Modern Homestead: A California Home Creates Self-Sufficient Green Dream

(Page 2 of 3)

March/April 2008
By Erin Milgram 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Heat and energy aren’t all nature gives them: With vegetable and herb gardens; almond, citrus and fruit trees; berry bushes and an olive orchard, the couple has little need for outside produce. They’re also able to collect much of their own water in a 50,000-gallon rainwater cistern. Run-off from the green roofs on the house and garage fills the cistern, which provides water for the home and irrigation for the land from November through midsummer. 

RELATED CONTENT

Sustainable interiors

Before breaking ground, the couple teamed up with interior designer and color consultant Deborah Coburn of Naturally Inspired in San Rafael to create rooms that connected the home with nature. Coburn used all-natural pigments and stains to bring the warm colors of the hillside indoors. She recycled many furnishings from the couple’s previous home and seamlessly incorporated wall niches for their display pieces.

Coburn chose new furniture made from recycled or renewable materials and nonsynthetic fabrics when possible. The kitchen’s backsplash is made of recycled, vintage-stone pavers, and she used remnants from the stone yard’s "boneyard" for the granite breakfast table.

"I never imagined I would live in such a beautiful place," Karen says. She now holds certificates in permaculture design, landscape design and landscape horticulture. She recently founded Wild Willow Landscape Design, which provides design and consulting services. Karen and Mark are also developing Kenwood Permaculture, through which they offer educational programs on sustainable living.

The Good Stuff

  • Passive-solar design
  • No air conditioning; passive cooling system
  • Locally quarried material for PISE walls
  • Kyocera solar panels (130 watts each) for electricity
  • Maximum-efficiency smart-house automation systems for thermostats, lighting, irrigation
  • Rain harvesting and storage for household and irrigation water
  • Green roofing systems by American Hydrotech
  • Geothermal-exchange heat pump for hot water and in-floor radiant heating
  • Concrete floors containing fly-ash byproduct
  • Natural cork kitchen flooring
  • Kitchen cabinets made from Medite II non-formaldehyde fiberboard, covered with naturally stained cherry wood
  • Backsplash created from recycled French pavers
  • Breakfast table and bathroom countertops made of granite and marble remnants
  • Energy Star appliances, including washer and dryer
  • Nontoxic stains and finishes
  • High-efficiency Kiva-Rumford masonry fireplace
  • Organic gardens planted with medicinal herbs
  • Native plants that attract wildlife and beneficial insects 
Page: << Previous 1 | 2 | 3 | Next >>
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe today and save 50%
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Subscribe to Natural Home

Welcome to Natural Home, the authority on green lifestyle and design. With an up-to-date outlook on current trends in sustainable building and wholesome living, Natural Home gives today’s eco-conscious homeowners the information they need to live in nurturing, healthy homes. Subscribe to Natural Home today to get inspired on the art of living wisely and living well.

Save money and a few trees by paying with your credit card now. Take advantage of our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. You’ll save an additional $4.95 and get six issues of Natural Home for just $15! (Offer valid only in the U.S.)

Or, choose Bill Me Later and pay just $19.95