverton
OR
USA
130 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2010 : 10:33:54 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyria
I'm looking at the requirements for the "Build It Green" badge and I'm at a loss. It says "Familiarize yourself with ways to decorate your home that are green." and "Find ways that you can make subtle changes in the way you are decorating your home."
I've done some Googling, but really can't find anything to clarify. What have some of you ladies done? Does this mean decorate with things from nature? Or with things you've recycled? Or with things that didn't cost much?
Help!
Not sure if it qualifies for badge, but some thoughts that might help-
If you are painting, look for low- (or no-) emission paint. In the Portland OR area, you can buy re-cycled paint in many colors through our Metro agencies.
Same thing if you re-finish or paint furniture- lowest impact stripping and staining, maybe water-based, now available at even the big-box stores. We've always gone with 'use what you have', maybe swapping around furniture from one room to another. My kids would sometimes trade off lamps, tables, bookcases... Then if you don't have it, try to get it used.Re-purpose; a bookcase can also be a night-stand, a dining room chair may make a great lamp table. The same with curtains and other textiles. A duvet can become a lot of yardage for other projects! If you need to start all-new, and sometimes that's the only option, try to buy things made in ways that best serve the planet and the people on it. I know, that's often the most expensive option, at least for the time being, and that's why we tend to buy used almost always!
Best luck!
Kyria
www.crossyr.blogspot.com
Sell Books Online at Cash4Books.net
http://www.cash4books.net/index.php?ref=122916
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Cherime
True Blue Farmgirl
1222 Posts
Cherime
Wasilla
Alaska
USA
1222 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2010 : 12:28:35 PM
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In the house remodel for the kitchen I took 30 year old cabinets and refurbished them. I actually had to replace some wood parts. Then I painted them. I had to buy one cabinet and I went to the Restore Store operated by Habitat For Humanity and found what I needed for $20.00. They also had a piece of linoleum for the bath room that had a wavy cut on one end. Since I am covering that with do it yourself base boards made by stripping down 8" pine boards to 2". I would think that would qualify for green decorating. I also am reusing used window curtains and buy as much from the thrift shops as I can.
I cut down king sized sheets to fit my queen sized mattress, stuff like that I would think.
CMF |
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MInwife
Farmgirl in Training
42 Posts
LEA
OXFORD
NC
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2010 : 1:12:30 PM
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Or maybe new ways to use old things? I love to do that inn our home... something as small as a stray saucer becoming the new soap dish
Lea
www.theendoftheroad.typepad.com
Farm Girl Sister # 2078 |
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Kyria
True Blue Farmgirl
213 Posts
Kyria
Carthage
TX
USA
213 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2010 : 4:07:32 PM
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Thank you everyone. That helps clarify things a bit. We actually do most of that stuff anyway, so I wasn't sure what I could be doing differently! We long ago stripped out all the carpet in favor of wood floors and I love to reuse, recycle, and repurpose everything I can.
Kyria
www.crossyr.blogspot.com
Sell Books Online at Cash4Books.net
http://www.cash4books.net/index.php?ref=122916 |
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dandelionhouse
True Blue Farmgirl
205 Posts
Debbie
Plymouth
Mass
USA
205 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2010 : 4:26:19 PM
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Hi Kyria!
Good question... I think the idea of green decorating is easy to get confused about..
Here are some simple and (not so simple) ways we have gone more green in our home for decorating...
FURNITURE~ I love to find some old so and so and give it a new life with paint...to my mind just reusing an old piece of furniture is ' GREEN" but if you want to make it more to your liking using paint or other materials, you can find green paints or broken dishes and vintage hardware to creatively up cycle an old cast off.
Walls: More manufacturers are making paints without the harmful toxins in them. I'm about to try my first one called Fresh Air available at the Home Depot... If you are familiar with Natural Home Magazine, they have a large resources list in the back of their publication as well. I believe there are wall papers available now that are manufactured in " green " ways as well. My new wall color is about to be " Waves of Grain"... for the farmgirl in me!
Accessories: This one is the easiest I think...If you are a collector of anything vintage, and like to re-use things in new ways this is one of the most inexpensive ways you can make subtle changes.
Use vintage or antique dishes,and silver ware for daily use instead of buying new...old vases and containers make wonderful holders for flowers.
We have two projects going on right now where we are up cycling ( throw away) pieces of granite slabs.
Kitchen remodel: Instead of replacing all of the base cabinetry, we only replaced the doors. This saved us $$$ and materials that would have been used for new base cabinets.We also replaced our 21 year old outdated Formica counter tops with three pieces of ( throw away ) granite slab. They were not use able for a larger kitchen but were perfect for our modest sized kitchen so our fabricator got creative where he put the seems. You can check around at fabricator shops and ask to see their left over pieces...
Outside: we are using more throw away granite pieces to create a stone patio in our back yard as well.
Organizing: As I was putting things back into the cabinets this week, I dawned on me that I would like to store things like nuts, choc- ships, and dried berries in clear glass jars rather than have bags tossed about my cupboards where they are hard to find and SEE! Instead of buying new STORAGE jars, I'll re-use pasta sauce or applesauce instead of recycling them.
Sorry so long! I hope some of these ideas help you on your way to getting your badge soon. :)
farmgirl sister #1199
Deb~
www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com
" home is where we all craft the life of our dreams." |
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2quilter
True Blue Farmgirl
127 Posts
Patricia
Greenwood
IN
USA
127 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2010 : 5:29:34 PM
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I got red and green CFLs for Christmas decorations to light up the porch. Festive, and ecologically responsible. :-)
When life hands you scraps, make quilts! |
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Kyria
True Blue Farmgirl
213 Posts
Kyria
Carthage
TX
USA
213 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2010 : 7:27:30 PM
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Thank you, Debbie! I think I'll just look around my home and make a list of all the things I'm already doing, which is most of the ideas put forth here.
Patricia, what does CFL stand for? I'm guessing something about fluorescents.
Kyria
www.crossyr.blogspot.com
Sell Books Online at Cash4Books.net
http://www.cash4books.net/index.php?ref=122916 |
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2quilter
True Blue Farmgirl
127 Posts
Patricia
Greenwood
IN
USA
127 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2010 : 4:46:58 PM
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cfl = compact fluorescent lights
When life hands you scraps, make quilts! |
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shabbyms
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Cheryle
Naperville
IL
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - Dec 12 2010 : 3:58:48 PM
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Here are a few items I've redone for my home they are not just from the curb but also from different rooms and one is from the local drug store that I have redone to fit my decor. You can purchase many green items but use different eyes and see what you can keep out of the landfill. The glass cabinet that I keep my china is from the local drug store and it did not look like this when I got it. The porch posts are actually plant stands but this month are supporting my nutcrackers and these end tables well, they were one large dining table that I cut into thirds and reassembled the legs..JPG) .JPG) (1).JPG) 
Passive people do not lead passionate lives. |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Dec 16 2010 : 9:29:16 PM
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I like to shop at antique stores and vintage stores. My coffee table is actually an old beadboard cooler from the 1920's. I made my living room curtains from burlap and I like to decorate with things from nature--pine cones, acorns, lichens, even a deer skull that I found--i also have some of my own artwork hanging on the walls. And I made a lamp from an old globe like the one in one of the MJF magazines--I got the globe for a dollar at a yard sell and found a vintage lamp for six dollars, and I got vintage fringe to decorate it with for two dollars.
Cindy
"There is more to life than increasing its speed". Mahatma Gandhi
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2010 : 10:42:29 AM
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I also bought organic sheets and towels. These can be a bit more pricey but I felt it was worth it. I"m making pot holders out of scrap material, just the batting is new. Reuse, reduce, recycle. Those words are key, but then remember the air quality in your home. If you buy something will it off gas? How was it made? Some ladies buy just cotton clothes, so they aren't buying synthetic.
And add plants! it's an easy way to decorate and get something nice back, like herbs.
Good Luck,
Laurie
Best Growing |
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vintagejenta
True Blue Farmgirl
83 Posts
Sarah
Walden
NY
USA
83 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2011 : 7:56:03 PM
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Shop vintage! I collect vintage milk glass and other vintage kitchen items and *gasp!* actually use them on a daily basis! Most of our wood furniture is also vintage or thrift-stored. Picture frames, vases, and books are other great things you can buy used that don't suffer any from having previous owners. Ditto tablecloths and cloth napkins, and even rugs.
Cork, bamboo, hemp, and organic cottons are all eco-friendly materials. Milk paint is a great, historic, and naturally low-VOC/off-gassing paint you can use. Get wool or cotton rugs instead of synthetic. Use glass food storage containers instead of plastic. I particularly like screw-top wide-mouthed mason jars. Use cloth napkins and towels instead of paper towels, especially for simple, clean tasks like drying your hands.
As for decorating - reuse, repurpose, reduce! Clearing out unneeded and unwanted clutter is a good way to green your house (I think) and a good way to give back to your favorite thrift store.
And I know christmas is over, but one major enviro-friendly change we made in our house was to buy all LED christmas lights. We also patronizee a local cut-your-own tree farm. Our blue spruce will get turned into kindling and "balsam" pillows once it dries out.
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http://citygirlcountryfood.wordpress.com |
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shabbyms
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Cheryle
Naperville
IL
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 4:41:21 PM
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I love milk glass too Sarah! - I thought I would share a photo of my desk and what I currently am using my milk glass for. OK it more shabby than chic but right behind my is MeeMaws old kitchen table and I can take a milk glass vase of paint brushes right over. 
I love all of your ideas Sarah!
Passive people do not lead passionate lives. |
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shabbyms
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Cheryle
Naperville
IL
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2011 : 6:28:12 PM
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Some great ideas in a new Mag I found called Fresh Home -Its kind of urban country but real hands on stuff. I always say Im not to proud to steal a recycling idea and this mag has many when it come to decor. You just might want to check it out. It had a great story about decor for a rentals which I think has been overlooked for a long long time. Also a shabby chic casa which I liked because it really showed you how to use your collections to decorate with gusto. Lots of great decor ideas so if you check it out let me know what you think of it.
Love will make a way out of no way. -Lynda Barry
Cheryle is Farmgirl #604 |
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Nifty Thrifty: Any advice for green decorating? |
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Any advice for green decorating?
