GREEN UPGRADES-When maintenance & repairs are necessary, upgrade to green. Non toxic paint, natural materials (wood, stone, metal, cork, concrete, wool, glass). Avoid plastic & synthetics. Upgrade the roof to a water catchment friendly material. Upgrade to radiant heat. Install a water filter for drinking water. Install solar hot water heating panels. Use solar garden lights. Install a rain water harvesting or grey water systems to water the yard & reduce water use.
ADVERTISE YOUR SHADES OF GREEN. Write a list of green features you do have
EXTERIOR– Give the front yard to the occupants, not the street. Screen or fence with a landscaped barrier. Save 1 landscape strip on the street side that is exceptionally beautiful, giving a suggestion of the quality & beauty that is behind a gate & symmetrically positioned big urns, or plants, or lamp posts.
Curb appeal fix up. Make the street drive by welcoming & elegant. Screen trash, recycling, gardening service Separate pedestrian entry from vehicle entry. Paint everything at exterior in your “estate color scheme”, no forgotten parts. Put patio doors in all rooms adjacent to all south, east, west, & view exterior areas. Create welcoming comfy seating areas in all usable outdoor areas. Use fences & hedges & plant screens to make all usable outdoor areas private for usable outdoor area. Open up all views.
SUN-Let the sun in. Scoop as much sunlight into the interior as possible, primarily from south
Amplify the sun with mirrors & light colors to let the sun you do receive bounce & reflect as much as possible. Prune frees that block the sun that is wanted.
INTERIOR-No clutter. Get rid of as much as possible, take to recycling, charity, or dump
Organize a place for everything in armoires, hutches, roll top counters, in bi-fold closet areas, etc
1 closet for all utility devices (heating, water heating, electric panels, irrigation controls, radiant heat controls, cleaning agents, mops brooms, yard tools. Convenient for repair people & cleaning staff to do their thing without disturbing guests.
1 secure locking closet for owner’s precious private possessions, convenient to use when owner does visit the property.
Increase capacity. Create extra sleeping areas with couch beds, bed alcoves screened by privacy curtains, Murphy beds, attic & loft low head room futon sleeping for kids & the yogis.
Timeless color schemes for permanent materials. Save fad, vogue, trendy, fun colors for household items, art. , interior decorations.
REDUCE MAINTENANCE & OVERHEAD COSTS– The clean look. White slip-covers & linens. Housekeeping can launder everything in the same laundry load. Have all sets of sheets & towels match so you can mix & match.
Use all drought resistant native landscaping, succulents, & cactus. Have a container garden on irrigation. Make all landscape pots ceramic or metal or wood or concrete. Avoid plastic & synthetic.
Create a bench & obvious place for shoes by the door.
HOUSEHOLD– Use ecological laundry soap, house hold cleaners, dish soap, hand soap, lotion, shampoo, etc.
Everything on casters to clean underneath furnishings.