The living room is an excellent representation of the clients' personalities. They wanted a modern room with earthy neutral tones and small washes of color in certain areas. The resulting palate was deep browns, soft grays and pops of teal. A request was made to infuse their Chinese heritage into the décor and it was strategically depicted through accessories and certain occasional pieces. To maintain our commitment to sustainability, we decided that the existing vintage wood floor should be maintained. It had enough character and uniqueness that worked with the look. The wood frames in the upholstery are harvested in the US and are from certified sustainable forests. We simply refinished the clients' existing armoire and had it modified to accommodate a TV and all components.-It was a lot of good solid wood to simply throw out.

Designing with sustainability is a challenge but it must be done.-The design and architecture industry is responsible for the majority environmental waste. Sustainable materials are typically more costly because of the processing and engineering involved. Hiring a designer will advise a client where to appropriately direct a budget in regards to new material and what items should be kept and reinvented. The key is to achieve a space that looks, feels and functions like the sophisticated conventional room we expect out of a designer project.

Paolo Monjes, Photography

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