Greening fever has hit South Africa and going green is no longer a trend, it’s a way of life. Even the stands at the Trends and Tastes exhibition have been designed with greening in mind.
The exhibition open at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Friday March 18.
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To me the three words that sum up the core of green design are: reuse, recycle and reduce,” says greening guru Laurence Brick, also founder of Loads of Living.
To successfully incorporate a green aspect into any project – a building, a design or factors in your lifestyle – it is essential to follow these three green golden rules, he says.
Cairey Slater, general manager of exhibitions and events at Decorex SA, adds: “
Green can be beautiful and modern, and does not need to be unaffordable or overlook the aesthetic aspect.”
Brick, who designed the show’s entrance and stands, has incorporated a variety of ways of thinking and creating “green” in its construction.
Materials used are mainly local, such as pine and plywood, coming from sustainable forests.
Floors and certain wall coverings will be cork, which provides excellent insulation, thereby cutting down on energy consumption.
“The most important issue about using local products is that when buying locally produced goods it cuts down on fossil fuels used, making this one of the easiest ways we can incorporate greening into our everyday lives,” says Brick.
Another great suggestion is to find items that have been manufactured using alien plantations or that have been harvested locally from sustainable forests, and to use natural, non-toxic dyes and glazes to add shimmer and shine the eco-friendly way.
The show features a green decor house to demonstrate how eco-decorating can be successfully incorporated into every living space.
Three Durban interior decorating and design companies have each created a fully “green” room – with everything from the floor to the ceiling made with recycled, refurbished or biodegradable products.
A major misconception about greening that has, in some ways, prevented it from becoming mainstream is that it is very expensive.
But fortunately this is not the reality. There is now a greater understanding that through the use of simple materials and intelligent design, the energy costs of a household or business are reduced, making it a cheaper alternative, and yet another reason to go green.
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I truly believe in sustainability – people should buy for the long term, it’s much cheaper in the long run and also ensures less pressure on our landfills,” says green decor house designer Richard Stretton of Koop Designs.
Practical tips from Laurence Brick:
Wallpapers: Wallpapers are a huge trend at the moment – when choosing wallpaper, buy natural, non-vinyl papers such as bamboo, cork and split grasses.
Carpets: Decorate with rugs from recycled and natural products such as jute, wool and sisal.
Floors: Use sustainable floors in your home, for example bamboo and cork, which are good for the environment and look fantastic.
Fabrics: In your choice of fabrics use natural fibres such as cottons and linens.
Brick’s lifestyle greening guidelines:
Try to reuse rainwater – a great way to do this is to store rainwater for your garden when it is dry.
Install solar panels and make use of alternative energy.
Where possible, use recycled materials in every area of your home and your garden.
Change to energy-efficient light sources, and design with natural light and insulation in mind.
* Trends & Tastes 2011 offers an indulgence of interior design ideas and experts, and there’s entertainment and food on the menu.
Tickets cost R50 for adults, R40 for students and senior citizens, and R5 for child under 12, and are available from the Durban Exhibition Centre during the course of the event. Showtimes are 10am to 9pm on Friday, 10am to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday, and 10am to 6pm on Monday
For more information on the exhibition, hosted by Decorex and the Kitchen Specialist Association (KSA), visit www.decorex.co.za - The Mercury