Book Report: Bridget Biscotti Bradley's Green Home

By Emily Hsieh
March 25, 2010

After a five-year run as Executive Editor at Sunset Books, where she oversaw the publication of books on remodeling, landscaping, and interior design, Bridget Biscotti Bradley decided to cross the divide and become an author herself. It has been a hyper-productive few years since: Bradley has not only written seven books—the most recent being the just-released The Green Home—but she has also opened a thriving eco-friendly housewares boutique called Reclaim in Menlo Park, California.

Whereas Bradley's previous books focused on different areas of the house—from backyards to bathrooms, all with a D.I.Y. vibe—the most recent book reflects Bradley's personal passion for creating living spaces that promote sustainability and health, while reducing wear-and-tear on the environment.

“The book really discusses ways to make greener choices throughout your home,” says Bradley. As such, she’s a huge proponent of all things vintage: “Before you buy something new, it’s great to look for a suitable option that’s already been manufactured. Thinking about where things come from, what they’re made of, and whether there are existing items out there to fill your needs is key.” Health is a consideration too, as Bradley points out: “Many newly produced things have chemical off-gases that pollute the air inside your home.” And from a design standpoint, the Northern California native argues it’s a win-win situation: “Old things tend to be made better, and are often way more stylish, kitschy, and fun.”

Reclaim interiors

Renovating and decorating a home provides a particularly good opportunity to recycle. “A lot of people buy things for their remodels that they end up not being able to use. Or people move into a new home and rip out the cabinets even though there’s nothing wrong with them. There are so many options out there in pristine condition,” says Biscotti, who also adds that if you live in an older home, it’s especially great to take advantage of salvage pieces. eBay is a great resource for these: “Now, everything comes in standard sizes, and in older homes with smaller bathrooms, you need a smaller sink. When you’re looking for off-sizes, eBay is an excellent place to look," Bradley says. She also notes that creativity is key when shopping vintage: “Don’t be constricted by what something was originally made for. Look at the size and shape and try to come up with ways to use things for other purposes.”

We challenged Bradley to put her imagination to the test by sussing out the most high-style, good-for-the-earth items she could find on eBay.

1. Antique Solid Wood Door (starting bid, $2)
“If you're remodeling a house and need new interior or exterior doors, look for vintage doors like this one. New doors from home centers are usually made of plywood or particleboard, are hollow core instead of solid, have a fake wood grain, and are painted with high-VOC finishes. Old doors are made of solid wood and often have beautiful carved inlays and panels. This kind of door will give a vanilla house architectural character, not to mention reduce sound transfer between rooms much better than a hollow core door will. Some may need a little sprucing up. Use a non-toxic paint stripper or sand off the original wood finish. Then apply a coat of natural, hardwax oil that lets the beauty of the wood shine through.”

2. Large Depression Glass Knobs (buy it now price, $4.50), 3. Vintage Restoration Copper Window Hardware (buy it now price, $19.99 for set of two)
“We used lots of depression-era glass knobs and vintage window hardware to hang floor samples and bags on the walls at Reclaim. They’re much more interesting than new metal hooks and they reinforce the concept of reusing.”

4. Vintage Green Crystal Goblets (winning bid, $2.25 for set of six)
“Cynthia Del Fava—a photo stylist and friend who brings amazing vintage finds to Reclaim—came up with a great way to reuse vintage crystal goblets (you shouldn’t drink from them because they may contain lead). She poured her own beeswax candles into the goblets and arranged them in a mismatched set of three. We did clear glass, but these green ones would make incredible candles for the holidays.”

5. Vintage Glasco Apothecary Jars (winning bid, $34), 6. Vintage Glass Test Tubes in Wood Rack (winning bid, $9.99)
"What great bathroom storage containers these would make! You can’t buy something new with this much character."

7. 1951 Ford F1 Pickup (current bid, $7,100)
"Someday, I want to get an old Ford pickup truck like this, convert it to run on biodiesel, and use it to deliver organic mattresses from Reclaim."

8. Yellow Deco Sink with Nickel Legs (buy it now price, $650)
"If you’re remodeling an older home, turn to eBay for vintage fixtures. I’d put a deco yellow sink like this in a bathroom with white porcelain penny rounds on the floor."

9. 1982 Miss Piggy Great Lovers of the Silver Screen Calendar (buy it now price, $9), 10. 1954 This England Wall Calendar (buy it now price, $24.95)
"Vintage calendars make great gifts! Every 28 years, the dates and days of the week match up, so for 2010 you could actually use a calendar from 1982 or 1954. I’m debating between Miss Piggy and a dignified old England…"

Tags: