KAZA, local design shop and entreprenuer extraordinare, was recently chosen NH Hampshire Magazine’s “Editor’s Pick for Shabby Chic Revival!”  But wait – there’s more!  Home Accents Today (a national publication) also named KAZA as one of the 50 Retailers for 2010!  (I am so proud, I am busting!)

Located at 202 South Main Street in Concord, KAZA is an absolute gem.  Stop by or visit www.kazadesigns.com to see for yourself what all the buzz is about.  You’ll be a raving fan too!

KAZA:  Recycle.  Trade Fair.  Live Funky.

While innocently perusing pages of Facebook, I was quickly distracted by an advertisement for DecorDreamHome.com.  Since I’m such a sucker for beautiful things, I couldn’t help but investigate further.  The pillows!  The accessories!  Very exciting…

After what has been nearly a lifetime (I’ve been known to exaggerate), I am finally graduating!  The past 4-years studying Interior Design at NH Institute of Art has been nothing less than sensational.  My path to higher education took a slight detour before I realized the artistic direction I wanted to take in life.  NHIA provided a challenging opportunity to study Interior Design in New Hampshire while continuing to work full-time.  I encourage anyone and everyone to consider NHIA for pursuing their own creative interests.

For the “senior” project, we were given a general footprint of a house and required to either use Universal (handicap accessible) or Green design principles.  Being the green enthusiast that I am, you can guess which option I went for. 

My concept for the project was “A Walk In Nature”.  Elements of nature and New England landscape served as inspiration for each room of the house.  In other words, the living room used colors, textures, and patterns found in the forest.  The kitchen, a field of tall grasses.  The bathroom, a flowing stream.  The bedroom, sunset in the mountains…

Visit www.nhia.edu for more information.  (ID is available through the Continuing Education Dept).

Located on South Main Street in Concord (next door to Vinnie’s Pizza), KAZA is a sensational addition to the Downtown community.  They offer a variety of home decor products including organic, mid-century modern (my favorite!!!), international merchandise, and much more. 

For those of you who are wondering, the name KAZA means “fortunate accident” in Turkish.  And how fitting — it so happens that a catalyst for Lisa Swan to open the store was the availability of cowhide rugs from family friends in Turkey.  These extraordinary rugs and other Turkish furnishings are exclusive to KAZA.

What I love most about KAZA is the style that they bring to Concord.  For someone who leans in the funky/eclectic/modern direction, KAZA is a breath of fresh air for New Hampshire.  Also, the variety of international products are genuine works of art from countries such as Mexico, Peru, Morocco, Bulgaria, Italy, and Turkey.  In addition, KAZA features the talent of local artisans regularly.

I highly recommend that you take a trip to visit the shop.  You can also go to www.kazashop.blogspot.com.

Believe it or not, there are tons of ways to be Green for the holidays.  You may even be taking Green initiatives without recognizing it.

Decor – Use natural elements such as flowers, fruit, pine boughs, laurel, etc.  Not only will you appreciate their fragrances (vs. the toxic fumes off gassing from their plastic counterparts), but these organic materials will break down completely without harming the environment.  When shopping for a tree, look for one with roots so that it can be planted in the spring.

Lights – If you plan on purchasing new strings this season, opt for LED’s.  Light Emitting Diodes require minimum watts for operation and can last 100,000 hours.  In other words, while these may cost a bit more than the typical string, you will save in utility costs to run them and won’t have to replace them so soon.

Gifts – This is a great time to encourage the Green movement among friends and family.  Check out stores that offer green, organic products.  If you are in the Concord area, Main Street alone has lots of opportunities to buy green.  Here are some to name a few:

• Real Green Goods;
• Your Home, Your World;
• Earth Made;
• KAZA; and
• Concord COOP.

Gift Wrapping – Depending on how crafty you are, give fabric a try.  A dab of hot glue would be your best bet as an adhesive.  If wrapping with paper is preferred, look for recycled or FSC certified products.  The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international agency that promotes sustainably harvested wood, gathered from well-managed forests. 

Gift Receiving – Your Great Aunt Bessie has the right idea by opening her gift with incredible care.  Try salvaging wrapping paper this year; done right, you could save money and a tree for next season.  Gift bags, ribbon, and bows can also be reused.  At the very least, PLEASE RECYCLE all that you can.

To be honest, the excitement of Christmas hasn’t been the same since I outgrew my one-piece “feetie” pajamas.  If you are like me, one way to nourish holiday cheer is to decorate your home.

Families and traditions come in all shapes and sizes.  Your style of choice may be the classic red, white, and green combo, or blue and white for Hanukah.   If so, I am here to encourage you to step out of the box!  The possibilities for decking the halls are endless, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. 

As an alternative to the classic red, play things up with pink or orange.  Purple, green, blue, turquoise, brown, silver, gold, etc. all have potential to create dazzling displays individually or in combinations.  The inspiration behind a theme can come from anywhere:  a hobby, rural/farming, urban/modern, retro, Adirondack, tropical, winter solstice…  Your favorite holiday book or movie are other sources for decorating ideas.  Silver bells can represent “The Polar Express” or a thin, somewhat pathetic secondary tree lends a nod to “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown”.

Have fun –  it’s time to celebrate!

(Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens)

First and foremost, I wanted my business name to reflect nature.  After all, it is my strong appreciation for the environment and sense of responsibility that prompted my focus on Green Design practices.  Also, considering a few of my favorite things in this world are flowers, color, and art, this name worked well.

Lavender:  an herb known to possess relaxation properties (where better to relax than in your own home!); a pale purple color (not only a favorite of mine, but considered the color of creativity).

Lotus:  family of water lilies; an element of nature that has been represented in art and architecture in several cultures since ancient Egyptians; a cross-legged sitting position used in yoga.

Baha’i House of Worship, India is referred to as the “Lotus Temple”