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what’s your green style? take our quiz

green room bingo

24 ways to go green at home

asparagus & feta frittata

kale & chicken soup

APRIL 2010

roomplanners

why the color green is good for us!

the green room

2

about green?

Spring is here... and who isn’t in the mood to lighten up a little? We

certainly are, so we decided to have a little fun with our green issue.

First, we got inside the heads of some very famous green folks for their

insight on the color green. They spilled the beans, so to speak, on what

we need to know about nature’s favorite color. You might be surprised to

learn, for example, that what’s good about green isn’t just its connection to

healthy vegetables and the planet. Turns out

green is good for a balanced state of mind

and poise, among other things! It even treats

nausea, claustrophobia and over-active kids.

Find out more about this amazing color

from the folks who know it best.

If you’ve ever shopped for green paint, you

probably concluded that there’s more variety

in paint colors than there is in nature. That’s

a scary thought! So we thought we’d try to

simplify things a little. Take our what’s your

green style quiz… then check which green

hue you’re most suited to!

In honor of Earth Day this month, we also

included our green room bingo card so you can score your own home and

family for green habits! See how many no-cost, low-cost ideas you’re

already using … or pick up some new ways to preserve your money,

health and planet.

And what would Spring be without thinking about our garden? We’ve

included some garden green recipe ideas that taste as good as they look!

Enjoy!

about roomplanners.com

Roomplanners.com is devoted to making professional quality interior design affordable and

accessible. We invite you to visit out web site

to browse hundreds of rooms for ideas, or to take our survey to

identify your environmental

personality profile. We offer a

variety of free home decorating articles, including room critiques, product reviews, cooking and

kitchen ideas. Our RoomCues™

offer concise, practical guidance and inspiration on how to pull

together a specific look you love.

You’ll find us online at

www.roomplanners.com. Or

join me at twitter.com/loreenepp

For more information on our company and services, please contact me at

loreen@roomplanners.com

on the cover

Long Cove is a sophisticated

coastal collection from Lexington Furniture. The collection features dining room, living room and bed-

room options in shell or midnight

finishes. Lexington Furniture is a design-leading marketer and

manufacturer of branded furniture.

www.lexingtonfurniture.com

Loreen Epp President, RoomPlanners Inc.

All written information herein is copyright ©2010 Room Planners Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copy-right may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from Room Planners Inc..

www.roomplanners.com

what’s so good

3

our green panel ...

green it’s good to be

contemplated painting the inside of his garbage can green on account of how cramped it gets in there. He’d probably also know that green has been known to reduce headaches, indigestion and nausea. We’d be tempted to tell him it also reduces mood swings and might make him a happier guy.

Green Giant would brag that green helps him build muscles… but that it soothes muscles too and helps calm him when he sees how skimpy his outfit really is.

We’d want to know how they came to be green.

Green Giant would claim he came from green vegetables, cucumbers, peas, spinach and such. Kermit might mention that the blue of the sky and the yellow of the sun mix to turn him and his lily pad green everyday. The Incredible Hulk might admit he’s not sure why he turns green when he gets upset. Maybe its to compensate for his red-hot tem-per, since green has been known to lower blood pressure and control anger.

We’d be curious which green they like best.

Shrek would tell us that yellow-green has helped him take life less seriously. Popeye might pipe in to argue for darker spinach greens, claiming they make him feel confident and strong. Gumby would defend blue-green because it feels fresh and malleable, like the ocean. Oscar would argue for duller greens because they hide dirt. M&M would remind us that bright green is confident and even sensual… and did we know it’s an aphrodisiac?

Finally, we’d ask where they spend most of the time.

M & M would most likely hang in the green room, that quiet, glamorous place where celebs relax before they go on camera. Gumby might mention kids rooms, since par-ents often choose green to calm over-active kids. But the group consensus would likely be anyplace where they can feel connected to the nature and get a little peace and quiet.

First, we’d want to know what’s it like being green.

M & M would probably roll her eyes and say something like “Beauty of this magnitude can’t be described in words.” Green Giant would likely tell us that in spite of his skimpy outfit, it’s pretty cool to have the stature and strength of a tree. Kermit would remind us that being green isn’t easy. We’d wonder why Kermit is still singing the blues about being green...

To which Kermit would respond that we have no idea what it’s like to spend everyday being the color of a leaf. He’d lament that he just blends in with ordinary things. “I’m not cool and I’m not hot,” he might say. But Oscar would undoubtedly see the benefits of blending in (...who would want to be seen picking through garbage, not to mention living in a garbage can!). Gumby might claim that being part of nature is the best part of being green. He’d probably say that it’s good not to be too flashy, and that it’s much better to come across as friendly poised and balanced. Green is the only color that’s both stable and flexible, like a tree, he might tell us. He might add that green makes him more generous and hopeful.

We’d press them all for more information.

Shrek might tell us that green keeps him relaxed, even when he looks in the mirror. Oscar might tell us he once heard that green combats claustrophobia and has since

… and who would know better

M & M, “Green” Mars Incorporated

Green Giant Betty Crocker

Kermit, the Frog Sesame Workshop

Oscar, the Grouch Sesame Workshop

Shrek Dreamworks Animation

Ever wondered what would happen if some of the most famous green folks got together to talk?

Here’s what we’d be dying to ask our dream green panel … and what we think we’d hear.

than the green folks?

The Incredible Hulk Marvel Comics

Gumby Prima Toy Co.

4

take our survey!

www.roomplanners.com

Total up how many 1’s, 2’s,

3’s, 4’s and 5’s you chose and rank them by quantity. Here’s a quick summary of

your score! Find out more about our green colors and green

styles on the next pages.

what’s your

1. I like to feel:

1 hip or current 2 calm or contemplative 3 cautious or sincere

4 disciplined or intellectual 5 attractive or creative

2. I don’t get people who:

1 live with too much stuff 2 like stress or pressure

3 want to change things 4 don’t stand up for them-

selves 5 don’t make an effort to

look attractive

3. I like homes that feel:

1 open & uncluttered 2 natural & relaxed

3 communal & casual 4 protective & private 5 charming & elegant

4. I like rooms that look:

1 new or state-of-the-art

2 organic or quiet 3 rustic or casual 4 slightly masculine 5 slightly feminine

2. I like the look of my

favorite flowers inside a:

1 modern glass vase 2 plain ceramic vase 3 terracotta or metal pot

4 classical urn 5 painted porcelain pitcher

6. When it comes to artwork

in my home, I prefer:

1 something modern 2 monochromatic prints

3 folk art or artifacts 4 oil paintings or tapestries 5 a pretty still life painting

7. I like the look of:

1 steel, glass or leather

2 teak, linen or grasscloth 3 pine, cotton or jute 4 tapestry, velvet or brass

5 crystal, silver or brocade

8. I like colors that look and

feel:

1 bright, fresh, clear

2 understated, quiet, neutral

3 earthy, appetizing, friendly

4 rich, dark, established

5 delicate, pastel, hazy

9. The sofa I prefer the most

is:

1

2

3

4

5

10. The lamp I prefer the

most is:

1

2

3

4 5

Choose your favorite answer for each of these 10 questions. (You can pick more than one answer if you need to)… then see which green color might be right for you!

scoring your results Mostly 1’s..Your green style is

cool, innovative, new and

youthful. Check out our

modern greens.

Mostly 2’s… Your green style

is natural, understated, quiet

and stylish. Check out our

organic greens.

Mostly 3’s… Your green style

is rural, warm, exotic and

earthy. Check out our country

and global greens.

Mostly 4’s… Your green style

is intellectual, influential and

decisive. Check out our tradi-

tional and classic greens.

Mostly 5’s… Your green style is

delicate, dressy and nostalgic.

Check out our elegant and

nostalgic greens.

green style? start here!

5

included suggest that certain types of greens look best with certain types of furni-ture. But the beauty of un-derstanding a color’s mood

is that you can use it to create a specific effect, regardless of the furniture you use. Mixing organic greens with traditional furniture, for example, instantly adds a restful, quiet quality. Our paint colors are duller

than what you’re used to seeing in clothing and other products. That’s because large areas require a more subtle approach. But once you see these colors on the wall, we guarantee they’ll provide all the color you need!

green the

Kermit, the Frog, might not have been sure about being green, though he did conclude in his famous Being Green song that “it’ll

do fine”. But green lovers

everywhere know that nature’s favorite hue won’t just do; it can do wonders!

Green can’t be beat for its restful, quiet and balancing effects. It’s a favorite for hospitals, schools and TV studios because it heals, restores and calms us.

But the type of green we use can make as much of a difference in how our rooms feel as our choice of green, blue or red.

In fact, today, color can determine a room’s style almost as much as furni-ture. So it’s more important than ever to understand what different colors, even varieties of a single color like green, do and say in-side a room.

On the next pages, you’ll find our 12 favorite green hues for interiors… grouped into five different moods, or green styles.

The room photos we’ve

room

color determines a room’s style almost as much

as furniture today.

6

Organic colors recall nature’s most subtle side. These nearly colorless hues add a calm, quiet, agreeable, relaxed,

low-key and open-minded quality.

Organic greens look best with dry, matte finishes, clean lines and nubby, natural textures.

OREGANO Behr 760D-5

Modern colors recall wide expanses of airy space and spring itself. These clear, cool hues add a young, vibrant,

optimistic, fresh, inventive and organized quality.

Modern greens look best with smooth or light surfaces,

clean lines, 20th century art and contemporary materials.

2

1

organic

Green apple is the color of Granny Smith apples, pistachios,

celery and the first buds of spring. Its high yellow content feels happy and exudes a fresh, almost tropical air.

Bottle green is the color of soda and water bottles, cleaning

detergents, chewing gum and air freshener packages. No other color symbolizes fresh or clean better.

GREEN APPLE Behr 400D-4 BOTTLE GREEN Behr 420D-4

Oregano is the color of dry seasonings and Japanese ceramics.

Muted and understated, this dull, greenish yellow borders on brown. It feels quiet, casual and laid-back.

Dill is the color of quiet willow and faded moss. Cooler and less yellow than oregano, dill has a refined, masculine quality. It feels

understated, fashionable and confident.

modern green

green

DILL Behr 400F-4

American Drew Furniture, Antigua Lea Furniture, Off Campus

Kincaid Furniture, Gathering House

Broyhill Furniture, American Era

7

global

3

3

country

green

green

Jungle is the color of rainforests and swampy waters. The high yellow content in this hues gives it a zesty, extroverted quality, but

it’s grayed down just enough to qualify as a paint color!

Global colors recall spicy or sour foods and exotic, lush faraway places. These exotic hues add an adventurous,

extroverted, fascinating, zesty and untamed quality.

Global greens look best with tropical or textured furni-ture, unusual artifacts, ethnic patterns and animal prints.

MOSS Behr 410F-5 ROSEMARY Behr 390F-5

Rosemary is the color of garden herbs and tart apple pie.

Grayed down just a little, this sprightly yellow-green feels lively but pastoral; a good color for updating a country room.

Country colors recall autumn leaves and country vegetables. These familiar hues add a casual, safe, re-

laxed, comfortable, appetizing and wholesome quality.

Country greens look best with rustic furniture, wrought

iron lamps, folk art, sunflowers and patchwork quilts.

Moss is the color of ground cover and earthenware. Despite its

dull quality, this warm green has a cool quality. It feels balanced, mature and tasteful, even in a rustic interior.

Broyhill Furniture, Attic Heirlooms

JUNGLE Behr 410D-5

Kincaid Furniture, American Journal

8

Hooker Furniture, Arbor Hill

classic

4

4

traditional

green

MALACHITE Behr 470F-6

Malachite is the color of marble sculptures and classic patio umbrellas. Despite its deep, rich quality, this hue stays cool and

restrained. It’s well suited to the simple. but opulent textures of timeless classic styles.

Classic colors recall regal evening gowns and precious stones. These formal, luxurious hues add an opulent,

stately, regal, powerful, confident and decisive quality.

Classic greens look best with rich polished woods, solid colors, restrained proportions and indulgent textures.

Pine is the color of coniferous forests, old English hunting jackets and university crests. Dark and robust, this no-nonsense green

feels serious, practical, historic and intellectual.

PINE Behr 440F-6

Traditional colors recall medieval tapestries, English hunting gear and forests. These mature hues add an old-

fashioned, protective, private and intellectual quality.

Traditional greens look best with grainy woods, heavy furniture, aged leathers, brick, wool and tweed.

Hooker Furniture, Beladora

green Hooker Furniture, Albany Park

9

elegant

5

5

nostalgic

green

green

Celadon is the color of jade and ancient Chinese carvings. This sophisticated hue is associated with good taste and fine furnishings

from the 18th century. The hue’s slightly blue cast adds to its cool elegance.

Nostalgic colors recall faded floral patterns, vintage cloth-ing, antique stationery and potpourri. These muted hues

add a hazy, romantic, sentimental and soulful quality.

Nostalgic greens look best with antique furniture, feather duvets, floral fabrics, cheval mirrors and skirted chairs.

Elegant colors recall fruit, flowers, garden party dresses and Chinese art. These pretty hues add a soft, pretty,

feminine, youthful, generous and flattering quality.

Elegant greens look best with French furniture, crystal, ornate mirrors, silk, brocade and mixed floral bouquets.

ARMY GREEN Behr 540F-4 OLIVE Behr 380F-6

Army green is the color of camouflage clothing and quiet, shad-

owy forests. Its grayish quality feels simultaneously soft, tranquil and slightly melancholic.

Olive is a historic favorite for men’s suits in Britain. In interiors, this subtle brownish green is closer to olive drab, a heavy, bitter

hue that’s revered for its complexity, quiet and placid qualities.

Lea Furniture, Rhapsody

CELADON Behr 420E-3

Drexel Heritage, At Home in la Belle Maison

Kincaid Furniture, American Journal

Kincaid Furniture, Chateau Royale

10

Simulate fresh grass or clear

emerald-colored tropical wa-ters with a green rug under your table, sofa grouping or

bed. PHOTO: Lexington

Furniture, Tommy Bahama.

Glazed or unglazed, smooth,

shapely ceramics in solid colors bring the outdoors in. Display two or three vases together, in varying heights and shapes.

Add both throws and pillows

to your bed, chairs and sofas. You can even mix cool (blue) and warm (yellow) colors, as long as they’re similar in

brightness (or dullness)!

Go for more stem than flower

by choosing white flowers (they let the green stand out!) and placing them in a clear glass vase. PHOTO: Thomas-

ville Furniture, Darryl Carter.

Adding some green to your home doesn’t need to cost a lot! Best of all, green is really

a neutral color (at least Mother Nature thinks so!) and can be added to your existing

color scheme… as long as you choose a green that’s as bright or as dull as the colors

you’re already using.

A painted (or wallpapered)

backsplash in your favorite green adds a fresh, natural quality to your kitchen. Vegetable and fruit-inspired

greens (yellow-greens) look freshest.

Paint isn’t the only way to add

green to your walls. A green-colored tropical art print, mod-ern art canvas or Renaissance masterpiece lets you add this

coveted hue and pick your favorite view at the same time!

Hanging green panels on

either side of a window simu-lates tall trees! Avoid over-doing a good thing by keeping them straight and simple. PHOTO: Thomasville Furni-

ture, Bridges 2.0.

It’s the most obvious choice,

but it’s also inexpensive and healthy. Against red-tinged wall colors, plants look the greenest. PHOTO: Lexington

Furniture, Island Estate.

green without painting a wall

… or buying new furniture

add some

to your room

plants artwork backsplash curtains

flowers pottery pillows rugs throws &

11

green room

bingo!

According to a recent survey by the American Home Furnishings Alliance, 60% of us want greener products. But when asked to name a green home feature, only 53% of us could!

So here’s our attempt to make the greening of our homes more fun… and memorable. These 24 ideas will help preserve our money, heath and planet. See how many of these you can cross off your card!

Install a low-flow shower head to reduce water consumption by 50% or more. An efficient

shower head uses 2 gal-lons compared to 4-6 gallons for regular shower heads.

Use a fan instead of the

air conditioner. Or set

the A/C at 78°F or higher. For every degree

above 75° you set the thermostat, you’ll save 3% of the energy costs used to cool your home!

Wash clothes in cold

water instead of hot water. 90% of the energy used to run your washing

machine goes to heating the water! Save money and 6.5 lbs in greenhouse gas per wash.

Cut heat loss through

windows with shutters or heavy curtains A valance will insulate

even more. But make sure curtains (and rugs) don’t cover air vents.

Avoid using toxins on

the lawn and garden,

especially if you have an dog or outdoor cat. A

pet that rolls on your lawn then cuddles with the family brings dangerous toxins inside.

Insulate, caulk and

weather-strip around

leaky doors, windows,

outlets and attic entries.

Keep the flue damper tightly closed when the fireplace isn’t in use.

Shorten your showers

from 10 minutes to 5 minutes. You’ll save 4,200 gallons of water

each year and cut your utility bills.

User the microwave or

toaster oven rather than

stove when possible. Avoid pre-heating the

oven more than 10 min.. or peaking in too often! Opening the door lowers the temperature 25° F.

Use LED or Compact

Fluorescent bulbs in-

stead of incandescent bulbs. They cost more

initially, but reduce utility bills, last longer and reduce greenhouse gases.

Put lids on pots when

cooking, simmer rather

than boil and reuse hot water. Every pound of

water boiled produces 1 lb. of greenhouse gas.

Invest in a high efficiency toilet. Or place plastic bottles filled with water inside your toilet’s water

tank to reduce water us-age. Or... don’t flush the toilet every time; a single flush uses 3 gallons!

Set your water heater’s

thermostat at a lower temperature. Turn it to ‘low’ when you leave the

house for the day or go on vacation.

. Heat just the room you’re in. Turn down the heat in rooms and zone heat with a separate ther-

mostat, small space heater, wood-burning or electrical fireplace.

Turn the water off when

you’re brushing your teeth. A running faucet wastes 2.5 gallons of

water / minute. Fix leaky faucets too—at 1 drop her second, they waste 10 gallons/week.

Keep blinds & drapes

on sunny windows open

during the day and closed at night. In the

summer, do the opposite. Close and cover windows during the day; open and uncover them at night.

Insulate your hot water

tank with a hot water blanket. You can also insulate hot water pipes so

they don’t cool so quickly.

Keep the thermostat at

66°-68°F. Turn it down

at night or when you’re

away from home for

more than 4 hours. Or use a programmable ther-mostat.

Install dimmer switches. Dimming lights by 25% saves 20% on energy bills. Dim-

ming lights by 50% saves 40% and extends the life of your bulb by 20x!

Defrost food before put-

ting it in the oven or microwave. Keep bottled water at room temperature

(rather than in the fridge) if you use it for tea or coffee.

Air dry your dishes and

clothes instead of using

appliance drying cycles. Install a clothes line next

to the washing machine or outdoors in the summer.

Turn lights off when leaving a room. It’s a myth that turning lights on and off uses more electric-

ity, except in the case of fluorescent lights.

Run the dishwasher,

washing machine and

dryer only when they’re completely full. Also,

keep the dryer’s filter clean to keep it operating at maximum efficiency.

Use light paint colors

on walls and ceilings to

reflect more light. Lighter rooms require

less artificial lighting. Use desk lamps or table lamps instead of overhead lights.

Turn off the power

when you’re not using

electronics & appliances. Even in standby mode,

electronics can operate at up to 50% of their run-ning power.

RENOVATING? A few more ideas ...

Cover your vents and

air conditioner during a renovation to protect air quality and efficiency.

Buy furniture with sim-

ple lines and neutral colors. It won’t become dated and need replacement.

Buy low-VOC paints and finishes to improve air quality and reduce allergies and asthma.

But new Energy Star appliances if your appliances are more than 15 years old.

Buy wood furniture with an FSC label. It ensures the forest followed envi-ronmental standards.

Use energy efficient windows. They can lower heating and cooling costs by 35% each year.

Design smaller rooms and lower ceilings to increase heating and cool-ing efficiency.

Use reclaimed or fast-growing woods such as bamboo or mango for furniture or flooring.

Choose wool or jute carpets; they’re made without harsh stain repel-lants.

Insulate walls, attics and

ceilings.

12

1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 30 mL) cooking oil

1 boneless chicken breast, cut into ½” (1 cm) cubes

½ medium onion, chopped

2 carrots, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

6 cups (1.5 L) chicken stock or broth

½ tsp (2 mL) hot pepper sauce (or more to taste)

6 cups (1.5 L) chopped kale

2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice

Salt and pepper, to taste

kale & chicken soup

Wendi Hiebert is a home economist

and food writer, living in Kitchener, Ontario. For more of her recipes,

visit www.CookingQuarters.

wordpress.com

www.roomplanners.com

Heat oil in a large skillet (about 10” or 25 cm) over medium heat.

Add potatoes, cover and cook for 6 minutes, stirring frequently. Add asparagus;

cook until asparagus and potatoes are almost tender, 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Whisk eggs, milk and pepper in a medium bowl. Pour egg mixture over vegetables. Sprinkle feta cheese and chives over top.

asparagus & feta frittata

1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil

6 small red potatoes (each cut into 8 wedges)

2 cups (500 mL) chopped asparagus (about 1” / 2.5cm pcs)

6 eggs

1/3 cup (75 mL) milk

1/8 tsp (.5 mL) pepper

½ cup (125 mL) crumbled feta cheese (about 2 oz/60 g)

2 tbsp (30 mL) chopped chives

Heat 1 tbsp (15 mL) oil in a large stock pot on medium heat. Add chicken; sauté until cooked. Remove from pot and set aside.

Add additional cooking oil if necessary, then add on-ion, carrots and garlic. Sauté until vegetables are tender. Add chicken stock and hot pepper sauce; bring to a simmer. Return chicken to pot and add kale and lemon juice.

Cook for a few minutes until chicken is heated

through and kale is tender. Season to taste.

(Makes 4 servings)

Tips:

Spinach, Swiss chard,

sorrel, dandelion greens or beet leaves can be substituted for kale.

For a vegetarian version, replace chicken with cooked cannellini beans

(white kidney beans or Great Northern or white navy beans) and chicken broth with vegetable

Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until eggs are set, 8 to 10 min-utes.

Cut into wedges to serve.

(Makes 4 servings)

Tips:

If desired, brown the top of the frittata by placing the skillet under the

broiler for a few minutes. Wrap the handle of the skillet in aluminum foil if it is not heatproof.

Nowhere is it more good to be green than at mealtime... and Spring brings plenty of green inspiration! Add green to your meals with asparagus, spinach, cabbage, kale, peas, beans, lettuce, watercress, fiddleheads, cucumbers, peppers, artichokes, fennel, or even dandelion greens! Here are a couple recipes to get you started.

quarters cooking