Small Space Style – Fabulously Green

Category archives: Small Space Style

DESIGN BY RESCUE | Newsworthy Wallpaper

28Feb08

This fabulous DIY wallpaper treatment came from a high-end Italian furniture catalog of all places. A $6,000 plus Italian-crafted bed set against a wallpaper of newspaper that costs–if recycled, almost nothing.

How to Fab Your Walls

It’s all about experimenting with what you’ve got. Look around your space, or a friend’s. You can use almost anything:

Pages from an old book: I couldn’t sell back my outdated Norton Anthologies, so I’m prepping those wafer thin pages to cover a column in 17th century poetry. There’s like, 2000 pages in all.
Postcards from the edge: If you’re someone whose friends and family travel to ooh-la-la places and send good pics, use them.
Greeting cards: Sort them by dominant color, (cut them up if you’re not sentimental) and create your own David Hockney-esque masterpiece
CDs/DVDs: You don’t really need that outdated Windows Install CD do you? Declutter as you design by taking those cast-off CDs from home and the office and paint them to create a geometric border or wall treatment. It will look like, totally groovy.
Sheet music: So lyrical and artsy
Office swag: If you’re the type to bring work home, why not do something cathartic with those oh-so-colorful TPS reports? Or try the Business Card Art Wall idea we posted earlier.

How to Make it Removable

If you’re a renter or a design chameleon it’s easy to make this treatment lease-friendly by using double-sided tape. Elmer’s Glue mixed with water is earth-friendly to boot because it’s non-toxic, removable with sponge and water and biodegradable.

Show Off Your Inner Warhol

Weekend warriors: e-mail us your photos of your fabulous wall makeover. If we like it, we’ll make you famous. Or at least give you kudos!

Filed under Budget Decor, Interior Design, Refashion+Refurb, Small Space Style, Wallcoverings| Tagged creative wallpaper ideas, newspaper wallpaper | 15 Comments

Felt Furnishings from Illu Stration

10Nov07

It’s always exciting to see what’s new at Illu Stration, Mary Ann Williams’ German-based design studio known for innovating exquisitely tactile felt furnishings and accessories.

Mary Ann sent me these photos earlier in the summer (oops) but aren’t they perfect for late fall? Oak Leaves is a modular system which are either available assembled or as a do-it-yourself kit in a box for your own inspired creations.

Oak Leaves interlock into virtually any size or shape. Some suggestions from Mary Ann include shaping them into pendants (like the hot scarlet number shown above), rugs, wall panels, cushions, lampshades.

Softer and more enduring than a crunchy pile of freshly raked leaves…perfect for jumping on and rolling around in.

A snow white cushion, adds form, function and fun to any living space.

Like the pieces we’ve showcased before, these felt-Flokatis are made from renewable, biodegradable wool. Their interlocking nature means you can create and recreate to your heart’s content. For more information, visit the Illu Stration website.

Filed under Furnishings, Handmade, Interior Design, Lighting, Rugs+Carpet, Small Space Style, Wallcoverings| Tagged Biodegradable, Changeable Style, cushions, design, DIY Style, Eco-friendly, Furnishings, Handmade, home, Illu Stration, interiors, Mary Ann Williams, modern decor, Reusable, style | No Comments

Holiday Style File | Modern Green Christmas p.1

09Nov07

My family is coming out to me this Christmas so I’ve started thinking about how to deck out the apartment – in a fabulously green way of course! So I’ve been on the hunt for decorations that serve double duty for the festive season and beyond (restyle is the Fab Green motto). Will post them as we find them — if you’ve got a few fab green ideas to share, bring them on!

PRETTY AS A PARTRIDGE

These ornaments are perfect for the winter holidays or year round, depending on how you play with them. You can hang them on your tree, over a doorway or mantle for a modern, Christmasy effect. In the new year why not let these flocks take flight as a focal point in a room? Suspend them like a chandelier or an art installation. These are made in Germany from certified eco-friendly and biodegrable wool. Spotted at Branch Home, $18/pair in red and white, or light and dark green.

HEY BABY, LET’S CUT THE RUG

Felted rugs have been the rage all year, and Interface FLOR, one of our favored sustainable carpet companies, offers its own version for the holidays. Party Dress is a fancy cut rug made from the popular Fedora line of tiles. Or for the design-minded who are handy with a carpet knife, you could customize your own border. This modular, cuttable beauties boast eight contemporary colorways and are made from 80% post-consumer fibers. Oh the possibilities!

Filed under Multifunctional Design, Rugs+Carpet, Small Space Style| Tagged Biodegradable, Christmas, Decorations, Eco-friendly, Holiday Style, Interface FLOR, Ornaments, Reusable | 1 Comment

Fall Sample Sale @ Amenity Home

02Nov07

Amenity Home

Fresh from the Fab Green inbox: Nicole Chiala and Kristina de Corpo, the L.A. designers behind Amenity Home’s gorgeously modern, bedding collection are hosting a sample sale in their studio next week. Known for bold, botanically-inspired prints, the duo launched organic versions of favored designs last year, which are made from 100% SKAL-certified organic cotton, and printed locally using non-toxic, water-based dyes. Discounts between 60-80% off selected designs make sustainable style more affordable. Maybe we’ll see you there!

AMENITY HOME SAMPLE SALE
Friday November 9, 9:30am-5pm
Saturday November 10, 10am-5pm
Sunday November 11, 11am-3pm

WHERE:
435 S. Spring Street (near 5th Street)
Studio 839, 8th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90026

GETTING THERE:
Take the Metro (Yes, we actually have one and it’s pretty darn nice)

By Bus: From Santa Monica, hop on Bus 10

Not in L.A.? You can still take advantage of an extra 20% off online. Just enter FALL as the discount code. Good until Nov. 11.

Filed under Bedrooms, Sales+Shopping, Small Space Style| Tagged bedding, Decor, Eco-friendly, green home, home, Linens, modern home, modern style, Non-toxic, Organic, sustainable style | No Comments

Ask Fab Green: Hot Shops in D.C.?

09Aug07

Dear Fab Green,
I live in Washington DC and recently bought a new condo which I’m interested in furnishing with green furniture and accessories (most of what I have now is of the college junk variety, so in a lot of ways I’m starting over). Do you have any suggestions (besides “Come to LA, and bring a truck”)?
Thanks very much, Jenny

Hi Jenny,
I’ve enlisted the help of DC-based gal pal and fellow designer Nicole Foley for suggestions. For home furnishings she recommends two spots:

For style mongers, D.C.’s Craiglist is a treasure trove for mid-century modern finds, and Domino-inspired revival pieces. In fact, Nicole says it’s often easier to snag a deal on modern furniture in D.C. over L.A. since the demand for and knowledge of mid-century design is less developed. Maybe I should rent a truck and swing out your way!

Case in point: $299 chair by Brocade Home (left). A set of four selling for $100 total in Arlington (right)

For new, eco-friendly furnishings Nicole recommends:
Eco-Green Living.
1469 Church Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
Mon – Sat, 11am – 7pm
Tel: 202.234.7110

What you’ll find: an organic coffee/tea bar, corn-silk carpet tiles, low-odor and no-odor paints (many of them milk-based), organic tees, and solar-powered radios.

Thanks for writing Jenny!

Filed under Budget Decor, Furniture, Interior Design, Refashion+Refurb, Small Space Style, Vintage| Tagged Eco-friendly, Furniture, shopping, Vintage, washington dc | No Comments

Sneak Peek | Branch Home

11Jun07

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.

Filed under Furnishings, Furniture, Gifts+Gifting, Interior Design, Refashion+Refurb, Small Space Style| Tagged Branch Home, Eco-friendly, modern furnishings | No Comments

DIY Style File | Billy Gets a Makeover

30May07

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

Filed under Budget Decor, Furniture, Refashion+Refurb, Small Space Style| Tagged Eco-friendly, Reusable | No Comments

Angela Adams' Sustainable Style

25Apr07

I’ve been a long time fan of Angela Adams’ designs–many of which have become modern day icons. Beloved not only for their whimsical yet sophisticated style, but also as Rugmark labeled (i.e. no child labor is used), they exude style with a conscience.

She’s taken her designs one step further into the world of sustainable style: a collection of textiles called Sustainable for Architex made from 100% post-industrial recycled polyester. They are intended for corporate, healthcare, education, hospitality and retail applications, which means they are durable enough to withstand heavy traffic and abuse.

The collection features 11 patterns in all; available in up to 9 colorways per pattern. To see and order from the full collection visit the Architex website.

Filed under Interior Design, Rugs+Carpet, Small Space Style| Tagged Eco-friendly | No Comments

Fab DIY: Magnetic Spice Containers

07Mar07

Curbly has become my go-to site for inspiring DIY style projects for the home. Here’s one for gourmets looking to add some spice to your storage. Goodbye clunky, lazy Susan!

Amber of My Aim is True used watchmaker’s tins made from recyclable glass-topped aluminum. Some magnets and a hot glue gun and voila–sleek, easy-to-find spice containers you can store behind your stove top, refrigerator, or even on the wall if you have a magnetic strip…

Fab Green Tip: This idea makes for a great office organizer as well. Paper clips, rubber bands, magnets. You don’t need to be a foodie to have good looking storage for all those little things in life.

Thanks Amber!

Filed under Budget Decor, Gourmet, Multifunctional Design, Small Space Style| Tagged Recyclable, Reusable | No Comments

DIY Style: Sliding Felt Doors

04Mar07

Here’s a great weekend DIY project for modern felt doors I found at Apartment Therapy. Designing with wool felt for fashion or home brings lots of advantages: it’s a renewable material, biodegradable and naturally flame retardant.

The Materials:
• 1/2 inch white wool felt from Sutherland Felt Company @ $75 a yard
• Hospital track, endcaps and rolling hooks from Medical Products Direct
• Thick brown leather
• White spray paint
• Silicone spray

Other Felt Suppliers:
• Central Shippee
• Southeastern Felt
• Aetna Felt

The Tools:
• Exacto style knife
• Drill with 1/4 drill bit

Designer’s Note: The toughest part was finding the right felt. It turns out that to get good felt you have to go to industrial suppliers who sell this stuff for aircraft engine mounts and other heavy vibration situations. Some offer felt made from recycled content. Here’s what we ended up with.

The Instructions:
1. Measure your doorway and order your felt large enough for both panels to more than cover the opening both side to side and up and down. It comes 72″ wide so you are in the best shape if you only have to buy one length and have them cut it down the middle for two 3′ wide pieces.

2. Order your hospital track to all felt door to slide out to the side in both directions. It only comes in silver, but don’t worry, you can paint it.

3. Mount your track on the ceiling and as tight to the door as possible so that the felt will hug the opening.

4. Insert end caps and rolling hooks. Spray with silicone to ease movement.

5. Masking off area around track, spray with white paint to blend in with ceiling.

6. Hold up felt and measure to fit.

7. Trim felt down with eXacto knife.

8. Using 1/4″ drill bit, drill holes in top of felt about 1″ down and 3″ apart. Also drill holes for leather handles as well.

9. Stitch leather handle on with leather thong.

10. Hang felt from hooks.

Fab Green Recommendations
1. Source wool felt or ask vendors if they have felt made with recycled content.
2. Use recycled leather for your handles found on your next trip to your favorite thrift or vintage shop. Or try another rescued, gorgeous material that inspires you!
3. A lightweight slider track from IKEA is a good alternative to a hospital track. If you like the look it will save you the painting step.
4. Design your own pattern! For inspiration, check out the amazing felt creations of Anne Kyrro Quinn.

Thanks Maxwell!

Filed under Interior Design, Small Space Style, Textiles+Fabrics| Tagged Biodegradable | No Comments

Fabulously Green