Lasting Impression
Sage Advice
By Kimberly Nicoletti
Photo by Mark Fox
Mountain House & Home

Wild Sage Interiors

The National Association of Home Builders expects about half of the homes built in 2010 to be “green.” With this in mind, Cassidy Brush and Katherine Collins, co-owners of Wild Sage Interiors in Keystone, became Summit County’s fi rst LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited professionals in commercial interior design. They plan on pursuing the LEED accreditation for residential homes as soon as the United States Green Building Council launches it.

The 100-hour-plus licensure process qualifi es them to work collaboratively with architects and builders to design a completely environmentally friendly home, inside and out.

“We are often the interface between homeowners and builders, so we have a lot of opportunity to educate people as to what’s out there,” Brush says. “It’s growing quickly; every year, there are more products.”

She says if a homeowner builds “green” but fails to incorporate “green” interior design or uses materials that contradict the effort, it can be completely counter-productive. Brush and Collins are knowledgeable about low-emitting carpet materials, Forest Stewardship Council certifi ed wood, low-fl ush toilets, effi cient use of natural light, furniture manufacturers that employ “green” practices and more.

“We take a holistic, educational, collaborative approach when meeting with our clients,” Brush says. “This ensures we’re helping them understand the bigger picture of their good efforts and intentions.”

As Collins points out, it is no longer enough to simply pick out pretty items.

“Being conscientious about our choices is paramount to the new paradigm of a sustainable future,” Collins says, pointing out they can now offer clients new possibilities that are not only beautiful but also nontoxic.

The two women handpick “green” vendors they know use environmentally friendly processes, from start to finish. For example, one aspect they consider is how much petroleum it takes to get a specifi c product from point A to B; bamboo may be a sustainable material, but if it’s grown in China, there are further environmental impacts to weigh.

“The process is effortless for our clients as we take care of all of the execution and coordination, from ordering elements of décor to communicating with contractors,” Collins says. “Once we understand their style, they can sit back, relax and leave the rest to us.”

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