Urban Eco Chic shows how we can all recycle materials, use sustainable products and become increasingly energy-efficient in our own homes, without compromising our sense of style. The fact that we must become more eco-aware of the way we live is not in question; the issue is how can we do so without sacrificing the level of comfort and luxury to which so many of us are now accustomed. Urban Eco Chic is about balancing function, practicality and performance with style, sophistication and comfort, proving that eco-friendly practices and chic aesthetic ideas are not incompatible. Renowned eco-designer, Oliver Heath, has a philosophy for decorating which is based around the three elements of Technology, Nature and Vintage. The book demonstrates how a clever combination of pioneering technologies, sustainable materials and recycled or recyclable products can create a functional yet beautiful home. The result is a contemporary look that is ethical, eco-conscious and yet as individual as each homeowner. The book is packed with ideas on how to green your home, how to power it and save energy, as well as simple lifestyle changes to improve your carbon footprint. It is also full of Oliver's personal style tips and ideas so you can develop your own Urban Eco Chic style.

Author Biography

Oliver Heath's passion for design and sustainability was ignited during his architectural training. In his media work he has always striven to raise awareness of recycling and sustainability, from his early BBC1 Changing Rooms years to Channel 4's House to Home and ITV's Front of House. Through his writing, Oliver encourages readers to think environmentally about their homes, for example his articles for Friends of the Earth's Earth Matters magazine, features for House Beautiful and in his weekly column in the Observer which ran for over two years. Oliver completed an ecorefurbishment of his own home and with his design company, Heath Design, he has completed various eco show flats for exhibition. His online store, ecocentric.co.uk, specialises in beautifully designed sustainable products for the home. Oliver has recently collaborated with paint manufacturer Earthborn to create Eco Chic, a range of natural, breathable clay paints. He is also working with the Geffrye Museum on Eco Home, a special exhibition that addresses the way in which climate change is affecting our homes and the way we use, decorate and inhabit them. The exhibition is set to run from October 2009 to February 2010. Author Location: Brighton