Remodelista: The Low-Impact Home: A Sourcebook for Stylish, Eco-Conscious Living

by Margot Guralnick, Fan Winston

Low-impact living is about making thoughtful, eco-friendly choices in your home. But being sustainable doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style. That’s where Remodelista comes in. In this comprehensive guide, they decode the secrets to creating a home that’s good for the planet—and totally livable.

First, the team invites readers on in-depth tours of the living quarters of a dozen homeowners who have interpreted this ethos in myriad ways: an Australian architect’s state-of-the-art family home, a rental apartment in Brooklyn outfitted with materials salvaged from the neighborhood, and even a farmhouse in England made of hemp.
Then they take us room by room to dissect the most impactful swaps we can make for a healthier home, from a gentler laundry routine courtesy of the Celsious sisters to chef David Tanis’s low-tech approach to cooking. There are simply DIY projects to encourage you to reuse and repurpose rather than buy new, plus the “Vintage 75”—a roundup of everyday household goods that are easy to find used, and are typically better made and more affordable than their brand-new counterparts. And, of course, there’s remodeling advice for all budgets and scopes: whether you’re looking to choose healthy paint, swap out your rug, upgrade your windows, or overhaul your whole place. It all adds up to an eco-conscious approach that’s about living not only responsibly but also with joy and style.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Reference, Environment, Interior Design

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 13, 2022

Reviews

[Jemma Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll give this book a 3.5 for the first half which is fairly typical rich-people minimalism decor porn. The houses highlighted are beautiful but I personally have a day job. However, the second half of the book is a very detailed explanation of eco certifications, recycling programs, construction and appliance guidance, brand guidance, and some useful DIY. That part of the book gets 5 stars. As someone tracking this sort of thing closely for many years, I managed to learn some new stuff.
Get it at the library.

[Yasmeen Youssef · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Can these choices move the needle? Yes, if you believe”

[Cait · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a friend embarking on a substantial remodel, and I thought I'd glance through this book and see if there was anything in there she would find helpful.

Nope.

It's a nicely photographed book whose thesis is "are you aware reusing is better for the environment than new-and-full-of-chemicals?" followed by "here are a lot of products that fit our aesthetic, buy these" and "every home needs a vintage step stool".

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to add to the reference library. Awesome glossary, great reference of stores and websites. Beautiful interviews and inserts. Lots of little side notes, sometimes skim over but great to refer back to.

[Rachel Hafler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The examples of low waste homes were interesting, but only showed a very narrow range of aesthetic choices. And I realize that this is a design book, but somehow it felt contradictory to have much of this (low waste, eco-conscious) book pushing readers to buy specific (very expensive) products. And yet... the section on 'vintage objects worth finding secondhand' redeemed the entire book for me. It was fabulous to see a compiled list of common household objects from the past that are well-made and still worth owning today. And there is some truly good advice here on making your home a more eco-friendly space. 3.5 stars.

[GONZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is all very interesting and also known to me, because I have been subscribed to the various remodelista and gardenista newsletters for years now, but the main reason I read this book and recommend it to you is definitely the photos.

È tutto molto interessante e a me anche noto, perché sono iscritta alle varie newsletter di remodelista e gardenista ormai da anni, ma la ragione principale per cui ho letto questo libro e ve lo consiglio, sono sicuramente le foto.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy.
I have been a follower of Margo for many years. A huge fan of her books and blog. Please take a moment with this wonderfully illustrated book and learn a few new/old things about how we can do little things to save our world and still have a beautiful space.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for sustainable and green household solutions

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book, featuring well composed photos of various projects and collections. It’s more ideals and #goals than what an average family could likely do. Small kids are okay with no WiFi and no running water in the house, but I don’t consider that truly 'sustainable' for most people. The book is well laid out with practical tips, sources and glossary. I'm happy that my household already practices some of the recommendations. Other readers might find those hints helpful.