Materials+Finishes – Fabulously Green

Category archives: Materials+Finishes

DIY DESIGN | Fast Facelift for a Dresser

28Mar08

Shabby chic less the shabby. This weekend project works great on cast-off dressers, sideboards, desks, and tabletops. If you don’t already have a piece in your own pad to experiment with, try hunting down a gem on Craigslist, a local flea market, Goodwill or garage sale.

A Green Twist
Finish it off with a hip, healthier paint option like Yolo’s Sprout Collection (for modern, spring-inspired colors), Benjamin Moore’s Aura, or Fine Paints of Europe (for rich, historically-derived colors). Other companies like Pantone have started offering non-VOC or low-VOC paints and primers as well so it’s much easier to go high style and fume free. The few extra dollars per gallon is worth it for the health and environmental benefits.

Video Podcast Instructions
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIJ-DDOtH6k&hl=en]

Prefer written instructions? Check out the complete post by Chris Gardner on Curbly.

Check out our full list of DIY Design ideas here.

Filed under Budget Decor, Furniture, Materials+Finishes, Paints+Techniques, Refashion+Refurb, Videos| Tagged DIY furniture, eco friendly paint, Eco-friendly, how to refurbish furniture, modern DIY, Non-toxic, podcast | No Comments

DIY DESIGN | Secret Salvage Yards

19Mar08

Photo courtesy of Salvage One

Sometimes the most precious pieces are ones are those you find in unexpected places. The antique mirror you scored at a flea market, the Phillipe Starck chairs you got for $69 each at Hotel Surplus Outlet, the handsome used Eames Lounge Chair knockoff bought on eBay for $50 (yes, it’s true. The lounger is in my friend Michael’s apartment and what I wouldn’t give to steal it away). If you have an eye for spotting a diamond in the rough, you might consider checking out another insider source: salvage yards.

What’s so special about salvage yards?

These are forgotten pieces of mid-century modern furniture, perfectly good kitchen and bathroom fittings, abandoned fireplace mantels replete with mosaics of cracked paint, and collectible flotsam covered with abstract, oxidized patinas.” – Christopher Brown, Senior Editor, Dwell

Thanks to Christopher Bright’s post on his favorite salvage yards, I parsed out a few favorites of my own to share:

Salvage One: Chicago, IL

The crème de la crème of salvage style can be found at the Salvage One store in Chicago. Lots of collectible furniture, lighting, as well as architectural elements, vintage sinks and clawfoot tubs. With so many pristine pieces, it seems a shame to call them salvage.

OLD GOOD THINGS: Manhattan, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Hallandale, FL; Scranton, PA

Old Good Things has a good selection of handcrafted tin mirrors, and decorative tiles.

EARTHWISE, Seattle, WA

Earthwise gets more into salvage materials (like the wall paneling above) but also offers a good selection of tiles, doors, wrought iron and antique tin mirrors. The website pretty easy to search for items (we’d love to see a “view all” button). There’s also a “Fun” section for those looking for inspiration on how to design with salvage.

Ohmega Salvage, Berkeley, CA
Nice layout of categories, lighting is broken out by decorative period. Seems to be the most user-friendly website of the bunch
Gems include tiles, doors, cabinets, metal lockers, display pedestals from art museums.

HOW TO MAKE IT MODERN AND FABULOUS:
If you’re new to salvage style you may want to start with these ideas: mirrors, ceramic tiles as coasters or tabletop decoration.

Cast iron or brass floor registers: Powdercoat paint them white, black, silver, peacock blue, or a fire engine red and hang them as wall art.

Filed under Furnishings, Furniture, Interior Design, Kitchens+Baths, Lighting, Materials+Finishes, Office Style, Recycled, Vintage| Tagged clawfoot tubs, Eco-friendly, Recycled, salvage one, salvage style, Tile+Stone, vintage furniture | 4 Comments

ARCHITECTURE | Hybrid House for a Briard

13Mar08

[slideshow id=1801439850954218563&w=475&h=320]
If you’re in the Los Angeles area this March 14-16 weekend and love modern design and architecture, don’t miss the 5th annual Caboom Show: the largest showcase of independent, contemporary design on the West Coast. On the list of special home tours includes one project particularly close to my heart and had the opportunity to work on: the Residence for a Briard designed by Sander Architects.

Three years ago, the clients Thomas Small and Joanna Brody threw down a gauntlet: to build the greenest house that had ever come out of the Sander practice. They wanted a house that was modern, green, and Briard-friendly (a very, very, large dog).

On a very tight budget. The challenge called for innovations on many fronts: beginning with the use of prefab components for the frame of the house, to our experimentation with materials. Insulation made from recycled denim jeans, wall boards made from sunflower seeds — surprisingly gorgeous enough to leave exposed sans paint. We had even talked about using cheap red wine to stain the concrete floors.

Whitney Sander, the principal, found his design inspiration from a painting by George Braque. I remember in my second week of work, being sent off to research Venturi roofs (to promote “natural” A/C) and every possible green product under the sun. It was the crash course of a lifetime — and was in part, the foundation of knowledge I used for the birth of Fabulously Green (thanks Whitney, Catherine, Thomas and Joanna).

Green Strategies and Materials:

greywater system (for capturing used water and reusing it for landscape irrigation)
passive heating and cooling strategies
a cistern to capture rainwater for watering landscaping
recycled denim insulation, bamboo flooring, Marmoleum, structural steel frames from recycled steel

To see the house in person, sign up for the Saturday Westside House Tour. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Related Links:

For tickets and home tour registration visit the Caboom V website
Homeowner Joanna Brody blogs about the designer’s challenge at G Living

Filed under Architecture, Interior Design, Materials+Finishes, Recycled| Tagged caboom, design shows, Eco-friendly, home tours, Hybrid House, Linkedin, modern homes, Pre-fab, prefab architecture, prefab homes, Recycled | No Comments

Vintage Modern Wallpaper | Second Hand Rose

06Mar07

Lovers of vintage print and pattern wallpapers will find much design inspiration at Secondhand Rose, New York-based boutique that stocks over 1000 original vintage wallpaper patterns and collectibles (including the occasional Frank Lloyd Wright print). They sell online and will ship to anywhere in the world.

Don’t be put off by the overabundance of Victorian prints and cabbage roses, there are some modernist gems to be found. The Geometric Collection features a range of modern designs from deco to Vienna Secessionist to the 70’s. The Mylar Collection features lots of seventies retro pop designs. Mylar is also recyclable.

Secondhand Rose
138 Duane Street
New York, NY 10013
212.393.9002
The store is open by appointment only.

Filed under Art+Graphics, Eco Glam, Interior Design, Materials+Finishes, Vintage, Wallcoverings| Tagged Eco-friendly, secondhand rose, Vintage, wallpaper | No Comments

Charlotte Lancelot's Fab Felt Floor Tiles

20Jan07

Interpretations of the houndstooth for floors began with cool cork tiles by . But if you’re more the warm and fuzzy type, you may opt instead for these modular felt floor tiles designed by Charlotte Lancelot:

http://www.charlottelancelot.com/pages-produits/feltfloor.html

Felt Floor, Felt lighting, orchid hooks. Interview!

Filed under Indie, Interior Design, Materials+Finishes| Tagged Biodegradable, Indie | No Comments

Walls and Wares to Die For: Lily Yung

11Jan07

My fetish for felt furnishings continues with a look at the sinewy, die cut furnishings and jewelry designed by Toronto-based mixed media artist Lily Yung. Made from industrial wool felt, the pieces are dyed and hand assembled by Lily into gorgeous webs for wall panels, pillows, rugs and runners.

Not one to waste good material, Lily takes the remaining die cuts (the cut outs) and uses textile techniques to create masterful pieces of jewelry:

Lily’s personal favorite? The blue Boa FB1:

“I think the blue boa is very successful. It is simple but dramatic on
the body and fulfills my goal to incorporate the closure mechanism in
the piece and it is also adjustable to fit different neck sized and
can be easily reconfigured to be a collar or a bracelet.”

The Fab Factor: Lily’s pieces are simply stunning and beautifully crafted. Wool felt as a material that is landfill-friendly and naturally fire-retardant (goodbye to chemically-based fire-proof treatments). We love that Lily sources her wool and cutting services locally (conserves fuel/transportation), and transforms otherwise wasteful leftovers into beautiful pieces.

You can meet Lily and see her work in person at:

Virtual/Tangible v2.0 Show
@ Velvet da Vinci, San Francisco
January 24, 2007

Interior Design Show 2007
@ Direct Energy Centre, Toronto
February 22-25.

If you’re planning on attending either event, we’d love to have you share your field report with Fab Green readers!

You can see more of Lily’s work here. If you’re interested in buying or sourcing her pieces feel free to contact Lily directly.

Another entry on Lily’s beautiful wire jewelry to come later this week. Special thanks to Lily Yung for answering our many questions and sharing your work with Fab Green!

Filed under Art+Graphics, Handmade, Indie, Interior Design, Jewelry, Materials+Finishes, Multifunctional Design| Tagged Biodegradable, Changeable Style, eco-chic, Eco-friendly, felt, Furnishings, Handmade, Indie, indie fashion, Jewelry, Lily Yung, modern style, Non-toxic, Recyclable | No Comments

Eriko Horiki: Washi Paper Interiors

05Dec06

Thanks to fellow StyleHiver Julie3Jax I’ve fallen madly in love with Kyoto-based Eriko Horiki and her company’s stunning washi finishes for modern interiors. The piece above, called Sun, was actually created as one piece (gasp) and it took 12 people two months to complete. Mulberry stems (the raw material of this washi) were embedded to create the contoured lines across the piece. Eriko also innovated a technique a splashing water droplets on the surface to create varied textures and shade.

here’s the Moon…

Washi “Tatewaku water” motif set between glass for a Kyoto office building.

Light wall dome made from washi and a steel frame for public exhibition.

Feature wall for Abbey of the Good Shepherds in Osaka

Washi window treatments for a residence. Eriko’s Shimus Collection features 10 material finishes, available here.

Feature wall in a gallery. Would be gorgeous as a feature wall in my apartment! Hmm…

The Fab Factor: Washi paper is derived from various plants and grasses such as bamboo, mulberry, hemp and others, making it a sustainable choice for design.

DIY: You can buy washi papers from a local art store and adhere it with simple flour and water to windows for diffuse light, tabletops, walls–wherever your creative heart takes you. If you like to change things up like I do, the paper can be easily removed using water. Here’s a great article for inspiration and more on the washi decor trend.

Live in L.A.? Hiromi Paper in Santa Monica is having its annual paper sale. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Filed under Architecture, Handmade, Interior Design, Materials+Finishes| Tagged Biodegradable, Eco-friendly, Handmade | No Comments

Graffiti Art for Grownups

30Nov06

If you are a fan of the latest wall decal trend but wish for a more greener option, these Graffiti Stencils at Urban Outfitters may be just the thing. There are ten motifs in all inspired from natural and urban objects. Stencils are made from vinyl and can be used on fabric, furniture, walls and floors. Simple choose your colors and your paints, grab a few brushes and graffiti away. Available exclusively at Urban Outtfitters online.

Traffic Motif Graffiti Stencil, UrbanOutterfitters.com, $10

Sparrow Motif Graffiti Stencil, applied (neatly) with spray paint

Deer Motif Graffiti Stencil, and a tee people will fawn over.

Powerlines Motif Graffiti Stencil, no electricity required.

The Fab Factor: Vinyl is certainly not a green material, and we hope to see alternatives from Urban Outfitters in the future. However props go to the stencils’ reusability. I also appreciate their versatility to update your home and your wardrobe alike and you can pass them on to another crafter when you’re finished. For extra eco-health factor, try using an low VOC paint (how about Yolo Colorhouse, milk paints by Anna Sova or Old Fashioned Milk Paint of Benjamin Moore’s Eco Spec paint.

Filed under Art+Graphics, Interior Design, Materials+Finishes, Small Space Style, Urban Style| Tagged Eco-friendly, Reusable | No Comments

Magnetic Interiors

22Nov06

If you’ve been following trends in interior design this year, no doubt you’ve seen the very sticky appeal of decorative wall decals. One of my design blog idols Design*Sponge surveyed design enthusiasts about the trend (here are her results) – but it looks like many (self included) still find them hopelessly a-peeling with lots of creative possibilities still to explore.

Here’s one variation that captures my green-little heart: magnetic rather than vinyl wall decals from Magscapes (the Dots series shown above). Designed by Patricia Adler of Peppermint (we featured her innovative Palazzo T4 Chandelier just yesterday) these decals give users a chance to design and redesign their interiors. To your heart’s content.

Magnetic rather than sticky, it’s actually the wallpaper that holds the secret. It’s specially made to be receptive to the decals and hold them permanently or temporarily. The decals are cut from rubber sheets similar to the backings on refrigerator magnets and voila–you can pin up and play.

The Fab Factor: The reusability gives a green edge over vinyl decals that can only be used once. According to the Magscapes, the decals and paper are made without lead, or hazardous chemicals so they’re safe to use in kid’s rooms, kitchens, wherever your inspiration takes you.

Design range is slightly limited, but you can work with them to create custom designs of your own. Still wondering about its recyclability and manufacturing standards and will update when we hear more.

Available online through Magscapes and through . Free samples available in Europe only.

Filed under Art+Graphics, Interior Design, Materials+Finishes, Small Space Style, Unique| Tagged design, Eco-friendly, Magscapes, Patricia Adler, Reusable, wall decals | No Comments

Fabulous Felt: Ill-ustration

06Oct06

If you’re a fan of Nani Marquina’s Roses Rug, then you’ll undoubtedly go even more crazy for German designer Mary-Ann Williams felt rugs, wall panels and lighting. Her company Illu Stration has been credited for innovating the felting method that we’ve all come to love. The textures and colors are stunning–up to 1000 Pantone colors. Some FG readers have shared that the quality of these pieces is unparalleled.

Flokati Rug or Wall Panel

Greener than Grass Rug or Runner

Hip Hop Light Strands

Xolo Pendant Lamp

Pendant Light

The Fab Factor: Handcrafted in Germany, these wool felt furnishings are biodegradable, naturally fire-resistant and recyclable. The felt is Wool Mark labeled, and dyes are chemical-free. Leftover scraps are incorporated into new pieces or donated to local schools for arts classes. The Atelier where Illu Stration rugs are made was designed with energy conservation aspects in mind.

See the whole collection here

Thanks to FG readers and Petra Stockinger and Kylie for the fab find! For more blogging on Illu Stration check out Design Milk.

Filed under Handmade, Interior Design, Materials+Finishes, Rugs+Carpet| Tagged Biodegradable, Eco-friendly, Handmade | No Comments

Fabulously Green