Sunday, October 11, 2009

By story by barbara bowers Special to The Citizen PHOTOS BY MIKE NENTZ The Citizen

The "reuse, reduce and recycle" mantra of green living is a positive philosophy, but only a mouthful unless it's put into practice.

"We're trying to live a green lifestyle," said Deborah Rothstein, who owns a condominium at Las Salinas with her husband, Tom Lavender.

Although Lavender bought the condo in 2001 before the couple was married, they moved into the 19-year-old development last year and began revamping their fourth-floor unit with an energy-saving consciousness they had been practicing for years. Even space-saving devices were implemented in each room, such as the dining room cabinet built to fit an underused alcove.

"We already had the two-piece china hutch, but by adding the granite countertop all the way across the alcove, we created wine cabinets below and display space above," said Rothstein.

The alcove is next to the entry, where Ganish, the god of auspicious beginnings, meets and greets guests, and is surrounded by heirlooms from colonial Britain's rule in India, including antique brass pieces which Rothstein inherited from her family.

This subtle Indian influence permeates the three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit as inconspicuously as does energy-saving devices like the tankless water heater, the dual-flush toilets or the sun oven on the balcony, which the couple bought from Adele Gerbracht.

At the moment, a pot of Asian red beans is baking.

"Debbi takes Indian cooking classes with Pinky Singh," said Lavender. "She's the vegetarian chef -- I do the clean up."

In fact, the big dining room table made from rubberwood trees (a fast-growing and sustainable species) announces that the hub of the house is the dining and kitchen area.

"We belong to Annie's Organic Buying Club, where I get fruits and vegetables," Rothstein said. "Pinky's cooking classes changed the way I cook with fresh produce as well as spices, which mostly come from India."

A stainless-steel spice container wafts with fresh fragrances of curry and saffron and coriander. It shares counter space in the kitchen with other white ceramic containers. In fact, two white, ceramic compost containers sit near the sink and without commentary from the chef, would have offered no clue to their purpose.

"A carbon filter in the ceramic top contains odors," said Rothstein, who explained that the couple saves their organic leftovers then takes them to the compost pile at the MARC House community garden.

"Each week, I pick up about 20 pounds of coffee grounds from the Coffee & Tea House on Duval Street and take them to the MARC House, too," said Lavender. "In a week or two, the compost turns into soil that can be used in the garden."

Rothstein added: "Thirty percent of all the trash we send to Miami could be composted to make great dirt that stays in Key West."

She said the kitchen appliances were upgraded to energy-efficient ones shortly after the couple moved in. But new kitchen cabinets are still on the drawing board. Or, that is, they are yet to be implemented from the "blueprint."

"Yes, we have a blueprint of where we want everything to go -- my architect cousin Heidi has always helped me with interior design," she said. "This is still a work in progress."

Finished according to the blueprint's plan are a kitchen pantry refashioned from what used to be the laundry closet, a big add-on closet in the office and closets with window seats built into both bedrooms.

In the master bedroom suite, the original closet has been reconfigured to contain the washer and dryer.

"There was so much unused space here," Lavender said. "We want to make the most of our 1,250 square feet."

Even on the blueprint are where the black-and-white photographs go, the decorating accent of choice. A large, nude photo by Richard Watherwax that was recently won at a fundraiser hangs above the bed, across from two shots of old cars.

"That one is the 1950 Buick Super Convertible I drove to Libya when I was in the service," Lavender said, "and the other one was my 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser that I came back to in the states -- it's a dandy pastel peach that helped make it the epitome of left-wing automotive design."

These days, such gas-guzzling oldie-goldies are more frequently seen in Havana than in Key West, where Lavender and Rothstein tool about town in a Smart Car.

"We were among the first people on the island to buy a Smart Car in 2000," Rothstein said. "They're similar to another vehicle we think is important to living a green lifestyle -- dual trash cans that feature a bin for perishables and a bin for recycling.

"At one time you couldn't find either of them anywhere on the island; now even Strunk's carries dual trash cans," she said.

Barbara Bowers is a writer and member of the Key West Historic Architectural Review Commission. To suggest a home feature, send an e-mail to Barbara@bbowers.com. Homes listed for sale will not be considered.