indoors
LIVING GREEN
TODAY’S DESIGN
O N E S P L A S H Y B A T H
Keeping unnecessary waste
out of landfills scores high in
our book, and this bath does
exactly that. Designed by Libby
Langdon for the
Better Homes
and Gardens
Living Green Tour,
it teaches several reuse lessons.
REHAB OLD FURNITURE The
vanity was first an antique
dresser. Look for a piece that
can accommodate plumbing;
you may be able to reconfigure
drawers to salvage storage.
BE CREATIVE WITH SCRAPS
The original dresser top was
removed, cut into strips like
molding, and crafted into a
simple mirror frame.
CHOOSE ECO-SMART SURFACES
Countertops and backsplash
tiles made of recycled materials
are durable and decorative.
Note: The Living Green Tour
has traveled coast-to-coast this
year, sharing ideas and inspira-
tion on green living at home. It
makes its final three stops this
month, but you can see photos
of the entire exhibit anytime at
BHG.com/livinggreen.
ASK DANNY SEO
B E G G A R S ’
D E L I G H T
“Halloween seems wasteful Are
there ways to make it more green?”
DANNY SAYS:
You can make a difference by
knowing how to recycle, reuse, and repurpose
all the Halloween tricks and treats.
PUMPKINS Crack open gourds and pumpkins
with a hammer, and place the broken pieces in
the woods or a field far away from your house.
Deer and other animals will feast on the flesh
and seeds. You can also air dry pumpkin seeds
as bird feed; our feathered friends crave the
high-protein treat.
BARLEY HAY Buy barley hay bales to decorate
your front porch. Barley hay is a natural
deterrent of algae in ponds and water gardens
because it releases natural oxygenators to
clear the water. Just gather barley hay into
small bundles, stuff them into a netted bag add
a rock for weight, drop it in your pond, and
forget about it. Hay can also be used as mulch
in the garden.
CANDY Give leftover wrapped candy to local
charities such as Meals on Wheels or an agency
that works with children. Hard candies—like
October is National Kitchen & Bath Month! Find a designer at
n k b a .o rg .
I t ’ s c r i t i c a l t o l o o k a t h o w l o n g
a p r o d u c t i s l i k e l y t o l a s t , a s t n e
l o n g e r a p r o d u c t i s m a d e t o l a s t ,
t h e m o r e e c o - f r i e n d l y i t r e a l l y i s .
SUSAN SERRA,CERTIFIED KITCHEN DESIGNER
peppermints and butterscotch—can be
crushed with a rolling pin and sprinkled on
rolled cookie dough before baking for a
yum my glaze.
c o s t u m e s
Donate last year’s outfits to local
Goodwill or Salvation Army stores where they’ll
sell them and raise money. After thisyear’s
festivities, ask local children’s hospitals if they
would like lightly worn costumes for the kids.
MORE QUICK ECO-TIPS
■ Instead of buying plastic pumpkin baskets
for the kids to use for treats, repurpose an old
pillowcase. Add a drawstring and decorate
with nontoxic fabric paints, includingglow-in-
the-dark varieties that shine as the sun sets.
■ Instead of driving from house to house,
choose a community where you can walk.
HAVE A QUESTION?
Send it to AskDanny(a)meredith.com, or
post it on Danny’s Simply Green Living blog
at
B H G .c o m /liv in g g re e n ,
where he offers
many more inventive ideas.
9 2
OCTOBER
2008
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
PHOTOS: (BATH) BRYAN McCAY; (PORTRAIT) ADAM ALBRIGHT
