– written by Beth Haley

I was listening to a sermon a couple of weeks ago by visiting past-associate pastor of 2nd Presbyterian Church, Kim Rodrigue, as she spoke on change and our reaction to change. I found several notes inspiring. She reminded us, in the second half of the 20th Century, science fiction writer Isaac Asimov wrote, “It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is, the dominant factor in society today.  No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.”Kim went on to say she believes, “Transformation is when change comes, and affects us deeply, and somehow we cooperate with God’s desire for something good to come from it.” Now whether you are a spiritual person or not, I believe we as humans have an innate desire to create good from all aspects of life, whatever turns our lives make. I like to believe we are resilient, sensitive and aware to the world around us.

As I took her message in, I was reminded of our current environmental and economic (e&e) situation. As a business owner and Interior Designer, I wonder what kind of changes we are going to make as a result of our current e&e position? As someone who typically is optimistic I am excited and curious what I, we, the USA and the world globally is going to learn and morph into from this experience. What transformations/changes are we going to make? The interior designer in me wonders specifically what changes are we going to make in the home design industry? 

I love research and soaking up what information is around me. If I take into consideration what I am reading, hearing and seeing, I predict our future home designs will embrace green design/sustainable design, engineering and capturing local resources and assets with regards to environmental impact. Focusing on reorganizing what we have in the way of existing resources of housing and construction materials (repurpose, recycle, reuse), creating resource-efficient systems that support local and regional ecology (sun, wind, water) and choosing products and finishes that produce healthy interior and exterior environments will all dictate future home design.

With that said, square footage, quality of product, craftsmanship, longevity and creativity will pull to the forefront. We will become experts in problem solving, designing creative spaces with emphasizes on: 1). efficiency of space not only in reviewing maximizing square footage but also to include longevity and planning for future use, creating long-term dwellings ie: aging-in-place and changes in family dynamics, the addition of family members; 2). natural and regional resources with response to local issues and opportunities including manufacturing, sourcing (chain of custody) and lifecycle; 3). Better technologies creating net-zero houses producing not only energy and water but food and wellness.

If all this sounds complicated, it actually is not. It is getting back to basics, using what we have available to us regionally and pre-existing, maximizing what we have, using our minds to create and be creative, thinking holistically, integrating with our environment socially, economically and environmentally. It is not doing things the way we have always done it. It is creating a new norm, an improved standard. The more we strive to learn, to educate ourselves and to be innovative the more balanced our lives will become economically and environmentally. Our lives will become more socially and relationally centered to each other and our eco-systems.

Now, don’t you feel more optimistic about our future? And motivated? Ok, let’s start problem solving, planning and designing!

Articles for further reading:
Eric Corey Freed. “5 Questions about our Future.” Natural Home Magazine May/June 2009
John Thackara. “Case Study: Green Design.” Natural Home Magazine July/August 2009
The Editors. “Summer Living Section.” Metropolitan Home July/August 2009
Any current trade magazine – Green/Sustainable Design is topic of choice