Yesterday I attended part three, Living Green :Sustaining Business with Sustainable Design Practices, of the California Mart’s Designer’s Forum 2009 Series.  The lecture included panelist: David Hertz, Mariel Hemingway, Nathan Turner and was moderated by California Homes’ Susan McFadden.  The audience was packed with many of the old guard at ASID, eager to learn more about green design.  David Hertz, who I’ve lectured with at my Alma Matter, the UCLA Interior Design Program, gave a riveting power point presentation and ending with a preview of the Wing House he has been working on for the last three years.  I’m pretty certain this house will be remembered in history with the same relevance as the Glass House or Falling Water, only sustainable. Then it was Mariel Hemingway’s way turn. Now I understand the draw of star power, and to be fair she has written some books on healthy living, but what that had to do with the business of sustainable design practices eluded me.  These old guard designers left the CEU presentation thinking that, “slow down and eat right” was relevant information to their bottom line.  Also speaking was Nathan Turner, an elegant retailer and designer with impeccable taste who runs a gorgeous little antique shop in West Hollywood.  He did work on Entourage’s Adrien Grenier’s ultra green home.  What bothered me about this presentation was that two of the most successful green designers in the business were sitting in the audience, Rachel Winokur of Etta Designs and me.  California Homes must not have been paying attention to the design firm they named Best Green Designer, my firm, when they made decisions for the panel.  Green design is a serious matter as the planet and people become sicker, resources shrink and energy costs rise. Educating designers and clients with applicable information would be a good start to help form real solutions.  Wake up editors!

A gracious thank you to Palecek, one of my favorite green retailers,  for the following reception.