I've been in the antiques, design and furnishings business for almost 10 years and to me thinking "green" has always been all around us! The hot news topics make you think you have to spend loads of money on "green" products or buy special market bags when you can easily reuse your old ones. Common sense and being kind to your surroundings can go along way. Think of the antiques already in your home or what your Great Aunt is leaving you or what you handed down to your brother or flower seeds you gave to your neighbors....see what I mean?

The idea of recycling is a natural for people who are creative, interesting, happy to share, friendly and community minded. Saving and protecting the environment is a big plus, of course. We've been bringing antiques in from Asia for years, giving artisans a steady income by creating reclaimed wood products (NOT cutting down new forests), and recycling and infusing old products with our brand of creativity. So, we have seen good and bad changes in our environment both here and abroad, but I feel it's part of our job to remind people of everyday 'green' habits that aren't necessarily costly or in the latest eco-friendly news bite.