Home Decor
ECO Recycled Countertops by Cosentino
Consisting of 75% recycled content from post-industrial or post-consumer materials and held together by an environmentally friendly corn-oil resin, ECO by Cosentino countertops will keep your kitchen green. Similar to the Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Countertops, ECO is made up of recycled glass and mirror, but also includes porcelain, crystallized ash and stone scraps from regulated quarries under strict stewardship programs.
The countertops are produced in an environmentally friendly way as well, with 94% of the water used in manufacturing being recycled, thus minimizing the consumption of a very important resource. All of the minerals used in the production of ECO by Cosentino come from quarries that are fully restored and the manufacturing process is strictly controlled to avoid emissions of any harmful particles into the air.
Green Flooring – Eco-Leader Tile by Refin Ceramiche
Let’s face it keeping up with the “green movement” is not easy especially when replacing your tile floors. However with companies like Refin Ceramiche and new product like Eco-Leader and X-Stone, the search just became a whole lot easier.
Eco-leader is a color-body porcelain tile; manufactured using 40% pre-consumer recycled material. It is this 40% recycle content which enables Eco-Leader to meet the requirements for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the most important and strict American certification for conservation of energy and the environment.
Although many have tried, Refin is the first Italian factory to create a tile awarded LEED certification. It is this first step–and Refin’s commitment to their mission of becoming a forerunner of environmental policies through conscious consumption and production–which sets them apart from other tile manufacturers.
LiT Lampshades – Promoting Green Home Design
Lampshades are not usually something you think of when designing green, and it is really hard to find environmentally friendly shades. Most shades have a plastic styrene backing which in no way is biodegradable. They are then coated with toxic glue then the fabric. Let’s think what happens when this glue gets hot,….toxic glue….hot light bulb….your baby’s room….hum? None too good for the earth, and on the aesthetic side- most plastic based shades are ugly, thus none too good for your decor.
LiT, a not only local but green designer lampshade company (based in Seattle, Washington), is taking a stand against ugly toxic shades by making their shades earth friendly through careful consideration in the materials used in producing LiTshades. Instead of plastic owner Dawn Bassett uses only paper backing. The backing is laminated using water based, non-toxic adhesive and then the reclaimed, recycled or re-purposed fabrics and papers give the shades their final touch. She also insists on only using natural fiber textiles like silks and cottons.
Dawn makes all her shades by hand, usually sitting quietly or rocking out to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in her shop. Her shades are not mass produced in Vietnam, Indonesia, or China in large crazy factories by little kids for two cents a day.
› Continue reading
Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Countertops
When I think of what impacts me the most in a kitchen, I think of 3 things: Cabinets, appliances and counter tops. Beautiful counter tops can be the crown jewel of your kitchen – an essential focal point that just ties everything together. Granite was the standard for a very long time followed by manufactured stone, then came a ‘greener’ fly-ash concrete alternative, now Vetrazzo just raised the bar with their recycled glass surfaces.
Made with up to 85% glass by weight in a non-resin cement binder, these counter surfaces consist primarily of recycled wine, beer and mineral water bottles processed in California. A smaller portion of the glass is recycled from traffic light lenses, glass windshields, shower doors, architectural window glass, stemware and art glass. One 5 ft. by 9ft. panel of Vetrazzo can recycle up to 1,000 glass bottles.
Eco Chic Runoff Design
Not entirely practical or even possible for most areas, but it does show great green design and some imagination. How ever you look at it, the what else? umbrella holder is quite the conversation piece.
I could see this being an easy DIY project for the front porch, where it would receive enough light to grow. Or possibly along the wall in a well lit mud room (one with ample light from skylights and windows). It could even double as a wheatgrass growing area for health smoothies, or a nibbling station for your cat! You could even plant a little herb garden in there for fresh cooking ingredients.
What do you think?
› Continue reading
Recycled Glassware – Winebottle Vases and Vessels
The TranSglass Recycled Vases and glassware by Emma Woffenden & Tord Boontje are not only beautiful, but also a practical green design solution to the abundance of empty wine bottles out there.
Remember, reuse is better than recycling, and although some energy is used to recreate these works of art, it is most likely less than that of the recycling and manufacturing process. Plus, how cool are these designs? They don’t even need a flower to look good. This is probably why they are in the permanent collection of MoMA New York.
› Continue reading
Amenity Home – Modern Chic Organic Cotton Linen and Sustainable Hemp Bedding
Amenity Handwoven Alpaca Throw Blanket
I just found this great sustainable modern design home collection from Amenity, and I want it. The designs are a perfect blend of modern and eco chic, all made from sustainable hemp and organic cotton and dyed with natural vegetable based dyes.
Producing their goods locally (printed and sewn in Los Angeles, CA) and only with eco-friendly dyes and minimally-processed natural fibers, their manufacturing process mirrors their ethic. Hand drawn and individually printed by Amenity’s founders, Nicole Chiala and Kristina de Corpo bridge clean modern design with eco friendly home decor to create this collection.
Amenity Organic Nursery Collection
I was also very excited about their Nursery collection of organic bedding for babies and children. Although I don’t have children of my own, I do feel that the less exposure to harsh chemicals, the better, especially during childhood development. Not only are they natural, they also look beautiful with fun blocky plants and animal prints, so chic parents take note!
With an array of organic and sustainable bedding, pillows, wall art, and even handwoven alpaca throw blankets from Peru, Amenity home decor makes a great addition to the somewhat limited sustainable and eco-friendly modern home design pool.
In addition, Amenity home has been so generous to provide The Chic Ecologist readers with a 30% discount! Just use the code “sunshine” when checking out, the code is good until March 15th, 2009.
Amenity Organic Duvet Cover
Green Lighting by Candle – Beeswax Lightbulb Design
I just had to share when i found these. They are a bit of a curiosity rolled up in a novelty, but they are clever. Made of beeswax and available in green and natural off-white (with more color combination’s coming available), these candles are pretty green to the environment too. The design by Harry Allen is so complete, they even unscrew from their base. Light up your eco party with a CFL candle, or use a green incandescent bulb, either way the style is illuminating.
Both the spiral fluorescent and standard incandescent are available on Areaware for $25
[via dvice]
