Cuddledown Organic Bedding: Seashell Sheets & Estrella Comforter Cover

Cuddledown known for it’s eco friendly, organic bedding and healthy, hypoallergenic linens easily pleases those seeking a healthy home and a healthy planet.

The 300 thread count Seashell Organic Bedding Collection is an organic cotton percale created from low-impact dyes and 100% certified organic combed cotton.

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Home Decor Buyer Resource:  Cuddledown

Eco Friendly Office Chair Mats Made from Bamboo

Stop feeling guilty about that awful plastic office chair mat. There is now an environmentally safe solution to the age old office problem posed by desk chair wheels and unyielding surfaces such as carpet.  Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Co. has created eco-friendly Roll-Up Bamboo Office Chair Mats – made from (as the aptly named product title) – bamboo.

Dark Cherry Wide	Natural Wide	Dark Cherry Narrow

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Home Decor Buyer Resource:Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Co.

How many layers should a latex mattress have?

“Ask The Decorating Diva”

Dear The Decorating Diva,

I’m looking to buy a latex foam mattress and after reviewing all the available mattress choices I’m having a hard time figuring out if there is any benefit to buying a latex mattress that has one, two, three, or more layers. Is it worth the money? These mattresses are kind of steep price wise and I don’t want to spend money on a feature that isn’t necessary.

B. Steele in Austin, TX

B.,

Most eco-friendly bedding, including mattresses do tend to carry a much higher price tag than it’s less environmentally friendly siblings, so I can understand your desire to obtain some savings by carefully weighing your mattress buying options.

Typically latex foam mattresses are constructed from either two, three or four layers, with the softest layers on top of more firm layers beneath. In the two layer latex mattress you can expect to find a thin layer of foam laid atop a much thicker layer of latex foam. The three layer latex mattress follows the same layer recipe as the two layer – and then adds an even thicker layer at the bottom which will provide a nice and firm sleeping surface.

The best method to determine which layered latex mattress best suits your sleeping needs is to try them out.  A mattress is a major expenditure and many mattress and bedding companies allow “sleep trial” periods.

Best,
Carmen Natschke
Editor, The Decorating Diva LLC

5 Eco Friendly Chairs: Green Design Takes A Fashionable Seat

When I set out to write about eco friendly chairs, I first thought about spotlighting pieces that were new and crafted from sustainable materials like cork and bamboo. There were plenty to choose from, some were beautiful while others, well, as they say only their creator could find them attractive but none seemed to tug at my heart strings. Then I remembered how excited I was when I spoke to Huda Bari of Bokja Designs.  Bokja Designs crafts beautiful, environmentally friendly contemporary furniture from vintage textiles-creating the new from that with a history.

I’ve also been an outspoken proponent of using what you have interior styling since my early decorating days  so it was only natural for me to embrace flea market, garage sale  and estate auction finds. I would relish in the knowledge, that an ugly, beat up chair with multiple holes and the stuffing poking out  like a discarded stuffed animal could be transformed over a  few weekends into a stately beauty with a few coats of paint, fresh stuffing/cushion foam and new upholstery.Back in those days,  I was a cash strapped teenager with  time and creativity as my only resources, and unbeknown to me,  I was designing and creating eco-chic decor – thanks to my economic status.And decoration  inspiration In these economically trying times with so many bantering about phrases like  “ credit crunch chic” and “recessionista style”  seems to be just what we all need.

With that in mind, I think you will be clearly inspired with these beautiful and stylish chairs that have a history, are eco-friendly and from a design perspective – have the inherent ability to inspire.

1. Bokja chair I spotted at Design Miami/. It captured my design soul.  This contemporary styled eco-friendly chair is more than a pretty face  – it has a spirit deeply rooted in tradition. You see, all Bokja designed furniture is crafted from opulent, embroidered vintage textiles rich with the color, patterns and history of Central Asian culture.The creative design team of Huda Baroudi and Maria Hibri of Bokja Designs love their craft and each one-of-a-kind  eco-friendly piece (crafted by local artisans) shows their deep love for historically inspired contemporary design – perhaps that’s why the designing duo behind Bokja designs have a loyal following among design aficionados and Hollywood stars including Salma Hayek,  Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock.

2.  Jeffry by Chair Couture – One-of-a-Kind 1940s vintage armchair painted in an ivory lacquer and eco-dressed in a refreshing aqua material.

3.   Floribunda Chair by BluGirl Art (photo credit: Dan Minicucci). The Floribunda is a wicker armchair that has been given a second life with a bold, red lacquer finish and dressed up in an eco-savvy  floral printed cotton twill  fabric splashed with a a color palette that embodies the natural beauty of Florida – from her turquoise waters to her citrus groves and her unforgettable pink tinted sunsets.The chair also comes with an environmentally friendly stain protection courtesy of VECTRA, the eco-safe alternative to Scotchguard. 4.  Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen available through Bond & Bowery.  This iconic Mid Century Modern chair and the number five pick below illustrate why buying vintage furniture and antiques with a defined sense of history and timeless beauty  is the pinnacle of  stylish eco decorating. 5. Barrel Chair from 1stdibs.  This 1950s era beauty fits nicely into the Hollywood Regency style – currently a hot trend now.

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Sofas that Have you Sitting Pretty in Eco-Style

Buying a sofa is a major purchase and it’s a piece of furniture that you will probably hold on to for a few years. So it makes sense to do your homework and buy a sofa that fits your eco-aware lifestyle.

But how do you know if the sofa truly is Green? Fortunately, over the last five years, Green Furniture manufacturers (like Cisco Brothers, Greener Lifestyles, Amy McKay, Viesso, Robert Craymer, Eco Sofa and Hickory Chair) have stepped up to fill the eco-chic furniture niche. And yes, each of these manufacturers create GORGEOUS, green, eco-fabulous furniture! Just take a look at the eco sofas we picked as our environmentally-friendly favorites (shown above). These sofas are as eco-friendly as they are gorgeous.

When shopping for an eco-friendly sofa here’s s are six items you need to look for:

1.  SOFA FRAME

Look for furniture that has received the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) certification. The FSC concentrates its efforts on setting standards to achieve sustainability in the harvesting of forest products. There are various woods that are harvested with sustainability in mind.

Consider non-wood alternatives such as Bamboo. This plentiful grass is an excellent environmentally friendly furniture material since it grows quickly, is easily replenished and does not require replanting. Bamboo is a strong material that has been used through Asia as scaffolding, has gained tremendous popularity as flooring material and is quickly gaining favor in the textile world as a fabric of choice for those seeking sustainable and organic upholstery alternatives.

2.  CUSHIONS AND FILL

Natural Latex harvested from rubber trees is eco-friendly, bio-degradable, mildew and mold resistant, has anti-microbial qualities and is renewable. A wonderful alternative to the environmentally destructive polyurethane foam (petroleum based) that can cause chemical sensitivities and languishes in landfills.

Down & Feathers that are cleaned with non-toxic substances.

Wool is a favorite among the eco-savvy, and for good reason. Wool is a renewable material, naturally fire retardant and has wonderful anti-microbial qualities.

Organic Cotton that is treated with environmentally friendly pesticides, and given color with non-toxic dyes.

3.  UPHOLSTERY

Hemp, organic cotton, silk, wool, bamboo and leather offer a multitude of eco-fabulous fabric options.

4.  RECYCLED MATERIALS

Reusing discarded materials ranging from recycled steel coils to recycled cushion fibers made from plastic water bottles keeps them out of landfills and contributes to a cleaner planet.

5.  ADHESIVES, STAINS AND PAINTS

Water based adhesives are usually 100% solvent-free and emit no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are bad for the environment and bad for our respiratory health.
Look for non-VOC sealants, stains or paints that use polyx oils derived from plant oils and waxes or are water-based rather than petro-based products like oil-based polyurethanes.

6.  RECYCLING PROGRAMS

Now that you have a new stylish, eco-friendly sofa on order, What to do with your current sofa? List it on on eBay, Craig’s List, donate it or participate in a vendor sponsored recycling program. Many Green furniture manufacturers, such as Viesso, have recycling programs in place to accept their brand of furniture when the time comes to replace the old with the new.

RESOURCES: Viesso.com (Blumen sofa), ecosofa.com,(Organic Dalla Terra Hemp sofa) greenerlifestyles.com (CLEO sofa), robertcraymer.com, ciscobrothers.com(Catalina sofa and Bruno sofa), hickorychair.com(Brooks sectional) and amimckaydesign.com(Emmy sofa – PURE by Ami  McKay).

Green Christmas Gift Guide 2009

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Malaika Orange Naniwa Bedding Collection

Malaika Naniwa Bedding Collection provides the true Green Enthusiast an organic experience coupled with societal responsibility. The Malaika linens are created from cotton that is grown, spun, woven, sewn and embroidered in Egypt by underprivileged women who are taught how to embroider. The founder’s of Malaika believe that “that social responsibility and the manufacturing of luxury goods must go hand in hand. We care for our product as well as for the individual that participates in its creation.”

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Home Decor Buyer Resource: Malaika

Vera Wang Mattress: Something Blue

Vera Wang brings her signature high design style to Serta with the introduction of the “Something Blue Plush  Mattress Set”. What makes this Vera Wang bedding option worthwhile (in our opinion) is that it is eco-friendly and luxurious. The Vera Wang Something Blue mattress is created from environmentally safe natural latex foam combined with technologically advanced Visco memory foam for a perfect night’s sleep.

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Home Decor Buyer Resource: Vera Wang

Latex and Soy Cloud Mattress – Eco Friendly Bedding

Cloud Mattress from Natura World made of an eco-balanced combination of natural latex and natural soy foam encased in an eco-friendly and hypoallergenic wool lining covered in a soft cotton blend.

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Home Decor Buyer Resource: Natura World

Savvy Rest Organic Mattress

Organic Mattress from Savvy Rest. Savvy Rest lets you customize your organic bedding experience, you can choose from 2, 3 or 4 layers of natural latex (your choice of Dunlop latex or Talalay latex) wrapped in organic cotton or wool.

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Home Decor Buyer Resource: Savvy Rest