Sustainable in Seattle (continued)
What the Pros Know
To conserve energy, SkB Architects used incandescent bulbs for task lighting and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) for ambient illumination. Although the average CFL uses about 70 percent less electricity and lasts up to ten times longer than an incandescent, the light can be cold, so SkB chose bulbs with a Kelvin rating of 2,700K or 3,000K (the lower the number, the warmer the light). If you can't find a bulb's Kelvin rating, look for packages marked "warm white" (and avoid the cooler "daylight" bulbs). Fabric shades and frosted-glass diffusers help soften the fluorescent light in the great room; the fixtures were also linked to rheostats and fitted with dimmable bulbs, which tend to appear warmer when dimmed. To warm fluorescent table lamps, shades were lined with gold paper (although other warm colors work equally well). While CFLs have improved markedly in the past few years, incandescents are still your best bet for lighting artwork, where accurate color is important.
Since Smith planned to use his apartment to entertain civic and environmental groups, he couldn't resist a bit of theatricality. The corridor–cum–art gallery connecting the public and private spaces is flanked by a powder room that doubles as a lounge when not in use. (And even then, there's a theatrical element, since occupants cast shadows on the frosted-glass doors.) Smith commissioned artist Jo Braun to cover one wall with a mosaic made from salvaged mirrors, then furnished the space with a leather lounge chair. "It's a place people want to visit, not just use," Smith says.
A salvaged fire door at the end of the hall swings open to reveal a cozy library. The neighboring bedroom—formerly a barber shop—is serenely simple, its organic-cotton-and-wool mattress set against woven-hemp wallpaper (from Donghia), tan Woolshire carpeting and featherweight curtains fashioned from Bergamo mohair and silk. The master bath was designed to feel like an outdoor spa, with slabs of Chinese sandstone covering the floor and tub and a mirrored vanity wall that reflects the billowing veil of bamboo gracing the terrace outside.
Having proved that sustainability can be sexy, Smith hopes to apply some of the same lessons to his commercial projects, which include a 40-story green hotel under development in Seattle and a mixed-use building that utilizes solar energy and a planted rooftop. "We made tremendous steps here," Smith says, surveying his apartment, "but there are a lot more steps to go."
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