There are many celebrity projects that highlight green issues, including actress and interior designer Bridgid Coulter, longtime girlfriend of actor and environmental activist Don Cheadle. Coulter was recently featured on E! News for the Venice California green home she redesigned into an eco-friendly bungalow with many green living features and recycled materials. Bridgid Coulter is also known for her work on stage and screen, her credits include Rosewood, Class of ‘96 and Family Matters. 

(Image Credit: bridgidcoulterdesign.com)

Coulter is a house flipper and also runs a boutique design studio, which is adjacent to her retail storefront. In her Santa Monica store, Bridgid Coulter Design, she features her signature line of textiles, pillows, eco candles and custom furniture; as well as other home accessories.  Her longtime beau, Don Cheadle, is an UNEP Ambassador for the Environment, so being eco-friendly is something close to the couple’s heart.

The bungalow, originally built in 1953, was brought down to stud, and the debris was handled in a responsible and earth friendly manner. The eco design elements are evident in the great room (a combined living and dining room space) where all the light fixtures are made from recycled glass. The lights are also on dimmers, which not only allows you to add atmosphere to the room, but also helps control the heat in the room as well. The room also boasts an eco-designed fireplace, which runs on ethanol fuel. Ethanol is a clean burning fuel and the fireplace does not need ventilation to run. The fireplace is portable, so you could conceivably decide to move it into one of the bedroom easily.

The kitchen is outfitted with stainless steel Energy Star appliances. All the countertops are made of recycled glass, and the cabinets were made from FSC certified wood using green glue. Another feature of the house is that there is a water filtration system in the kitchen which eliminates the need for bottled water, a simple glass or reusable bottle can be filled from the tap.

The home office is filled with antique items. When you don’t buy brand new, you are reducing waste and decreasing the carbon cost of the items in your home. The new window shades were made locally in Los Angeles of all natural fiber. Coulter suggests buying local as it cuts down on shipping which further reduces the carbon footprint of the home.

The bedrooms are filled with repurposed furniture including an upcycled end table made of out old rubber tires. It’s unique pieces like this that add visual interest to a room while embracing green living ideals.  The bathrooms tiles and sinks are made from recycled materials. The toilet has a fun eco feature because it’s dual flush, which means you choose from option one or two to use less water as the situation requires. Outside they planted greenery native to dessert temperatures, which means less watering. In LA, you would have to water frequently to keep greenery alive given the heat, so this is also a cost saving measure. Another great feature that the outside of the house boasts is the raised garden platforms, which were made out of the pallets that the siding was delivered in.

This million-dollar home is a shining example of a green home where a family can create many treasured memories. Kudos to Bridgid Coulter for green living designs at their best.
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