Jan
19

Home Tour: The Posh Digs of a Confirmed Environmentalist

Posted by Elana Safronsky Tuesday, January 19, 2010 3:36 PM

Franke James is an artist, photographer, writer, speaker and environmental activist.  We first heard her name in 2007, when she challenged the city of Toronto to amend an outdated bylaw that applied only to her north Toronto neighbourhood: all residential properties must maintain a paved or interlock driveway.   

You see, looking to do green, Franke and family decided to give up their car. They wanted to give up their driveway too, but city hall wouldn’t allow it.  So Franke found a way to make a green driveway, subsequently amending the bylaw to include an allowance for the creation of green driveways in her north Toronto neighbourhood.  

Her green plight was picked up by the Toronto Star, and everything else is history.  She documented the transformation of her interlock pad into a green driveway, and in 2009, published a very well-received visual essay entitled, Bothered by my Green Conscience. 

Franke James in her dining room, holding open her book to a similar scene.

Franke has fused her concerns for the environment with everything she does, having become a humorous, engaging, non-judgmental and boundlessly creative activist.  In the past several years she’s been covered by national and international media, including the CBC, Montreal Gazette, Flare magazine, Treehugger.com, Green Peace Canada and was invited to speak at the recent World Climate Change summit in Copenhagen.

I met her at the Explore Design educational fare back in October, and totally intrigued, invited myself over to her house.  And it was beautiful!  The driveway fiasco set Franke’s household on the reno path, and I would like to share with you all how being an environmentalist doesn’t mean you have to live with less.  Look how nice! 

Have a look at the gallery, and scroll below for a preview of Part Two of my Franke James coverage, this Saturday, in which you’ll hear her speak, learn about the 'green driveway', and have a chance to receive a copy of the acclaimed Bothered by my Green Conscience. 

 

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Part Two of Franke James, coming this Saturday:

Curious to hear how she decided to do away with the car in such a gargantuan city (and delight in her normalcy)?  Want to learn more about the 'green driveway'?  Wanna see what the house looked like before the reno?  How about a copy of the instant favourite Bothered by my Green Conscience? (Really, the book is selling like hotcakes.)  Then stay tuned! 

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Comments:

I LOVE this! Good job.

Vanessa

January 20, 2010 10:03 AM

 

Hard to believe people can live in a home decorated to within an inch of it's life, and be praised and photographed for it.  I watch the Top 10 shows and the mind boggles at the $$$ spent for the praise and admiration of others who similarly feel that home decorating should be about vast sums of money spent trying to outdo others.  Or in the case of eco homes, the $$$ spent to get that pat on the back for being so environmentally sensitive.  Never mind all of the money that went into buying so much STUFF.

MollyW

January 20, 2010 10:23 AM

 

Molly, I feel like most of the stuff you're referring to is the artwork.  Much of what is in Franke's home is heirlooms and stuff she's collected over the years.  She really didn't spend much on furniture at all.  Perhaps it's the gallery wall that's giving you the feeling of over-decoration - the gallery wall is not for everyone.

Elana Safronsky

January 20, 2010 12:44 PM

 

Thank you for sharing this charming and personal home. Great post!

Lisa Canning

January 20, 2010 8:34 PM

 

Thanks Lisa!  Glad you enjoyed.  

Elana Safronsky

January 20, 2010 9:58 PM

 

Interior designers change moods like the wind changes direction. In today out tomorrow as they get bored with their own ideas. Too busy a room is now acceptable, too many pot lights - boring and all the art in the same place - wow. Why would anyone follow these whimsical people and design their homes based on fluttering ideas of air heads.

backless counter stools

rod pallain

January 21, 2010 5:42 AM

 

Elana,

Thanks for sharing our home renovation with your HGTV readers. Looking at the "after" photos, what people may not realize is what a huge shift our 2005 renovation caused in our lives.

Our 1934 house was an energy sieve -- we had an energy audit done and we got one of the worst scores possible. Clearly, some major work was required. We insulated the attic and walls, installed new windows, radiant flooring, new furnace etc. -- it made a huge difference in the function and appearance of the house.

But the biggest change was in our heads.

In 2005 when I started to research energy efficiency for this reno, it opened my eyes to the looming problem of climate change, and how it will shape the 21st century. It inspired me to make big green changes in my life (like selling our only car, building a green driveway, rediscovering eccentric glamour in my own closet, and writing a book about it all).

The surprising bonus for us is that by deciding to have an energy efficient and green home, we also got to express our creativity and our sense of design and space. (As artists, we embrace color, and have no shortage of our own artwork.) Designing "green" was not a sacrifice, but a benefit.

I hope that HGTV readers will be inspired to embark on their own green renovations -- and discover the pleasure that comes from designing with sustainability in mind.

Cheers,

Franke James

Franke James

January 21, 2010 4:30 PM

 

Could not have said it better than that, Franke.  (And wouldn't try.)

Elana Safronsky

January 21, 2010 5:27 PM

 
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