Instructions are out! How to convert cast-off carpet samples (of carpet cut-offs) into winning designs for home. The finalists, announced in June, included the above chaise lounge, a magazine caddy, a modern style bench and stools. Thanks to the team at Tricycle Inc. and Ample Sample finalists for sharing their design how-to’s with us.
For all build-it-yourself project plans visit the Ample Sample website.
We’ve reported on these retro tanker desks before, and have found several other companies outside of L.A. offering these popular, rehabbed mid-century originals. All of these shops offer several styles and a dizzying range of custom colors.
First up is Minneapolis-based Past Present Future. PPF offers a range of desks, credenzas, storage and seating, available in restored “as is” finish like this double pedestal tanker in original steel.
Although this single pedestal tanker is quite pretty in pink:
My favorite is this double pedestal in aqua blue:
DIY RESOURCE:
For a real “steel” try snagging one on Craig’s List and rehab it yourself. You can find step-by-step photo instructions on how to refinish a tanker desk yourself at Twelve Stone.
WHERE TO BUY:
Bergen Office Furniture
127 West 26th Street
New York, NY 10001
212.366.6677
Thistle & Crowe
3109 Selwyn Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28209
704.858.2345
Espinosa Furniture
2352 Venloe Dr
Poland, OH 44514
330.757.3177
Sonrisa
7609 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
800.668.1020
Retro Office, Inc.
9526 Ann Street
Santa Fe Springs, CA. 90670
888.501.5660
Tip: There’s an online color customizer tool to design your own.
You may remember back in March we announced Tricycle’s Ample Sample Contest, daring interior designers to transform their stacks of carpet samples into an appealing, functional interiors product. Ample Sample contest hosts Tricycle, Bentley Prince Street and Floor Focus Magazine designed the contest to help promote the “rescue by design” of hundreds of thousands of carpet samples that fall prey to landfills each year. Designers across the country cleaned out their material libraries and produced an impressive range of clever, inspired concepts ranging from furniture to light fixtures, hand bags to wall dividers. Well, the finalists have been picked and are on exhibit this week at NeoCon, but if you’re geographically challenged like me, you can view new photos posted just today on the Ample Sample website. Continue reading
The team at Branch Home just e-mailed over some new fabulously green pieces picked up from this year’s ICFF show in New York. Hot or not?
Cain Chair, Seth Esthelman, $398USD/pair (unfinished)
These chairs remind me of old-fashioned school house chairs, yes? According to Branch the wood comes from sustainable forests in New York and Pennsylvania, but no certifications were mentioned so I’ll follow up and report back. They are stackable, and shipped flat. Exclusive to Branch Home.
Sling, Ting Studios, $578USD
A eco-modern take on the classic hammock, designer Inghua Ting’s Sling is handwoven using reclaimed, unused nylon seatbelt webbing. Available in six bold colors: green, orange, white, chocolate and black. According to Branch Home, Ting Studios strives for zero carbon footprint production in their UK offices. Employees bike to work and their products are made in Europe.
RD4 Chair, Richard D. Liddle, $1198USD
The RD4 (aka Roughly Drawn) Chair is a visual dervish of 100% recycled plastic molded into an airy seat. Was the designer channeling Jackson Pollack? Available in five colors: black, blue, green, orange, and red. Exclusive to Branch Home.
Dear Fab Green,
I’m taking a trip to LA tomorrow; do you have any suggestions for eco-home stores or clothing stores to see while I am there? My idea is to create a store in my area that would infuse “green” ideas and products in a not-so-green ‘yet’ community.
Thanks, Janette Lareto
Welcome to L.A.! Thrilled to hear about your interest in launching a green home store. There are a few on-the-ground eco-home stores you can look into:
Viesso.com in Santa Monica on Colorado Blvd. – They design affordable, modern, custom green furniture. I visited the show room last week and met with Travis, the co-founder. Customers can choose a style, a coordinating fabric, and in 3-4 weeks the piece is made. I asked Travis where if they fabricate their pieces locally and he said yes. Upholstery options include sustainable fabrics from top companies like Maharam and Designtex.
Living Green in Culver City on Washington Blvd. – Living Green offers a broad range of green products including furniture, flooring, finishes, paints, garden supplies, etc. Some of my favorite products include Syndecrete, an eco-friendly concrete used to fabricate the sink in the photo (warning: not cheap), Yolo Colorcraft paint, and Kirei board furniture. They sell some of their products online as well.
Another local offering which may or may not be on-the-ground is green with glamour. Designer Deana Bracken founded gwg a month or two ago. The eco-chic shop focuses on a range of eco-glam accessories for the home, like this glass doylee bowl made in a studio using wind power. If you love Kelly Wearstler’s style, you’ll love green with glamour.
Others anyone?
Dear Fab Green,
I’m taking a trip to LA tomorrow; do you have any suggestions for eco-home stores or clothing stores to see while I am there? My idea is to create a store in my area that would infuse “green” ideas and products in a not-so-green ‘yet’ community.
Thanks, Janette Lareto
Welcome to L.A.! Thrilled to hear about your interest in launching a green home store. There are a few on-the-ground eco-home stores you can look into:
Viesso.com in Santa Monica on Colorado Blvd. – They design affordable, modern, custom green furniture. I visited the show room last week and met with Travis, the co-founder. Customers can choose a style, a coordinating fabric, and in 3-4 weeks the piece is made. I asked Travis where if they fabricate their pieces locally and he said yes. Upholstery options include sustainable fabrics from top companies like Maharam and Designtex.
Living Green in Culver City on Washington Blvd. – Living Green offers a broad range of green products including furniture, flooring, finishes, paints, garden supplies, etc. Some of my favorite products include Syndecrete, an eco-friendly concrete used to fabricate the sink in the photo (warning: not cheap), Yolo Colorcraft paint, and Kirei board furniture. They sell some of their products online as well.
Another local offering which may or may not be on-the-ground is green with glamour. Designer Deana Bracken founded gwg a month or two ago. The eco-chic shop focuses on a range of eco-glam accessories for the home, like this glass doily bowl made in a studio using wind power. If you love Kelly Wearstler’s style, you’ll love green with glamour.
Others anyone?
Here’s a clever way to update this nondescript IKEA classic. All you need is a little planet-friendly paint like Benjamin Moore’s Aura or Yolo Colorhouse to give your Billy new life.
If a graphic look if more your thing, try lining the back wall with wallpaper. Some fabulously green options include: Baroque-gone-modern prints by Mod Green Pod made from organic cotton, vintage papers from Second Hand Rose, or retro vintage papers from 5qm.
Photo via Domino Magazine
HauteGREEN is back for its second exhibition in the Big Apple! A curated showcase of sustainable furniture, lighting, and housewares, over 70 pieces in all, were selected from a pool of 241 submissions. HauteGREEN 2007 promises to be one of the highlights of New York Design Week.
What: HauteGREEN, showcase of contemporary, sustainable furnishings
Where: 33 W 19th St. New York City
When: May 19—May 21
Saturday & Sunday 12–7PM
Monday 11AM–4PM
Who: Tom Dixon Tejo Remy of droog, and Carlos Salgado of Scrapile, and Matt Gagnon to name just a few.
Receptions and satellite exhibition will be hosted at Design Within Reach, 903 Broadway. Check out the full event schedule here.
The Steelcase Think Chair is about as close to perfection as it gets in an office chair. From now until May 15, Fab Green readers can get a 10% discount.
Praised for its sleek design, cutting edge ergonomics, and environmentally conscious materials, the Think chair is so comfortable it just might give you the extra boost you need to get through the workday.
Awarded the 2006 Business Week Gold Industrial Design Excellence Award, Steelcase partnered with William McDonough’s design group MBDC to create one of the first “cradle-to-cradle” chairs in the business (meaning eco-friendly from birth to rebirth). It’s beautifully crafted from 44% recycled materials, 99% recyclable, and produced with no PVCs, lead, mercury and other known toxins. Designers and architects will be happy to know the Think Chair qualifies for LEED credits as well.
I “test-sat” the Think Chair last year on one of my visits to the Steelcase showroom, and dare I say my back was so happy I think it smiled. The chair conformed perfectly to my body and gave me firm yet forgiving support unparalleled in any other chair I’ve tried. Now that I’ve reached that age where I find myself regrettably complaining about lower back pain and overload of computer work, I recently came to the conclusion that it’s worth swapping my $30 Office Depot chair for something healthier. It’s not cheap, but pretty reasonable as far as high-tech chairs go.
If you want one for yourself or your business, e-mail the Steelcase Store and ask for the Fabulously Green 10% off Think coupon code. The chair lists regularly from $649-959 depending on custom features.
Thanks to Matt Lindstrom for contacting us with this offer.
TGIF! Some fabulous finds for the modern home discovered on the web…
BEAUTY [re]COVERED
Lounge Chair, Lotus Bleu
Vintage chair reupholstered with a French floral print linen
Spotted at Lotus Bleu
YOU KEEP ME IN STITCHES
Stitched Felt Coasters, $16 for set of four
Biodegradable felt on top, sustainable cork on the bottom
Spotted at ELSEWARES
MADE TO DEGRADE
Eco Ware, Tom Dixon
Made of bio-degradable plastic, 85% Bamboo
Spotted at Tom Dixon
RAISE THE RED LANTERN
DIY Style: Origami Lights
Little lanterns made from recycled magazines
Spotted at Curbly, via everything@once
