Traditionally, says the author, home furnishings needed to be practical, durable, and beautiful. To this, Berman has added the need to be safe in the home and for the environment. And so Berman looks to longstanding traditions of home building, where less was more, local materials were employed, rawer materials used, processed materials produced cleanly, and breakdown upon disposal was not a millennial affair. Four chapters address design and environment; light, heat, and air; materials; and information on household appliances, eco-labeling, and chemicals. The book is replete with impressive color photos and a short list of sources to find advice and materials. Berman is an architect in England increasingly involved with environmental design. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Read Less