Pretty Little Green Things

Archive for the ‘Lighting’ Category

Okay, I’ll admit it.  I don’t know how to knit, but don’t blame my mom for not teaching me.  As an amazingly crafty and creative woman, she’s tried numerous times.  But soon after every lesson, I manage to forget how to knit, pearl and cast myself off to a new scarf.  But that doesn’t stop me from loving knits and wool in general – sweaters, blankets, scarves, you name it and I love it.  Fortunately for me, eco-friendly wool knits and felt are definitely in for fall.  Here are a few fuzzy things I’m loving right now.

I’m loving the chunky knits of these Granny Lamps from Casamania.  The wool comes from grazing sheep in the Tyrolean Valley of the Alps and they’re hand knit by a cooperative in the Netherlands that supports senior citizens and people with special needs.

I first saw these rugs from Souled Objects at ICFF this year.  The chunky knit made me want to either curl up on them or romp through them like this little girl.  Either way, they’re super cozy and totally gorgeous.  The website for these rugs isn’t quite up yet, but there’s a great article about them and their creator, Dana Barnes, in the New York Times if you’re interested in learning more.

I’m so in love with this intricate Teardrop Vessel from Branch.  Not only is it unique and beautiful, it also supports a collaborative program between Crafted Systems and the YWCA Women’s Shelter of Portland, Oregon to train and employ homeless women.  Each vessel is made of 100% wool felt and assembled by hand with interlocking pieces of the felt that require no sewing or fasteners.

One of my favorite luxury organic bedding brands is Coyuchi and they definitely don’t disappoint with their decorative pillows either.  These Sweater Stripe Pillows are made of Mongolian cashmere, knit with organic cotton into the ribs.

For another pillow option, here’s a wool knit cabled pillow.  It comes from PreciousKnits on Etsy and is handmade from 100% wool.  In general I love cable knits, but this pillow is especially detailed and gorgeous.  No plain cable knit here!

There are tons of beautiful knit blankets out there, but I was drawn to the nubby version from Stansborough Wools.  They’re knit in New Zealand from Stansborough Grey fleece, wool of a special sheep bred for their gorgeous silky wool.  You can find them at Pfeifer Studio here.

I couldn’t possibly leave you without a cozy wool wallpaper to go with the other fuzzy items.  This fleecy Blanket Yarn and Stitch comes from Maya Romanoff and is available in a few different colors.  This paper would be perfect in a ski lodge with the Granny Lamp and actually everything else from above.

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

It’s been pretty gray and drab in New York today so maybe that’s why I have lighting in my head.  The Builtby lamp series from Inhabit would do just the trick.  The base is made from recovered wood fiber with no added formaldehyde and no-VOC paints.  And the best part is that the 15 different colors can be stacked and configured an infinite number of ways.  Just the bright colors alone would help chase away the rainy blues.  You can buy them online at Feel More Human.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Photos from Feel More Human

I hope you all had a wonderful July 4 weekend.  I know I did!  Sadly the long weekend is over and it’s back to work.  Fortunately for you, I’ll be highlighting green office products this week so you can be happy working away indoors in eco style.

Today’s chic desk lamp comes from Flos, an Italian lighting company with super cool iconic and modern light fixtures.  Even if their Kelvin LED Table Lamp wasn’t good for the environment, I’d still love its sleek design and touch on/off switch (I’m a sucker for interactive products.  All you do is lightly brush the sensor on the shade and it goes on!).  But in addition to all that, it’s made with non-toxic paint and recyclable aluminum and steel, consumes only 8w of power and is lit with LEDs that are projected to last about 30,000 hours without a bulb change.

Right now, this lamp is only for sale at the new Flos flagship on Greene Street in New York or at DWR.  It comes in white, black and anthracite (dark gray).  And at only $400, this fixture will soon pay for itself!

Personally I love the white version the best.  What color do you like?

Photos from Flos

It’s been a busy day today so I’m just sitting down to write a post now.  The cool night air makes me want to sit outside with my computer (underneath the sailcloth umbrella of course!) and I found just the lights to light the patio that I’ll someday have.  These two lanterns are from Gaiam and feature LED lights powered by a solar panel at the top.  Gaiam says that with 4-6 hours of sunlight, they’ll glow for 6-8 hours.  I think that means they need to be in direct sunlight, not hung underneath a tree.  Regardless, these are a nice way to light your patio instead of using string lights and they save lots of energy.  I think they would look fantastic at an eco-chic outdoor party!

Photos from Gaiam

I have to admit a weakness for anything sparkly or green and these two light fixtures from TOKENnyc definitely fit the bill.  TOKEN developed the GreenLight fixture for XDESIGN, an Environmental Health Clinic in Brooklyn.  I think it combines the best of light and greenery and improves both.  According to TOKEN, “This lighting product diffuses light by coupling to photosynthetic processes. Planting strategies can be specified to address particular indoor air quality issues including VOC, benzene and formaldehyde removal.”  Indoor air quality is a huge factor in interior design and it’s wonderful to see manufacturers combining aesthetics with health.  What a perfect fixture for city dwellers!

What this second light fixture is lacking in greenery, it definitely makes up in sparkle.  The Bell Kelp fixture is hand-blown in Brooklyn from partially recycled glass and finished with traditional gilding.  Recycled content, made locally and and if you use CFLs, you’ll save energy too!  What’s not to love?

I have to admit that I’m in love with these fixtures.  How chic would a bunch of these look hanging over a dining table in a charcoal grey room?  Where would you put them?



Photos from TOKENnyc

I just had to share this amazing light fixture with you from Design*Sponge today.  It’s a wonderful example of reuse from Stave Luminary.  These fixtures are made out of reclaimed wine barrel staves and lined with burlap.   I think what makes it so beautiful is the burgundy wine color you get from wine soaking into the wood over a long period of time.  Thank you Design*Sponge and Stave Luminary!





Photos via Design*Sponge & Stave Luminary