DE - SIGN OF THE TIMES

HOW TO BUILD A GEODESIC DOME ~ ORGANIC SUSTAINABLE LIVING

2020-04-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

I have this re-occurring dream where I see myself strolling out to our backyard and picking the best tasting, fresh, organic, nutritious, chemical free, non GMO fruit, vegetables and herbs all year-round.

Then....... I wake up. !!

As you know, my husband and I live in Pickering, just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada which translates weather-wise into a climate of months and months of cold weather and snow, making our growing season quite short.

Sustainable Living by growing your own food has so many incredible benefits. The following are just a few...........

It is a wonderful way to support the environment. So much of the food that we eat has had to travel long distances to get to our supermarkets. Just think about all those carbon emissions as a result of their transport and how that negatively contributes to climate change.
It is a wonderful way to support your well-being - Freshly harvested food grown in nutrient-rich soil in your own backyard means that you are consuming more vitamins, minerals and enzymes which means better health for you. Food which has traveled long distances to get to us loses so many of these vital nutrients.
It has therapeutic advantages; Gardening is relaxing to the mind, requires some physical exercise and the entire process of growing your own food is pleasurable and fulfilling.
It reduces your monthly food bill

So, in an attempt to support our goals of living a truly healthy and sustainable life, I have been researching for quite some time now, a manufacturer/supplier or instructions on how to build a geodesic dome greenhouse for our backyard. There are many manufacturers out there, but not all have a quality dome structure which will withstand our Canadian winters and snow. You will also come across loads of websites with instructions on how to build one from scratch.

Now you know we love a DIY project and will attempt to build anything ourselves if at all possible, but sometimes as they say, "you have to know when to HOLD THEM AND KNOW WHEN TO FOLD THEM!"

We decided that we did not want to go the DIY route with this project, by following some obscure directions found on the internet. Our greenhouse will have some DIY elements for sure as we will be constructing it, but from a purchased kit which includes all the necessary materials for a perfect result.

We want to build this correctly the first time as there really is quite a science to the Geodesic Dome Greenhouse design.

Firstly let me tell you a bit about a Geodesic Dome Greenhouse as most people have never heard of them. It is a spherically designed greenhouse structure as opposed to the typical rectangular shape like most greenhouses. A Geodesic Dome Greenhouse is constructed from a number of triangular forms made from wood struts and metal hubs and covered by polycarbonate glazing panels which fit together to create the dome shape. The beauty and benefits of this shape are many; the dome can withstand very high winds, the snow slides right off, they are extremely energy efficient and requires little or no heat.

During my research, I found this incredible company in Colorado called Growing Spaces who have been designing/producing Geodesic Dome Greenhouses for about 25 years. There are many, many geodesic dome greenhouse manufacturers but in my opinion they pale in comparison to the Growing Spaces dome.

They have a variety of sizes and packages to suit your particular needs. Their smallest greenhouse kit is 15 ft. which includes a covering of UV resistant, shatter-proof polycarbonate glazing panels, a set of pre-cut, color-coded struts and framing. Features like automatic opening vents, solar powered undersoil heating/cooling system, Reflectix insulation, materials for the pond and a shade cloth are included.

Plus ~ for climates such as ours there is a a snowshed entryway that has a door with a window, all hardware, and a 24" foundation wall with structural siding.

Here are a few other pics all courtesy of Growing Spaces.

Pretty incredible, don't you think?

Can you see yourself building a Geodesic Dome Greenhouse?

Can you imagine having your own abundant supply of organic, fresh produce just steps away, in your backyard all year long, even in the winter months?

Can you imagine being truly sustainable and enjoying greater health and wellness?

We surely can!!

Please visit Growing Spaces for more information.

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

HAPPY "GREEN" VALENTINE'S DAY | HOLIDAY

2020-01-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

HAPPY GREEN VALENTINE'S DAY !!

It is possible to enjoy an Eco Friendly Valentine's Day to show your love ones that you care while being kind to your planet at the same time.

Valentine's Day ranks very, very high up there with Christmas for extreme consumerism. Gifts, gifts and more gifts = lots and lots of garbage and lots and lots of emissions polluting the air from all the trucks delivering those gifts.

Eons prior to Valentine's arrival, tv commercials bombard us with commercials about cut flowers, chocolates, dinner reservations, lingerie, perfume etc. The store shelves have been packed with Valentine cards, balloons, gifts~in non recyclable paper, ~~I might add~~, heart-shaped boxed chocolates and stuffed teddy bears for the past weeks and weeks! We are all being prompted to purchase, purchase, purchase all this STUFF!

Not to rain on your parade and as lovely as all this gift giving is, Valentine's Day further exhausts our Earths dwindling resources. I recently read that it is estimated that over 1 billion Valentine Cards are mailed out all around the world.

Wow, isn't that incredible! It is just really too bad that most end up in landfills with all the other piles of waste already there.

As a society we need to become more conscious consumers and really stop and think, " hummmm, so many trees were destroyed making these cards and boxed goodies" and then consider an environmentally kinder alternative.

Cut red roses-eco friendly? Think again. One of the least actually. Those red roses had quite a journey getting to your local supermarket. They most likely were grown in Ecuador or Columbia due to the perfect year-round climate. However, they are drenched with fungicides, insecticides and herbicides to keep away the critters. Unfortunately, the workers are unprotected mostly women and children and ultimately end up with a multitude of health issues ranging from respiratory to neurological. Once the roses are harvested then they begin their very long voyage in a refrigerated, emissions pumping truck to your local supermarket where they sit in an energy sucking refrigerated cooler waiting for your purchase.

Hey, I know it appears that I am turning what is supposed to be a day of love and romance into a day of doom and gloom.

That is definitely not my MO.

My intention and my gift to you on this Valentine's Day 2019 is to get you to step back for just a moment. Step back from getting sucked into the pressures of the overwhelming consumerist vortex and the feelings of duty, guilt and obligation that you absolutely must buy gifts this day. Because we sometimes loose sight of this, I also want to gently remind you that the greatest gift that you could possibly give to your love ones and them to you, is love and affection year-round, spending valuable uninterrupted time, creating wonderful memories together and showing true appreciation for each other. Just speaking the words I LOVE YOU is a symphony to the ears! NO card can ever replace that.

On a personal note, I feel so very blessed as this is how my husband and I live our life each and every day.

It really doesn't get much better than that does it??

Now, if you are looking for a few fun ideas to make today extra special, try some of these easy on the pocketbook, earth-friendly ideas.

Mother Earth will truly thank you.

Photo - courtesy of Jaymi Heimbuch

Ditch the box of truffles this year and spend time making this yummy fondue for the two of you to enjoy using Fair Trade Extra Dark Chocolate. The recipe includes some interesting ingredients such as a little chili powder, cayenne pepper, dark rum and cinnamon. Marry it with your favourite fruit!

Photo - Courtesy of Heirloom Flower Seeds

If you really still want to give the gift of flowers, how about giving some heirloom flower seed packets to be planted in the garden. Flowers are beautiful, very eco-friendly as they feed the birds, the bees and other important insects in the garden. If you plant perennials you can enjoy their beauty for years to come.

Dinner, Movie, Candles + Wine are always a nice way to spend the evening especially when it is in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Staying at home translates into not having to deal with or waste time on the crowded roads, at the restaurants or movie theatres, your evening is on your schedule and keeping your car put in the driveway means that there are no car emission contributions by you. Bonus!! It's a win, win evening. Flickering candles - healthy bees wax only please, some organic wine from a local winery, a lovely home cooked meal, a Romantic Comedy on the big screen and voila ~ you have the perfect ambiance for a romantic Valentine's date with that very special person in your life.

And REMEMBER

LOVE .... knows no age

Enjoy!

Pictures courtesy of Google

Soulier Design Studio specializes in sustainability, eco-friendly design, products + lifestyle

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

LINDAL CEDAR HOMES FEATURED IN THE DWELL COLLECTION

2019-06-20T05:00:00.000-04:00

Due to the overwhelming response to this post, I am re-posting this again.

This house is JUST incredible and is the highlight/focus of my personal vision board! This is my absolute favorite house style; so architecturally exquisite in my eyes. The warmth and livability of these homes come from clean, uncluttered lines and the inspired use of natural materials in the Lindal building system. (Lindal Cedar Homes)

TURKEL DESIGN - The house, an original design created by Turkel Design for Lindal as part of the Dwell Homes Collection, is adaptable to multiple site conditions and opens to views simultaneously in several directions. These attributes led the design team to select this plan as the starting point for the unique conditions of this steep site. Turkel Design collaborated with the local independent Lindal Cedar Homes dealer, My House Design/Build, and positioned the house to open into a stand of old-growth cedars and out through the treetops to the opposite shoreline.

The TD3 2490 collects its own rainwater, uses passive methods to self-ventilate, and can be delivered and constructed in almost any location worldwide.

Please visit http://www.turkeldesign.com to see what other amazing projects they have completed.

Photos Courtesy of Turkel Design

Here is a video walk through of this beautiful home. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

ENJOY!!

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

VALENTINE'S DAY IS FOR EVERYONE!

2019-01-28T11:28:00.000-05:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Valentines Day is for everyone and not just couples in love.

It is about self love, family love, friendship love, fur baby love, neighbourly love, loving the planet and all that nature has to offer us.

Help spread the love.

Wishing you love today and each day of the year in everything that you do.

Cheers!!!

Soulier Design Studio specializes in sustainability, eco-friendly design, products + lifestyle

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

TRANSFORMING A SCHOOL BUS INTO AN RV | PART ll

2018-08-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

One of my most popular posts, with several thousands views, is on TRANSFORMING A SCHOOL BUS INTO AN RV. People find this subject so fascinating!

What my husband and I learned when we were considering this project was that school buses are a wonderfully safe vehicle to convert. They are kept in optimal maintenance condition because they are transporting children to and from school each and every day. The side metal panels are also heavily re-enforced in the event of a collision.

If travelling is something your family likes to do, converting a school bus into an RV, may be a fantastic DIY project that the entire family can enjoy.

We were very fortunate, when we purchased our bus (for $500.00) what a deal, that all the seats had already been removed. Yeah!! This is one of the most labour intensive jobs of this entire project.

Just like designing a space in your home you should plan the layout carefully dividing the space into various sections. Our bus was 40' long and our layout plan included a sleeping area in the rear of the bus, a bathroom area, a kitchen/eating area, a living area and the driver area at the front of the bus.

We didn't install or wire an electrical source for our bus since it was parked at our property and not used for travel. Our bus was used as a safe way to camp and sleep without having to worry about bears ~~having us for dinner~~. However, if you are travelling with your bus, you will need an electrical source to power appliances. Other necessities include a stove, sink and refrigerator and of course a sleeping area.

Installing solar panels on the roof to power the bus and appliances is definitely the way to go to create an eco-friendly bus.

Converting another school bus or possibly an Airstream, I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them, is definitely a project that we would like to tackle again in the future. We certainly learned a lot from our first fantastic experience and really had a blast!

Here are a few fabulous school bus and Airstream interiors with some great ideas to get you started just in case you are thinking about trying this fun project.

If this is camping, I'm in!!

Airstream Interiors by Christopher Deam

Rachel Horn and husband renovated this Airstream with Style

photo - Pinterest

photo - Pinterest Architecture student converts bus into cabin

How about you. Is this something that you might consider trying?

If you would like to read Part 1 of TRANSFORMING A SCHOOLBUS INTO AN RV you can find it here.

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability and Eco Friendly Design and Products http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

INCREDIBLE LIVE EDGE TABLES - MY NEW LOVE | SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN

2018-08-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

My new love is live edge tables and I would really love one in my kitchen/dining area.

Live Edge refers to the natural edge of the lumber or slab under the bark. Many of the slabs that are available, are either a full or partial live edge and a combination of straight and natural edges and often consist of multiple slabs connected with butterfly joints called inlays. These inlays are used to reinforce areas that have been weakened by cracks, knots or large bark pockets.

George Nakashima was a highly recognized furniture designer/architect and well known for making pieces from raw wood left in its natural state. What most woodworkers saw as imperfections he saw as beauty. His tables, chairs and cabinets typically were made from slabs of free-edged wood and very organic in nature. Mr. Nakashima died several years ago but his vision has been carried on by his daughter Mira at Nakashima Studios in Pennsylvania.

This coffee table piece is an example of his work which shows the bark live edge.

Picture courtesy of Nakashima Studio

Jeffery Greene another seriously talented and highly respected furniture designer whom I have recently discovered and admire, also designs live edge furniture and was influenced by the work of George Nakashima.

It would be absolutely impossible for me to choose one of his tables as I am completely blown away by all of them. These tables are like nothing that I have ever seen before; each is an exquisite piece of art.

I would like to share a few examples of his work and I am certain you will agree with me!

Silver Monolith Base - Live Edge Dining Table

(I would like this as my Board Room Table)

Clear plexiglass leg base - Dark Finish Live Edge Dining Table

(This one would work perfectly in my kitchen/dining area - I want it!!!!)

Clear plexiglass leg base - Light Finish Live Edge Dining Table

Golden Forest Base (SOLID CAST BRONZE) Live Edge Dining Table

(Actually, I wouldn't mind this one either. Just love the forest base, comes in silver as well)

Live Edge Book Matched - Buried Black Walnut Slab

All photos - courtesy of Jeffery Greene.

Sentient is located in Brooklyn, New York and is a furniture design and fabrication company. Their work is also incredible. Here are a few examples.

These last two photos show examples of the butterfly inlays referred to above.

Photos - courtesy of Sentient

We would love to hear from you. Which are your favourites?

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability and Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

Please visit us at http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

EARTH HOUR 2018 | MARCH 24, 2018

2018-03-23T16:58:00.001-04:00

Please join Soulier Design Studio by celebrating Earth Hour on Saturday March 24, 2018.

Let's do our part to take action over climate change and make this the best Earth Hour Ever!!!.

It's easy.... just switch off all non-essential lights in your home for one hour between 8:30 - 9:30 pm in your local time zone.

Celebrate your earth and your commitment for change. Make it a candlelit dinner with friends, play a game of cards, Chess... the possibilities are endless.

Join the conversation and the call for action!!

connect2earth.org

We would love to hear how will you spend your Earth Hour??

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

PRESS FOR PROGRESS | INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY | MARCH 8

2018-03-08T12:18:00.001-05:00

Let's Celebrate all women today. Their social, cultural, economic and political achievements.

International Women's Day has been running since 1911.

Join the #pressforprogress movement and the call for action.

Do your part to help drive gender equality.

Press the Join this Thunderclap button for more information.

www.soulierdesignstudio.com

YOUR PLASTICS HAVE A BAD WRAP! PART I | SUSTAINABLE LIVING |

2018-02-27T01:00:00.000-05:00

I have been on a serious mission to remove all the plastic in my home.

Actually, I have to admit, it is really quite a challenge as you have to find alternative ways to wrap, store and bag your food etc. As a society we have become so dependent on plastic. Plastic water bottles, sandwich and freezer bags, storage containers, milk jugs, milk bags, grocery bags, produce bags, plastic cutlery, plastic storage containers, plastic children's toys. Plastic this, plastic that. It's crazy!

What the heck did we do/use before plastic?

Okay, now I am going to be dating myself a little here but I vaguely, I repeat vaguely, recall the milkman delivering lovely glass milk bottles to our home. Such fond memories peeling back the cardboard seal to find that the creme had risen to the top.

Yummy!! Probably why I like creme in my coffee!!

There are several places that now sell organic milk in glass bottles. My questions is; why did we ever stop? Glass is hygienic, recyclable and things seem to taste so much better in glass than in plastic. Our food is in constant contact with plastic from production to the preparing of our foods.

There are so many reasons to eliminate as much plastic from our lives as possible. Besides the fact that plastic is made from petroleum, from a health perspective, plastics have dangerous chemicals that leach into our foods. For example; off you go to the market with ALL good intentions of buying healthy organic greens for your family but guess what? they are packaged in plastic which is leaching toxic chemicals into those organic greens. (kinda defeats the purpose, wouldn't you say?) BPA, a synthetic estrogen and plastics component, found in canned food, plastic water bottles, plastics and liquid infant formula containers is a chemical that has been associated with many health problems, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, insulin resistance, reproductive defects, diabetes and miscarriages to name just a few! This estrogen mimicking chemical can disrupt your hormones and alter your cells. Heating your food in plastic in the microwave, which so many people still do unbelievably, amplifies the leaching.

.... Now From an environmental perspective ....

Oh my goodness, where do we begin? Plastic is devastating our wildlife, wildlife habitat, polluting our waterways, oceans and lands.

Photos - Courtesy of Google

Milk isn't the only item of food in your kitchen/pantry that lives better in glass. All of your pantry items will thank you for putting them into glass containers and you will definitely notice that these items will retain their freshness for longer as well.

Because I do canning each year, I have accumulated quite a collection of jars to choose from: Mason, Le Parfait and various others that I have picked up at garage sales. It doesn't really matter as long as they are glass. The other thing great about storing in glass is that it makes it easy to take inventory of what you are getting low on when making your shopping list.

Here are a few examples of my favourite jars and what I store in them.

These smaller ones are great for storing everything from baking supplies; baking soda and powder, sugars, nuts, spices, chia seeds, raisins, dates, jams, leftovers in the fridge .....

to storing homemade soups in the freezer. (Just don't overfill leave some expansion room)

These tall jars are terrific for pastas, homemade cookies, biscotti and oatmeal, crackers, breadcrumbs, flours, rice, coffee, loose tea, tea bags. I just add a label to the top.

Ok, so now we have most of the stuff in the kitchen covered, let's move on....

Do you pack a lunch for yourself, your children? I would guess that you are wrapping that sandwich in either plastic cling wrap or putting it in a plastic zip lock bag. Thought so!! I would also like to guess that leftovers from last nights dinner are going in some plastic container with a plastic lid. Am I right? Don't feel bad, so many of us are doing just that, I mean what else is there?

Well, there actually are safe and healthy alternatives for packing your lunch. I love ECO LUNCH BOXES. This line is a plastic-free, waste-free lunchbox solution without any vinyl, plastic, lead or aluminum.

There is a large assortment of sandwich boxes, snack containers,

organic cotton lunch bags and bento boxes all machine washable

Now, let's move on to your beverages?

There is this amazing, amazing product called the S'well Bottle. They are made of non-leaching 18/8 stainless steel, are a reusable bottle will keep your cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12, are sold worldwide and they give back to people in need. S'well is a charitable company and was founded in 2010 with a passion to get rid of all plastic bottles.

Did you know that over 200 billion plastic bottles are discarded/dumped globally each year?

S'well has a bottle for everyone, with a multitude of gorgeous colours and finishes. I want them all .

Here are just a few.

and a few more ....

Please check out S'wells amazing website for more information and where to purchase.

I know this post was insanely long but it is really important information that I wanted to share with you. Not only does the use of plastic have a HUGE negative impact on your health, it has an ENORMOUS, impact on our environment.

We have only touched the tip of the plastic-berg in this post and it will take some time and effort to eliminate most of the plastic from your life.

Please stay tuned for Part ll of YOUR PLASTICS HAVE A BAD WRAP where we will explore other places where plastics exist that you may have not even thought about and how to rid them from your life.

Soulier Design Studio would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Don't be shy!!

I wish you a Happy and Plastic Free Week.

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco-Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

SEASON GREETINGS FROM SOULIER DESIGN STUDIO | HOLIDAY

2017-12-11T06:30:00.000-05:00

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

"SLOW LIFE" IN THE MALDIVES | KICKING BACK ON THE WEEKEND | MAY 27

2017-05-27T15:59:00.000-04:00

I have connected with so many exciting, interesting, creative and like-minded people these last few years since I have been actively engaged on LinkedIn. These new friends have truly enriched my life!!

One lovely friend that I have started to chat with regularly, introduced me to ECO TOURISM. Eco Tourism is defined as, "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." according to (TIES, 1990) The International Eco Tourism Society.

My friend wrote to me to tell me a little bit about herself and her role as a design intern at this resort in the Maldives of which she provided a link. I had no idea that what was in store for me on the other side of that link was this incredibly beautiful world known as Soneva.

Everyone's vision of paradise is individually unique but this is definitely mine. Everything about Soneva is mind-blowing. I mean everything. All I can say is Wow, Wow, Wow!!

On this kinda chilly, rainy May weekend, I would certainly prefer to be Kicking Back at Soneva for sure.

In 1995, on the deserted island of Kunfunadhoo in the Maldives, Eva and Sonu Shivdasani built their home and Soneva Fushi. Living an environmentally responsible lifestyle and building a small villa here, became the foundation of a very successful business model of resorts, spas and world-class hotels. As their website states, "Soneva was the first 'castaway' resort in the Maldives, pioneering a trend for back-to-nature luxury holidays."

I love their philosophy (Slow Life) and their passion for the Environment. SLOW LIFE" stands for (Sustainable-Local-Organic-Wellness Learning-Inspiring-Fun-Experiences). Soneva's resorts are responsibly constructed by the use of sustainable materials, recycled waste materials while consciously conserving water or preserving ecosystems; doing their part to reduce their Carbon Footprint. Soneva, hires the local people, buys local products and utilizes sustainable business practices to support the local community.

I could go on and on about this wonderful place but I really must show you some pictures so that you can see what I am raving about.

Without further ado ...

Photos - all courtesy of Soneva

I wasn't kidding was I??

Wouldn't you love to be KICKING BACK ON THE WEEKEND and living the "Slow Life" at Soneva Fushi too?

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco-Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

Please visit us at https://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY | SLO MO SUNDAYS SERIES | MAY 14

2017-05-14T06:30:00.000-04:00

Today is Mother's Day!!

A day to celebrate all mother's, motherhood and the glorious bonds between their children.....

A day of tribute to show our extreme gratitude for all that they have done for us......

So many of our values, thoughts, habits have been forever imprinted in our lives from the teachings learned as children from our Mothers.....

Mother's Day can be an extremely difficult time for those remembering their loved ones. On a personal note, my siblings and I, lost our mother 39 years ago. It seems like an absolute eternity. I was just a teenager but I still live my life by so many of the wonderful lessons that my mother instilled in me and so do my siblings. As I become older, I realize how they have truly impacted and enlightened my life. The most magnificent life lesson that comes to mind is to be respectful to others. It is my belief that if more people paid attention to just this one life lesson, the world would be a much better place.

I can hear my mom saying to me, just like it was yesterday, to always be kind and courteous and to consider other peoples feelings. To always be polite, not discriminate and to respect peoples differences. My mother's wise words of wisdom have resonated with me my entire life and I too have passed them down to my children.

Motherhood for me has been my life's greatest gift. My beautiful son and daughter, now adults, have grown up to be truly amazing, wonderful people. I could not be happier!!

If you are fortunate enough to be able to share this wonderful day with your mother and show appreciation for her support and guidance through life's many challenges, or if you are a Mother yourself, I wish you the most spectacular Mother's Day possible. Kick up your feet, celebrate being a Mother and enjoy your breakfast in bed on this SLO MO Sunday. (I had a lovely and delicious French Toast breakfast in bed compliments of hubby this morning)

If you are remembering your Mother today, it is my wish for you that her memory cradles you and brings you great comfort.

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco-Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

Please visit us at https://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

ECO-FRIENDLY EASTER IDEAS | SLO MO SUNDAY SERIES | HOLIDAY

2016-03-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

HAPPY EASTER

For those celebrating Easter Sunday today, Soulier Design Studio would like to wish you and yours a Happy, Healthy + Safe Easter Holiday.

Easter is another one of those extreme consumerism holidays when we need to keep the health of our Environment in mind when purchasing gifts for our children, friends and loved ones.

Here are a couple of ideas to help you out in that department and keep you and your family in the green.

IXNAY all the plastic disposable gifts, easter eggs and toys that will inevitably end up in landfills or our oceans and opt instead for books, garden seeds ~ for fruit, vegetables, flowers, jump ropes, homemade baked items ~ cookies, loaves, breads, gift certificates, bulbs for the garden or garden supplies, craft supplies ~ water colours, crayons.

Did you know that your kitchen has all the ingredients to make your very own dye-free lovely coloured easter eggs using spices, fruit and vegetables?

Try out the following;

Soak organic locally purchased eggs in the juice of raspberries, cranberries or beets for ~ red/pink eggs

Try using tumeric or saffron ~ yellow-coloured eggs

Red wine ~ purple eggs

Blueberries or red cabbage ~ blue eggs

Boil 2 cups of the above with equal parts water and bring to a boil.

Reduce and simmer for approx 10 min. Cool and strain fruit or veggies through a sieve. Add 1 Tsp of Vinegar and stir.

Dip/submerge eggs in the mixture turning to coat the eggs. Leave in until you have the colour you want.

Place your beautifully coloured easter eggs in a pretty basket on your table ~ skip the plastic green grass though!

Everyone looks forward to some Easter candy. Treat your family to organic chocolate bunnies and treats to avoid artificial colourings, flavourings and dangerous food dyes.

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Have some of your own eco-friendly Easter ideas to share that would make the Easter Bunny and Mother Earth proud?

We would love to hear from you.

Enjoy your Weekend

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

EARTH HOUR ~ JOIN US IN CELEBRATING!

2016-03-19T14:57:00.001-04:00

Please join Soulier Design Studio by celebrating Earth Hour this evening March 19, 2016.

Let's do our part to change climate change and make this the best Earth Hour Ever!!!.

It's easy.... just switch off all non-essential lights in your home for one hour between 8:30 - 9:30 pm.

Celebrate your earth and your commitment for change. Make it a candlelit dinner with friends, play a game of cards, Chess... the possibilities are endless.

We would love to hear how will you spend your Earth Hour??

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF GREEN COMMITMENT?? | GLOBAL WARMING

2016-02-07T20:30:00.000-05:00

GLOBAL WARMING.........

This is not a new term. We hear it almost everyday, on the news, weather stations, radio, newspapers. What does it mean?

These photographs tell the whole story really don't they?

A recent study in the U.S and Canada clearly indicates that the polar bear population in Canada's northwestern Arctic has declined by almost half in the last ten years.

Pic - Climate News Network

Photo - Courtesy of Shia Wisdom

Wikipedia tells us that, "Global warming is the current rise in the average temperature of Earth's oceans and atmosphere and its projected continuation. The scientific consensus is that global warming is occurring and was initiated by human activities, especially those that increase concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as deforestation and burning of fossil fuels"

Over the next few posts we will discuss various levels of green living to learn how we can reduce our environmental impact on a day-to-day basis. We will begin with the most simple ways to incorporate some "GREEN INTO YOUR LIFE" right up to full blown commitment. As we discuss each level, I invite you to share some of the ways that you have added that element of green into your life!!!

REDUCE, RE-USE, RE-CYCLE, RECLAIM

REDUCE - This is the first level, the most simple/important and the easiest way to begin your journey toward incorporating some green into your life. We live in a very wasteful society and to support a greener and sustainable tomorrow we must all do our part to reduce consumption, reduce waste and reduce pollution as well as conserve energy, water and other natural resources.

RE-USE - Re-use items that we have to keep them out of our already overstuffed landfills.

RE-CYCLE - Probably the most widely used term in the sustainability world. It simply means to treat or reprocess a material/product back into a RAW material to be used in the production of a new product.

RE-CLAIM - Very similar to reuse, items can be used for alternate purposes.

What are you doing to bring some Green into your life, help foster a better tomorrow and protect our environment for years to come?

We would love to hear from you!!!!

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

MOVEMBER CANADA AND THE POWER OF THE MOUSTACHE!! | IT'S A NEW DAY | Nov 4

2015-11-04T14:17:00.000-05:00

It is simply amazing the power that a moustache can have!

We are one week into Movember. For those of you that are not familiar with Movember; it is a global movement which encourages men to grow a moustache for the 30 days of November to raise awareness of men's health issues particularly prostate and testicular cancers as well as mental health challenges.

The Movember Foundation is focused on living with and beyond cancer, staying mentally healthy and living with and beyond mental illness. Mo (short for moustache) Bros begin the month without any facial hair and then grow and groom their Mo for the remainder of November while requesting donations from family and friends to donate to this very worthy cause.

Mo Sistas are the women that support the Mo and encourage the Mo Bros in their lives. They participate in fund raising activities and do basically everything that the Mo Bros do without growing a MO. Some women have decided to grow their underarm hair in support of the Mo for the month of November. I applaud their dedication to the movement.

Here are the official Rules from Movember.org

On Shadowe'en (October 31st), the complete moustache region, including the entire upper lip and the handlebar zones, must be completely shaved.
For the entire duration of Movember (Movember 1st - 35th inclusive), no hair shall be allowed to grow in the goatee zone - being any facial area below the bottom lip.
There is to be no joining of the moustache to sideburns.
Failure to conform to all of these rules may, at the discretion of the official Movember Committee, result in instant blacklisting and may void invitation to the end of Month festivities (this year lip-marked for Movember 35th!)
Movember Committee accepts no responsibility for lost jobs, rashes, food/beer encrustments or any other such mishaps caused to the wearer (or his partner) of a Movember Moustache. You grew it yourself.

Some Mo Inspiration...

photos | courtesy of Google

There is still time to sign up for Movember. Register here.

HAPPY MOVEMBER!!

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

EXCITING! HONOURED WITH AN INFLUENCER BADGE FROM HOUZZ

2015-09-15T14:01:00.000-04:00

Soulier Design Studio is very excited and honoured to announce that we are the newly awarded recipient of the exclusive Houzz Influencer Badge.

"The Influencer badge is given to pros whose advice and knowledgeable posts are most appreciated by the Houzz community."

Unless, you have been living on a desert island for the past several years then you definitely have heard about Houzz.

Here are a few facts you may or may not know!

Houzz is the leading online website to visit if you are looking for inspiration, pictures, Pro Advice, or to shop for anything related to your home.
Houzz has 30+ million unique visitors each month
Houzz has more than 7+ million inspirational photos to browse through
Houzz has over 3+ million Home Improvement Professionals to choose from should you require assistance with a home remodel or design project
Houzz has 3+ million products to shop for at the click of a button

Like Pinterest, if you choose to visit this website make sure you have at least a few hours to carve out of your day, be equipped with tea, coffee or your cocktail of choice and some nibbles because once you arrive..... that is it...... you simply can't stop clicking from one pic to the other and saving to your own Idea Books. It is truly an addiction!!!! If you can't find ideas on the Houzz website for your remodel or design project then you will never find them.

Soulier Design Studio would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to those design enthusiasts in the Houzz Community who voted us as a top contributor of this amazing design platform!!

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

HOW TO TRANSFORM A SCHOOL BUS INTO AN RV

2015-05-16T07:30:00.000-04:00

Bears became an issue at our vacant 5 1/2 acre property that we owned in Haliburton. We just loved to spend weekends up there and had been roughing it in a tent. I actually couldn't believe that I (I am a city girl to the core, high heels and all) actually stayed in a tent. Roughing it to me is a black and white TV while staying at a Holiday Inn. Anyway, we started looking at used RV's, trailers etc. to stay in during our weekend sleepovers and they were all filthy, rotting, moldy and just plain disgusting to be blunt.

My husband Joe suggested that we convert a school bus into an RV. I initially thought that he was out of his mind but after some research discovered that this is quite a common project. We started looking on Kijiji and Craigslist and alas found our RV in the rough and boy oh boy was it rough.

Here is an Exterior before picture

And Interior

Hey I wasn't kidding was I??????

We worked each evening for about a month and a half and finally finished our new safe from bears condo on wheels to place on our little piece of paradise. Oddly enough our street name was Shangri-La and was it ever an oasis !!!!!! So pristine as is the rest of Haliburton and the Kawarthas. For those of you not from my area this is a very popular cottage area. We used all recycled materials that we found on Craigslist or garage sales with the exception of the kitchen tiles which we purchased quite inexpensively.

Due to the Ministry of Transportations guidelines, we had to change the exterior colour from yellow as this was exclusive to School Buses. We decided on green to blend in nicely with the greenery of the trees on our property and after all this was a GREEN project.

Here is the interior very close to completion. For privacy we installed mini blinds for the windows. This queen sized pull out couch is for overnight guests with our bedroom located at the rear of the bus. The room directly behind the wall of the banquette is the bathroom with an envirolet toilet, sink and recycled dresser used as the vanity. The kitchen is just opposite to the banquette.

We would bring our laptop to watch DVD's or listen to music for those rainy days and for evenings. A propane bbq was used to prepare meals.

Many glasses of wine were enjoyed just sitting outside by the roaring fire enjoying life!!!!

WOULDN'T YOU AGREE, this is RE-TREASURING AT ITS ABSOLUTE FINEST? !!!!

This is a condensed version of our adventure, but if you are interested in the longer version please visit http://www.freewebs.com/lovebugproject a website I created to document our Bus Conversion.

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability and Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

EARTH DAY IS HERE - YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! | ENVIRONMENT

2015-04-21T11:07:00.003-04:00

Are you ready for #Earth Day 2015???

How do you plan to celebrate Earth Day? On April 22nd, Earth Day Canada is asking people to ‘clean your commute’ – to work, to school, to shop, to play or to your Earth Day event! Cleaning your commute represents the first green act of Earth Day Canada’s new “Earth Day Every Day” campaign. An on-line mobile friendly platform will go live on Earth Day and allow you to choose from 25 clean commute options, create a profile, gain recognition, and win prizes. The “Earth Day Every Day” runs for a month from Earth Day, April 22, to May 22, 2015.

Earth Day 2015 marks Earth Day Canada’s 25th anniversary. 2015 is also the year that 196 countries will meet in Paris to develop a new agreement on climate change. Earth Day Canada’s “Earth Day Every Day” campaign will provide a national framework to measure collective action toward the goal of reducing our carbon footprint 20% by 2020, in line with the goals of the Paris climate conference. Transportation currently accounts for a whopping 24% of our carbon emissions and cleaning your commute is a great way to begin making “Earth Day Every Day” - doing your part for the Earth and mitigating climate change.

The choices we make over the next five years will be pivotal in determining whether we will be facing moderate versus extreme severe weather events and other climate change impacts. So on Earth Day sign up for “Earth Day Every Day”! The microsite provides all the background information people will need to participate, to share and to organize for Earth Day 2015. As a special feature, people will have the opportunity to add their signature to an Earth Flag that Earth Day Canada will take to Paris at the end of 2015!

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...??? | INSIDE THE AD GREENROOM | SLO MO SUNDAY SERIES

2015-02-22T12:21:00.002-05:00

HAPPY OSCAR SUNDAY!!!

Tonight marks the 87th Academy Awards Celebration!!

Once again Hollywood's finest will dazzle on the red carpet.

Best Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor, Actress, Supporting Actress, Musical Score, Costume Design...

~ Have you made your predictions yet? ~

For the past several years the Architectural Digest Greenroom has been a highlight of this glamorous awards show. Each year I eagerly await to sneak a peek at the decor theme for this backstage chill-out lounge room for the presenters and nominees. An ultra-exclusive place where the evenings film stars can catch their breath and relax before and after they appear on stage.

The design concept goal for the Greenroom this year was to create a West Coast vibe ~ an airy, glamorous, comfortable Hollywood Hills home with a retro-Hollywood feel. They definitely achieved their goal I think.

As you probably know, I am Bonkers for Banquettes and absolutely love this enormous creme banquette big enough to comfortably sit 16 people. Overall, the room is pretty monochromatic, creme furniture, walls and limestone floors, with pops of colour introduced in the cushions and foliage and finished off with hits of black throughout to ground the space.

Designed by the firm Commune in collaboration with the multi-talented, and amazing Julianne Moore whom, by the way, has been nominated this year for Best Actress. Good Luck to you Julianne!!

Don't you love the Caesarstone quartz bar? How about that 70's tapestry hanging on the wall behind?

On the far wall of the livingroom is a wall of 16 Samsung LED displays serving as a huge picture window with spectacular views of Los Angeles.

Complete with living plants, this groovy garden-like area was designed to look like an outdoor patio.

Picture - Matthew Petrelis

Looking for some fun on this Slo Mo Sunday? Why not roll out the red carpet tonight and kick off your own intimate Oscar Party with your significant other.

Dress Code...... Pajamas!!

Ditch the big Sunday dinner and cook up some yummy, hors d'oeuvres, dust off the shaker and mix up a batch of Martinis (recipe to follow) or your cocktail/mocktail of choice.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Extra-Dirty Martini:

Ingredients

2 1/2 shots of your favorite vodka
1/2 shot of dry vermouth
5 teaspoons of olive brine

Equipment

Cocktail Shaker
Chilled Martini Glass

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker, mix ingredients together over a generous amount of ice.
Shake. And then shake some more…
Pour mixture into a chilled martini glass, garnish with a few olives and sip away!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Recipe - EatBoutique

Are you all settled and comfy on your couch? Great!

Neil Patrick Harris is this evenings Host. Showtime is 8:30PM ET and 5:30PM PT on ABC with red carpet festivities set to begin at 7:00 PM.

Cheers!!!

All Pics- Architectural Digest

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

THE HOLIDAY MOVIE HOUSE PICS | SLO MO SUNDAY SERIES | JAN 4

2015-01-04T15:26:00.002-05:00

Happy Slo Mo Sunday!

It is pouring rain here in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. All my errands that were on my list for today are now complete and I am thinking that it is the perfect day to relax on the couch, wrapped in a cozy throw, with a warm cup of tea to watch a few movies.

Photo - Quentin-De-Briey

I love romantic comedies. The Holiday ( A Nancy Meyers Film) is one of our favourites and is the first movie up for viewing today.

Not to spoil the movie but to give you a brief overview ~ This story is about two women, one living in the English countryside (Kate Winslet) and the other living in LA (Cameron Diaz) who swap houses for a few weeks. Both find love in each others cities. Kate falls in love with Jack Black in LA while Cameron falls in love with Jude Law in England.

What I like most about the movie is not so much the story line although quite cute in my opinion, it is the two houses that these women live in. Both quite opposite to each other not only in geographic location but also in style and size.

Here are a few Pics all Courtesy of Google

Cameron's LA House (Amanda in the movie) - This Tuscan Styled villa is located in San Marino and was designed by Architect Wallace Neff in 1928. He and his family lived in the house in the 1930's. This 10, 324 sq ft house has 9 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. Apparently, only the exterior was used in this film and the interiors were built on a sound stage.

This amazing backyard/pool is featured quite a few times in the film.

Gorgeous!!!

Love this fabulous contemporary staircase with the casual neutral runner.

Here is a shot of the living room looking in from the hallway.

This shot is from the livingroom looking out to the hallway. As you can see the walls throughout are a creamy white, with grey slate flooring throughout. The pallet is mostly neutrals and the furniture style is transitional with both contemporary and traditional pieces however, the entire house is leaning toward a more contemporary edge.

Media Room - Great place to watch movies!

This corridor is looking toward the entryway and is located off the kitchen-eating area.

I am loving the slipcovers and the green accents from the plants. Most people find this look too bland but it is my personal favourite. I find it fresh, clean and uncomplicated.

Another shot of that corridor from the eating area of the kitchen

A shot of the Kitchen from the eating area. Love those lanterns.

True tranquility in this bedroom. With a flick of a switch, the automated blinds close and turn this room into a peaceful, sleep sanctuary.

This lovely spa bathroom was never used in the movie.

Now let's get on a plane and fly over to England to the very quaint Rosehill Cottage that Kate (Iris in the movie) lives in.

Believe it or not this house was built especially for this movie so it is really not an old cottage!

A shot of the entryway and cozy livingroom

This shot from the entryway into the livingroom showing one of the fireplaces

Shot of the kitchen-eating area which has another fireplace

Library

Bathroom with soaking tub.

If you had to choose between the two homes which would it be??

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2015!!!! | HOLIDAY | DEC 31

2014-12-30T07:00:00.005-05:00

SOULIER DESIGN STUDIO

would like to extend our very best wishes to you and yours in the coming New Year.

A Year of Health and Happiness and all things that are Beautiful!!

Gifs - Courtesy of Tumblr

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

A SNOWMAN CHRISTMAS TREE | DIY| HOLIDAY

2014-12-18T21:42:00.004-05:00

While sitting in my Orthodontists waiting room this week, I was absolutely delighted while taking in all the Christmas décor.

I love, love, love their Christmas tree which has been decorated to look like a snowman ~ FROSTY!!

I snapped a few pics to share with you.

How very creative, don't you agree?

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

HISTORIC FARM IN SPAIN CONVERTED INTO RETREAT | CONVERTED SPACES | NOV 30

2014-11-30T20:30:00.001-05:00

I am absolutely loving this historic farm in La Cerdanya Spain, located between France and Spain, which has been converted into a modern retreat. In the small village of La Cerdanya, farming and agriculture are the main activities.

A barn, a warehouse and a small house were converted into a beautiful home with guest pavilions by architects Dom Arquitectura. This architectural firm maintained the volumes of the buildings but renovated the exteriors and roofs and reconfigured the interiors. Many of the rooms have stone walls, wood coating and iron elements which have been preserved from the original building.

I hope you enjoy these lovely pictures which showcase this incredible property.

Photos courtesy of Freshome.

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle.

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO OUR FRIENDS SOUTH OF THE BORDER | HOLIDAY | NOV 27

2014-11-26T20:27:00.002-05:00

Soulier Design Studio would like to wish all our friends south of the border a

Happy Thanksgiving today!

May you be surrounded with an abundance of family, friends and love.

Soulier Design Studio specializes in Sustainability, Eco Friendly Design, Products and Lifestyle

http://www.soulierdesignstudio.com

DE - SIGN OF THE TIMES

HOW TO BUILD A GEODESIC DOME ~ ORGANIC SUSTAINABLE LIVING

HAPPY "GREEN" VALENTINE'S DAY | HOLIDAY

LINDAL CEDAR HOMES FEATURED IN THE DWELL COLLECTION

VALENTINE'S DAY IS FOR EVERYONE!

TRANSFORMING A SCHOOL BUS INTO AN RV | PART ll

INCREDIBLE LIVE EDGE TABLES - MY NEW LOVE | SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN

EARTH HOUR 2018 | MARCH 24, 2018

PRESS FOR PROGRESS | INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY | MARCH 8

YOUR PLASTICS HAVE A BAD WRAP! PART I | SUSTAINABLE LIVING |

Please visit us at https://www.soulierdesignstudio.com﻿

SEASON GREETINGS FROM SOULIER DESIGN STUDIO | HOLIDAY

"SLOW LIFE" IN THE MALDIVES | KICKING BACK ON THE WEEKEND | MAY 27

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY | SLO MO SUNDAYS SERIES | MAY 14

ECO-FRIENDLY EASTER IDEAS | SLO MO SUNDAY SERIES | HOLIDAY

EARTH HOUR ~ JOIN US IN CELEBRATING!

WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF GREEN COMMITMENT?? | GLOBAL WARMING

MOVEMBER CANADA AND THE POWER OF THE MOUSTACHE!! | IT'S A NEW DAY | Nov 4

EXCITING! HONOURED WITH AN INFLUENCER BADGE FROM HOUZZ

HOW TO TRANSFORM A SCHOOL BUS INTO AN RV

EARTH DAY IS HERE - YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! | ENVIRONMENT

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...??? | INSIDE THE AD GREENROOM | SLO MO SUNDAY SERIES

THE HOLIDAY MOVIE HOUSE PICS | SLO MO SUNDAY SERIES | JAN 4

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2015!!!! | HOLIDAY | DEC 31

A SNOWMAN CHRISTMAS TREE | DIY| HOLIDAY

HISTORIC FARM IN SPAIN CONVERTED INTO RETREAT | CONVERTED SPACES | NOV 30

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO OUR FRIENDS SOUTH OF THE BORDER | HOLIDAY | NOV 27

Please visit us at

https://www.soulierdesignstudio.com