Pretty Little Green Things

Archive for July, 2010

I haven’t really gotten too much into bedding and linens yet.  It’s a big topic with so many manufacturers, so many reviews, so much complexity and so much disagreement.  Instead of joining in the debate, I’d rather just show you what I think are the most beautiful, luxurious and well made products out there, never mind thread count and all that.  So to start, I’m excited to show you Sefte, a luxury bedding line from Spain (but sold throughout the US).  What I love best about this company, besides the fact that everything they make is beyond stunning, is their commitment to social and environmental practices.  Their gorgeous bedding is made from organic cotton and intricately hand embroidered by Vietnamese women using traditional techniques.  And their beautiful throws are made of super soft alpaca wool from the Andes and hand knit or woven by Peruvian artisans.  I could go on, but I’ll let their pictures speak for themselves.  Enjoy!

It’s probably good I don’t own any of their bedding.  I might never make it out of bed if I did!

Here’s a detail of their gorgeous embroidery.  It’s so perfect!

Here are a few of their luxurious throws

I love the pattern and detail of this blanket

I realize it’s so hot out right now and the last thing you want to look at is a pile of blankets, but I just couldn’t resist this last picture.  So beautiful!

Photos from Sefte

I’m a big fan of any big box retailer seeing the light and greening their company.  And I get especially excited when that company sells chic furniture and home accessories.  West Elm has been on the forefront of both the affordable design and the environmental movement for a while now so I’m really excited for this latest collaboration.  West Elm partnered with students from Pratt Institute to design a line of environmentally friendly office furniture and lighting made from eco-friendly materials including: FSC-certified woods, powder-coated (rather than painted) steel, non-toxic glues, water-based stains and energy efficient LEDs.  And I love what they came up with!  The pieces are very eco-chic and now with a Mid-century modern feel.  I’ve included pictures of most of their items here, but it’s definitely worth a visit West Elm’s website too.  And the best part?  In keeping with West Elm’s low prices, they’re not expensive at all.  I’d love to hear what you think about this collection.

Here’s the entire collection: Desk, office chair, file drawer and LED desk lamp

File drawer

LED desk lamp

Wall accessories

Photos from West Elm

It’s been incredibly hot in New York the past couple of weeks.  Our AC has been going non-stop since I think April (not very eco-friendly I’m afraid, but we’re aiming to replace our current model with an Energy Star one).  Maybe if we had one of these Isis ceiling fans from Big Ass Fans, our apartment would be a lot cooler.  Okay, okay, they might be a bit big for our small one bedroom apartment, but they’re fantastic for larger volumes that are hard to heat and cool.  I won’t get into all of the technical details about these fans, but I will say that because of the ways the blades are designed, this fan moves a lot of air without a lot of energy.  Very energy efficient and perfect for two story foyers or living rooms.

They come in a few different stock colors (I’m partial to the white above), but you can also get custom colors to match your design scheme.  Here are a few pictures of the Isis, which is their residential version.  Big Ass Fans also makes a few other commercial fans including a similar version called the Element.

Photos from Big Ass Fans

Since we moved into our apartment almost two years ago, I have been on the lookout for the perfect mirror for the brick wall above our fireplace.  (Working fireplace in NYC, isn’t that amazing?)  I’ve come across the ugly, the beautiful, the eco-friendly and the not so eco-friendly.  But if you’ve ever been over to our house, you’ll notice that the spot is still empty, meaning I’ve never found both the beautiful and the eco-friendly together.  Until now.  These gorgeous oculus mirrors are made from a reclaimed bamboo substrate with hand applied gilt.  And they’re made locally in Brooklyn by Van Gregory & Norton who also make the most amazing drapery rods and hardware.  Now if only I could afford one of these mirrors myself…

Photos from Van Gregory & Norton

Happy Monday and happy bedroom scheme day!  I’ve put together a comfortable and modern bedroom that’s all (okay, mostly) eco-friendly.  The mix of simple pieces (like the nightstand and alarm clock) with feature pieces (like the gorgeous bed and the AMAZING dresser) make this room fresh and unique.  The antique rug also brightens and warms up the room.  Enjoy!

1.  The sheets and pillow cases are 100% organic cotton sateen from Wildflower Organics.  Pearl Organic Sateen Cases & Sheets from Wildflower Organics.

2.  I love the rich gray blue color of the 100% organic cotton duvet cover and shams.  And the subtle pleating adds interest to an otherwise solid set.  Louie Organic Coverlet & Shams from Wildflower Organics.

3.  The amazing dresser is made from recycled rosewood with ebony pulls and a white lacquer frame.  Gorgeous!  Rosewood Dresser from Palo Samko.

4.  What better way to be eco-friendly than to buy used?  And well made antique rugs always look better with age.  Antique Anatolian Rug from ABC Carpet & Home.

5.  I’m a huge fan of putting something at the end of the bed, whether it be a set of chairs, a trunk or an upholstered bench.   This one would do quite nicely in this eco-friendly bedroom especially with its certified wood frame and eco-friendly foam.  Romero Bench from Cisco Brothers.

6.  This bed would make an amazing focal point in a bedroom.  The curved shape is sensual without being overwhelming or too feminine.  Plus I love upholstered headboards and nailheads (and together is even better!).  Humphrey Bed from Williams Sonoma Home.  (Williams Sonoma is now making some of their furniture as part of a green collection.  I don’t know exactly how it’s green, but when I find out, I’ll pass that along).

7.  I love the simple yet modern shape of this nightstand.  Plus the wood they use to make it can be requested to come from fallen or recycled wood sources.  Stacked Box Nightstand from Lawson-Fenning.

8.  Okay, so I’m cheating a bit here.  This lamp isn’t technically eco-friendly, but it does get a few check marks in my book.  It’s a good quality and stylish piece that you won’t want to throw away (thus saving from the landfill), it’s made locally (Brooklyn) and made by a responsible company.  Monogram Table Lamp from Roll & Hill.

9.  This LED alarm clock is made from a chunk of wood that when off looks just like that – a chunk of wood.  (Although I’m not sure when you would ever turn your alarm clock off since that’s sort of the whole point…)  However, when on, shows the time, temperature or date.    Wooden LED Clock from Homeloo.

10.  And last but certainly not least, you’ll need some bright throw pillows to brighten up the bed.  These two are made of 100% organic printed cotton and filled with 100% organic cotton batting.  Thorns Throw Pillow or Roses/Brown Leaves Sham from Plover Organic.

I have yet to talk about eco-friendly paint here at Pretty Little Green Things, so I figured it was about time to tackle this important design issue.  I’m especially excited to talk about Farrow & Ball because, in my opinion, they make the most gorgeous and rich colors.  And well they should.  Farrow & Ball has been making paint the old fashioned way for over 70 years.  They’ve never changed their original paint mixture which means instead of containing plastics and resins, each can contains natural ingredients such as linseed oil and China clay.  It also means that their paint is naturally no-VOC and always has been.  But best of all, their colors have a richness and a depth to them that no commercial paint will ever be able to replicate.  You can read their environmental statement and which paint finishes are no-VOC here.

It’s a little difficult to show paint on a website because the colors will never express the same richness on your monitor that they do in person.  So instead, I’m going to post a few installation shots.  If you’re interested in seeing their paints in person, there are a few Farrow & Ball showrooms throughout the US.  Click here for locations.  And of course since they’re from the UK, there are tons of showrooms there too.  You can also buy a sample pot (and whole gallons!) online, so you can try it out for yourself.

Photos from Farrow & Ball

I’m over at Etsy today, where I wrote a guest blog of my top picks of gorgeous furniture and accessories made from recycled materials.  It was hard to pick from such an amazing selection of handcrafted pieces but I think I found some amazing pieces.  Take a look at the full article here for my picks of eco-chic design on Etsy. Thanks Etsy!

Continuing with the baby furniture series that started with cribs, I’ve put together my top 10 picks of baby dressers/changers.  These pieces can all be used either as a dresser or as a baby changer or both!  As I’ve said before, there are many great options for eco-friendly baby furniture.  For many people, it’s an inspired place to jump into in the green movement.  Babies are much more susceptible to indoor toxins than we are and so with good reason, buying eco-friendly is that much more important to parents.

So with that, here are my top 10 picks of baby dressers and changers.  Which one is your favorite?

1.  Made from bamboo (front) and “dropped” scraps of wood (sides) and finished with food grade tung oil, this dresser is a stylish and eco-friendly storage option.  I love the contrast of the rich woods on the side with the light wood drawers.  Oops Station by Structured Green.

2.  I love the simple lines and light colors of this changer/dresser.  It’s made from locally sourced ash and maple with no-VOC finishes.  And the little drawer pulls are made from Tagua nuts.  Cute!  Solare Changing Dresser from Q Collection Junior.

3.  As you can probably tell, I’m a sucker for well designed hardware so it’s no surprise that I love the hardware and the turned legs on this chic dresser.  And the dresser is made from fast growing Paulownia wood and and non toxic finishes.  Canterbury Changing Table from Nurseryworks

4.  The changing station on top and the dresser below are separate, but are made to fit together.  I love the mix of the two pieces.  Both are  made from FSC certified wood with low-VOC finishes.  IoLine Dresser and Changing Trunk from Kalon Studios.

5.  The contrast of the dark wood drawers against the white frame makes this piece stand out and not look like baby furniture.  And the carved wooden handles don’t hurt either!  Moderne Dresser from Netto Collection.

6.  This changer is also from Netto Collection, but the lighter wood gives it a completely different look.  It almost has a Danish modern look to it.  Cabine Changer from Netto Collection.

7.  This dresser comes in a variety of colors and finishes, but I really like it in this bright red.  It would look great with all of the primary color room scheme.  Alex 3 Drawer Changer from ducduc.

8.  Also from ducduc is this changer and dresser made from solid walnut with non-toxic finishes.  It comes in a few different finish and drawer options so be sure to check online.  Morgan 4 Drawer Dresser from ducduc (also comes in a three drawer option).

9.  The taupe color and modern legs of this changer is really chic.  And it’s compact size would be great for apartment living.  It’s made from eco-MDF (made from recovered wood fibers) and non-toxic finishes.  Sparrow Dresser from Oeuf.

10.  Last but certainly not least is this minimal modern dresser and changer also from Oeuf.  The sleek handle free drawers and light wood rails would be perfect for the trendiest baby.  This one is made from 100% sustainable solid wood and natural water based paint.  Robin Dresser from Oeuf.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this collection of baby dressers.  If you’re looking for something specific for your baby or kid, please drop me a line and let me know how I can help you find your perfect green piece.

I went to the opening gala for the House beautiful Kitchen of the Year 2010 last night and have some quick sneak peeks for you.  It was crowded, so these aren’t the best pictures, but hopefully you get the idea.  You can also take a look at the kitchen in this clip from the Today Show of Al Roker interviewing the designer, Flipping Out’s Jeff Lewis or see House Beautiful’s pictures here.  I am disappointed that they didn’t try to incorporate more green elements into it, but it’s a beautiful kitchen nonetheless.  If you live in the New York area, you should definitely try to get to Rockefeller Center to take a look for yourself.  As I said before, it’s open to the public from July 19-23.  Here’s the schedule of events.

Here they are interviewing Jeff Lewis.  You can sort of see him behind the branches.

Here’s Jeff Soderbergh’s GORGEOUS dining table.  It’s even more gorgeous in person, so you’ll definitely have to make it down to check it out for yourself.  I love the contrast of the rough wood against the sleek metal.  Well done!

Here’s Jeff with his lovely wife Natasha sitting at his amazing table.

Happy room scheme day!  Hopefully you enjoyed yesterday’s House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year 2009 in lieu of this room scheme.  But the wait is over, I’ve put together an chic and casual dining room for you.  I love mixing textures, styles and colors together to get a very interesting and dynamic composition.  What I’ve done here is mix a few refined pieces (like the credenza and dining chair) together with some very natural and rough materials to get a dining room that has a certain elegance and worldliness to it without being stuffy.  Enjoy and let me know your thoughts!

1.  This amazing chandelier comes from Mud Ceramics Studio in South Africa, but you can get it at Amaridian.  It’s made from hand rolled clay that has been fired.  I love the addition of the crystals just to give an extra touch of glam.

2.  I love the mixture of the elegant chain pattern but printed on a hemp background.  Very chic!  Chain Link pattern from Philip Jeffries.

3.  The white lacquer of the doors is a nice contrast against the dark and natural walnut.  Sideboard 1.0 from Charlet Design.

4.  This lamp is made from wine jugs and is available in mercury glass (shown) or clear.  I would put one on either side of the credenza. Wine Sphere Table Lamp from Wildflower Organics.

5.  A collection of these Column Tea Lights would make a beautiful statement piece on the credenza.  Made by Helen Vaughan and sold through Amaridian.

6.  I adore the color of this hand knotted, all wool area rug.  Nanaka rug from Odegard.

7.  For a centerpiece, I would use a sculptural piece like this one.  Add a bunch of calla lilies arcing over the side and you’ll be set.  Earthenware Ceramic Vessel made by Astrid Dahl and sold through Amaridian.

8.  This gorgeous live edge table comes from David Stine.  It’s made from a large slice of a rare Black Walnut tree.  Lowder Table from David Stine Woodworking.

9.  The slight camelback hump on this elegant chair contrasts nicely against the rougher wood dining table.  Park It Dining Chair from Q Collection.

10. Of course, you’ll need something to serve on and these trays from My Sparrow do the trick nicely.  They’re made from recycled materials.  Granada Oval Trays from My Sparrow.