
Gently Green	Great Design	What I love	Nantucket Life	Please Join Me	Healthy Stuff

Please Join Me with Trudy Dujardin, FASID, LEED AP

Decorating with Antiques: a Deeper Shade of Green

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Trudy Dujardin, FASID, Leed AP

The Nantucket Historical Association hosts its annual Antiques & Design Show from August 1 to August 5 this year. Dujardin Design Associates, Inc. will present a Designer’s Room Vignette with beautiful examples of treasured antiques and a display that shows them artfully placed in a room. If you’re on Nantucket, come visit us at Bartlett’s Farm, 33 Bartlett Farm Road. Here are all the details.

In celebration of the timeless beauty of long-cherished objects and our desire to live lightly on the earth, it’s time we think about antiques in a new way. Antiques are a part of a sustainable lifestyle, as well as a link to the past. Let’s take a look at how these enduring parts of history can elevate both your life and your home’s design!

I have always been an ardent collector of antiques, and the addition of carefully selected pieces to sophisticated interiors is a recognizable signature of my design style. Sharing my love for classic pieces comes naturally to me. I find that my clients quickly embrace the elegance of antique furniture, and often become collectors themselves. Homes are brought to life when old paintings, pieces of porcelain, or folk art add their charming artistry.

As we learn more about how to assess the health of our built environments, and steps we can take to keep our homes clean and pristine, it’s important to recognize the ways that antiques can be an integral part of a green lifestyle.

This is a fabulous collection of treenware, dating from the 19th to the 20th Century. Note the darning egg, and the antique stereoscope–the earliest form of television! The book displayed is by British treenware expert Burt Marsh. Photo: Durstan Saylor

No Chemical Vapors Are Brought into your Home

Your home’s interior should be a place of fresh air and health. Yet any new piece of furniture, cabinetry, flooring or finished wood has some chemical overtones. Many fine finishes release vapors in a process called off-gassing. In a closed environment, such as an energy efficient, airtight home, off-gassing can increase indoor air pollution to levels several times higher than those detected outside. Antiques are a healthier choice than modern furnishings because they were created with less toxic products years ago, and any off-gassing has long been complete.

This living room is a showcase for beautiful antique accessories, including a 19th Century ship’s model behind the sofa, and a pair of lamps made from 18th Century Chinese Export porcelain. A pair of 19th Century British hand carved candlesticks and a 19th Century ship’s captain’s lap desk are on the cocktail table. Photo: Durstan Saylor

No New Resources Are Used

Every beautiful piece of wooden furniture originated from a tree. Whenever we purchase new wood furniture, unless we choose products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), we are contributing to the deforestation of our planet. In contrast, wooden antiques are products of trees culled long ago from old-growth forests. Old pieces add a soothing mix of periods to a room, and since no new resources were used in their construction, their restoration and re-use is a green endeavor.

This study reflects the long seafaring history of the coast, with a 19th Century ship’s telescope, and a 19th Century ship’s barometer hanging to the right of the window. Framed antique prints are on the wall, and the mantle holds part of a collection of sea captain doorstops.

No Negative Environmental Impact is Created

Beyond the health issues in our homes, we should consider the costs to our planet. Even the very greenest furniture manufacturers distribute impurities into our air, waste systems and water. New furniture requires the production of finishes, dyes and sealants. Shipping them demands the creation of packing materials, and they arrive in retail stores via large vehicles powered by fossil fuel. The EPA estimates that three million tons of furniture are taken to landfills every year, only to be replaced with brand new pieces that can carry a large environmental cost.

An extremely rare 19th Century English scrimshaw tortoiseshell is displayed above the fireplace; on the mantle are several antique lighting devices: a corkscrew pigtail candlestick complete with hook for hanging over a chair, a rush light holder and antique binoculars. Photo: Terry Pommett

Antiques Are Recycled Treasures

Beloved family pieces, original wooden floorboards and the softly faded colors of aged Oriental rugs do not belong in a landfill. Treasures from another time can be loved and used again. A federal mirror that has been passed from home to home and hand to hand brings history to life, and honors the work of long-ago artisans.

This is a mint condition 18th Century British Woolie, The Ship of Bengal, unusual for the ship’s identification as part of the design, and for its display of the British flag. Photo: Terry Pommett

Antiques Respect the Work of Long-ago Craftsmen

Rather than purchasing a mass-produced item, treat yourself to something created in a small workshop by a craftsman who made good use of few resources. In previous centuries, home furnishings were made by hand before machine-assembled items flooded the marketplace. Artisans from years gone by had knowledge that largely disappeared during the Industrial Revolution. Old joining techniques were abandoned in favor of more rapid assembly using staples and nails. Fiber board was created and the beauty of the wood itself was lost. Take the time to consider the difference between a finely hand-wrought piece and one processed in a factory. Even contemporary rooms can be striking when modern pieces are blended with well-placed antiques.

This Ionic columned fireplace, in the Captain Parker house on Nantucket which I painstakingly restored, still retains its Sandwich glass clothesline knobs; string was wound between them so clothes could be hung to dry. Not all antiques are furniture.

Antiques Have Stood the Test of Time

Classic pieces are sturdy and well-made, which is why they have lasted. The quality of their wood is usually stronger, created from timber with tighter growth rings, making repair a simple task when necessary. Furniture that is unworthy of a craftsman’s repair time adds to our cycle of wasteful consumption. Instead, your rooms can be accented with vintage furniture that has been lavished with love and care, and that honors history and tradition.

Antique Collections Are a Personal Expression

I often find that a simple gesture, such as placing an antique tea caddy on a mantel, can inspire my clients to begin collections. There is tremendous beauty in items preserved throughout the years, particularly if they illuminate another time and way of life. Learning about the subtle differences among artisans, the period when an item was created, or the materials that were used to make it, gives us a greater appreciation for life.

My personal collections include treenware (handcarved wooden items used in the home long ago), old hotel silver, blue and white porcelain, and things that speak to me of lives lived on the ocean, including whaling artifacts, scrimshaw carvings and sailor whirligigs.

The foyer of the lovingly restored Captain Parker House on Nantucket, circa 1700’s.

Not All Antiques Are Furniture

You can find antique cabinetry, flooring, doors, beams, posts, mantels and other architectural pieces. Consider a gorgeous 18th Century door to add punch and personality to your entry, or how about antique doorknobs and a doorknocker? An old mantel delivers instant charm; remilled old timbers bring panache to the pantry. Add the incredible details that your home may be missing.

This Victorian milk glass doorknob was added to an old door to restore it to its 19th Century charm.

Antiques Add Beauty and Joy to Life

There is a thrill when you spot the perfect 19th Century French farm table, Georgian stand or double pedestal dining table. You feel an immediate connection to the Italian walnut commode or a beautiful pair of small paintings. Antique collectors know that old things have a soul, based on their authenticity. Whether you fall in love with hand-embroidered vintage textiles or white ironstone pitchers, each well-chosen piece adds to the unique style that is yours alone.

Photo: Durstan Saylor

Blending newly designed furnishings with antique collectibles is a wonderful way to express yourself. Concrete work surfaces and stainless steel works beautifully when paired with your antique dining table and old wooden doors. Don’t be afraid to mix periods and textures. Contrast can be the spice of life, and add spice to your home as well!

Your Sacred Space: Part One of an Interview with Trudy and Women on Fire Founder Debbie Phillips

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Trudy Dujardin, FASID, Leed AP

I recently had the honor of being interviewed by my good friend Debbie Phillips for Women on Fire, the group she founded to bring an amazing circle of fabulous women together for inspiration, strategies and support. The following is a transcript of part one of our talk on Your Sacred Space: How to Create an Inspired, Healthy Living Environment.

Debbie: Hello, Woman on Fire! Women on Fire is one of the most dynamic communities of women you will find anywhere. And my guest today highlights the bonanza of talent and expertise we have inside our organization. Today’s interview is part of our series on exploring Your Life. Each month for a year, we are presenting a life topic with strategies on living your best, healthiest and most inspired life. Last month we looked at Your Health and Wellbeing, and today we are discussing Your Sacred Space. Our guest expert, Trudy Dujardin, is a pioneer and a leader in green design and eco-conscious living. She is a nationally recognized interior designer who will share her valuable tips with us today for creating your own healthy, sacred environments. And she will tell us why it’s essential to your good health and your family’s health to live this way.

A little about Trudy before I bring her on: Trudy Dujardin is the president of Dujardin Design Associates based in Westport, Connecticut, and on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. For more than 25 years, she has designed some of the most elegant homes on Nantucket, in Connecticut, and throughout the country. Her interior design firm is nationally recognized by industry experts, the media nad her clients for her distinctive eco-elegant desings. She is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers, and she is a LEED Accredited Professional, recognized for her expertise in sustainable design and construction. Trudy was one of the early pioneers to use non-toxic materials to create interiors rich in beauty and full of health. Her personal journey includes a struggle with multiple chemical sensitivities, yet today she is fully recovered and passionately carries her message that a healthy home is the ultimate luxury to her friends and clients, and the audience of her widely read blog, HolisticHouse.com.

Trudy is someone I know well, and I love and respect her personally and professionally. She has influenced my taste and my style and my thinking for more than a dozen years. Trudy is married to handsome Frank, and they have three amazing Bichon Frises, the cutest little white dogs you’ve ever seen. Plus, I am so proud that Trudy is one of our Women on Fire members. When I want to take a vacation, I go to Trudy’s website and blog; I’m not kidding, her work is so extraordinary that to luxuriate in her website for a while is just like going on vacation. Welcome, Trudy Dujardin!

Trudy: Hello! Thank you so much. I’m thrilled to be here.

Debbie: Aww, I’m happy to share you with Women on Fire. I know a lot of women who have attended tea parties (Women on Fire signature gatherings) know you and you know them. I just want to introduce you to everyone else who hasn’t had that pleasure yet. And our first question always is–and you know this, Trudy, because you get the membership packet–our tradition: What’s your day been like so far?

Trudy: My day was pretty interesting so far. I usually get up sometime between 3:30 and 5:00 every morning because I have, as we talked about, my three Bichons, and they’re the loves of my life. They make me laugh out loud every day. But two of them are almost 11, and they can’t make it through the night. So when I wake up in the middle of the night, I worry about them. I tiptoe downstairs, trying not to wake anybody else up, let them out, bring them in, and give them a little rice cracker. Then I sneak back upstairs to try to catch another 40 winks. If I have a heavy workload, I lie there and think about my day. But I always start my day with prayers. I have two that I say every morning, and it helps me focus on my day. But I have another favorite, Debbie. Do you remember Shakti Gawain?

Debbie: Of course I do.

Trudy: I love her, and I have an old tape of hers. It’s not even a DVD/CD. It’s an old audiotape, and it’s a visualization technique. So I visualized this morning how our interview would go and our wonderful day. Next–I don’t get a lot of points for this because I haven’t been doing this for long–but at 7:30 I got in the car and headed to the gym, where I worked out with a trainer from 8:00 to 9:00. And so that everybody knows, I’m not a saint. I don’t do that all the time. I had fallen off the exercise wagon for a long time because of my business travels, and I decided on the first of the year that I needed to get going again. So last week I began, and I’m thrilled to be back. It just feels good. It sets my day on the right path. And then finally, I came back, ate breakfast, showered, and here I am with you! And I love having you all to myself!

Debbie: Excellent! Well, good for you!

Trudy: Later on, I’ll be working with a new project. Debbie, I’ve been asked to sit on the board of a new organization called Her Haven. It’s the creation of Carey Dougherty (founder and executive director) and she is an amazing woman. I just want to tell you about it, as I’m brand new to it. But what Her Haven does–it’s right up your alley–is to create environments for women in need. They get applications, and it’s kind of like makeovers, but they find out what they woman might need to do. It could be somebody who really wants to be a writer, but she has so many kids and works, and so they create a little haven in her home. And that’s why it’s called Her Haven.

Debbie: I love that.

Trudy: For the project we’re working on now, Carey has been interviewing the PTA at Sand Hook, Connecticut. We all know what’s going on there and what a tragedy it was. But we are trying to see if maybe they need something in the teachers’ lounge that will help comfort the teachers, a respite where they can go. Or if there is a particular person in that town who may need Her Haven. So that’s our mission and that’s to be continued. I’ll fill you in on that more later.

Debbie: Oh, I love it, and you’re such a perfect person to be on that board.

Trudy: I’m bringing in the “green” element.

Debbie: Well, I love it. That’s fantastic. So let’s talk a little bit, Trudy, about how old you were when you first knew you wanted to be a designer.

Trudy: I’m not sure of the exact age, but what my parents told me is that I wasn’t even two and I was already sketching. The interesting thing is I was always sketching rooms, environments. They were almost like stage sets.

Debbie: I just wondered, you said you were two years old and you were sketching? Were you sketching with crayons?

Trudy: Pencils.

Debbie: Pencils. Wow!

Trudy: And then crayons.

Debbie: Do you have any of those sketches? Did your parents save them?

Trudy: Oh, I’m sure there’s a box in the attic somewhere.

Debbie: Well, tell us more about what inspired you to work in the field of design. So you grew up loving to sketch, but then was there anything in particular?

Trudy: My uncle–my father’s brother–was a furniture designer. So, of course, that was a direct lead in. He had gone to the New York School of Interior Design, and back in the 1950s and 60s, when I was a tiny little kid, they used to take me to his studio in Greenwich Village. I was so fascinated by it. I would see these huge, thick slabs of marble and walnut. He had a very elite clientele. he was making racetrack-oval dining tables long before that was the fashion. He was really ahead of his time. We still have some of his furniture now. It’s classic and timeless. it should be in the Museum of Modern Art. Just wonderful. He was the inspiration for the art side of it. My first present from him was his own wooden briefcase full of all his oil paints. I carried that with me every day when I went to graduate school at New York University. Now, for the flip side of the family, we go scientific, medical and then artistic. My father worked for NASA. He was in the space program, and he was a design engineer. He designed thins such as the tile dial, as it was called for the space shuttle. You know how the nose cone is all covered in tile for re-entry?

Debbie: Oh, I’m quite familiar. My brother Scott worked on the space shuttle from its inception to its last day.

Trudy: My father designed the equipment for measuring how each tile should be slightly different. It’s just amazing. He also designed the Polaris Missile way back in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Debbie: Oh, my goodness.

Trudy: My mother and I never knew what he was working on because he worked in a think tank with no windows. he said if he had his life to do over again, he would get a job where he worked outside.

Debbie: And now he can.

Trudy: And now he can. Right.

Debbie: I know your father is still alive and well.

Trudy: He is still alive and well. He was my exercise buddy last week. I thought, “I need someone to make me accountable.” So, at 89 years old, he was getting up in the morning and going to the gym with me, just to keep me honest.

Debbie: All right, Dad! Well, Trudy, I love your motto: “A healthy home is the ultimate luxury.” Tell us a little more about that. How did you come up with that? What does that mean exactly?

Trudy: As you know, we have a lot of very high-end clients on Nantucket. I was thinking that they have all these beautiful things, but to really make a house pay off and serve them well, it needs to support their health, which means that the indoor air quality has to be just sterling. It has to be perfect for them, and they can afford it. I’ve been at this since 1987. I was very early in on it, and a lot of the builders on Nantucket thought it was a little loopy. They’d ask, “What do you mean the paint is going to hurt you?” It’s hard for people to change. So I had to educate my clients. They would say, “I don’t have allergies, so that’s not important to me.” And I would say that it’s important for your long-term health. Every item on the face of the earth emits vapors of fumes. They’re called VOCs–Volatile Organic Compounds. All of these things chip away at your armor. So even if you are perfectly health, why start chipping away at it? And then we have to think about our children and our pets and the elderly. If we’re going to spend a lot of money, and have this luxurious home, let’s make it healthy too. Why not?

Debbie: Right. And for our women, it doesn’t matter how luxurious it is. We want to talk today about how anybody an make their home healthy. I’d like to go back, Trudy. How did your passion for “green” begin? You were an interior designer, and you came upon these healthier materials and began to use them.

Trudy: It’s complex. Just the other day I listened to your interview with Agapi Stassinopoulos and I was just so inspired by her and her feelings about her mother. It jarred my memory. But I used to think that the origin was that my former husband and I bought this beautiful piece of property on the harbor in Nantucket, and I was so in love with the island that I wanted to do this project right. I thought it was a really healthy island, so let’s not have things silting off of the property and contaminating the water supply, hurting the scallop population I thought that was the origin of my “greenness,” but then listening to Agapi’s wonderful message the other day, I realized that my mother was terminally ill with breast cancer. She lived only to 51. I helped her through those almost four years, and I realized that I just started questioning everything we were doing, having been raised on a farm in South Carolina with all the crop dusting and pesticides and insecticides. i think I told you that I was the first-born, long-awaited grandchild, and they just cherished me. So they would put me in a cot on a sleeping porch along a whole bank of windows to keep me cool at night. It was nothing for it to be 105 degrees in South Carolina. Then they sprayed my cot with DDT to keep the mosquitoes away. That was probably the origin of the liver issues that caused my chemical sensitivity. Am I answering your question?

Debbie: Yes, you are. And I want to just clarify because a lot of Women on Fire do know Agapi Stassinopoulos, and you are referring to the CD with her on it. It’s quite inspiring.

Trudy: But I want to backtrack a little bit. I think “luxury” means when we luxuriate in something. It doesn’t have to be a half-million-dollar home. It doesn’t have to be anything. The luxury of it is that you’re supporting your health. To me, that’s the ultimate luxury. I talk about how, every day, we’re in containers. We get up in the morning, and we’re in our house. We get in our car, and drive to work. Then we’re in an office building. We put the kids on a school bus and they go to a school. We pick the kids up from school in a car and take them to the music teacher’s house or to the doctor’s office. it’s endless. We’re in a phone booth. We’re in an airport. What I’m striving for is indoor air quality–whatever we put in that space. And the only space you can really control is your own environment, your home, so that everything in there supports your health and wellbeing.

To be continued: in our next segment in July, I talk about my struggle with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and how I recovered, plus tips on how to make your home healthy and holistic!

Tales from the Crib: Tips for a Green Baby

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Trudy Dujardin, FASID, Leed AP

When talking about creating a healthy home, I’ve often said the first place to begin is in the bedroom. For families with children, especially babies, the first place to start is in the nursery. We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, in close contact with bedding, mattresses and the often closed-air environment of a modern bedroom; for babies, their contact with nursery materials is multiplied as they can spend many more hours in sleep.

During sleep, your body works to remove any toxins you were exposed to during the day, and to restore energy and health. Babies, with their rapidly growing minds and bodies, need a pristine environment with clean air and minimal contaminants. According to the EPA, one of the top five hazards to human health is indoor air. Here are some simple steps you can take to keep your baby happy and healthy:

When painting the nursery and refinishing floors, use no VOC paints and finishes. VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds, chemicals (such as benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and zylene) that “off-gas” for extended periods of time into the air we breathe. Non-toxic, no-VOC paints use water as a carrier instead of petroleum-based solvents, reducing the levels of heavy metals. Look for products with the Green Seal Standard, which certifies that they meet certain industry standards for VOCs. (One of my favorite products is Envirosafe, a company which which uses no fungicides or biocides at all)

Choose hardwood, stone or tile floors that can be easily cleaned, and cover them with an organic wool or cotton rug.

Select an organic mattress for the crib, made with natural latex, wool or organic cotton. Be sure all the baby bedding is organic as well. Babies snuggle into their blankets and put their mouths on everything; non-organic cotton is grown in fields soaked in insecticides. Dyes and color fixers use heavy metals such as chromium, copper and zinc. A good source for organic baby bedding and bath items is Coyuchi. Their products are made from 100% certified organic cotton and are produced using fair labor practices.

Choose eco-friendly wood furniture that is FSC certified, a designation from the Forest Stewardship Council ensuring that the wood was grown and harvested in a way that protects forests for the long term. Chemicals such as formaldehyde and polyisocyanurate can also be emitted from plywood and manufactured wood products.The Organic Mattress Store offers maple, oak, ash or cherry cribs made without plywood or particleboard; it comes unfinished or with a Green Seal Tung Oil organic finish. It’s also the place to get organic baby mattresses, made with natural rubber and organic wool, a natural fire deterrent.

Invest in a good air-filtration system. Clear the nursery air by adding a room purifier, or go one step further and install a central filtration system. Models are available that clear particulates that can’t be seen by the naked eye, such as dust and pet dander, along with mold spores, pollen and chemical gases such as sulfuric acid, ammonia and formaldehyde.

Be clean and green with non-toxic cleaners. Many conventional cleaning products actually can pollute baby’s room with a toxic mixture of petrochemicals. Seventh Generation has created a line of safe, natural baby products, as part of their “Campaign for a Toxin-Free Generation.” You can purchase everything from safe nursery and household cleaning products to diapers, baby laundry detergent and gentle skin care.

Other important Green Baby Tips:

Be sure to use glass baby bottles, never plastic. When plastic is heated, it can leach a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) into baby formula at forty times the safe limit, potentially disrupting baby’s endocrine system.

Dress baby in non-toxic sleepwear. There are options which use acrylics and natural materials with tight weaves that can pass flame retardancy standards without the use of polybrominatd diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a chemical which is now found worldwide in dust, indoor and outdoor air, and waterways.

Make health and wellness as natural a choice in your daily life as the love and attention you so effortlessly give your precious children. A healthy child is raised in a healthy home, and a healthy home is the ultimate luxury.

Health Begins in the Kitchen

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Trudy Dujardin, FASID, Leed AP

“The cure for what ails us both in our bodies and in our nation can be found in the kitchen. It is a place to rebuild community and connection, strengthen bonds with family and friends, teach life-giving skills to our children, enrich and nourish our bodies and our souls. Yet, in the twenty-first century, our kitchens (and our taste buds) have been hijacked by the food industry. In 1900 only 2 percent of meals were eaten outside of the home; today that number is over 50 percent.”

That quote comes from a brand new book, The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook, by Mark Hyman, MD. Dr. Hyman is a family physician, a four time New York Times bestselling author, and is a recognized leader in the field of Functional Medicine: a way to empower people to stop managing symptoms and instead treat the underlying causes of illness. He is responsible for coining the phrase “diabesity,” to describe an American population beset by weight gain, diabetes or pre-diabetes.

The right diet is not the same for everyone; for instance, I feel best when I follow a sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free diet, as espoused by Dr. Hyman in his new cookbook. Although the regimen you follow may differ, what is clear is that we must give up on dependence on fat, sugar and salt pumped into factory-made foods. Dr. Hyman encourages us to take back our kitchens, and our food, and start cooking real meals, made from real ingredients. His cookbook, just released, offers wonderful recipes to help us do just that.

He tells us: “We are brainwashed into thinking that cooking real food costs too much, is too hard, and takes too long. Hence, we rely on inexpensive convenience foods. But these aren’t so convenient when we become dependent on hundreds of dollars of medication a month, when we can’t work because we are sick and fat and sluggish, or when we feel so bad we can’t enjoy life anymore.”

Preparing a meal from scratch, by contrast, can be a chance to reconnect with our spouse, children or aged parents. Sharing that meal can be a ceremony, a ritual, a mindful observance of what matters most in the midst of a hectic life. That is what a kitchen is designed for, and is its ultimate and most meaningful purpose.

Another book I have found useful on my way to more healthful eating is Forks Over Knives, edited by Gene Stone, which proposes that most, if not all, degenerative diseases can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods. Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health is a book, a cookbook, and a film available on DVD or Blu-ray. You can learn more from the website and blog found at www.forksoverknives.com.

There are other books, other cookbooks and other ways to preserve health, but there has been an overwhelming concensus from the nutrition and diet industry that fruits and vegetables are woefully lacking in our diets, and that increasing the amount we eat is the optimal path back to health. Choosing organically-grown foods makes sense, as does eating animal protein as a condiment, not an entree, if you choose to retain meat in your diet.
An excellent source of organically-grown vegetables, if you live on Nantucket, is Pumpkin Pond Farm. This 9.5 acre farm and nursery located at 25 Millbrook Road owned by Marty McGowan is Eden-like oasis of color and flavor, offering a wide variety of delicious vegetables and greens.

My passion is helping my clients create beautiful and healthy homes, so I am often called upon to design extraordinary kitchens. This is the place where nutritious, organic meals are prepared and enjoyed by family and friends, and so it is, truly, the very heart of the home.

As Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma said, “Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.” That’s good advice. I intend to follow it. I hope you do, too.

The Power of One

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Trudy Dujardin, FASID, Leed AP

I often speak about my belief in the Power of One, the power each of us has to make a difference in this world. Sometimes the problems we face as human beings can seem insurmountable, but they are not. Together we can create a better world and a kinder planet, but someone has to take the first step. The second step is easier, the third step easier still. That’s when you find other people following you.

Here are a few of the things that inspire me to take a step: Earth Hour; Light It Up Blue for Autism Speaks; Her Haven, a new organization I’ve joined as a board member; and sharing what I know about eco-conscious living.

EARTH HOUR 2013

Dare the World to Save the Planet. Switch off your lights on Saturday, March 23rd at 8:30 p.m. your local time, and show the world what you’re willing to do. The world is using the equivalent of one and a half planets to support life on earth today. Earth Hour is the single, largest, symbolic mass participation event in the world. Born our of a hope that it could mobilize people to take action on climate change, Earth Hour now inspires a global community of millions of people in 7,001 cities and towns across 152 countries and territories to switch lights off as a massive show of concern for the environment.

There is no doubt that the world is facing some of the most critical environmental challenges in history. That may make a sustainable future seem difficult to imagine, but it is possible. Change this big needs you. It needs every one of us. Join the global community at Earth Hour to see where change is already underway.

Light It Up Blue, annually observed on April 2, is dedicated to raising awareness of Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. This initiative is intended to raise international awareness of autism as a growing public health crisis in support of World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month in the United States.

Iconic landmarks around the globe – including the Empire State Building in New York City and Willis Tower in Chicago along with the CN Tower in Toronto and Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia – as well as airports, bridges, museums, concert halls, restaurants, hospitals, and retail stores, are among more than 100 structures in over 16 U.S. cities and nine countries around the world lthat lit up in bright blue on the evening of April 1, 2010 – the first night of Autism Awareness Month in the United States and the eve of World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD).

Here are a few ways you can help in 2013:

Wear your Autism Speaks puzzle piece pin every day throughout the month of April, and tell people about autism if they ask about it. To purchase your pin and other Light It Up Blue items, visit the shop at autismspeaks.org
Wear blue clothing and ask your friends, co-workers and schools to wear blue too.
Take a group photo and upload it to www.lightitupblue.org
Purchase blue light bulbs and lanterns from Home Depot and replace your outdoor lighting with these blue bulbs, or you can buy blue lighting filters to cover existing lighting.
Buy a Light It Up Blue yard sign to show your support throughout your community
Visit www.lightitupblue.org and download the free Light It Up Blue iPhone application so you can add your photos to the Light It Up Blue website. Visit the website for lots more ideas!

HER HAVEN

her-haven

I recently was invited to join the board of a wonderful charitable organization called Her Haven, dedicated to giving women in need a serene and comfortable space for themselves, Her Haven aims to honor women who are inspiring, deserving and giving by redesigning a room in their home or work environment. I’ll be providing information on sustainable design and keeping it “green” for the clients helped by Her Haven. Visit their website here to find out ways that you can help us in our mission to design a difference.

SPREADING THE WORD

Debbie Phillips, founder of the fabulous organization Women on Fire, a membership organization of women dedicated to making a difference in the world, interviewed me on Monday, February 18th. She wanted me to share my passionate belief that A Healthy Home is the Ultimate Luxury with her 3,000+ dynamic followers. We talked about the fact that when we begin to embrace the idea of change and holistic living, we must first start in our own homes.

My website, blog, Facebook page and personal outreach efforts are all dedicated to helping people understand the importance of sustainable design and healthy lifestyles. I hope if I’ve been able to help you learn more, that you’ll pay it forward by sharing my social networking sites with your friends and family.

It all begins with education. I’ve also been asked to work with a Sustainable Design class at Keane University, and will be skyping with them on March 27th. I’m excited by the opportunities I’ve been given to share the knowledge I have gained in my years of living an eco-elegant life, and sharing it with my clients, friends and followers.

Theodore Roosevelt said to “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” That’s what I’m doing. I hope you’ll do it, too.

Fabulous Floors

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Trudy Dujardin, FASID, Leed AP

Artistry. It’s what turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. Making imaginative choices that are both healthful and stunning in their impact. The floor above is a compilation of glass tiles, designed in a holistic home (mine) to support air quality and still add beauty and grace to the landing. When you want to add pattern and punch to your room, the floor beneath your feet may be the very first place to look.

A painted wood floor is the elegant end note in this dining room. The geometric design softly introduces an architectural element into a surface that is too often overlooked.

Wood floors are durable, beautiful, and never need to be boring! For a healthy, holistic home, be sure to use eco-friendly wood with a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) designation, promoting responsible wood harvesting, or choose recycled wood that can be repurposed with non-VOC water-based finishes.

A compass rose graces the floor of this island home, an homage to its sea-faring history. The compass rose is thought to have been coincidentally designed in a fashion that resembled the rose flower. For old-time mariners, it helped to orient a map in the proper reading direction and gave relative directions for certain points on the chart.

This cherry floor simply glows. It’s been hand-rubbed with fourteen coats of tea stain and coated with a non-toxic water-based urethane. It’s as healthful as it is beautiful.

A product that I believe in is SafeCoat paints, stains, wood finishes, sealers and other green building products. They use only high quality, very refined resins and raw materials to avoid residual chemicals that offgas and cause problems for people with allergies or sensitivities. The Center for Green Building, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has a wonderful website with a listing of SafeCoat products as well as other products that are safe for the people manufacturing them, safe for the people exposed to them, and safe for the environment.

Everyone deserves to live in a home without chemical offgassing, not just people who are allergic or sensitive. People with chemical sensitivities are like the canaries in the mine shaft: they react to smaller amounts of chemicals that are harmful to everyone. It’s important to do the research. The fact that a product has no Volatile Organic Compounds doesn’t necessarily mean it is free of toxic ingredients, such as formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is present in many products because it is very inexpensive and it works well as a preservative. SafeCoat’s standards preclude the use of formaldehyde in any form, which makes it safer for everyone.

For a complete set of instructions on transitioning to water-base from oil-base paints and finishes, visit their website tips pages.

Once you know your wood floors meet the highest environmental standards, you can add softness underfoot with area rugs and runners. Stars proclaim a love of all things nautical, and add casual comfort and a burst of color to this entry hall and staircase.

Organic wool carpets in charming designs pull all the elements of seaside colors together in this living room. Sand, sea and sky were the inspiration for this delightful space.

Connecting the Dots

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Trudy Dujardin, FASID, Leed AP

There’s so much information about health risks bombarding us every day, warning us to avoid things or add things, do this and don’t do that. It can make your head spin. Scientists and environmental physicians agree that exposure to chemicals can be dangerous for your long term health. The problem is that illnesses, including cancer and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, can take decades to develop. We’re all exposed to thousands of toxins both inside and outside our homes: how do we connect the dots and protect ourselves and our families from harmful chemicals?

You wouldn’t take a bath in paint thinner or breathe gas fumes for fun, as Mehmet Oz, M.D., and Michael Roizen, M.D. said in a recent article they wrote for Real Age. But little risks, such as breathing paint fumes one day and cleaning with ammonia another, may add up. Melanie Haiken wrote a wonderful informative piece on how to cancer proof your home, including how to replace seven carcinogens you may not have recognized for Yahoo Health.

To keep it simple, here are my top five things I believe everyone should do. Remember that a healthy home is the ultimate luxury!

1. Make your bedroom the cleanest room in the house.

During sleep, your body works to remove any toxins you were exposed to during the day, and to restore energy and health for body and mind. Replace your mattress and bedding with an organic mattress, made with natural latex, wool or organic cotton. Be sure your pillows are all natural as well. Non-organic cotton is grown in fields soaked in insecticides; dyes and color fixers use heavy metals such as chromium, copper and zink. You can request “no fire retardant chemicals” be used on your mattress; this requires a prescription from your doctor.

2. Keep the air in your house pure.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America rates indoor air quality as one of the top five environmental health risks. Clear and purify your air by adding a room air-purifier, or go further and install a central filtration system. Models are available that can remove particulates such as dust and pet dander, along with molds, spores, pollen and chemical gases such as sulfuric acid, ammonia and formaldehyde. Commercial cleansers are often overlooked culprits in polluting indoor air; some of their ingredients are carcinogenic and toxic to the lungs, liver and kidneys.

3. Reduce or Eliminate VOCs with Water-Based Paints.

That just-painted smell is actually the off-gassing of chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, toluene and zylene. The Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from paints last far longer than the odor does, as can vapors from floor stains, finishes, sealants and caulks. According to the EPA, some of these VOCs are known to cause cancer. Low- or No-VOC products use water as a carrier instead of petroleum-based solvents, reducing the levels of heavy metals and formaldehyde. Even low VOC paints, though, can contain fungicides and biocides, used to prevent mildew growth and extend shelf life. A product I use and recommend is EnviroSafe Paints, which uses no fungicides or biocides at all.

4. Be Clean and Green with Non-Toxic Cleansers
Many conventional cleaning products, rather than cleaning your home, actually pollute it with a toxic mixture of petrochemicals. Experts say chemicals inside our homes may have concentrations of up to 100 times higher than outdoor air. Synthetic fragrances are added to mask the odor of chemical vapors, implicated in headaches, dizziness, skin rashes and respiratory problems, as well as deadly diseases. There are many good green cleaning products on the market made from natural ingredients, such as Seventh Generation: look for products containing citrus oils and enzymes. You can also make your own from items you have in your pantry: I’ve given instructions on an earlier post. Read it here.

5. Protect your lawn and garden from contaminants.

Once you’ve made your home a safe-haven from fumes and toxic chemicals, you won’t want to live surrounded by pesticides and harsh fertilizers. Lawn and garden chemicals are poisons to things that live, including you and your pets. The residue from these products are too easily tracked into your house, polluting your pristine space. A study from the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) found pesticides in 100% of the people who had both blood and urine tested. Many of these chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, and liver or kidney damage. Learn to tolerate a few weeds, or get the family outside in the fresh air to dig them out by hand. Healthy soil is “alive,” so boost your soil’s health by spreading organic compost or alfa meal.

To do even more for your health, be vigilant about BPA in plastic bottles and pitchers, and in canned goods. Cook with glass, cast iron or porcelain or ceramic-coated pans rather than old nonstick cookware. And choose skincare products made from natural and organic ingredients. Doing just these few things will help to minimize the effects of unavoidable exposure to toxic chemicals and fumes.

Finally, believe, like I do, in the Power of One: the power each of us has to make an impact, create change, and help heal the earth.

Living Brightly on the Earth

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Trudy Dujardin, FASID, Leed AP

Few things affect our moods and the beauty of our surroundings more than light. Especially in the winter months, the lights we choose to vanquish the shadows of the early evening darkness are critical to living well, and for many of us, feeling happy. Luckily, LED lights, the most efficient lighting available, are getting better and better.

We’re used to the warm golden glow of incandescent bulbs, but they’ve been described as little heaters that happen to put out light. Incandescent bulbs burn out quickly and are inefficient energy users when compared to newer sources of lighting. LED lights (Light Emitting Diodes) were first introduced six years ago, providing a greener option than compact flourescent lights (CFLs), which contain mercury.

The first generation of LEDS, though, cast a cool, bluish light, which was a problem for some consumers. Thanks to recent developments in LED technology, the new bulbs produce a much warmer light, closer to the warmth of traditional incandescent bulbs. Lest you believe that LED lights can’t be beautiful, take a look at the glorious holiday light display at the famous Longwood Gardens in Delaware. The Gardens converted to 100% LED lighting this year, and their Christmas event is more spectacular than ever.

Although LED lights are more expensive initially to purchase, they last significantly longer, in some cases, for as long as 20 years. This makes them invaluable when placing them in hard to reach ceiling and recessed fixtures, and for commercial buildings and skyscrapers. LED lights reach 80 % efficiency, which means 80% of the electrical energy is converted to light energy, with only 20% lost as heat energy. Compare that with the incandescent bulb, which converts only 20% of the electrical energy to light energy, and loses 80% as heat energy.

Incandescent lights, contrary to rumors, will still be available, but the old 100 watt bulb is being replaced by 72 watt bulbs with the same light output and a longer life. Whatever kind of lighting you prefer, energy efficiency has become a driving force in the industry. That’s good news for your home, your office, and the earth.

Find us in New England Home’s Summer Cape and Islands Issue!

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Trudy Dujardin, FASID, Leed AP

Creating beautiful, gently green interiors is both my work and my passion, but there’s a special pleasure involved when I work in a home of architectural significance. New England Home Magazine’s Summer Cape and Islands Issue features Dujardin Design interiors in just such a place: a home designed by architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen in Sconset, on Nantucket Island.

Photography: Michael Partenio

Designed by Mr. Jacobsen in 1990 and untouched since it was built, it is a prime example of the Jacobsen style: a large center pavilion flanked by “outbuildings” recalling the barns, detached kitchens and smokehouses of rural America. The house fits perfectly into the Nantucket landscape, with gray exterior and minimal trim.

Photography: Michael Partenio

The interiors we created preserved all the original details of the house, and celebrated Mr. Jacobsen’s vision, while fitting the home to the new owners’ lifestyle, and resulting in more healthful surroundings.

Photography: Michael Partenio

It was our pleasure to carefully select striking furniture and fixtures to mirror the clean lines of the house, while infusing the home with quiet luxury.

Photography: Michael Partenio

Be sure to pick up a copy of the Cape and Islands Issue, and enjoy a visit to a bright, sun-filled, truly American home!

Sitting Pretty

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Trudy Dujardin, FASID, Leed AP

Whoever said “ignorance is bliss” surely wasn’t talking about environmentally friendly home design and furnishings. When you curl up on your sofa with your family around you, or snuggle into a comfortable chair with a good book, chances are you didn’t intend to invite a long list of toxic chemicals to join you. But invited or not, unless you’re decorating with sustainable upholstered furniture, they’re there.

Along with your friends, you may be sitting down with substances like formaldehyde, polyurethane, brominated flame retardants (PBDE’s), and dioxin. Other unwanted guests may join you via wood finishes and paints. All of these toxins infiltrate your home and the air you breathe through “offgassing,” the release of chemicals into the air through evaporation. Not only a concern with new furniture, offgassing can continue for years, impacting your health with symptoms like eye, nose and throat irritation, fatigue, asthma, and eventually, may even weaken your immune system.

In my work as an interior designer, I am pleased to find that every year, the list of eco-friendly furniture manufacturers grows larger. As we learn more about the importance of a pristine indoor environment, we don’t need to sacrifice an ounce of beauty or elegance. My joy and my passion lies in creating interiors that combine sophisticated, stylish living with the very latest in sustainable design. And each year, to my delight, more and more people are opting for healthy, eco-sensitive products in their homes.

The products used to make your upholstered and wood furniture are important. Today, we have the option of choosing soy-based versus foam cushions, recycled filling for pillows, water based stains and organic upholstery fabric. In addition, we can choose wood that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), ensuring that the products are derived from forests that are managed to specific environmental standards.

Some of the organic materials that are available are among the world’s most luxurious, including organic cotton, hemp, linen, and wool. For our best health, the textiles should be colored with low-impact dyes. Non-organic cotton, by the way, is a heavily toxin-laden fabric. As a non-food plant, cotton is grown in fields soaked in insecticides, and the manufacturing process creates both air and water pollution from the process of turning picked cotton into yarn and thread.

As important as the right materials, however, is the quality of your new pieces. They must be comfortable, beautiful, and long-lasting. Poorly designed furniture, no matter what is used in its construction, is destined to end up in a landfill before long. The longer your furniture lasts, the smaller the environmental footprint it leaves behind. Your furniture then should be chosen for its strong frame and springs, carefully manufactured fillings, and premium fabrics. The good news is, with a little research and guidance, your home can be healthier than ever before, and as exquisitely decorated as you dreamed it would be.