Monthly Archives March 2009

Eco Friendly Rugs – 2009 Top 12 Picks

Eco friendly decorating that’s stylish, practical, and innovative has finally hit the floor. Eco sensitive rugs made from diverse materials ranging from: natural fibers like wool to upcycled poly-silk blends to recycled nylon fibers to repurposed bicycle tires are fashioned into creative and innovative forms that will have you taking a second look at what lies beneath your feet.

2. “Little Field of Flowers” by Tord Boontje for Nani Marquina(click image for detailed view). Nani Marquina is the gold standard when it comes to eco-chic. So it comes as no surprise that two rugs on The Decorating Diva.com’s “Top 12 Stylish Eco-Friendly Rugs” list come from Nani Marquina.  Industrial designer Tord Boontje, Red Dot Award winner for the “Little Field of Flowers” rug shown here, has designed a sculptural visual treat composed of punched out flowers (from wool felt)  in a variety of shapes and monochromatic color tones mimicking natures’ grassy fields and flower-filled meadows.

3. Dreamweavers‘ “Executive” rug made from upcycled silk blend ties saved from the cutting floor. Dreamweavers, early pioneers of the eco-decorating industry,  have been repurposing and giving new life to a range of discarded (and scrapped)  materials such as cotton, fleece, silk, chamois and shearling before being eco-friendly was a chic buzzword bantered about in design circles .

All images copyright and credited to respective companies as shown.

Top 12 Stylish Eco-Friendly Rugs – 2009 (6-12)

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Eco Friendly Rugs The Top 12 for 2009 (Rugs 1-5)

7. Canopy / Indigo Wool Rug by Angela Adams features multi-dimensional cut pile 100% New Zealand wool with a modern color palette of Turquoise, Loden, Indigo and Peacock.Angela Adams’ rugs are so beautifully designed that you can consider the rugs artwork for your floors. Sure, you may want to take pains to avoid walking on this floor art, but fear not . Angela Adams’ rugs are made of hearty New Zealand wool known for its durability and stain resistant capabilities.

All images copyright and credited to respective companies as shown.

Eco-Friendly Rugs – 2009 (1-5)

Organic Blankets: Wrapped in Guilt-Free Comfort

Bast Nil Bamboo Throw	Yumi and Laurie blanQuette

Wrap yourself in eco-style with fashionable organic blankets like the Bast Nlil throw (shown on left) created from handwoven bamboo in a lovely lilac hue or opt for the luxurious organic Yumi & Laurie blanket (shown on right and top) found in the stylish celeb nests of Jennifer Garner, Sarah Michelle Geller, David Boreanz and Hillary Duff. Yumi & Laurie blanQuette available at yumiandlaurie.com and for retail locations to buy the Bast Nlil bamboo throw call 800.223.7673.

Eco-Friendly Decor: Love Your Home, Love Your Planet

You don’t have to spend thousands to be Green. Yes that means you can be Green without having to install solar paneling or buy carbon credits, unless you want to, of course! There are many little things that each of us can do to help leave this planet a bit better than we found it.

Really, it’s  easy being Green just take a look at these great ideas to create an eco-friendly home:

Furniture - Why buy new? When you buy used furniture you save the factory emissions and get a bit of Sun while you hit the rummage sales for good deals. You can also buy refurbished/redesigned recycled furniture if rummage sales and a bit of DIY aren’t your thing -MetroSofa.com for Green furniture that is simply gorgeous.

Prefer new furniture? Not a problem just keep an eye out for the multitude of wonderful eco-friendly products that are created from sustainable resources such as bamboo, cork, or  Forest Stewardship Council certified woods. Take a look at our “Sitting Pretty in Eco Style: Sofas” for The Decorating Diva.com’s favorite eco chic sofas.

Speaking of Sustainable Materials – here’s what to look for in textiles: natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, hemp and silk. Those textiles have much less toxins associated with them then petro based synthetics such as polyester. More and more furniture manufacturers are going Green so it should be relatively easy to find sofas, mattresses and other soft furnishings that use sustainable and natural materials and fibers.

Paint - Look for companies that sell non-volatile organic compounds (VOC) or low-VOCs. They are better for the environment.

Plumbing- Dual flush toilets. You get the right amount of flush and it’s really a much better idea than low flow toilets – which sometimes just don’t flush right. I’m hoping the business hotel we stay at gets this hint! Actually, I hope all hotels wanting to be Green flush the low-flows and go dual flush.

Energy-Efficient Appliances – Easy to do and easy to buy. Take a look at your current appliances. Are they too old and energy hogs? Replace them with new Energy Efficient appliances. Some companies (in Florida: FPL and Florida Gas) will give you rebates or credits if you upgrade your old energy sucking appliances to newer Energy Star or energy efficient products. Last year our air conditioner died and we replaced it with a nice energy efficient model – yes it was pricey and made me want to cry. But the upside is that our utility company sent us a rebate to help soften some of the financial pain. The new AC unit cools the house for less money than we were spending using the old unit so over time the unit will pay for itself with lower electrical bills.

Flooring – Use eco-friendly and sustainable woods such as bamboo or cork. You can also use recycled materials: glass, stone, reclaimed woods (very popular) and recycled metal tiles among other Green flooring options. Need some ideas? Check out – Eco-Friendly Flooring for inspiration.

Eco-friendly Tiles: Choices abound for those wanting to Go “Green”

(Guest Column by Steve Khan) Most tile shoppers have gotten used to the fact that in the past the only available tile to choose from was made from either ceramic or porcelain. Homeowners will now be pleased to know that in the last two to three years there has been an explosion of new products on the scene, many being made from Recycled materials derived from wood, glass, metals and more.

The downside of all of the new choices coming on the market is that consumers wishing to purchase “green” materials are left wondering how and where to begin their search. With words such as “sustainable”, “recycled”, “post consumer” and reclaimed” moving in to everyday lexicon, it is easy to understand why many consumers are perplexed at the available choices. In spite of the fact that there are no official definitions our primer below should serve as a nice starting point for those shopping for eco-friendly green tiles and other building materials.

Renewable: renewable materials are those that come from naturally derived sources that renew quickly.

Green: Green refers to a substance or manufacturing method that utilizes renewable, sometimes raw materials and/or recycled material or energy sources.

Post Consumer: Post consumer material comes from a city’s’ residents discards which are collected by municipalities, community recycling centers, and other community based sources.

A small sample of the tile choices made from these materials include Bamboo tile from renewable forests, stunning glass tiles made from recycled glass, and metal tiles made from recycled bronze radiators and piping.

Most recyclers collect materials in a range of colors because that is what we as consumers are turning in to our local recycling centers. As a result, recycled product manufacturers are able to produce finished products with more variety and color that simply can not be found in regular production materials. The Blaze collection of Recycled glass tiles (shown above) are made from Post Consumer glass. Or, one can add a contemporary look with the Kimono collection of Bamboo tiles from renewable forests (shown on right). Finally, a great choice to add a touch of luxury to any bath is the River Crystals Glass Tile liners collection made from 100% post industrial glass tile. (shown on left)

Purchasing eco-friendly tiles made from recycled materials is a wonderful way to contribute to improving the environment without having to sacrifice style or luxury, and should be a consideration for eco-aware homeowners when they plan their next kitchen or bath design project.

Guest Columnist: Steve Khan, President and Founder of AnchorBayTile ( a Chandler, Arizona online tile showroom), has been in the tile business for more than five years. Steve enjoys providing customers with unique tile selections; He loves to hear from customers who’ve learned about buying and installing tile at the AnchorBayTile learning center.

Product pricing and information:

• Kimono collection of Bamboo tiles
  
• River Crystals Glass Tile
• Blaze collection of Recycled glass tiles

Eco-Friendly Bedding

Being Green is so easy you can do it in your sleep, really! Many top home furnishings and housewares retailers are introducing environmentally friendly bedding, organic linens, pillows and even mattresses, making it a dream to go Green at home.

Natural Elements pillows, by Hollander Home Fashions, are filled exclusively with a soft and lofty fill made from up to 40 post-consumer recycled, green soda bottles and wrapped in a wonderfully soft non-dyed and unbleached 100% cotton fabric.

One of the excuses (we hear often) for not going Green at home is that environmentally friendly home and decor products can be expensive. Natural Elements’ pillows confirm that eco friendly products can be affordable, comfortable and made of high quality materials.Natural Elements is currently available at Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Home Goods with suggested retail prices ranging from $9.99 – $19.99.

All natural Pure Grow Wool- Premium Eco Wool organic pillows are made without bleaches, formaldehydes, dyes, pesticide treated materials or animal cruelty. The wool fill is wrapped in the fabric cover of your choice: muslin or organic cotton. Available at ecobedroom.com. Retail prices range from $39 to $103.

The Company Store’s Bamboo Goose Down Pillow is made with 600 to 650 fill power white goose down luxuriously wrapped in a 100% bamboo cover; proving that renewable and sustainable can also be comfortable. Retails from $62 to $100.

Magniflex, the Italian luxury mattress and bedding manufacturer, has introduced the GeoEthics collection -the world’s most advanced natural oil based memory foam mattress and bedding. The GeoEthics bedding collection is made with non-toxic, renewable and organic materials. Each mattress in the GeoEthic Collection has a core made of the new Memoform, which features aloe and castor plant oils in some models. The covers of the mattresses have different renewable fibers sourced from plant or marine life, including soy fiber in SoyGreen models, bamboo fiber in the EcoBamboo model, corn fiber in the Mais Prestige model, and algae fiber in the SeaCell Emotion. Mattress prices range from $2400 to $6500. Pillow prices from $159. Retailer locations available at magniflex.us.

Simmons’ Natural Care Line by Danny Seo is an eco-friendly mattress made from luxurious natural, renewable and sustainable materials with an affordable starting price of $1599. These environmentally friendly mattresses are made from natural latex which is a biodegradable material that is resilient and is naturally anti-microbial, hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites, mold and mildew. The Natural Care mattresses are available JcPenney’s.

BuyingGreen.com has 100% organic cotton and wool bedding ensembles starting at $799.

LoopOrganic.com offers fine organic linens made from certified organic cotton, using only gentle hydrogen-peroxide for whitening, and low-impact dyes for color linens. So Loop is able to eliminate toxic waste from the linens’ manufacturing process. We also like that they are a non-sweat shop company and practice fair trade.

Gaim.com shows that organic linens and sustainable bedding can also be colorful (using low eco-impact dyes) and beautiful with their Lucia Organic Bedding collection of sheets, pillows and duvet covers.

Additional Resources: Apartment Therapy LA -The 10 Best Natural Pillow Alternatives

5 Tips For Buying Eco-Friendly Furniture

1. Look for furniture made from sustainable and renewable sources such as bamboo, cork or from trees harvested from renewable forests in which trees are planted for those cut down. Certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is also a good indicator that the furniture is is Green and not “green washed” by the manufacturer to capitalize on the growing eco-decor trend.

2. Recycle, Re-purpose and Reclaim – three words to keep in mind when looking for environmentally friendly furniture. Many home furnishing manufacturers are now using reclaimed woods, while others like Zac Designs is using recycled plastics to create interesting tabletop products. As for repurposing, take a walk into any thrift store and let your imagination go wild. An old wood door can be converted into a chic coffee table – anything is possible when you unleash your creativity.

3. Buy locally if at all possible, doing so will reduce the carbon foot print required to transport the furniture. This is another reason to check out second hand stores for furniture you want, since that furniture has already made the trip once.

4. Avoid any furniture products created with particle board since formaldehyde is used to bind the wood particles. Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound (VOC) and should be avoided. Also take note of paints and varnishes used on the furniture, as with the formaldehyde avoid VOC laden finishes. Seek furniture products finished with water-based or plant oil based products – they’re better for the environment and your respiratory health.

5. Ask for natural fibers (silk,  wool, linen, cotton, hemp, bamboo) for furniture upholstery. Cushions can be filled with natural latex, organic cotton, wool, feathers and down or the relatively new eco-friendly foam (soy foam is becoming more widely available for use in sofa cushions and pillows).

Eco Chic in Bedroom Design

The Eco Chic decorating style transcends using only sustainable materials in interior decorating. Eco Chic design combines organic and sustainable materials with the concept of giving old decor and materials a new lease on life!

DESIGN  SKETCHBOOK ELEMENTS (Bedroom design “Eco Chic”):

• Continental Organic Mattress (Hastens - dealer locations) – A purely organic, hand-made mattress made from Cotton, horse hair, flax and pure wool. Completely free from all types of Earth toxic materials like foam rubber, polyurethane and latex. A favorite of the Swedish royal family.
• Legna Seville Luxury Linens (SDH Enterprises, Inc – dealer locations) – Sustainable and organic sheets never felt so good as the silken texture of the SDH Legna collection. Indulge in pure luxury with zero guilt. This eco-friendly, alternative to cotton, luxury bedding is created from wood pulp that has been harvested from managed forests. The process yields a long-lasting, supple and lustrous fabric that gets softer and softer with every wash.
• Madeleine Boulesteix Teacup Chandelier (Madeleine Boulesteix) – Ms. Boulesteix elevates recycling to an illuminating art. She re-imagines the common tea cup, broken chains and other “discarded” every day housewares; a heap of broken bits, salvaged, fused and given new life as one-of-a-kind chandeliers.
• Recycled Glass Balloon Vases (Viva Terra )
• Diminutive Polychrome Painted Louis XVI Slant Front Desk (1st Dibs) – Buying antiques is earth friendly, its that simple. The furniture is already here, no need to manufacture it, so why not take advantage of such gorgeous pieces such as the Louis XVI  desk? This piece will set you back about $30,000 but you can pick up similar beautiful antiques or used reproductions at flea markets and garage sales.
• J.H. Thorpe “Beaufort House” Lovely Printed Linen (Design Diva Fabrics) – Re-purposing/ Re-using vintage fabrics is earth friendly, and the 44 yards of this beautiful linen can be used to reupholster a flea market find, create custom drapes or sew up that fabulous upholstered headboard you’ve been day-dreaming about.

Image Attributions: All Images are copyrighted from their respective companies.