Summer breeze, makes me feel fine…













Cheryl Terrace enjoys a summer breeze in Budapest

There are few things I love more in a home, any-home-any-where, than a fresh breeze. Is there anything sexier than sheer draperies billowing in the moonlight (at least home-wise)? For me, the sensual feeling of warm air on my skin and smell of fresh verdant air is orgasmic (very 1981 Body Heat).

OK, I admit I am a fanatic regarding pure air. I once (single-handedly) moved a dresser into the hallway of a charming B&B because of the mothball smell (my boyfriend at the time was not impressed). Admittedly, it has never been easy being me/green - I smell EVERYTHING! Synthetic perfumes, soaps, laundry detergents, ‘air-fresheners’, and conventional-you-name-it-so-called-fresh smells gag me, (I must have been a bloodhound in a previous life). But, having made my living specifying healthy home materials for a long time, I am not only an Eco-Taste-Maker (after all, smell is the crucial component of taste), but also a Toxic Avenger.
The U.S. government has finally admitted formaldehyde is a cancer-causing chemical, which is found in many common household products.
It’s about time! I have always believed it is of VITAL importance to analyze items to make certain they truly are non-toxic and this proves it. 

Our sense of smell is so powerful that one whiff of something can instantly transport us back to a certain time and place. Think mom’s apple pie, or my new favorite smell – herb and lemon roasted chicken - YUM! I am new to eating meat [only free-range, organic] and cannot believe I never appreciated this amazing aroma before! I am also surprised at how often this sense is neglected in a home. The simple act of opening a window and burning a candle can remedy even the stinkiest of houses. Take it a step further and create any mood with a scented (non-toxic) candle - there is even the smell of The New York Times in a candle! (Made with palm wax & eco production, I fact-checked).

Besides just smelling good, one of the most important components of a healthy home is proper ventilation.
As in Yoga (and in life), expression of movement is key to avoid toxic build up (in feelings and emotions also), so…Air it out!
Open your windows wide and let your home, and yourself breathe!

Happy Summer Breezes …blowing through the jasmine in my mind, ~ Cheryl


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Living the Eco Life
Vitalize Your Home and Vitalize Your Life
Cheryl Terrace was the first eco-designer to participate in the renowned Kips Bay Decorator Show House  She created a  remarkable “living” wall of greenery.

Terrace’s sole proprietorship interiors practice, Vital Design, Ltd., was founded in 1997.  A graduate of the New York School of Interior Design, Terrace is guided by traditional design education infused with her interests in sustainable, responsible materials and systems.  Her style is pure and organic, advocating a clutter-free, stress-free house that appeals to all the senses.  “I love showing people that they do not need to sacrifice luxury or beauty to be environmentally thoughtful,” she says.

As green design has hit mainstream media, many publications have taken notice of Terrace.  Her work has been featured in Domino, Robb Report, In Style, and Interiors.  She is negotiating a book deal to describe her philosophy and design approach to more readers, and will soon host an eco-entertainment TV show.

Vital Design, Ltd.
102 West 85th Street, #2G
New York, NY 10024
212.799.1540

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