Going Green

Start at the Heart

If you’re looking to upgrade your kitchen, see if you can buy high-quality cabinetry and worktops from people who are doing the same thing. Used kitchens are often sold at discounted rates, meaning you could get a higher spec kitchen for your money. If you’re ripping out your kitchen, think about listing it online.

When it’s got to be new, go local. Devon is home to a wide range of great kitchen firms who have sustainability at their core, including Barnes of Ashburton, which uses timber that is ethically sourced and carries certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Sustainability and environmental impact are also important considerations to Goss Joinery in Rattery, which uses woods from managed forests.

“When it comes to creating a sustainable home environment, the difference is that every choice needs to be carefully considered and, in some cases, researched,” says Caoimhe McKenna, creative director of Yellow Brick Road Design in Totnes. She and other interior designers agree that thinking green is about doing your homework. “Do not shy away from questioning the manufacturers, contractors and suppliers,” she adds.

Lift your Living Space

Create a look to last by making sure your living area works for you as life and needs change. Interior designer Anna Kalnars from Kingsbridge-based Infinite Design Devon says it’s important to plan your entrances and layouts so they can be easily adapted for a growing family, post-retirement or old age. “This can avoid the need for costly alterations and consumption of resources,” she says.

Once you’ve got the basics sussed, think about your colour schemes – and your paint companies. There’s a growing market of eco-firms out there now, including organic and natural paint specialists Graphenstone and Little Greene, manufactured in the UK with minimal impact on the environment.

Think carefully about your furniture too. Can you reupholster, instead of buying new? Local firms, such as Gaff in Cockington, Torquay, offers bespoke upholstery and quality reupholstery.

“We have to support our local economy,” says Anne Gleed, owner of sustainable and ethical interior design firm Anne Gleed Interiors near Maidencombe. She says it’s worth spending time finding out what’s available nearby, before clicking on the big brands. “It’s amazing the number of talented people down here in Devon,” says Anne. “You just have to take the time to look.”

Woodbrooke Sofas in Exeter have an in-house frame workshop, which uses sustainably sourced hardwood timbers for a lifetime of use. All the frames are handmade, and assembled by hand too. For soft furnishings, Weaver Green, near Kingsbridge, produces a range of beautiful rugs and textiles made from single-use plastic bottles.

Bring your Bathroom to Life

Work with what you have, where you can. Anna Kalnars recently completed a renovation project where a mixture of old and new transformed an en-suite. “The WC was carefully taken out from the old bathroom for reuse, and my clever client sourced the original 1950s bath and basin,” says Anna.

If you are going for a complete overhaul, choose high-quality designs made to last – and be selective about your materials. Glass tiles are one of the greenest bathroom flooring options because they can be 100% recycled. If you’re looking to replace your shower curtain, opt for materials like natural cotton, hemp or bamboo. Or, better still, install a glass shower screen which has a much longer lifespan than a fabric curtain.

It’s also worth considering installing an efficient high-pressure shower head that mixes air with water to cut down on your water usage.

A Restful Retreat

To make your bedroom greener, think about your choice of bedding and curtain fabrics. “Bedroom curtains can contain a lot of plastic,” says Anne Gleed. “I tend to go for cottons, not polyesters.” Anne says cotton also generally hangs better – Curtain Call in Bovey Tracey has a great selection.

Textures matter when it comes to bedroom walls and floors, too. “Do not shy away from the glamour of raw finishes, such as clay or limewash on walls, or the feeling underfoot of sisal or jute,” says Caoimhe.

Look to fill your bedroom with character and warmth, rather than new and on-trend. Most interior designers agree that trends come and go. It’s far more sustainable to go with what you love, rather than what you feel you should like.

Working for You

Natural finishes and materials, soft curves and textures – all of these ingredients make for a productive and more eco-friendly home office.

Make the most of natural light. If you have large windows, try positioning your desk in front of them so you can let sunlight illuminate your workstation, helping to cut down on electricity use and reduce your energy consumption.

Look for those greener paint brands again. They emit fewer chemicals into your space and don’t contain harmful pigments, toxic metals and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

Caoimhe concludes her green advice by suggesting a few key questions you should ask manufacturers, contractors and suppliers, such as: where does the raw material come from? Is it a renewable source? How much energy, water and waste is required during the manufacturing process? How far are the goods coming from, and what happens to all the packaging? The end-of-life policy: can it be recycled, reconditioned or dissembled?