Open the door to sustainable living by touring some of Australia’s most environmentally progressive homes on show at Sustainable House Day. This Sunday, 14th September, you have the opportunity to tour an amazing array of everyday Australian homes all built and created around the ideal of reducing their footprint on the earth.

By partaking in Sustainable House Day you can tap into local knowledge to learn how to successfully integrate renewable energy, recycling, and other sustainable practices into your home and lifestyle. This unique event is a valuable resource for anyone looking for inspiration, ideas and the key to sustainable living.

Homeowners, sponsors and local sustainable groups look forward to sharing their knowledge with you, plus I'll be volunteering at the Harrisdale home in WA for the day. There are homes and gardens open to the public throughout Australia. You can find more information about each house and its features on the webpage. This is a national event, but since I'm volunteering here in Perth, I've just highlighted a few WA ones below.

{Carla and Ben’s House, 128A Roseberry St, Bedford WA}

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Tags: Architecture,Australian Design,Australiana,Competitions,Energy Efficient,Flora,FSC,Garden,Green,Innovation,Interiors,Local,Perth,Recyclable,Refurbish,Sustainability,Technology,Upcycling,Water-Efficiency

Here's a follow-up from your requests for more, after posting Vertical Green #2. These fill the gap for some even smaller and affordable greenery options when you have limited space, budget or garden know-how.

{Ceramic Diamond Planters on table and Petite hanging Vase on the wall, both by LoveHate and available at Cranmore Home}

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Tags: Sustainability,Products,Green wall,Interiors,Australian Design,Garden,DIY,Kitchen,Flora,Products-n-pics,Australiana,Decorating,Designer,Green,Homewares,Landscape,Lighting,Ceramics,Terrariums

So the design and decoration world was going a bit nuts over green walls in 2013. I personally hope the trend continues. I don't think you can overdo it and kudos to anyone who has built, designed, installed, planned, housed or dreamed green walls in any form. No matter what you call them - vertical garden, green wall, wall planter, wall garden, living wall - and no matter what form they take - green wall, green roof, floor planter, tabletop or even suspended in midair - they inject much needed life, colour, oxygen and fragrance into our surroundings.

I have been through some of the benefits of green walls with some examples previously, here, but since there have been so many fantastic examples of late, I felt the need to give you all a second helping of green delights.

{The Florafelt F12 Greenwall growing panel by Fytogreen Australia as used in Kim & Matt's outdoor space on The Block Sky High 2013. The panels are made from 100% recycled PET plastic felt and are available from The Block Shop}

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Tags: Sustainability,Products,Green wall,Interiors,Australian Design,Garden,DIY,Kitchen,Architecture,Flora,Products-n-pics,Australiana,Decorating,Designer,Green,Homewares,Landscape,Lighting

This one could be a big one! My all time favourite colour, AQUA BABY!!! And not to forget her chic older sister, Teal. Or her rich cousin, Turquoise! It is no surprise that these colours have made it three times out of the last ten Pantone Colours of the Year: 2010’s Turquoise, 2005’s Blue Turquoise and 2003’s Aqua Sky). They also work great with this year’s colour, Emerald. These blue-green hues are reminiscent of warm, tropical beaches and cool, refreshing surf. Of bright, flashing jewels and rich, cascading gemstones. My engagement ring is Aquamarine, so I guess I’m a little biased

As usual some of these are around my house already and others I am just abso coveting and dropping hints to hubby and family (this is also a good way to see if they read the blog!)

{Baby Rhino, aqua resin by Fenton & Fenton - it’s taking me back to a bit of bebop and rocksteady TMNT days}

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Tags: Blue,Products,Homewares,Art,Green,Furniture,Wallpaper,Bathroom,Interiors,Lighting,Bedroom,Beauty,Fabrics,Washi tape,Kitchenware,Pantone

Along with pretty much all of the design and blogging world at the moment, I am in love with all the greeny goodness popping up all over the place since Pantone announced Emerald as its colour of the year for 2013. Just for a bit of visual candy, here are a few of my favourite interiors, products and miscellaneous images featuring variations of this striking gemstone hue.

{Pantone’s limited Edition Mug and iPhone5 cover in Emerald}


{Dulux’s Empower Palette - Image styled by Bree Leech featuring Dulux Liberty, Bahaman Bliss and Misty Blue}


{Florence Broadhurst Peacock Feathers & Shadow Floral wallpapers from Signature Prints}


{Night Bird by Catherine Martin, Bansyu by Akira Isogawa, both at Designer Rugs}


{Emerald vintage Florence Knoll & Charles Eames furniture. Interiors by Doug & Gene Meyer.}


{Jonathan Adler Needlepoint pillows}


{Husque Bowl Macadamia Nut in Green}


{South Beach by Greg Natale, Jewel by Dinosaur Designs, both at Designer Rugs}


{Bianca Malachite Box by Ralph Lauren Home}


{Martinique Beverley Hills wallpaper; Catherine Martin for Mokum Imperial Pheasant in Emerald}


{Emerald accents. Interiors by Charm Home Design}


{Interiors by Diamond Baratta. Image via House of Turquoise}

{Interiors by Greg Natale, featuring his South Beach rug}


{Pont Max Juvenal, Aix en Provence, 2008. Patrick Blanc}

Of course I couldn’t resist throwing a green-walled building in there. You can see a few more on my previous post, Vertical Green. I am hoping to do another post on green walls this year, since the last one didn’t even scratch the surface of the beauty that is out there.

These bright emerald visuals make me giddy. Yes, I’ll admit some of them are straying more into teal and turquoise territory, but that is the beauty of perception - maybe your eyes will see a whole different picture. I hope you enjoyed this quick (and a little lazy) post. Until next time.

xo Romona

Tags: Colour,Interiors,Products,Designer,Pantone,Styling,Products-n-pics,Fabrics,Green wall,Architecture,Art,Garden,Jewellery,Textile,Furniture,Green