Long before Hollywood made it trendy, Kari Whitman was a green designer on a crusade. This Boulder, Colorado native and self-proclaimed tree-hugger was “practically born recycling.” And Kari is committed to incorporating eco-friendly and animal-friendly products in all of her interior design projects, finding inventive ways to not only save the earth, but also save money!

The notion of “going green” and incorporating eco-friendly design may sound like a daunting and costly endeavor, but Kari goes on treasure hunts through antique stores, flea markets, architectural salvage yards, websites like craigslist.com, and searches a client’s existing inventory before buying a single piece of new furniture.

This masculine room is furnished entirely with antiques found in local shops. The regal furniture and antique lighting exemplifies the superior craftsmanship of older pieces to that of mass-produced products of today. The custom bookshelf in the room was made out of sustainable wood (harvested to reduce the burden on our eco-system).

This sleek, contemporary kitchen is a remarkable example of the multiple benefits of recycling and green living design! Rather than buy new cabinets to match the updated decor, the existing cabinetry was faux wood-grained to save trees and money! Another resource- and budget-saver was plating the old kitchen hardware with a brushed nickel finish for a fresh look. The luxe chairs surrounding the island are made from sustainable wood and are covered with pleather – an attractive and cruelty-free alternative to leather. Water savers were also installed on the multiple sinks.

Elegantly simple design is enhanced by custom finishes on the walls and ceiling. Kari mixed colors with her eco-friendly Wall Makeup kit (from wallmakeup.com), then had the walls painted with non-toxic, zero-VOC, low odor paint – safe for people, pets and the environment. Lovely chairs covered in pleather, gorgeous antique lighting and a dining table constructed from reclaimed teak complete the look.

Green living means cozy living – especially in this comfortable corner. Kari created the perfect space to rest, relax or read using a reupholstered vintage chair and adding a warm glow with a vintage light fixture. Shutters made from sustainable wood may be adjusted to enhance the mood.

Stunning craftsmanship and enduring style can be found in one-of-a-kind vintage and antique lamps and chandeliers.

Kari gets creative with recycling and architectural salvage, transforming the wood from Stanford University’s old basketball court into an elegant wine cellar! She created the door out of an iron grate from a junk yard, and incorporated an 18th century Spanish light fixture and antique mahogany cabinets.

This eco-friendly room captures Virginia’s affinity for the glamour of old Hollywood and passion for Polynesian chic. From bamboo faux finishes, to bamboo flooring, an organic jute rug, recycled wood on an accordion door, vintage film posters, furniture and lighting purchased from antique and vintage stores, and even swap meets – every effort was made to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Virginia Madsen’s pup enjoys his perch on this regal chair, covered in dog-friendly, scratch- and stain-proof pleather. The walls are hand painted with non-toxic, zero-VOC paint, and are evocative of 1940s era wallpaper, fulfilling Virginia’s love of vintage tiki decor.

A unique, vintage bamboo table and stool set is recycled and reborn – with a fresh coat of buffed wax and a new home in Virginia Madsen’s kitchen.