STEP BY STEP: Sustainable Choices

Step by Step is the blog of Kate Kerin Interiors. In addition to following some of my clients’ projects, I examine some of the latest issues of interest in the world of interior design.

Since the start of our Petersham project, sustainability has been top of mind for Joanna. Although her bathroom is now gloriously finished, I will be bringing you further news when her wardrobe nears completion. For now we are waiting on the creation and delivery of a custom barn door so for the next little while my blog will not be featuring clients. Instead, I’d like to share with you some of the things I’ve learned over the past six months.

 I have to admit that although I am a passionate believer in taking personal steps towards a brighter future for the planet and the people who come after us, I had not really considered sustainability a key driver in design selections. In my own home renovations, budget was so tight that it was dollars and not sustainability that were top of mind. Joanna, however, set out to ensure that every aspect of her bathroom renovation was as sustainable as possible.

 Here are some of the ways we did this:

 ·         Our builder (Stephen Hughes from Modern Edge Renovations) was sympathetic to our desire to recycle. He separated out all of the building waste into components and took to a recycling centre instead of landfill.

·         We purchased our tiles from Earp Bros, who have a stated commitment to the environment and are independently certified by Global GreenTag and the Living Future Institute.

·         We selected Phoenix tapware, which has a stated commitment to reducing emissions, cleaner manufacturing, recycling waste and using environmentally-friendly packaging.

·         The individual taps and toilet selected for the bathroom had the highest WELS rating available, ensuring lower-flow of water without compromising comfort.

·         Although our fixtures retailer The Blue Room supplied items manufactured offshore, the company has a proud carbon-neutral stance. They offset their delivery and day-to-day business carbon emissions through participation in the Biodiverse Reforestation Carbon Offsets project and transform old packaging waste into new packaging filler.

·         We bought locally where possible; the custom-made vanity and mirror were purchased from Three of a Kind Furniture, less than 2km away. The hand-printed wallpaper was from Publisher Textiles and Papers, also less than 2km in the other direction! The lights were purchased from Urban Lighting, about 100m away. Although some of our articles were manufactured offshore, we purchased locally where we could and picked things up rather than having them delivered. This drastically reduced the carbon footprint of the renovation.

·         We donated an unused basin to The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre, and separated out polystyrene packaging for collection and recycling.

I have learned so much about designing with the environment front of mind. My goal now is that every project I design will be as sustainable as possible within the client’s budget. Making sustainability key to every design choice allows us to make good environmental selections, without sacrificing style or aesthetic. I’m grateful to Joanna for giving me the opportunity to benefit from this important lesson.

KK Interiors specialises in working with residential clients in Sydney, particularly older people who are downsizing or live independently in lifestyle resorts. Contact Kate for an initial consultation to talk about your project.

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