inhabitat

Laura Mordas-Schenkein

Laura is a LEED accredited Feng Shui consultant based in Rhinebeck, New York. Her background in psychology and passion for ecological design led her to the study of the built environment and its profound effect on our physical and emotional well-being. Her sustainable roots began on a Hudson Valley farm, and since then she has contributed research and writing to various publications, including Clean Plates.com. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and meditative hiking, with big dreams of someday running a bed and breakfast in the countryside.
green holiday, green gift guide, green holidaygift guide, eco holiday, green xmas, green christmas, eco xmas, eco christmas, environmentally friendly gifts, eco friendly gifts, green presents, environmentally friendly presents, eco friendly presents, gifts for little kids, little kids christmas gifts, eco friendly kids gift, eco friendly little kids presents, montessori gifts, waldorf gifts, montessori presents, waldorf presents, eco wooden blocks, green puzzles, magnetic blocks, wool felted gifts, soft toys, eco friendly wool felt gifts, green felt toys, eco felt toys, eco wool toys, waldorf rocker, curvy rocker, portable toys, eco portable toys, shape sorter, puzzles, vegan moccasins, phonetic blocks

18 fun and educational gifts for tots

This holiday season, delight the tots in your life with playful eco-gifts that educate and inspire creativity....

Landfills transformed into parks, landfill parks, landfill reclamation, landfill rehabilitation, brown field rehabilitation,

8 incredible parks created from landfills

Humanity has turned Earth into a giant trash pile. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans...

The Tongsai Bay, Koh Samui, Thailand, green hotels in Thailand, green hotel, eco hotel, eco lodge Thailand, green villa, green cottage, green landscaping, Green Pearl hotel, eco hotel Thailand, sustainable hotel, sustainable resort Thailand, where to stay in Thailand

Breathtaking seaside hotel in Thailand practices radical reuse, grows 100% of its produce

Overlooking a private bay along the Northern Coast of Koh Samui, Thailand, The Tongsai Bay Hotel boasts more than...

avocado green mattress, avocado mattress, green mattress, mattress, healthy sleep, healthy mattress, health, mattress giveaway, eco-mattress, mattress contest, green mattress giveaway, green mattress, healthy mattress, non-toxic mattress, safe mattress, eco-friendly mattress, green mattress, My Green Mattress, organic mattress, eco-friendly mattress, healthy mattress, certified organic cotton mattress, wool mattress, natural mattress, all-natural mattress, health, non-toxic mattress, Tim Masters, US mattress company, American mattress company, Simple Sleep Mattress, Simple Sleep Latex Mattress, latex mattresses, natural latex mattress, contests, giveaway, eco-giveaway, eco-friendly giveaways, green giveaways

LAST CHANCE: Inhabitat is giving away an Avocado Green Mattress

We spend one third of our lives sleeping, but how many of us have taken the time to learn what's inside our mattresses?...

modern rustic dining room, Cocoweb, barn lights, LED barn lights, Cocoweb barn lights, energy-efficient lighting, rustic LED lighting, rustic eco lighting, rustic energy-efficient lighting, green lighting, modern rustic lighting, modern rustic LED lights, vintage contemporary lighting, vintage contemporary energy efficient lighting, eco-lighting, green lighting, rustic modern interior design, modern rustic interior design

10 ways to nail the rustic modern aesthetic with barn lights

We love the promises of modern design here at Inhabitat. The elegance and efficiency of modernism provides ease...

buckwheat pillows, all-natural pillows, organic pillows, green home products, Hullo Pillow, green bedding, organic bedding, environmentall-friendly pillows, eco-friendly pillows, eco-friendly bedding

Why a buckwheat pillow makes a good pillow

A good night's sleep is priceless this day in age. But chances are you haven't given too much thought to your pillow....

Deltec, solar farmhouse, Deltec Solar Farmhouse, farmhouse architecture, farmhouse design, solar powered home, solar power, solar architecture, solar design, prefabricated housing, prefab home, prefab house, energy-efficient home, eco home, green home, eco-friendly home, passive solar design, passive design, solar home, passive home, passive house, deltec renew collection, deltec classic homes, deltec north carolina, where to buy a prefab home, how to buy a prefab home, covered back porch, metal roof, fresh air ventilation, passive solar awnings, detached carport, detached garage, front porch, covered front porch, passive solar design, air-tight building envelope, open layout, photovoltaic panels

New net-zero Solar Farmhouse from Deltec generates all its own energy

In these uncertain times of erratic weather and changing climate patterns, net-zero energy (or NZE) is quickly...

green building, biomimicry, future cities, One Central Park, Sydney, Australia, Jean Nouvel, Patrick Blanc, green wall, vertical garden, urban village, city park, multi-use building

The world's tallest vertical garden lives and breathes in Sydney

Designed by Parisian architect Jean Nouvel in collaboration with French artist and botanist Patrick Blanc, One...

feng shui winter cures, feng shui storage, feng shui decor, feng shui redecorate, feng shui meditation space, meditation corner, diy meditation space, home meditation corner, diy soup, home cooking, winter feng shui tips, feng shui cooking, change light bulbs, lighting audit, led lighting, energy-efficient lighting, winter feng shui tips, feng shui daylighting, lighting audit, natural daylighting, wool blankets, feng shui textures, winter remedies, velvet and wool textures, feng shui bedding, citrus essential oils, citrus cleanse, winter cleaning, feng shui cleaning, feng shui citrus cleanse, feng shui home tips, easy feng shui, winter feng shui, eco feng shui, eco-friendly feng shui tips, green feng shui, green feng shui tips

8 natural Feng Shui winter cures for the home

When it seems like winter is dragging on, purifying our homes with new energy may be just the cure. In Feng Shui,...

the ex house, ex house rhinebeck, stephen holl architecture, stephen holl architect, solar-powered home, solar power, solar energy, geothermal heated home, geothermal heating, net-zero home, Dimitra Tsachrelia, cubist design, abstract design, the hudson river, hudson valley architecture, green design, eco design, green architecture, eco architecture, sustainable architecture, green homes, eco homes

Curvaceous Ex of In House is a solar-powered guest residence aligned with the natural world

Located on the property of principal architect Steven Holl himself, the Ex of In House opened this past July as...

affordable housing nyc, affordable rentals nyc, carmel place, micro apartments, My Micro NY, My Micro NY video, narchictects, narchitects video, nyc architecture, nyc micro homes, nyc small homes, Stage 3 Properties, tiny homes nyc, urban design

The top 5 Inhabitat videos of the year

From foraging for mushrooms (and avoiding the poisonous ones) to eating your banana peels instead of throwing them...

eco-friendly indoor garden, minature gardens, plant house, green holiday, green gift guide, green holidaygift guide, gifts for green thumbs, gifts for gardeners, plant gifts, eco friendly gardening presents, gardening gifts, gifts for gardeners, garden, gardeners, gardening, gardening presents, presents for gardeners, green thumb, green thumb gifts, garden gifts

The best indoor gardens to gift this year

It may be difficult to imagine gardening in the dead of winter, but thanks to modern technology it's more possible...

green holiday, green gift guide, green holiday gift guide, eco holiday, green xmas, green christmas, eco xmas, eco christmas, environmentally friendly gifts, eco friendly gifts, green presents, environmentally friendly presents, eco friendly presents, eco friendly stocking stuffers, green stocking stuffers, seed bombs, guerilla gardening, urban flowers, urban seed bombs, urban flowers, seed bomb packets, gardening gifts, gardening stocking stuffers

14 exquisite handmade gifts

If you're looking for sustainably-sourced gifts that will truly surprise your loved ones, feast your eyes on our...

giveaway, inhabitat giveaway, art giveaway, green art giveaway, eco art giveaway, moss art giveaway, free art contest, artisan moss, moss wall art giveaway, green wall giveaway, artisan moss art, preserved moss, preserved plants, preserved moss wall art, moss art etsy, moss art, eco-friendly art, green art, eco art, green wall, living wall, botanical art, botanical wall art, hanging wall art, green wall art, free green wall art

We're giving away an Artisan Moss green wall made with real moss and lichens

Moss walls are a hot new trend, and for good reason. Preserved moss is an accessible way to enhance indoor spaces...

buckwheat pillows, all-natural pillows, organic pillows, green home products, Hullo Pillow, green bedding, organic bedding, environmentall-friendly pillows, eco-friendly pillows, eco-friendly bedding

Why people are going nuts over this unusual pillow

"Are You freaking kidding me? This pillow is amazing!" "The best pillow you will ever sleep on!" If you look...

artisan moss, artisan moss art, preserved moss, preserved plants, preserved moss wall art, moss art etsy, moss art, eco-friendly art, green art, eco art, green wall, living wall, botanical art, botanical wall art, hanging wall art, green wall art

Artisan Moss 'plant paintings' are maintenance-free alternatives to living walls

Any nature lover likely regards living green walls as the pinnacle of indoor landscaping, but the required maintenance,...

vegan desserts, gluten-free desserts, desserts without refined-sugar, sugar-free desserts, vegan holiday desserts, healthy desserts, paleo desserts, vegetarian desserts, naturally sweetened desserts, naturally-sweetened desserts

8 healthy holiday desserts made with no refined sugar

Almond Cranberry Cookies With just a food processor, some fruit and nuts you can create a batch of healthful,...

Plastic Bag Warrior Princess, plastic bag halloween costume, handmade halloween costume, how to recycle plastic bags, how to sew plastic bags

10 ingenious Halloween costumes made from recycled junk

When it comes to Halloween, Americans aren't spooked about buying new costumes or decorations. According to the...

things not to buy for new baby, things not to buy for newborn, things newborns don't need, baby gear, eco baby, green baby, green parenting, what not to buy baby, what not to buy newborn, avoid clutter with newborn

10 things your newborn DOESN'T need

When it comes to baby showers, new parents tend to fill up their registry list in accordance with trends, but do...

green lamps, green lights, green lighting, green lamp roundup, energy-efficient lighting, London Design Festival, LDF, sustainable design, green design, interior design, green interiors, sustainable interiors, green lighting

15 brilliant green lamps for a brighter future

Origami Lampshade by Foldability We've covered Foldability's gorgeous origami lanterns since 2013, so we were...

Back to School Green Shopping Spree, Back to school giveaway, back to school contest, IKEA shopping spree, win an IKEA shopping spree, Ikea back to school contest, green your back to school

LAST CHANCE: Win a $500 shopping spree from IKEA to make over your dorm room

It's that time of year again -- back to school season is in full swing and we're here to help you design the smart...

Tel Aviv University, Lorry Lokey building, green building Israel, green building Tel Aviv University, Gottesman-Szelcman Architecture, outdoor ground floor, landscaped ground floor, green college design, green university design,

New lush green "ground floor" to welcome Tel Aviv University students by 2019

The split level design of the Lorry Lokey building integrates nature in a number of inventive ways. As the outdoor...

wildman steve brill, steve brill, wildman steve brill brooklyn, foraging, foraging in nyc, foraging in brooklyn, wildman steve brill, edible plants, urban foraging

6 delicious plants you can forage in your local urban park — VIDEO

Many of us are completely unaware of the delicious edible plants that surround us, especially in urban environments,...

global warming, arid climate, hot temperatures, earth warming

NASA says Earth is warming at a rate 'unprecedented in 1,000 years'

New data has confirmed that the Earth has been experiencing the hottest temperatures on record. The latest findings...

Sati Tala, mindfulness eating, couples dining table, eco dining table, green dining table, meditative eating

Sati Tala's new intimate dining surface aims to boost mindful eating

A night in can often result in dinner on the couch in front of the tube, but wouldn't it be nice if we could be...

getaway cabin, new york, maisie

Inhabitat spends the night in a Harvard-designed tiny cabin in the woods

For our first Getaway excursion we spent a night in the Maisie, a 160-square-foot mobile cabin built for two to...

upcycling, upcycled design, upcycle, diy furniture, diy decor, upcycled decor, repurposing, eco design, green design, green interior design, sustainable interior design, eco interior design, eco decor, green decor, sustainable decor, green furniture, eco furniture, street trash, home decor, eco home decor, Or Kaplan, tel aviv interior design, israeli design, israeli interior design

Photographer upcycles street trash into brilliant home decor

Kaplan always had an eye for upcycling, even before it was a trend. He told Inhabitat, "I travel a lot around the...

2016 Olympics, 2016 Olympic Games, Rio 2016, Rio 2016 Olympics, Rio 2016 Olympic Games, environmental issues at Olymic Games, environmental impact of Olympics, Summer Olympics, 2016 Summer Olympics, Rio environment

INFOGRAPHIC: The real environmental impact of the 2016 Rio Olympics

The 2016 Olympics in Rio will begin in just over a week and despite several ongoing catastrophes, the games will...

volkswagen, VW, volkswagen emissions lawsuit, volkswagen emissions fraud, vw lawsuit, emissions, dieselgate, transportation, cars, green cars, volkswagen emissions fraud, vw lawsuit, vehicle emissions, emissions cheating device, new york city, volkswagen scandal, volkswagen emissions, VW scandal, VW emissions scandal

NY Attorney General sues Volkswagen for emissions fraud

In the latest development in the ongoing Volkswagen emissions scandal, the state of New York just slapped VW with...

terrariums, handmade terrarium, glass terrarium, Tracy Glover, handblown glass, glass planter, miniature gardens, tiny garden, Gourd terrarium, Cloche terrarium

Glass artist creates majestic handblown terrariums

Rhode Island-based designer and glass blower Tracy Glover has introduced this striking new series of handmade terrariums....

More Popular Stories >