Pretty Little Green Things

Posts Tagged ‘Outdoor’

I love a leisurely bike ride as much as the next person, but I have always been in awe of the subset of New Yorkers who are brave enough (or crazy enough?) to navigate the insane traffic of this fair city.  Maybe someday if I ever move to a less populated (read: fewer cars) area of the country, I’ll get myself a bike.  In the meantime, I’ll stick with walking, taking public transport and living vicariously through these brave souls.  But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a good looking and eco-friendly bicycle.

Panda Bicycles was created by three friends at Colorado State University, obsessed with making the world a better place.  They set about making a bicycle that had it all – a unique, classic design with well-crafted, innovative, safe and hi-tech details.  The bamboo frame of this vintage inspired piece is not only good looking but also eco-friendly, naturally hefty and non-corrosive.  As Panda Bicycles says, “we’re growing bikes,” which I think couldn’t be more true.  As for me, just imagine me on one of these bikes with a basket, sundress, jaunty little hat and no traffic.

Photos by Panda Bicycles

As I rule, I don’t repost other people’s blog finds, but sometimes when I see something really interesting or unique, I feel like it’s worth a second look.  I saw these white planters made from reclaimed wood from Haunt the other day on Design Sponge and was instantly intrigued.  It seems like the faceted shape is everywhere nowadays, from chairs and light fixtures to vases and trays.  We’re even looking to install a faceted bar in a project I’m working on.  But there’s something about the combination of the sleek facets and glossy white paint together with the rough wood texture that makes this planter extra special.  What do you think?

According to Haunt, these planters are best suited for small succulents that don’t need much depth and water. There is also no drainage in the planter, so you will need to cover the bottom of the openings with rocks so the plants do not sit in water.

Photos from Haunt

As I type, we’re flying at 30,000 on our way back from the most amazing weekend in San Francisco (I know, I know, not the most eco-friendly method of travel, but at least we can offset our carbon footprint on Virgin America).  Beyond having a wonderful time with friends and seeing the sights, what really impressed me about SF, was the absolute seamless integration of sustainability into everyday life.  Bike riders are everywhere, recycling & compost bins are the norm, city buses are zero-emission and even coffee stir sticks are hard to find, in favor of metal spoons to be washed & reused.  On top of that, I really appreciated the emphasis of living a healthy and balanced lifestyle with tons of outdoor activity options, lots of parks and open green spaces, and the easy availability of organic & locally grown food.  For me, it was inspiring and refreshing to see that big city living, an active & well-rounded life and sustainable practices can all go hand in hand.  So with that, I wish you all a fantastic Fourth of July and enjoy a few pics from our weekend in San Francisco. (Starting with a pic of a wonderful beach next to the Golden Gate Bridge).

Vineyards in Sonoma

Sunset in Sonoma

As I said, there’s a wonderful emphasis on locally grown organic vegetables in San Francisco.  And this caprese salad with the freshest heirloom tomatoes was no exception!

Rock sculptures in Sausalito with the city of San Francisco across the bay. Those rocks were all stacked by hand with no glues or cement. Amazing, huh?

I couldn’t possibly end this post without a slightly sweaty picture of me taken on the Golden Gate Bridge.  Safety first!

Section 2 of the High Line, from West 30th to 23rd streets, opened on Tuesday to much press and acclaim.  If you live in the New York area, I urge you to go and take a peek at the new section for yourself.  From the pictures I’ve seen, the newest area looks really interesting and, well, awesome.  For those of you who don’t know what the High Line is, it used to be an abandoned industrial elevated train line that was turned into a very innovative and well traveled park for visitors and locals alike.  Not only does it bring a bit of green to the city, but reuses an area that could have easily been demolished.  If you want to see more pictures of the High Line, take a look at the Friends of the High Line website, the High Line Blog or their Facebook page.

As for me, I know what I’ll be doing this weekend!

Now that spring has officially sprung, it’s time to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine.  There are lots of great retailers selling your basic resin and teak furniture, but what about something that’s a bit more fun?  Something that pops a little on your patio?  I’ve put together a round-up of my favorite colorful, interesting and unique eco-friendly outdoor furniture and accessories for your summer lazing pleasure.  Or in other words, get out there and have some fun in the sun!

1. This Racer rocker from Loll Designs features a cool racing stripe design, 2. Interesting crystal shaped planter from Pour les Alpes, 3. This Water Hyacinth daybed from PIE Studio makes a statement, 4. What patio would be complete without this Wine Barrel Chiller from VivaTerra?  5. Hello swing! Rattan swing from PIE Studio, 6. Colorful Campy planters from Perch! 7. Pick your color with classic Adirondack chairs from Polywood, 8. So fun! Knot pillows made from recycled sailcloth from Sea Bags

1. Can you tell I like swings? This one is from Loll Designs and comes in lots of colors, 2. Love this Nature planter from Design Night, 3. Why stop at fun colors when you can also have patterned cushions? This Series 9 chaise from Haskell Collection, 4. Or try something curvy with these Talenti chaises from Henry Hall, 5. For those of you who want something a bit funkier, try this Sushi daybed from PIE Studios, 6. Water your plants with these colorful Kettle Watering Cans from Eco Age, 7. Love purple? Check out the purple Adirondack chairs from Siesta, 8. Last but certainly not least, you’ll need a fun outdoor rug to add to your fun furniture. This one is from VivaTerra.

Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m a terrible gardner.  Every spring I pretend that this is the year I will get my act together and grow herbs in a box by the window.  It doesn’t usually happen, although in my defense, our apartment gets almost no direct sunlight (gotta love Manhattan) so growing plants is especially challenging.  Maybe if I had one of the sleek pots from Urban Nature, my plants and I might be a little bit more inspired to coexist.  I’m loving the modern shapes and finishes – they’re the perfect compliment to the organic shapes of the plants.  And best of all, they’re also eco-friendly.  Made from aluminum & steel from 80% recycled material, these planters are durable and made to last a lifetime.  They’re also powder coated (an eco-friendly finish) and heaven forbid if you ever did want to get rid of them, they’re also recyclable.  I don’t know about you, but I’m getting out the gardening trowel!

Photos from Urban Nature

It’s officially winter!  Growing up in Minnesota, I have a special place in my heart for this time of year.  The air is crisp and best of all, there’s fluffy white snow on the ground.  Unfortunately we only have the former rather than the latter here in New York, which does not make me as happy.  But nevermind that, in honor of winter and my missing of real snow, I’m shifting today’s post from something eco-friendly to beautiful snow inspiration.  Happy winter and enjoy!

As the weather gets cooler in October, I get excited about the changing colors on the trees, the smell of the crisp air, sweaters & boots and hot chocolate around a fire. One of my favorite things about our apartment in the working fireplace (that’s our fireplace up above). We always use Duraflame logs for a few different reasons. They’re fast & easy (just light the corner!), our shallow firebox makes using wood difficult & slightly dangerous, and they’re a more eco-friendly option than wood.

But as much as I love our fireplace, if I was building a new home, I would have to think seriously about including one of these amazing fireplaces from EcoSmart instead of the old fashioned wood burning version. They’re stylish, vent free, super efficient and produce only vapor & steam. Because these fireplaces don’t need any gas or electrical connection, you can put them pretty much anywhere in your house, indoors or out! They’re powered with bio ethanol, a clean burning & efficient fuel made from plant by-products (like corn or potatoes). EcoSmart makes freestanding, portable or built-in versions as well as conversion kits so you can replace your current fireplace with their super efficient models. Here are a few of my favorites, but make sure to check online to see all their if you’re in the market for a fireplace to chase away the fall chill!

This Lantern freestanding fireplace is my absolute favorite from EcoSmart. I love the moody & sexy glow that spills through the holes in the metal. Outdoor terrace, these lanterns, cushy seating with tons of throw pillows and a glass of wine = perfect.

I have to say that this Zeta fireplace is the most unique and stylish in the EcoSmart lineup. I think it would make an incredible statement piece in even the most traditional home.

Can you believe these freestanding Cyl fireplaces are the same thing? I love it both ways! It’s a great accent piece on the ground and a very cool fire and ice effect within the fountain.

I love the simple lines and double sided access of this Vision fireplace. What a great room divider!

Again, two options with a freestanding fireplace. Leave in on the ground as a cool accent or install it for something special. This fireplace is the Mini T.

In honor of Labor Day and to savor these last few days of summer, I wanted to do a roundup of my favorite chic terraces and outdoor patios.  While outdoor spaces don’t necessarily translate into being eco-friendly, I think anything that pulls you outside into the open air and away from the AC is totally green.  And as you’ll see from these pictures, I do love greenery!  This was going to be a post of my top 10 favorites, but just couldn’t bear to get rid of that last one.  So without further ado, here are my top 11 favorite outdoor spaces.  Happy Labor Day weekend and I hope you enjoy your time off outside!

I haven’t ranked these in any certain order, but I have to say that Elie Saab’s terrace is one of my all time favorites.  I wouldn’t mind spending an entire day out here on this incredibly chic terrace!

This terrace was decorated by Roman and Williams for Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor’s Hollywood Hills home.

This is Annie Coggan’s porch as featured on Design Sponge.  I adore wrap around porches and there’s something about the elegant color scheme, simple layout and that one red chair that I really love.

I wrote about this porch a while ago when I showed you the Charity Works GreenHouse.  I still think it’s lovely.  Plus out of these 11 outdoor spaces, is the only one that’s technically eco-friendly.

This is from a riad in Marrakech.  I wish I knew which one because it’s gorgeous.  If anyone knows, email me!

I love the alternating stone pattern and walls of greenery on this outdoor patio.  These deep colors make it look so lush.  It was shown in the NY Times and is Rita Konig’s mother’s patio.

These next two aren’t necessarily terraces or patios, but any sort of hammock or swing is enough to make me want to sit outside with a good book, so I figure they qualify.  And maybe if you get this hammock going well enough, you’d be able to jump straight into the pool!

This swinging bench was a DIY project from Sweet Paul.  This just shows you that great outdoor space doesn’t have to come with a big price tag.

Here’s another Moroccan terrace  With their tradition of interior courtyards in the middle of a house or riad, I think the Moroccans just might have the chicest outdoor spaces around.

This terrace comes care of So Chic blog and is actually the outdoor area of Ralph’s, a restaurant set in the Paris store of Ralph Lauren.  So chic!

No post about outdoor spaces is complete without a romantic picture of Moroccan lanterns at night.  I think this reaffirms my belief that Moroccans have the chicest terraces.

Okay, I’ll admit it, my husband and I are totally addicted to the TV show Royal Pains.  I know it’s not the most intelligent show but we love it (and in our defense it could be MUCH worse).  One of the reasons I love it is for the Hamptons setting and the over the top houses.  So it was with great excitement that I found this house in the New York Magazine.  While not as grand as the mansions in Royal Pains, the indoor/outdoor plan is absolutely wonderful and the materials they used are organic and beautiful.  I’d much rather a house like this than a grand mansion any day!

The house was built by the owner’s brother, Paul Masi, of Bates Masi Architects.  You can read the full article from the New York Magazine here.  Enjoy the pictures!

Modern, natural and gorgeous!

Here’s the pool on the east side of the house.  I love that the placement of the pool extends the long line of the house.

Here’s a peek at the landscaping that was planted with native grasses and locally found bluestone.  Gorgeous.

You can see how open this house is to the outside.  I can just imagine the ocean breezes coming through.

This is the master bedroom on the second floor.  It opens to it’s own little terrace/breezeway.

This is the guestroom, which has it’s own entrance (and complete sliding door of course).

The stairs are located at the center of the house so as not to take up valuable exterior real-estate.  They used the same outdoor shading mesh here as they did on the outside.

Here’s the breezeway from the master bedroom.  You can also see the same outdoor mesh that they used on the staircase.

Photos from New York Magazine