Pretty Little Green Things

Archive for the ‘Interior Finishes’ Category

I’ve taken a little blogging hiatus over the last week to get some work done on a top secret project (I hope to have more to share someday soon.  And no, it’s not a book deal if that’s what you were guessing).  I’m back this week with a paint update.  Like many of you, I have my favorites – Farrow & Ball and Benjamin Moore remain my go to’s for color and quality.  But when I got an update from Unearthed Paints for their totally natural pigments, I was intrigued.  It turns out that their paints are made with all raw ingredients, like clay, chalk, and marble, and contain absolutely no synthetic ingredients.  They are biodegradable and because they’re not made with plastic binders, they are breathable.  What I love about natural paints are the luminosity and depth you get from the colors that you just can’t get with conventional choices.

Unearthed Paints come in a range of choices like Clay Paint, Vega Paint (their version of milk paint), Lime Paint and Plasters, among others.  And unlike conventional paints that you would buy premixed in a store, these are sold as powders.  Just mix with water and white to get your exact shade of choice.  The saturated color on the left is what you get without any mixing.  The shades on the right are what you would get mixing with a little bit and a little bit more of white.

If all of this sounds difficult or beyond your comfort level, Unearthed Paints has tons of tips and tricks on their website to help you with your project.  And even more helpful, you can always call them with questions.  How many paint companies do that?

Photos from Unearthed Paints

I’ve been loving the recent explosion of color everywhere, from walls and furniture to fashion and accessories.  But colored floors?  Other than carpet, that’s not something you see everyday.  It’s a fun way to add some interest to a room, especially for the young at heart.  So to add a little spice to the start of your week, I’ve put together a round-up of the most colorful, fun and eco-friendly flooring products out there.  Don’t just call them green!

USF Contract has come out with a few colorful and environmentally friendly flooring products made from renewable resources.  The first is their Bamboo Hues collection which comes in a variety of different colors, a few of which are shown above.

USF Contract’s Cork Decor line is just as colorful as their bamboo and just as green.  Their palette contains 36 common hues in six different cork products, a few of which are shown above.

Made from linseed oil, linoleum is always an environmentally friendly choice and is now just as modern as can be.  Marmoleum (yup, that Marmoleum from your Grandmother’s kitchen) has just about every color under the sun in their standard line.  And just because I’m such a big fan, I’ve included a few installation shots to convince you naysayers.  (I realize that both of these shots are black and white, but just image if they were fuchsia & black or something fun like that.)

LV Wood Floors is always a go to choice for gorgeous reclaimed wood flooring, but did you know they also have a wild side?  You can see what I mean from a few of their colorful options above.  And because most of what they do is custom, the sky’s the limit when it comes to color matching and textures.  Now, how amazing would that Black & Blue sample above look in a dark and sexy dining room?

Porcelain is always a reasonably eco-friendly flooring choice because of the way it’s created.  But how fun is this tile from Italian company, Ora Italiana?  Their Uonuon collection is a modern, Warhol-esque take on wood that’s totally in your face.  They also have an online tile creator so you can play around with color and pattern choices and see how it will look before installation.

I spent most of a rainy Sunday wandering around the aisles of the Javits Center looking at wonderful eco-friendly products and talking with new vendors.  All in all, a great show.  I found it refreshing to see that instead of promoting themselves as green, many manufacturers have embraced sustainability as a best practice and just the way things should be done.  It seems like it’s finally more important to do good than to tell others that you’re doing good.  And I for one appreciate this evolution.

I’m posting half of my eco-friendly furniture, lighting and material finds today and the other half tomorrow, so enjoy today’s round-up and stay tuned for tomorrow.

Made of 70% recycled glass from beer bottles, this pendant light was designed by Ismael Quintero of iQenvironments (that’s him posing in front of his pendants!).  And even more impressive than the recycled content is his mission.  Ismael was inspired to create this light after finding a fire hydrant lid on Wall Street after September 11.  In fact, a portion of his proceeds will go to the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

One of my recurring favorites – Eskayel.  Shanan Campanaro’s artistic wallpaper has now been extended to fabric, pillows and even woven baskets.  I recently wrote a post about their beautiful collection, although now seeing the new introductions, I’m due for an update.

I included Loll Designs in the Fun Outdoor Furniture roundup from a few days ago, but now that I’ve seen a few of their latest features in person, I have a bit of an amendment.  What I didn’t tell you about their chairs, is that in addition to the fun colors, they also have a bottle opener bolted right to the chair.  Yup, that’s right – no need to go searching for an opener during a party (it’s the little silver square at the top of the picture on the left).  Their other fun item is this fire pit that says, “Do not place on hot fire ring! Duh!”  I mean, if you need an explanation, you probably shouldn’t be using it, right?

Vervano is a new furniture company to me, but their quality was top notch.  I was really loving the faceted design of the desk (picture on left), as well as the ottoman with storage (bottom right) and desk that looked like it had a floating top (top right).  All of their pieces are made in the United states with sustainably harvested wood, plant-based foams and low-VOC finishes.

I’m a sucker for a cool desk lamp, so I was loving this bright orange lacquered one from Koncept.  All of their lamps are made with LED lights, a very efficient light source and are super functional, easy to used and fun.

Caba Company makes beautiful wallpaper out of hand pounded bark.  Because they’re using natural materials, the texture and patterns are absolutely unique, organic and always eco-friendly.    I love that they also mix in fun colors with the naturals for a modern twist on a traditional technique.

John Houshmand has been making gorgeous hi-end furniture from reclaimed sources for quite a while now.  The only problem for the common person (like you & me) is that his pieces are unique and custom and therefore beyond my budget.  But no longer.  John has teamed up with Jack Donenfeld of Simplemente Madera Group to create JH2 OneTreeHome and bring his design to the masses.  And I for one am excited about it.

I’ve seen plenty of pin-up boards in my day and while I’m still a fan of the fabric wrapped versions, I’m really loving this Baroque framed version from MIO.  Made of 100% granulated cork, a by-product of the wine industry, this tack board is not only fun & cheeky, it’s also eco-friendly.

Last but certainly not least is Manulution, a Bosnian furniture company that started out in 1927 as a source of hand carved pieces.  Even though they’ve since evolved to contemporary shapes, Manulution has remained true to their roots by using traditional techniques to create moden carved details.  As always, you can still find traditional Bosnian pieces too if that’s the sort of thing you’re looking for.

Encaustic cement tile, also known as Mission tile, Moroccan cement tile or Cuban tile, is a brightly colored and intricately patterned tile that has been used as a flooring material as far back as the Victorian Age.  It’s made in layers out of natural materials such as portland cement, white marble dust and natural pigments, none of which emit toxins.  The hydraulic press and air-drying method used to produce these cement tiles uses less energy than the traditional ceramic tile firing technique.  Plus with each country claiming this beautiful tile for its own, you can probably guess that there’s a huge variety of traditional patterns and colors.  And now with a few companies cropping up dedicated to a modern take on the traditional cement tile, there are lots of pattern and color options for pretty much every application you can think of.  I’ve gathered a bunch of installation shots so you can see the variety of colors and patterns as well as the variety of ways it can be used.  Enjoy!

Ashley Hicks’ home in Oxfordshire

Residential project from Commune Design

Elle Decor

Elle Decor

Installation shot from Mosaic del Sur

A more traditional installation shot from Mosaic del Sur

Modern tiles from Popham Design

Popham Design

Popham Design

I was at Artistic Tile the other day checking the latest and greatest in the tile world and came across these beautiful glass mosaic panels from Ellen Blakeley Studio.  Ellen was originally inspired to start working with mosaics after seeing a shattered tempered glass panel at a bus station sparkling and glinting in the sun.  She’s since move on to salvaging refuse from commercial glass companies, but I still love that the start of her company came from what most people would consider garbage.  I’ve included a few of my favorite options below, but mosaics are totally customizable in terms of colors, grout and cool bits of whatever peeking through the back.  Which one is your fav?

Black & copper

Spotlight in gold (notice the bits of gold leaf peeking through)

Elements in Amazon

New Yorker (can you see the bits of newspaper peeking through from the back?  Let’s hope it’s a good story, because you can’t change it once it’s on your wall!)

Black Lace (for those of you who are a bit more adventurous!)

Photos from Ellen Blakeley Studio

My always lovely Koroseal reps came into my office today for an awesome presentation on the history of wallpaper (so fascinating!) and to show off some of their newest wallpaper products.  After the presentation, we were chatting and they mentioned that their vinyl wallcovering reclamation program isn’t getting back enough material and they’ve been buying plastic products.  What?!  So here’s the deal: After being carefully removed and shipped to Koroseal’s factory, the vinyl material is then recycled into new wallcovering.  It takes a bit of extra time and labor on the contractor’s part but it is so worth it.  And if you’re working on a LEED project, you can earn points for the reclamation in addition to the good feeling in your heart.

So if you are an interior designer or architect with old vinyl wallcovering in your renovation project, pretty please convince your project owners to take part in this amazing program.  And if you’re in a position to make this sort of decision, do the right thing and recycle your old wallpaper.  Why should Koroseal have to resort to buying products to recycle when there is already so much being thrown away?  Don’t let that vinyl sit in landfills for thousands of years.

Alright, that’s my soapbox for the day.  I’m leaving you with some installation shots from Koroseal’s various lines.

Anya Larkin for Koroseal

Arte for Koroseal

Sondra Alexander for Koroseal

Arte for Koroseal

Sometimes you find a company whose products aren’t what you would technically call eco-friendly.  But the intention behind their creation is so much more meaningful and important that it doesn’t even matter.  Case in point, Alpha Workshops.  This decorative arts studio was started in 1995 by Ken Wampler as a way to help the homeless living with HIV & AIDS.  He knew that by providing a creative outlet plus a meaningful job would mean all the difference in the lives of these people.  Fast forward 16 years and it has.  Alpha Workshops is going strong with a staff of 35 and decorative installations in a lot of amazing places like the Gracie Mansion and Prince George Ballroom.

This installation is at Lifetime TV’s New York office.

This is from Takashimaya, the Japanese department store, which is now unfortunately closed.

An installation of a faux marble floor.  It’s even better than the real thing!

Alpha Workshops’ main work includes gilding, decorative paint, Venetian plaster, faux finishes and other specialty treatments.  But what about the rest of us who can’t afford a skilled artisan to install something amazing in our house?  Thankfully Alpha Workshops also makes handmade wallpaper in a bunch of beautiful colors and patterns.  It’s sold through Thibaut in their Artisan line.  Here are a few of my favorite patterns.

Loom.  I’m also loving the drapery in this room.  I wonder where it’s from.  If you know, pass it on!

Maryse

Reverie

Verre Eglomise

One of my favorite products from Alpha Workshops in their new line of colorful furniture finished in the Negoro Nuri style.  Traditionally this finish is done with a black lacquer base and red lacquer top coat.  The red is brushed off to reveal patches of the black underneath.  But instead of these traditional shades, Alpha Workshops has branched out with some really gorgeous colors.  Love it.

Photos from Alpha Workshops & Thibaut

You’ve probably already seen wall decals aplenty.  As a removable and easy to install item, they’re the perfect way for renters and commitment-phobes to add a bit of pattern and color to their walls.  There are some really beautiful and fun options out there, but I have to say, my favorite comes from Hu2 Design.  Their stickers are quirky, original and always eco-friendly.  Made from non-PVC vinyl, they’re free of chlorine and plasticizers and remove cleanly from the wall.  I’m loving the cute eco-reminders for those of us who sometimes forget to turn off lights, unplug electronics or take long showers.  Take a peek at my eco-friendly reminder picks and head on over to their website to see their complete line of stickers including larger wall scenes.  Enjoy!

Save Water Sticker

CO2 Factory Reminder Sticker

Bills Reminder Sticker

Hamster Wheel Generator Sticker

Hamster Lamp Sticker

Unplugged MacBook Sticker

Photos from Hu2 Design

If you’ve been around the green block for any length of time, you’ve probably heard about the many ways that wood can be sustainably sourced.  But I’ll bet you’ve never heard of reclaimed wood coming from dilapidated Wyoming snow fences, have you?  Well let me tell you about it.

Centennial Woods reclaims planks used for snow fences in Wyoming and gives them a second life as kitchen cabinets, flooring, exterior siding, furniture doors, ceilings, you name it.  Traditionally the wood had been destined for a fire or the landfill, but thanks to their reclamation efforts, Centennial Woods has saved 6 million linear feet of planks and more than 10,000 tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere.  And what’s really unique about this product is the harsh Wyoming weather gives the wood so much more texture, depth and character than even regular reclaimed wood.  And because the wood has been exposed to the elements, it’s strong, perfectly dried and can be used indoors and out.  Let me show you what I’m talking about.

The siding on this house is the snow fence.  Isn’t it beautiful?  I love the variety of colors and texture of the wood.  It has so much character that it looks like it might just have a story to tell.  And after surviving a few harsh Wyoming winters, I’m sure it does.

Here the planks are used for ceiling panels.  I can imagine this makes for a really beautiful and intimate room.

I love the texture and variety of colors on these wood shingles.  Because Centennial Woods reclaims planks from a variety of sources, wood types can include anything from douglas fir, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and spruce.

Now that’s a gorgeous log cabin!  Like I said, because this wood has already weathered the elements, it makes for great exterior siding.

I’m generally a fan of the bright lacquered red entry door, but there’s something just as welcoming about these reclaimed wood doors.

Another ceiling shot.  I’m loving the herringbone pattern as well.

The snow fence wood can even look a bit more modern as in this house.

How gorgeous is this interior?  I’m not exactly sure what it’s used as but that doesn’t make it any less stunning.

Close up of a few planks.  I’m guessing those diamond shapes are where other planks crossed.

Photos from Centennial Woods

When we think about carpet, most of us think ‘wool’ right?  But you know what?  There are so many other fiber types available and they make for really beautiful and eco-friendly rugs.  Now that you know you have other options, let me tell you a bit about them, courtesy of Livingston & Associates.  They sell gorgeous ecoFiber rugs that are totally custom – pattern, color, size and type & number of fibers, whatever you’d like.  In addition to being green, all of their products are GoodWeave certified, meaning that inspectors visit carpet mills to make sure that no illegal child labor is used.  And this group is strict!  If a mill neglects that policy, the child is not only sent to a good school courtesy of GoodWeave, the mill looses its certification and has to work to get it back.  Now that’s what I call fair-trade!

Eco-friendly carpet fibers, in no particular order:

Wool: Okay, so as I said above, you probably already know about this one.  But even though it’s a natural fiber, not all wool is the same.  EcoFiber’s wool comes from sheep with 20% more lanolin.  That means the fibers are more water and stain resistant and have an extra luster to them.  The image above is actually a wool & silk blend in a shag but you get the idea.

Hemp: This is a great fiber.  It’s really durable, comes in really beautiful natural colors and can be grown without the need for additional irrigation.  Some people think hemp is a bit rough underfoot so they’ll add a bit of wool or silk to the mix to make it softer.

Cactus: You probably never even knew this one was an option, did you?  It’s similar in texture to hemp (again why it’s mixed with silk as in the image above) and has some of the same properties – it doesn’t need much irrigation and is really durable.  Plus it’s also resistant to pests.

Nettle: Made from indigenous plants, nettle is a really beautiful & textural fiber.  It has a very subtle sheen and a nice natural color.

Silk & Mohair: Two really beautiful natural fibers made even more beautiful when they’re put together.  Silk is has a really nice sheen and mohair is oh so soft.

Cashmere: This is one my absolutely favorite fibers.  There’s just nothing softer or more luxurious.  You’ll never want to wear socks on this rug!  It isn’t a cheap fiber so it’s normally used in small areas.

Linen: This is one of those naturally eco-friendly fibers.  It has a great hand as a rug and a beautiful natural color.

The images I showed you above are the undyed versions of each fiber type, but since everything is custom, you can really get whatever color you’d like.  Now, even though this is a fairly comprehensive list, there are even additional eco-friendly carpet fibers that I didn’t even get into here including bamboo, recycled fibers, sisal and more.  I guess that means a follow up post!

Photos from Livingston & Associates and ecoFiber Custom Rugs