Pretty Little Green Things

Posts Tagged ‘Certified Wood’

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 found these really beautiful lampshades from Greener Abode in my inbox the other day and thought they were so artful and unique that I had to share.  Designed by Sarah Newman, DesignBark lampshades are not only colorful and fun, they’re also green.  The veneer comes from FSC certified suppliers and the patterns are screen printed with environmentally friendly pigments where possible.  And if you’re from the Brit side of the pond, your delivery is totally local.

You could definitely use these lampshades as art instead of (or in addition to!) hanging prints on your walls.  And because they’ll always have a lightbulb behind them, they glow!  I couldn’t decide which one I liked the best, so I just posted them all.  Enjoy!

Photos from Greener Abode

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

I’ve had the idea to write this post for a while, but after an especially heated Interior Designer Chat on Twitter last week, I figured it was time to spill my real feelings about Ikea.  If you know me, you’ve probably heard a rant or two about this furniture giant.  But as was so appropriately pointed out to me last week, Ikea is not totally bad.  In fact, they do quite a lot of good.  They have brought good design to the masses in a way that no other furniture manufacturer ever has.  And they definitely try to do their eco part: from energy efficient lighting to low-VOC materials, reduced packaging and other green initiatives within their stores, Ikea definitely has a lot of good going on.

But here’s my real gripe – while I understand that all of Ikea’s pluses are totally valid and very important, I just can’t get over one thing.  Disposable furniture.  And to be absolutely fair, Ikea is not the only culprit.  Target, Walmart and Kmart, to begin with, all make incredibly cheap pieces that are just as disposable.  Most (although not all) of their furniture is so cheaply made, that even if you wanted to keep it forever, you just couldn’t.  I mean, forget about heirloom pieces, you’re lucky if they survive a move.  I understand that no one expects Ikea (or the other retailers’) furniture to last for the ages.  That’s why it’s so inexpensive, right?  But maybe my real gripe is that buying cheap, disposable furniture is our cultural norm.  And that makes me so sad.  Furniture should be treasured, not thrown in a landfill.  I wish people would realize that solving their immediate furniture need creates so many environmental problems later.

So now that we’ve gotten down to the heart of my issue, I’m going to stop scapegoating Ikea.  To their credit, they have quite a few really amazing green initiates, so let me tell you about a few of them (in no particular order):

• Finally recognizing that their furniture often ends up in a landfill, Ikea is working on improving the entire life-cycle of their products.  From using recycled/renewable/reused materials to create them and making it easier to recycle when you’re done, they’re addressing it all.
• Their famous flat packed furniture allows for more boxes to be sent in one shipment, thereby saving transportation energy and CO2 emissions.
• All of their hefty catalogs are made from recycled paper products.
• All of their stores use energy efficient lightbulbs and many of them also run on renewable energy.  Plus Ikea is working hard to get all the stores to run on renewable energy.
• Much of the wood they use in their furniture comes from sustainably managed forests.  None of it comes from illegally felled trees and they’re working with their suppliers to trace the origins of the wood back to the source.  They even send out their own forest specialists to check up on the suppliers.  They’re like tree spies!
• Never. any. child. labor.
• They do more with less.  Many of their products have been specially engineered to use fewer raw materials, not only saving those resources but also making them lighter to transport (less CO2 emissions).
• Fabrics: Ikea no longer uses no chemical brighteners, their cottons are made with less water and fewer pesticides than traditionally grown cotton and they try to use as minimize the use of chemicals in the production process.
• Energy efficient lighting including: LED bulbs, solar powered lamps and tons of CFLs for sale.
• Ikea promotes public transit from providing shuttle bus service to their stores (go Red Hook!) to premium parking for bikes and hybrids.  In Denmark they even loan out bikes with an attached trailer capable of towing about 100 pounds.  I would totally take advantage of that one if I lived in Denmark.

The list definitely goes on, but I think you get the idea.  If you’re interested in reading about all 77 green initiatives on their list, take a look here.  As for me, I’m going to challenge you to stop buying disposable furniture (although since you’re on this blog, that’s probably an easy one).  If you can get away with it, collect your furniture slowly.  Save up for the really beautiful pieces you’ve been keeping your eye on.  And look out for the great Craigslist or vintage store finds.  A well curated collection of furniture gathered over the years is so much more meaningful and interesting than any bedroom set ever could be.

As for me, I might just become an Ikea convert.

I’m going to leave you with a few Ikea installation shots to see what you can put together with their furniture.  Enjoy!  (oh and sorry about the prices and names on the pictures.  I couldn’t avoid it.)

Photos from Ikea

Since the weather in New York has been snowing then raining and, well, back to snowing and raining again, I wouldn’t mind getting away from the grayness.  I mean, if it’s going to snow, why not take advantage of the weather and go skiing?  The Alta Terra hotel and ski lodge in the volcanic Auvergne region of central France would be the perfect place to get away to.  The B&B was recently renovated using local woods, lots of beautiful antique furniture and other eco-friendly materials.  With only four guestrooms and small spa (including a hammam, sauna & hot tub), this intimate hotel is totally set up for relaxing after a long day of hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter.  And at night you can hang out at the hotel restaurant for delicious locally grown organic food.  I can’t imagine a more perfect ski vacation.  Enjoy!

One of the four bedrooms

I LOVE that bed, especially set against the textured wood wall.  Gorgeous!

Here’s a close-up of the decoration on the footboard.  I’ve definitely never seen a bed quite like this one.

How romantic is this beautiful bed?

I love the texture of the plaster wall.  So natural & fitting for the location.  The two twin bed frames don’t match which I think gives the room a bit of a collected vibe.  Very unique and elegant.

The local wood is everywhere.  I really gives this hotel a very warm and welcoming feeling.  And I can just imagine it smells so nice in there!

Here’s a shot of the hammam.

I wouldn’t mind enjoying a hot cup of cider in this restaurant after a day on the slopes.  I love the combination of textures and colors of all the different kinds of wood.

Another shot of the restaurant

Photos from Alta Terra

Now, I’ve seen my share of raw wood slabs and tree roots turned into tables, but when I saw the furniture line from the Phillips Collection, I stopped and took notice.  There is something absolutely unique and stunning about their pieces that sets them above other similar manufacturers.  I think their tagline sums it all up, “every piece a conversation.”  Founded by Mark and Julie Phillips, this couple has been searched the globe for the best designers, the best materials and the best manufacturers.  You can tell.

The founders, Mark and Julie Phillips around a massive dining table, made from a teak wood root.  I mean, did I not say gorgeous?

Most of their furniture has been sourced from reclaimed wood sources.  In fact, their Origins line of furniture, sculpture and wall art has been made from felled trees and gnarled branches so that not a single tree has to be cut down.   Smart, huh?  Most of the wood comes from South East Asia and includes teak, rosewood, chamcha and other species.  I’ve gathered a few of my favorites to show you just how unique and special this collection is, but take a peek online as well.  Which one is your favorite?

I think this one might be my second favorite (after that amazing dining table of course).  It’s just so dynamic – it looks like it might take off!

These side tables or stools are made from left over bits of wood, pieced back together to form something useful and so unique.

Photos from The Phillips Collection

I know we’re all in the midst of getting ready for the holidays, but I wanted to take a quick break from all the planning and decorating with a peek into the Andrianna Shamaris showroom. I’ve often visited their shop in Soho just to be inspired by (and drool over) their gorgeous collection of furniture and home decor.  While not technically green, most of their products feel very organic.  In fact, most of the furniture is handmade out of reclaimed teak & petrified wood.  Plus one of a kind furniture made by skilled artisans always makes for a smaller eco footprint.  I figured all of these were a few good reasons to share this gorgeous furniture with you.  If you’re in the area, stop by their showroom on Greene Street.  There’s also a showroom in Malibu and one coming soon in the Hamtons.

Such a beautiful dining table and cut of wood.

I’m in love with these petrified teak side tables.  The contrast of white and black organic streaks is just stunning.

This side table is made of reclaimed teak and filled with cracked resin.  I love that it looks like a big square geode.

This are antique necklaces, turned into a gorgeous sculpture.

Andrianna Shamaris sells architectural pieces too, like this one which is made from a banyan tree.

Photos from Andrianna Shamaris

I was looking through old design magazines and stumbled upon a beautiful vase by Munio.  Of course I had to find out more about this company and their products.  After a few clicks on their website, I was instantly in love with their gorgeous wood pieces from sustainably harvested rainforests.  Danish based, their name actually comes from latin and means “I defend.”  Perfect motto for a company that is committed to defending and preserving ancient rainforests.  Their first collection, in collaboration with Helena Rohner, is out and for sale online.  I’m loving the richness that the ancient wood brings to each of these pieces, like they have a story just waiting to be told.

The wood vases come in three sizes and are made of Arura Vermelho wood

The bowls are made from Muiracatiara wood.  Such a beautiful wood, even if I can’t pronounce it!

The wood for the candleholders is also a type I’ve never heard of (Coracao de negro), but that doesn’t make it any less gorgeous!

The tray is also made from Coracao de negro.  Now if I could only figure out where the rest of the metal & porcelain pieces come from.

Photos from Munio

I feel like I’ve been running around like crazy since we got back from our trip to SE Asia (the price you pay for a vacation, right?), that I haven’t even gotten a chance to take a look through any of our photos.  But I made a point to look through the pictures of Hong Kong today because I wanted to share a stylish home store we happened upon while wandering the streets of Soho.  Tree is Hong Kong’s first eco-chic furniture boutique, started in 2005 by Nicole Wakley.  I’m loving the clean lines and simple design of their pieces.  Plus their wood is all responsibly sourced – either certified wood from Indonesia or reclaimed wood from the Philippines.  And because they’re located in Hong Kong, this is actually local!

The pictures I took in the store give you a good idea of what Tree does, but make sure to check out their website too for more inspiration.  Enjoy!

Yup, that’s Trove eco-friendly wallpaper behind.  And this is my absolute favorite pattern of theirs.

How cool is this coffee table?  Love!

Eco-friendly Wishbone chairs!

I love the shape of these pendants all hung together.

I have a soft spot in my heart for red home accents.  These side table are just the perfect amount of red.

I love the white side table version as well.

Being an environmentally conscious designer, I have an inclination towards natural materials.  Wood and stone have an inherent beauty than man-made materials just can’t replicate.  So I get pretty excited when I see furniture makers crafting pieces that showcase the best of a natural material.  Case in point: my new design crush Rotsen Furniture.  They make high quality furnishings hand-crafted out of reclaimed or responsibly sourced wood that comes mostly from Brazil or South America.  What I especially love is that their furniture is not just well made – each of piece of wood has a story to tell and makes an amazing design statement.

I’ve put together a few of my favorite pieces, but there are plenty more online.  And if by chance you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, Rotsen Furniture has custom capabilities so you can get that perfect piece for your home.  Enjoy!

I’ve been looking for the perfect statement coffee table for my living room.  If only this Floating Tamburil Slab table wasn’t out of my budget, it would be just the right thing.  I love the mix of raw wood  and modern lucite base.  Like I said, perfect.

I could be consoled by this Canoa Coffee Table instead.  I can just imagine this tree sitting in the forest a hundred years ago just waiting to be turned into the most amazing piece of furniture.

I’m loving the unique mix of warm wood and warm metal together on this Bola Side Table.  I’ve seen a lot of chrome and raw wood tables but not too many with polished bronze.

How cool is this Reclaimed wood floating desk?  I’m not sure if I would be able to get any work done on it though – I’d probably spend all my time staring at the gorgeous wood top.

I love the slightly industrial look of this Macico bench.  It’s almost more of a sculpture than a piece of furniture.

I’ve been searching high and low for the perfect mirror for over my fireplace mantle.  While this Ferpas wood & aluminum wall sculpture obviously isn’t a mirror, I could be convinced to switch to this statement piece instead!

How cute are these Bola stools?  I’m loving the shape and the carved indents on the sides.  And they’re the perfect quick party seat when you don’t want to stand or flop down on the couch.

I have a ton more favorites, but I’m going to stop here lest I overwhelm you with pictures (not possible I’m sure!).  Make sure to check out their whole range online.

Photos from Rotsen Furniture