The Smart Home is the Chicago’s greenest house located on the ground of the Museum of Science and Industry. It’s opened to public from 2008 but recently was renovated by Midwest Living. The home is designed to reflect the lifestyle of an empty-nester couple and features soft, organic textures and colors fused with a contemporary style — as well as unique green technologies for the 21st century. It shows that you can build the house that has great spaces for entertaining, a master bedroom that serves as a retreat, a whimsical nursery/playroom for a visiting grandchild and a functional home office on a standard Chicago city lot.

A highlight of the first floor is the wood and polished concrete dining room table, made by Chicago furniture designer Keelin Kennedy, from the wood of a 100-year-old bur oak tree that fell on the Museum’s property in 2009. Chicago artist Terry Karpowicz has also made a headboard, coffee table and three side tables from the tree for use in the home.

Upstairs, soft greens and blues symbolize new beginnings and renewed energy. The master bedroom and bath are designed as a personal retreat for the couple, featuring a bamboo bed with organic bedding. The master bath boasts a walk-in shower with gorgeous glass tile made from recycled wine bottles, sleek sinks created from recycled porcelain, low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets.

Throughout the home the lighting design by GE Lighting helps to expand the mood of the interior design. Bringing the natural lighting of outdoors in, using the newest Energy Star-qualified CFL and LED bulbs, gives the Smart Home up to 75 percent more energy savings when compared to incandescent bulbs.

If you want to know more about green technologies that was used in the house, visit its website.