October 5, 2009 is World Habitat Day, as announced by the non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity.  Why is this significant?  As Interior Designers, we would have fewer places to practice our art and business if there were no homes. 

Historically, the first recognized Interior Designer was American Elsie de Wolfe, who, in the late 1800s, rebelled against dark and fussy Victorian interiors.  Elsie created a cultural rage by painting French furniture and walls in bright white and allowing light to stream in through the windows.  She called herself "a rebel in an ugly world". 

I wonder what Elsie would think of the state of the world today: 1/3 of the U.S. population suffers from housing problems such as a high-cost burden, overcrowding, poor quality shelter and homelessness.  Across the globe, an average of one in every three city residents is living in inadequate housing with none, or few, basic services.

This presents a huge opportunity to not only create housing, but to do it sustainably.  Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, recently discussed how Habitat is contributing to the sustainable building movement through partnering with Habitat AmeriCorps affiliates. 

“For the past three years, AmeriCorps members in North Carolina have provided training, testing and certification services to Habitat affiliates—resulting in hundreds of Habitat homes built to certified Energy Star standards,” says Reckford. “And members at several affiliates across the country have helped to plan and implement ‘deconstruction’ programs to salvage good, usable building materials and reduce the environmental impact on our landfills.”

More homes means more interiors means more work for designers, contractors, builders, and some of the amazing new eco-products that are emerging in the marketplace.

So as we go about our business, beautifying and improving the interior spaces of our clients, we should also take a moment to be thankful for what they, and we, have.

Please visit http://www.habitat.org/gov/take_action/world_habitat_day.aspx for more information.

Country music artist Kenny Rogers and his family taking part in World Habitat Day