Pretty Little Green Things

Archive for the ‘Design scheme’ Category

Yesterday I showed tabletop displays from the DIFFA Dining by Design event at the Architectural Digest Home Show.  If you didn’t see this post, take a peek because they’re just as amazing as today’s round.  I always love tabletop displays because they’re just raw creativity.  Since no one is actually eating at the table, there’s no need for practicality.  These designers have truly let their imagination run wild, which is why I always find them so inspiring.

Diane Von Furstenberg (yup, she’s got a home collection now)

I’m not sure who designed this one but I love the cityscape in the background.  If anyone know’s who this is, leave a comment below.

Echo Design

I’ve been trying not to comment on these tabletops and let them speak for themselves, but I have to tell you this was one of my favorites.  It was just so creative with the umbrella chandelier and rain pouring down on all four sides of the wood trellis.  Designed by Evette Rios for Hayneedle.

I’m also not sure who designed this one, but it’s gorgeous, no?

Anki Spets of Area for the New York Times

I also thought this display, designed by the students of Pratt with Alfredo Paredes (VP of Design at Ralph Lauren), was one of the most creative and unique.

Rockwell Group

Tracy Reese for Effen Vodka

Goil Amornvivat and Thomas Morbitzer of Tug Studio

Every year DIFFA hosts a Dining by Design event at the Architectural Digest Home Show with tons of tabletops by well known designers and tastemakers.  The acronym stands for Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS and is one of the country’s largest supporters of HIV/AIDS care & education.  Merging great design with a worthy cause seems like absolute genius to me.  Plus the tabletops are fun and absolutely inspiring, so I just had to share the whole event with you.  There were so many tables and so many I loved that I couldn’t possibly narrow it down, so I’m going to show more tables tomorrow too.  Enjoy!

David Stark (swoon!) for Benjamin Moore

I’m not sure who designed this table, so if you know leave a comment below.

The students of the Fashion Institute of Technology with mentor Preston Bailey (swoon again!)

2Michaels Design for Flor

Jeffrey Brooks Design

Brad Ford for Moore & Giles

And last but certainly not least…

Coffinier KU for the NYDC

I had a different post planned for today, but a good friend just left New York to move back to London, and my previous subject just didn’t seem to fit my mood.  So in honor of her, I put together a mood board of iconic British pieces to help her feel right at home when she lands at Heathrow.  Okay, maybe it wasn’t totally for her (it was for you too!), but she was definitely the inspiration.  Everything below is eco-friendly in some capacity – either vintage, recycled or handmade.  In fact, the Brits are actually quite eco conscious so the combination of English cultural symbols and green design just seemed to fit all around.

London is calling…and it’s green.

1. Keep Calm and Carry On Canvas Tote 2. Recycled Union Jack Pillows 3. English Motoring Helmet 4. Vintage map of England 5. Skyline of London wall sticker 6. Antique London Souvenir Tin Box 7. Embroidered Recycled Wool Union Jack Pillow 8. Vintage Hammersley Bone China Tea Service 9. Queen Elizabeth Felt Cushion 10. Red Telephone Box

I’ll admit it, I’m as guilty as the next design blogger for being completely in love with Mad Men.  Something about the sets, the clothes, the characters, who knows.  I was, of course, watching Mad Men for the latest installment and was inspired by Don’s office to create a green, handsome and sexy room scheme inspired by Sterling, Draper, Cooper, Price.  Plus with fall now officially upon us, I figured it’s also a good excuse to plug some good office supply companies.

1.  Okay, I know Don Draper is not the best father in the world, but what father wouldn’t have a picture of his kids on his desk? Misali Recycled Metal Frame from Greener Style.

2.  I’d like to think that one of those guys has a globe in their office, especially one as handsome as this.  Vintage Paul McCobb Bronze Desktop Globe from 20C Design via 1st Dibs.

3.  Guest chairs for impromptu meetings (and drinks).  Glyn Water Dining Arm Chair from Edward Ferrell.

4.  This incredible desk is what I based the entire design scheme on.  I won’t even mention the price (you might faint!).  It was designed by Bodil Kjaer in the 1960 and is absolutely swoon-worthy!  Bodil Kjaer Desk from Ciancimino (via 1st Dibs).

5.  This desk chair is absolutely what they would have used in the 1960s.  This Eames chair is the original design from Herman Miller.

6.  Any office worthy of Mad Men should be adequately wood paneled.  Fake the look with Ajiro Chevron wood wallpaper from Maya Romanoff.

7.  This table lamp fits the scheme, although it might be a tad too modern for Mad Men.  Sorry Don, I love it.  Metro Series No. 6 from Whyrhmyer.

8.  Appointments would absolutely be kept in a leather bound journal. And this one is eco-friendly to boot.  Advisor Planner from Ecosystem.

9.  And of course binders for all of their accounts.  Classic Binder from the Naked Binder.

10.  These vintage travertine bookends would make a handsome statement.  Death Valley Antique Travertine Bookends from Etsy.

Happy Monday!  I recently discovered Stina Persson and absolutely fell in love with her watercolors.  They’re colorful, artful, feminine but with a certain cool factor to them.  Make sure to check out her website so you can see a larger range of her work.  I decided to base this Monday’s room scheme around one of her beautiful pieces.  The one that spoke to me is more monochromatic than some of her other works and I think just stunning.  The coordinating pieces I chose to surround the artwork also have a level of artfulness to them which makes everything go together in a very unique way.  So without further ado, here is this week’s artful, chic and of course eco-friendly living room scheme.

1.  Pendant light made from reused Coca Cola bottles.  Cola 30 pendant from Sarah Turner.

2.  Reclaimed wood on a steel base.  Retalho Coffee Table from Rotsen Furniture.

3.  Handwoven wool and silk rug.  Linden rug by Liza Phillips Design.

4.  Handprinted linen pillow.  Zorah Navy on Snow from Christen Maxwell.

5.  Sofa made from reclaimed wood.  Trousdale Sofa 2 from Lawson-Fenning.

6.  Silk & linen fabric for drapery.  Silk Grille from Pollack.

7.  The gorgeous watercolor that this room is based on.  From Stina Persson.

8.  Solid wood TV console.  Visualizm from Izm.

Happy Monday!  I found the coolest vases the other day and decided to do Monday’s room scheme around them.  They’re from Phil Cuttance, who makes them from discarded off-cut ABS from a local London plastic fabricator.  They really unique and so cool.  So technically this isn’t a whole room scheme, it’s more of a table top setting, but you get the idea.  Enjoy!  Details are below.

1.  Perfect for your white wine, these goblets are actually made from recycled wine bottles.  Willow Goblet from the Green Glass Company.

2.  Why not try alternating patterned placemats to add a little interest to your table.  Linden & Maya Placemats in Plum from Hammocks and High Tea.

3.  I love the simplicity of these napkins with the reclaimed suede ties.  They’re made from vintage fabric of 80% hemp and 20% cotton from a family farm in Romania.  Napkins with Ties from Branch.

4.  No dinner party is complete without a fun apron for the hostess.  Try this bright colored Juniper Apron from Unison.

5.  These are the vases I mentioned above.  I mean, how cool are these?  Weld Vases from Phil Cuttance.

6.  I love the texture and the handcrafted feel of these glasses and carafe.  They’re hand blown from recycled glass.  Syrian Drinking Glasses and Carafe from Canvas.

7.  Instead of salt and pepper shakers, why not try little cellars?  These are made from low-fire ceramic which uses less energy than traditional ceramic.  Tiny Basket Bowl from Perch, sold through Branch.

8.  Instead of buying new silverware, buy vintage.  This set is old hotel silver.  Hotel Silver from P.O.S.H.

9.  Last but not least, you’ll need dishes!  These plates are also made from low-fire ceramic and really great quality (so you’ll never need to replace them).  Rim Line plates from Heath Ceramics.

Don’t worry, I’m not turning this blog into a stationary site, but in honor of my one year wedding anniversary (August 14!), I decided to do Monday’s room scheme as an eco-friendly paper inspired round-up instead.  All of the notebooks, binders and stationary below are made of recycled, certified or post-consumer products (or all three!) and are made by environmentally conscious companies.  But best of all, they look great.

There are tons of eco-friendly paper options out there; it was hard to select just these few.  Next time you’re in the market for office supplies, binders, notebooks or stationary think green first and support these great companies.

1.  Decomposition Notebook from Kate’s Paperie

2.  Academic Great Big Wall/Desk Calendar from Paper Source

3.  Project Binder from the Naked Binder

4.  Table Setting Paper Placemats from Kate’s Paperie

5.  Zinnia Album from Rag & Bone (there are a ton more cover options online so be sure to look!)

6.  Things to Remember Notepad from Little Otsu

7.  Letterpress Congratulations Card from Sycamore Street Press

8.  Hemp Drawing Book from Green Field Paper Company

9.  Plantable Seed Notes from Porridge Papers

Happy Monday!  I’ve had kitchens on my mind lately since we’re about ready to redo ours.  While ours won’t look exactly like this scheme, I did want to take the opportunity to show you how modern and chic an eco-friendly kitchen can be.  I gathered a range of beautiful kitchen materials, energy efficient appliances and fun accessories.  I may have went a little bit overboard on this one, but I’ve really only scratched the surface of what is possible for a green kitchen.  Bear with all of my explanations and enjoy the beautiful kitchen selections of the week.

1.  This beautiful dimensional tile comes from Heath Ceramics.  It’s a great way to add some texture to your backsplash while still being super easy to clean.  It’s also a great combo of a modern pattern and warm white color.  Crease tile from Heath Ceramics.

2.  Engineered stone sometimes gets a bad rap for being not as natural looking as marble or granite.  But with all of the possible environmental issues of natural stone, I think this countertop from Ice Stone is a wonderful alternative, made locally of recycled glass and concrete.  Refined Collection in Snow Flurry from Ice Stone.

3.  These modern cabinets come from Breathe Easy and are made from sustainably harvested woods with low-VOC water based stains.  The cabinet door that I’ve selected is a horizontal grain oak with a dark wenge finish.

4.  You might think that linoleum is so 1970s, but it’s actually one of the greenest flooring materials out there.  It’s made from 100% renewable materials including linseed oil, rosins, wood flour and jute, and of course finished with ecologically responsible pigments.  It comes in a ton of colors, but I think this Slate grey would be very chic in this kitchen.  Marmoleum tile from Forbo.

5.  You’ve probably all heard about Energy Star ratings, a symbol to show you that your appliance is energy efficient.  This is a very important thing to look for when selecting appliances because better efficiency means that it’s better for the environment and your wallet.  This integrated refrigerator from Miele is, of course, Energy Star rated.

6.  I’m definitely one of those people that needs a cup of coffee in the morning.  Too bad I don’t have one of these coffee systems in my house (a girl can dream, can’t she?).  This one also comes from Miele, a company with a great environmental track record.

7.  This dishwasher comes from Bosch, as is said to be the most efficient dishwasher in the US.  I’ll have to take their word for it.  Either way, it’s leaps and bounds above our current dishwasher.  800 plus dishwasher from Bosch.

8.  Of course you’ll need something to chop all of your fresh veggies on.  There are a ton of bamboo and cork cutting board options out there, but I like this butcher block style.  Bamboo chopping block sold through Green Feet.

9.  These bamboo cooking utensils are handmade by Bambu in China from 100% organically grown bamboo and natural food safe wood oil.  Bambu only works with manufacturing partners who demonstrate a commitment to environmental protection, worker health and safety and fair labor practices.  You can feel good about your choice while stirring your spaghetti!  Bamboo Utensils from Bambu and sold through Branch.

10.  Also sold through Branch is this beautiful flower vessel made from a low-fire ceramic (which means it takes less energy to make) and finished with a non-toxic glaze.  Vessel: Ivy handmade by Perch and sold through Branch.

11.  I love dishes and dinnerware of all kind so it’s always tough for me to choose just one.  What I like about these beautiful ones from Vivaterra is that they have both a modern and handmade quality to them.  And right now they’re also on sale!  Birch dinnerware from VivaTerra.

12.  These tumblers are made from the lower portion of recycled California Chardonay wine bottles.  And then they use the top half for the wine glasses.  Brilliant!  11oz Topaz Clear Equus tumblers from Bambeco.

13.  I just had to include this piece because I love the contrast of the warm bamboo against the outer gray bowl.  Large Salad Bowl from Bambu and sold through Feel More Human.

14.  Induction cooktops are very eco-friendly because they cook food much faster by directing heat directly to the cookware (and thus your food), and therefore don’t waste energy.  36″ Induction Cooktop from Wolf.

15.  And lastly, phew!  This eco-chic tea towel is made from 100% organic cotton and printed with water based non-toxic inks.  Ikat Chevron Tea Towel from Hammocks & High Tea.

Happy Monday!  I have a brand new room scheme for you to start off the week – a vintage inspired industrial chic bathroom that’s also green.  In my apartment, I have a great big pedestal sink in our bathroom that I love.  New visitors to our apartment always comment on it, so I figured finding the perfect washstand would be the best starting inspiration.  This particular washbasin is amazing because of where to stone comes from.  It was salvaged from paving stones from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden at MoMA in New York City when the garden was enlarged and redesigned in 2002.  I particularly love the blue gray color and movement of the stone.  It would make the most beautiful focal point for any bathroom, not just this industrial chic one.  So without further ado, here is my eco-friendly vintage inspired bathroom.

1.  Pamper yourself with luxury 100% organic cotton bath towels from Coyuchi.

2.  I wouldn’t mind spending much of my Sundays hanging out in this plush robe.  100% organic cotton bath robe from Under the Canopy and sold at Eden Home.

3.  This bath mat is a made from plantation-grown tropical hardwood reclaimed from flooring projects.  Lattice Wooden Mat from Crate & Barrel.

4.  This chic shower curtain is made by textile artisans in northwest India with a rich indigo dye derived from plants.  The ground is pesticide free cotton.  Indigo Shower Curtain from VivaTerra.

5.  The clawfoot bathtub is a vintage item from Salvage One.  It was reglazed and is in amazing condition.  I particularly love that the outside is black which is a bit different than most vintage bathtubs out there.  If you’re in the market for a tub like this, you can usually find one in your area with a bit of internet research.

6.  This gorgeous cabinet is actually an old medical cabinet from the early 1900s.  I think it would look fantastic repurposed in a bathroom rather than used in a doctor’s office.  You can buy this one at Urban Archaeology.

7.  These sconces would be the perfect addition to this industrial-chic bathroom scheme.  They’re vintage pieces from Italy from the 1960s.  I love the elegant glass shade contrasted against the antique metal finish.  Sold through Obsolete at 1st Dibs.

8.  As I mentioned above, the washstand stone is made from stone repurposed from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden at MoMA.  Sold through Urban Archaeology.

9.  Kohler has a huge selection of bathroom fixtures that are part of their WaterSense series, which promotes water saving products and practices.  This sink faucet and corresponding pieces are from the Pinstripe Pure line.  I love the slightly vintage yet modern shape of these fixtures – very eco-friendly and stylish.

10. No vintage bathroom would be complete without subway tiles for the wall.  Ceramic tile is a wonderfully eco-friendly material – it’s durable, generally non-toxic and uses plentiful raw ingredients.  But this specific tile is even more eco-friendly because it’s made from 60% recycled materials and finished with natural, old-world glazes.  Express Series tile in Biscuit Gloss from Fireclay Tile.

11. And of course you’ll need natural eco-friendly bath products for your industrial vintage bathroom.  Pure Soap Bar Soap from Gaiam, Organic Butter Cream from Sabon, and Naturally Nourishing Milk & Shea Butter Body Wash from Burt’s Bees.

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.