LIFE/TRAVEL

One thing about Dallasites: We love chic trends.

So, even though we've all heard buzz about energy conservation, it may be the stylish new brand of conscientious consumer who's really starting to inch our environmental needle forward. This savvy group is adding some glam to the local green picture, a welcome reprieve from the drab look of early conservationist decor. These homeowners are dedicated to Earth-friendly practices without sacrificing style in the process.

Loyd Zisk is a Dallas freelance writer.

Ashley Bull composts her own organic garden, insulates her attic with recycled blue jeans and air-dries clothing outdoors in good weather. Her electricity is generated by Green Mountain windmills and she has painted every room in her home with low-VOC (eco-friendly) paint. Her children dress in formaldehyde-free cotton and drink juice from glassware made of recycled bottles.

Although Ms. Bull may be one of the most authentic environmentalists around, her Lakewood residence bears no resemblance to the earth-toned, muted homes of pioneering ecology lovers. Her house resonates with vivid colors, high-impact design and artful furnishings. This is green chic, a win-win lifestyle look.

"We are stewards of the Earth. We have designed our home with an eye to the future. We do everything in eco-friendly ways; we definitely look for products that have been repurposed with great design and color," explains Ms. Bull.

She and her husband, John, finished a green addition to their home in 2004. A charismatic energy has been achieved by commingling early American antiques with innovative, repurposed accessories. The end effect is stylish, upbeat and comfortable. With the exception of a few personal touches (such as split tennis balls at the base of the kitchen barstools) nothing screams "recycled."

Daughter Rosalie has a hand-painted (water-based paint, of course) ponderosa pine bed from Shoestring Creations, which features Texas-made furnishings from Sand Flat in Smith County, near Tyler. Company owner Ralph Garrett is committed to Earth-friendly practices, using all-natural materials and putting every piece of leftover scrap to use.

The Bulls' kitchen counters are made of locally harvested mesquite wood and polished with a nut-oil stain. Kitchen stools are constructed from old bicycle parts and were acquired at Green Living in Lakewood. Walls are painted periwinkle, lavender, gold and blue with Enviro-Safe Paint.

"Piece by piece, we have gradually accumulated furniture and possessions that have been responsibly manufactured," says Ms. Bull. "It is a great look and the most wonderful feeling."

When Marjie and Bob Burditt of Caruth Terrace in East Dallas purchased Bob's childhood home, it wasn't for greater square footage. In fact, even after they added a new master bedroom, bath and kitchen, the house was still smaller than their previous abode.

Why?

"We have always been conscious of environmentally sound lifestyles. We felt that in addition to incorporating energy-saving products and biodegradable, nontoxic materials, one of the biggest contributions we could make was to live in a smaller space and become smaller consumers," says Mrs. Burditt.

"Simple, utilitarian design is often better."

Their philosophy of combining responsible consumption and Earth-friendly practices has resulted in a home brimming with pleasure and lots of visual appeal.

Along with energy-saving systems that include a tankless water heater, water-saver toilets, vented roof and low-emissivity windows, the Burditts incorporated medium-density fiberboard into their doors, moldings and trim as well as Marmoleum in busy, highly visible areas.

The first cousin to linoleum, Marmoleum is made of wood, rosin and linseed oil. Using this completely biodegradable material, Marjie Burditt designed her dining room floor in cool greens and black. The visual centerpiece of the house, the floor is patterned with the colorful tiles, which are available at Green Living.

"I wanted to make an environmental design statement," says Mrs. Burditt. "This natural flooring says it all."

Sean Fitzgerald is a photographer who left the fast track of corporate law to renovate an abandoned loft on Canton Street. It was originally a Kentucky Fried Chicken food-processing plant.

What you first sense upon entering the 7,000-square-foot space is startlingly smart, clean design. Juggling a passion for environmentally responsible living and the need for residential and work space, Mr. Fitzgerald and his wife, Karen, crafted a look any interior designer would be proud to claim.

Using 90 percent of the leftover demolition materials, the Fitzgeralds created a large front entertaining area, kitchen, mezzanine-level master bedroom, bath and den, as well as a separate apartment with kitchen, bath, bedroom and sitting area. On the first floor, Mr. Fitzgerald incorporated his entire office into an aluminum moving container.

"We could have put up new walls, laid new flooring and replaced every bit of the old casement windows. We could have just purchased a lot of new things, but we believe in conserving energy, space and materials. A large part of environmental consciousness lies in understanding how to reuse and repurpose existing materials," he says.

The loft's sleek, ultramodern look includes polished concrete floors, hand-pressed birch plywood counters covered with water-based sealant, stairs made from splintered, compressed scrap wood and shelving created from pallet racks.

The loft's focal point, a glamorous, industrial-style kitchen, is largely made of repurposed and recycled products. The buffed kitchen cabinets were found abandoned on a roadside and restored with powder coating. The tall stainless-steel cupboard is actually a garage tool chest; the sink was rescued from Habitat for Humanity's Resale Store.

•When remodeling, salvage and reuse as much as possible.

•Repurpose existing materials instead of replacing them with new items.

•Conserve energy by using low-emissivity windows, fluorescent lighting and insulation that works effectively in your home.