How to Decorate 'Green': 'Restore. Recycle. Repurpose.'

Growing up on a farm in Iowa, Randy Florke learned frugality. Everything that could be reused was, and most everything fit into that category. "Recycle" and "green" were not part of the vernacular, but the lessons learned in Iowa traveled East with Florke as he developed a business restoring and decorating farmhouses in the Catskill Mountains region of Sullivan County, N.Y.

Those lessons are passed along in his book about decorating sustainably and inexpensively. "Restore. Recycle. Repurpose.: Create a Beautiful Home" is a how-to for those who want to do right by the environment while making the right decisions about home decorating.

Florke's book (written with Nancy J. Becker) combines common sense with the latest information on sustainability, to help readers create their own aesthetic. He spoke to HousingWatch about his influences, his favorite places to shop, and the most useful item he never bought.