Country Living 2010 House of the Year

<div class="fb_title"><span style="font-style: italic;">Home Green Home</span> is the name of <span style="font-style: italic;">Country Living's</span> 2010 House of the Year.<span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"> For almost a quarter century now, <em>Country Living</em> has built, and decorated, an entire house from the ground up every year. So this year they created an environmentally friendly, modular home. This </span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">1,607 square feet </span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">prefab cottage was erected at the World Financial Center in downtown Manhattan. Interior designer Katie Ridder decorated its rooms with </span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">eco-smart </span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">furnishings and accessories.<br /><br /></span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">An overall eclectic-cottage style with quite a number of interesting eco-friendly ideas</span>.<br /></div><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/x5/Home-Green-Home-House-Outside-1110-de.jpg" style="width: 549px; height: 429px;" /><br />It reminds me a bit of the house in the Disney-Pixar film <span style="font-style: italic;">Up</span>.<br /><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/xG/Home-Green-Home-Foyer-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 500px; height: 638px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">In the entryway: cabinets for storing coats, a table for holding mail and a bench for pulling shoes on and off. Chicken wire adds pattern and texture to the cabinet doors.<br /><br /><b>Wallpaper: </b>This pattern relies on paint that's free of potentially harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds). It was also used for the ceilings in the dining and sitting areas.<br /><br /><b>Floors: </b>Rescued from abandoned buildings and used throughout our house, Mohawk's elm planks come with an aged patina.<br /><br /><b>Table: </b>built from sustainable poplar and water-based, low-VOC finish.<br /><br /><b>Light fixture: </b>The small holes in this recycled-aluminum globe cast a soft glow.<br /><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/Xb/Home-Green-Home-Living-Room-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -5px; left: -6px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">The living and dining spaces open up to each other, so they were unified with blue upholstery, worn wood surfaces, and walls painted in Moroccan Spice — from Benjamin Moore's zero-VOC paint line, Natura.<br /><br /><b>Sofa and armchair: </b> organic-cotton upholstery for the couch and </span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">recycled-fiber fabric</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"> for the chair. Both pieces feature sustainable wood frames and recycled metal components.<br /><br /><b>Mirror: </b>A halo of reclaimed-wood spokes surrounds this looking glass.<br /><br />A projector stand was used as a plant stand, a white garden stool as a side table.<em><br /><br /></em></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/Ai/Home-Green-Home-Dining-Room-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 501px; height: 640px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"><strong></strong> <b>Dining chairs: </b>Constructed from sustainable hardwood and soy-based cushions, these seats are upholstered with recycled-fiber fabric. The hydrangea motif was stenciled.<br /><br /><b>Dining table: </b>Weathered wood, salvaged from antique elm doors.<br /><br /><b>Rugs: </b>Natural vegetable dyes create these soft, muted hues.<br /><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/tw/Home-Green-Home-Kitchen-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -5px; left: -6px; width: 550px; height: 430px;" /><br /><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">Classic country details in the kitchen: an apron-front sink, beadboard cabinets, and a barn-wood island. The<strong></strong> roman shade is actually a repurposed tablecloth.<em></em><br /><br /><b>Cabinets: </b> custom cupboards from sustainable plywood and a soy-based adhesive. <em></em><br /><br /><b>Sink: </b></span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">a foot pedal</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"> by is an ingenious add-on that decreases water waste with a more controlled flow.<br /><br /><b>Island: </b>A row of vintage stools complements this workstation, custom crafted from reclaimed wood.<i> </i><br /><em><br /></em></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/rQ/Home-Green-Home-Mud-Room-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 504px; height: 643px;" /><br /> <div class="fb_captionbox"><span id="fb_title">The mudroom is</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"> located just off the kitchen. It offers storage and a sink suitable for gardening chores. The countertops are made from fast-growing — and thus extremely renewable — bamboo.<br /><em></em></span></div><span id="fb_relatedlinks"><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/LW/Home-Green-Home-Stairwell-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -5px; left: -6px; width: 506px; height: 395px;" /><br /><div class="fb_photohead"><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">One old book, <i>Art Forms in Nature</i>,</span><span id="fb_title"> </span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">was recycled into a hallway's worth of prints</span>.<br /></div><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"><br /></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/B6/Home-Green-Home-Master-Bedroom-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 508px; height: 649px;" /><br /> <span id="fb_title">In the master bedroom</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"> the horizontal beadboard makes the room appear wider. A four-poster frame, made of sustainably grown Mindi wood, supports a 100 percent organic cotton-and-hemp mattress. <em></em><br /><em><br /></em></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/vr/Home-Green-Home-Walk-in-Closet-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 416px; height: 531px;" /><br /><div class="fb_photohead"><span id="fb_title">Walk-in closet.</span></div><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/6q/Home-Green-Home-Master-Bath-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 502px; height: 641px;" /><br /><span id="fb_title">Master bathroom:</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"> a double-basin sink and separate commode room make this space ideal for two people. The mirror frames are fashioned from old bourbon barrels. A salvaged dresser was transformed into a double vanity.<br /><br /><em></em></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/Lh/Home-Green-Home-Master-Bath-2-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 502px; height: 641px;" /><br />The master bathroom and bedroom are connected with two different shades of blue. <span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">Organic cotton towels are </span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">stacked in open storage bins built from reclaimed wood</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"><em><br /></em></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/nl/Home-Green-Home-Guest-Room-1-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 501px; height: 640px;" /><br /><span id="fb_title">In the guest room </span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox">a recycled-iron frame holds a soy-based foam mattress.</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"><em></em><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span></em></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/zd/Home-Green-Home-Guest-Room-2-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 503px; height: 642px;" /><br /><span id="fb_title">A reupholstered old chair in the guest room sitting area.</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"> The wall-to-wall carpet is woven from shredded plastic bottles. <i><br /><br /></i></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/7b/Home-Green-Home-Home-Office-Nook-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 503px; height: 642px;" /><br /> <div class="fb_captionbox"><span id="fb_title">Home office nook</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"><em>.<br /><br /></em></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/bb/Home-Green-Home-Downstairs-Bath-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 504px; height: 644px;" /><br /><div class="fb_photohead"><span id="fb_title">Downstairs Powder Room with vintage wallpaper and pedestal sink</span>.<br /></div></div><br /><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/wD/Home-Green-Home-Enclosed-Porch-2-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 500px; height: 638px;" /><br /><div class="fb_photohead"><span id="fb_title">The wraparound porch</span> was outfitted with wicker seating and table made from recycled aluminum frames and reclaimed cypress. The plank-top table is also made with salvaged cypress.<br /></div><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"><i><br /></i></span><img id="fb_image" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/tS/Home-Green-Home-Enclosed-Porch-1-1110-de.jpg" style="top: -55px; left: 44px; width: 500px; height: 639px;" /><br /><span id="fb_title">Enclosed Porch. A birdcage is used as a terrarium on a</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"> vintage teak unit with plenty of storage space.<br /><br /></span><span class="" style="display: inline;" id="fb_credit">Photography: Lucas Allen</span><span style="display: inline;" id="fb_captionbox"><em></em></span>If you'd like to see how this modular house went from factory to finished in 30 days go <a href="http://www.countryliving.com/homes/house-tours/house-of-the-year/building-eco-friendly-modular-homes-1110">here</a>.<br /><span id="fb_title">All images from <a href="http://www.countryliving.com/">Country Living</a>.</span>

Country Living 2010 House of the Year

Home Green Home is the name of Country Living's 2010 House of the Year. For almost a quarter century now, Country Living has built...

Read more »