As a humble interior designer, I read (with interest) all the comments – waiting for some mention of the interior designer’s role in participating in real green efforts. Is the interior designer forever fated to be the handmaiden of the architect?

IMHO, our role is to help design near environments that support the way humans live… in function and form. Nic, what do you see as the residential interior designer role in making green buildings livable, from the inside aesthetic?

In the end if we succeed in changing the way houses are built in the USA you will be able to get your green sustainable energy efficient house in any shade of style you wish. Until then the house needs to make a statement that it is different, and in the course of doing that there is nothing wrong with serving the thousands of people who prefer modern and can’t find one in every town, city, street in america. If that preference is a fad, so bet it, I’ve been living a fad for my whole life.

I don’t think the “turd” idea is that far off in the context of my argument. Though the word was used in the title of the piece to grab attention as much as anything else (effective, no?), I think I will stand by it.

Let’s keep in mind, I am not talking about renovations here. The effort to repair and “green” an existing home is admirable. If done right, it is fixing what would otherwise be a turd. If done poorly . . . well then you might actually be doing some polishing.

The “turds” of which I speak are new home designs that are inherently flawed. The builders, rather than tossing these flawed designs out and creating something less turd-esque, attempt to polish it up by tacking on green features. Homes become defined as turds when they are consciously crapped out onto our landscape despite the evidence of the wastefulness inherent in their conception.

So, while I appreciate a good editor as much as the next guy, I’ll go down with the ship on this one. In terms of sustainability, the homes I am talking about are turds.

As to the end of your comment, I think there is definitely room for high-end green homes. In fact, I would love to be able to afford one some day, but I think they probably look a lot different than the high-end 5 bedroom exurbs model that you are talking about. I imagine them more modest in size but higher in over-all quality. Materials and technology making up the bulk of their extra cost rather than seldom-used space and amenities.

As to your own renovation, go to it, and I wish you the best. I would love to hear more about what you are doing. There are plenty of homes out there that need similar fixing.

I’ll let Nic address the other questions in the comments here.

Thanks for your comment. We address this question in our FAQs as we get it relatively often. Lavardera makes our point for us, but basically we have decided that our company, Postgreen, will focus on modern architectural development in Philadelphia.

We understand and agree that there are other styles of homes that people will like more, it just isn’t the niche we have decided to go after. In these times, we feel carving a niche is necessary to succeed.

Having said this, we will be exploring modern interpretations of more classic architectural styles such as the Cottage style you mentioned. This may be down the road a bit, but it’s on the ever growing list…

As a marketing and business decision building a house differently is reinforced by building a house that looks different. Witness the success of the Prius, dedicated hybrid platform, over the hybrid Civic, conventional car with hybrid powertrain. Prius owns the mindspace of hybrid car.