Green design and living is about reduce reuse recycle. Using new products that are considered green is wonderful if the client and the contractor are willing to be the "guinea pig." One also takes the risk of the product failing and then it will have to go into land fill. I am a strong advocate
about a common-sense approach. This requires a thorough study of priorities and compromises. By making a list that summarizes what is most important to the client and checking against it, un-necessary and sometimes invasive choices can be avoided.

The two priorities the Miller's had was to preserve the integrity of their home and to do this with the least amount of impact on the environment. We achieved this by reusing as much of the original elements as was at all possible: Floors, doors, millwork, framing lumber and leaving fine exterior paint rather than repainting.

From a designer's standpoint the character and depth created by reusing 100 year old elements is priceless. It is often hard to preserve the charm of the old house when all the new elements introduced during a remodel are perfection. An old house owner needs to consider which direction they want to go. Sometimes the condition of the old home should also dictate how far
to take the detail work at the new elements. Sometimes an update throughout the house is required if the remodeled area of the house is executed in a precise way and the rest of the home shows patina from 100 years of living. This then will impact the environment. If the imperfections are embraced and carried through the remodel as much as possible, the condition of the rest of the house can be preserved.