1. Natural Decorating
a. Natural paints
• Natural resin emulsions look and act much like conventional petrochemical paints and are just as easy to use although they do not have a strong lingering smell of chemicals. They are plastic free and so reduce dust attraction, and are vapour permeable allowing your house to breathe. Their binding properties come from natural latex and linseed oil rather than synthetic resins.
• The same applies for the paints we used for the woodwork. The undercoat was soya oil based while the gloss top coat was linseed oil based (Holzweg).
• The white emulsion we used was Aquamarijn Maril matt which is completely solvent-free & has a pleasant natural odour. The wall colour was created by adding natural earth and mineral pigments and tints. These dry powders were dissolved in water and added to the white paint in different amounts for different intensities.
• Our paint brushes were cleaned with balsamic turpentine oil, a natural solvent from tree resins.
b. Natural floor coverings
• Most carpets are treated with pesticides, fungicides and up to 20 or 30 other chemical finishes which can be an irritant for many months. Once down they collect dust and skin cells providing a habitat for dust mites. This is one of the biggest problems for sufferers of asthma and allergies.
• Preferable to carpet is a natural wood floor, cork, ceramic, stone, marble and linoleum. Natural carpets are also a healthier choice and give a softer surface to walk on. They are made from materials like seagrass, coconut husk fibre, jute and sisal which are all plant materials. They are produced with pesticides and glues and are also anti-static which means dust does not cling. I chose a Sisal Big Boucle from Kersaint Cobb’s Natural Collection.
• Instead of using traditional glue with usually contain formaldehydes and toluene, I used a natural latex adhesive that will not outgass any harmful chemicals. (Holzweg Cork Adhesive from Construction Resources).
c. Natural wood treatment
• Standard treatment is with solvent-based polyurethane which has a high impact on the environment & contains Toluene and Xylene which are known carcinogens. They also contain fungicides which kill the bad and the good organisms. The clear floor finish we used is made from natural oils like sunflower, soya and thistle. The natural oil stain was protected with a hard-wearing wax finish.

2. Electro-pollution
• Powerwatch (the independent voice on EMFs in the UK) estimate that 15% or people are now sensitive to electromagnetic fields and describe Electrical Hypersensitivity (ES) as a new, modern disease currently without a known cure. Over exposure to EMFs can make us more susceptible to chemicals and at the same time, over exposure to chemicals also seems to increase sensitivity to EMFs.
• Powerwatch founders, Alastair & Jean Philips, say that these two toxic hazards create symptoms which include: joint ache, tiredness, heart problems, epilepsy, nose bleeds, miscarriage, difficulties with breathing and digestion, disturbances to behaviour & thinking, anxiety & depression, headaches and cancer. EMFs are very disturbing to our emotional well-being and our ability to remain calm and relaxed.
• Low frequency electrical and magnetic radiation comes from power lines, substations, electrical wiring and appliances. We have surrounded by these for a century. The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) now accepts that there is a connection between childhood leukaemia and very low levels of EMFs.
• High frequency microwave radiation comes from mobile phones, mobile masts, microwave appliances (including wireless enabled technology), ovens and alarm systems.
• The Acousti-com (circa £79+vat) monitors the aggressive pulsing of microwave signals and allows you to hear the full range of signals that your body is being bombarded with.
• EMF Pro Meter – allows you to measure both the electrical and separate magnetic field coming from appliances and wiring. (circa £299 + vat)
• Radiation from TV & computer monitors – cathode ray screens produce a noxious radiation which affects the immune system, concentration and energy levels. A study at Marseilles University in 1990 showed that children watching TV experienced a decline in memory and learning ability and an increase in levels of aggression. This was after 50 minutes a day in front of a screen.
• Bioshield protection devices from Anox Technology in Switzerland can be added to a TV monitor to stop this radiation coming out. (£89 for a large screen, £77 for a small screen)