Unique – Fabulously Green

Category archives: Unique

(re)Style File: When All is Read and Done

22Jan07

My love for books spilleth over this morning. Bookish design finds and inspiration for home, office or your closet.

This wall unit by Vitra contributing designer Werner Asslinger redefines the definition of the word ‘bookshelf.’ An interesting functional mix of old materials (those outdated titles) with a modernist’s love of modular:

How Studio Asslingler puts these books in balance:

Via DesignSpotter

The Ultimate Book Bag
And if you’re a bookloving fashionista like me, it’s worth perusing the collection of book bags designed by Caitlin of rebound designs. There’s over 50 book titles to choose from including vintage Nancy Drew Mystery Series to the James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man.

Alice in Wonderland Bag, rebound designs, $150

Images de la France bag, rebound designs, $150

Second Year Algebra bag, rebound designs
This bag is currently sold out (has math ever this popular?). But you can click here to request one like it.

A Novel Gift Idea: Create a one-of-a-kind bag with Caitlin from a loved one’s favorite book. She’ll craft one for you.

Filed under Bags, Fashion - Women, Furniture, Handmade, Indie, Interior Design, Office Style, Refashion+Refurb, Unique, Vintage| Tagged Changeable Style, Eco-friendly, Handmade, Indie | 1 Comment

Etsy Find: A Good Bet

22Jan07

The card player/Scrabble freak in me loves these necklaces by Etsy designer stinkycretingirl. Taking inspiration from cast-off game pieces, they’re transformed into surprisingly boho-elegant accessories.

Alpana Necklace, by stinkycretingirl, $30
Made from a poker chip and a set of vintage rice paper napkins. The seed pearls were reclaimed from a preloved necklace.

Amara Necklace, crafted with a refashioned Scrabble tile, $40

Almira Necklace, poker chip meets recycled wrapping paper, $30

Alodie Necklace, a poker chip meets scrapbooking paper, $30

Filed under Budget Fashion, Fashion - Women, Handmade, Indie, Jewelry, Refashion+Refurb, Unique| Tagged Eco-friendly, Handmade, Indie | No Comments

DIY STYLE | How to "Vogue" Those Walls

17Jan07

Holly Becker over at decor8 posted this fabulously green idea yesterday that seemed perfect for those among us who need a 12-step program to rein in our magazine addictions: design-your-own wallcovering.

Tools: a paper shredder that can turn those Vogue mags into long and lean ribbons. Cross-cut patterns will work too, but you will have to work harder with smaller pieces. Old magazines (if you’re a pack rat, consider clipping out the pages you want to keep and shredding the rest. If you haven’t looked at a magazine in over a year, shred away!).

See the full post at decor8. Photo and idea originally taken from Budget Living: Home Cheap Home.

Make it Fabulous:

Get creative with your materials. Play with recycled newspapers, old greeting cards, wrapping paper, colorful junkmail, the West Elm catalogs that arrive in your mailbox every other day, past IKEA catalogs, maps. The choices and patterns you can design are endless.

If you design it, send us a photo!

Filed under Art+Graphics, Budget Decor, Interior Design, Refashion+Refurb, Small Space Style, Unique| Tagged Books+Resources, Eco-friendly | No Comments

On Exhibit: Skin+Bones at the MOCA

15Jan07

For California-based FabGreen fans with dual passions for fashion and interior design the “Skin + Bones: Parallel Practices in Fashion and Architecture” exhibit at the MOCA in Los Angeles is a must-see experience. I checked it out on Saturday with some out-of-town friends and have been swirling in a dervish of ideas and inspiration since. Sadly, photography was prohibited inside the gallery but here are a few snaps I hunted down:

Fashion meets furniture — or should I say fashion becomes furniture:

Convertible Skirt/Table by Fashion Designer-Maverick Hussein Chalayan

A contemporary building gets “draped” in a gold brocaded facade:
Concert Hall in Brugge, Belgium by Neutelings Riedijk Architects
The facade bridges seamlessly the modern design with the medieval character of the city.

The exhibit brings together the collective, crossover genius of Alexander McQueen, Issey Miyake, Vivienne Westwood, Shigeru Ban, Frank Gehry, Herzog de Meuron and other luminaries. Although heavier on fashion than architecture, the connections between the two beautifully presented and undeniably groundbreaking.

For less geographically privileged folks, you can check out insider pics, or buy the companion book (on Amazon).

More skinny on the show:
New Yorker weighs in on the exhibit
LA Weekly throws a few sticks and stones

More skinny on Chalayan:
Hussein Chalayan at Design Boom, Elle Magazine, Icon-UK

Seen it? What do you think?

Filed under Architecture, Fashion - Men, Fashion - Women, Furniture, Interior Design, Multifunctional Design, Unique| Tagged Eco-friendly | 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 | 1 Comment

Icarus Pendant: Flight of Fancy

13Oct06

How beautiful is this? A sculptural light by über Dutch designer Tord Boontje made of overlapping feather shapes cut from Mylar. A surprising poetic flight of fancy for any space. And at $80, the Icarus is also very wallet-friendly.

The Fab Factor: We love that it’s packed flat (for minimal packaging) then springs to life when it reaches its final destination. Mylar is recyclable (yippee), and the Icarus uses a low wattage bulb of 60W or less. Now that’s sustainable style.

Available at:
Modern Poverty
friend Objects in Common
Unica Home

Filed under Budget Decor, Interior Design, Lighting, Unique| Tagged Eco-friendly, Energy Savers, Recyclable | No Comments

Retro Phones Redux

25Aug06

How gorgeous are these Sixties Style telephones? These retro originals that have been restored by hand. All the parts you can see are vintage, but with a state-of-the-art microphone, wiring and cord, they work like they’re brand new and plug into a modern day jack. Available in limited supply for $160 at Uncommon Goods.

The original Vintage 20s Phone has also been completely restored by hand, fully tested and ready to plug into a modern phone jack. The wiring, microphone and cord are all state of the art to ensure a crystal clear sound, and the phone is apparently complete with a classic clicking sound in place of a modern ring. Available in limited supply for $700 each at Uncommon Goods.

Filed under Gadgets, Refashion+Refurb, Unique, Vintage| Tagged Eco-friendly, retro phone, vintage telephones | 3 Comments

Evolution of the Cardboard Chair

25Aug06

If you’re a fan of Frank Gehry’s iconic Wiggle Chair but can’t afford the $850 price tag, you can get a knockoff version for almost half the price at Cardboard Furniture. Though not affiliated with Gehry or Vitra, Cardboard Furniture no doubt was Gehry-inspired and created an entire line of sculptural chairs, stools, tables and shelving from recycled cardboard:

Davis Collection – Bold & Italic, $525 each at Cardboard Furniture

Bar Stool, $431.25 each at Cardboard Furniture

Low Stool, $525 each at Cardboard Furniture

Itching for the real deal? Lucky! Check out Plushpod.

Filed under Furniture, Interior Design, Unique| Tagged Biodegradable, Eco-friendly, Recyclable | 1 Comment

Secco's Little Rubber Numbers

23Aug06

Chad Trent of Finnstyle e-mailed us yesterday to announce they’ve started carrying some bags by Secco. Secco’s posse of designers have a passion for cutting-edge, eco-friendly design. More design laboratory than company, they source their materials from recycling and waste centers to create sleek sometimes funky and fashionable objects.

This Cosmetics Bag is ready to hit the road–in fact it probably already has. Designer Riikka Lindström created this bag from recycled inner tubes. The abstract tire graphic and seam detail give this little rubber number some eco-grunge-chic. No more worries about leaking bottles or toothpaste tubes. Available at Finnstyle.

The Rub-A-Dub Handbag designed by Miia Kylmänen for Secco almost looks like black leather. Also made from recycled inner tubes, this handbag can be detailed with red, white, or golden brown seamwork. Available through Finnstyle and Secco.

Thanks Chad for the FG find!

Filed under Bags, Fashion - Women, Refashion+Refurb, Unique| Tagged Eco-friendly | No Comments

Anenome Chair

13Aug06

Here’s another whimsical chair that takes its inspiration from preloved materials. The Anemone Chair designed by Fernando & Humberto Campana wraps lengths of translucent PVC garden hoses around a steel frame to create an updated, eco-friendly take on the bean-bag shaped lounge chair.