Tag archives: Eco-friendly

DIY DESIGN | Fast Facelift for a Dresser

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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.

HOT SHOP | Bag, Borrow or Steal Reviewed

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A-listers like Anne Hathaway and Gwyneth Paltrow do it all the time: wear diamonds or vintage couture on loan for the Red Carpet. Borrowing rather than owning has its charms, and now we in the real world can dress like Cinderella for a night thanks to a new online couture-for-rent boutique Bag Borrow or Steal.

The Shop: Bag, Borrow or Steal

The Bottom Line: The Netflix of fashion. Instead of renting the Devil Wears Prada, you can actually rent Prada. Or Chanel, Gucci, Versace, Kate Spade and hundreds more. Clutches, earrings, belts are all guaranteed authentic and you rent by the week or month.

The Skinny: Crystal clear site navigation makes browsing and renting a snap. You can search by designer, style, color, or price point. You can either borrow as a guest or a member (which for a monthly rate, gives you 20% off all borrowed items). A free return shipping package allows you to drop it in a mailbox and voila — it’s returned.

At prices starting at $15/week for Coach, red carpet fashion has never been so accessible and so fabulously green. If you love it, you can “steal” it (i.e. buy it).

Wishlist: We’d love to see the shop adopt a carbon offset program like the Carbon Fund for its shipping and returns. As well as consider donating a portion of proceeds to a non-profit like Dress for Success.

Best bets: Perfect place to find designer jewelry for a wedding or black tie event.

The perks: Borrowing is more fabulous than buying — easier on the wallet and the planet.

RELATED POSTS:

>>Sunday’s “It” Store: Zanisa

>>Hot Shop: EcoTobi Reviewed


HOME.DECOR | All Out for Modern Organic Bedding

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Sweet dreams are made of this: modern, botanically inspired linens that just might be healthy for you. One of my favorite decor designers Amenity Home has gone completely organic. Nice going!

They also have introduced their once-custom order Muir Bed as a regular offering. Mid-century inspired, it’s made from mostly reclaimed Douglas Fir, finished with non-VOC stain, and is made by local artisans here in Southern California.

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You can view the entire line of organic bedding, wall art, and nursery linens at the Amenity Home website. To learn more about the benefits of organic cotton check out this great primer on organic cotton at Treehugger.

Related Posts:

>>Fall Sample Sale @ Amenity Home

>>Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

>>See more posts on modern green beds and bedding

DIY DESIGN | Secret Salvage Yards

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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
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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

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

EARTHWISE, Seattle, WA

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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.

FASHION | Link Love Roundup 3.15.08

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Natalie Portman makes her debut as shoe designer for retailer Té Casan. Her line of high style heels are animal-friendly, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Nature Conservancy. Bravo girl!

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Abigail Doan of Inhabitat serves up some fabulous recycled and upcycled collections by indie designers. It’s about luscious layers this season.

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The Vintage Fashion Expo is on this March 15-16th weekend in San Francisco. You might score a vintage Gucci bag, or a make out with an haute vintage Hermes gown like the one Angelina Jolie wore to this year’s Oscars.

Vintage Fashion Expo
Nob Hill Masonic Center
1111 California St.

Regular hours: Saturday 10:30 AM – 6 PM, Sunday 11AM-5 PM, tickets $10.
Early buying takes place Saturday from 9 – 10:30 AM, tickets $20. Students with I.D. are admitted free on Sunday.

Visit the website for ticket information.

ARCHITECTURE | Hybrid House for a Briard

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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:

LONDON FASHION WEEK | Esthetica 2008

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This year’s Esthetica Show brought together an impressive set of designers pushing the envelope of style and sustainability. But after spending a week on Google hunting for runway photos and coming up embarrassingly short, I have to wonder just how seriously the fashion world is taking the idea of ethically conscious fashion? With the exception of Dame Vivienne Westwoods’ collection at Paris Fashion Week, it seems all of the eco fashion shows that opened New York Fashion Week and graced London made little to no headlines in the press. It seems that star power won’t even get you press since Michael Kors, Diane von Furstenburg, Doo.Ri, and Yves Saint-Laurent got no love from Elle, Vogue or even the New York Times for their first forays into eco fashion.

If any of you fabulous readers have sources to photos or videos of the Esthetica Show, puhlease let us know! In the meantime, here’s the rundown of participating designers that caught my eye based on collections shown on their websites. Enjoy!

Beyond Skin – Heavenly heels that are va-va-voom vegan. A favorite of Natalie Portman.

Fin – This Scandinavian label is new to me. Their spring collection is filled with soft, white organic jersey dresses and sleek black jackets. Behind the scenes their cotton is organic and fairly-traded, while their manufacturing is carbon neutral.

From Somewhere – One-of-a-kind boho-chic dresses inspired from rescued fabrics.

Junky Styling – Deconstructed and reconstructed into urban-chic clothing, Junky Styling is a pioneer in the art of recycled style.

Mark Liu – Ok, first I’d wear everything in his collection. Liu’s commitment to “zero waste” construction has led to the creation of new techniques that turn remnants into remarkable details.

Noir – Founder Peter Ingwersen’s label continues to deliver marvelous midnight-colored pieces made with sustainably farmed sub-Saharan cotten. Check out previous collections from Fall 2007 and Spring 2007

Viridis Luxe – Form flattering garments made from “haute” hemp and cashmere. From the photos, the pieces drape gracefully like a sensual second skin.

SECOND STYLE | Tea Tin Flower Vases

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Here’s a fabulous idea to celebrate the coming of spring: a constellation of petite vases courtesy of your favorite tea tin.

FABULOUS VARIATIONS:

Tea not your thing? There are probably other containers and bottles around your pad begging for rescue: that sexy, skinny bottle of olive oil you just finished up. Wine bottles with graphic labels, those vibrant cans of imported tomato sauce.

Via Domino Magazine

LIFE.STYLED | Hotter than Paper or Plastic

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I confess that despite having a mad green streak, I’ve only been able to remember to “B.Y.O.B.” when my “B” is functional and pretty. Maybe you’ve got the same problem? If so I’ve created this groovy guide to fab shopping gear: for guys and gals, in lots of styles. Face it: it’s hotter than plastic and cooler for the planet.

FOR THE ASIAN POP PRINCESS

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Cute as Hell Tote at Perpetual Kid, $11.99US

 

FOR THE GLAMOR GIRL

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Hot and Flashy Tote at Hippychix, $15US

 

FOR THE NEO-GREEN BADASS

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Xposed Bag at Perpetual Kid, $11.99

 

FOR THE URBAN NOMAD

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Trek Interchange Grocery Bag clips right to your bike, $69.99 at TrekBikes

 

FOR THE MINIMALIST

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Bag the Habit Tote, $8 at Nubius (left)
ACME Bags™ – EarthTote™ Reusable Shopping Bag, at Reusable Bags (right)

FOR THE FLOWER GIRL

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Reisenthel Bag packs away in a clip-on pouch, $9.99 at Reusable Bags

FOR HER ROYAL HIGHNESS
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Catherine and Victoria Totes by b.happy bags, $19.99

FOR THE RETRO HIPSTER

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Graphic Series bags by Envirosax stow away into a glove box, $37.95 for set of five

FOR THE GIRL WITH SOMETHING TO SAY

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This is Not a Plastic Bag by Anya Hindmarch, $28.99, at Luxury Divas

See more bags in our previous post on Posh Grocery Gear. Happy shopping!

FASHION | Form & Fauna's Racy Shoes

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For three years, I’ve patiently hunted for a pair of sexy, sustainable knee-high boots and it’s worth the wait. Form & Fauna’s sporty, sexy look speaks to my inner-tomboy. Sleek racing stripes are a signature in this freshman collection of flats, boots and pumps. Even though they hail from the Fall 2007 collection — they are perfectly wearable for spring. Skinny Bitches and compassionate fashionistas take note: Form & Fauna just may become the “It” label to wear.

Fabulousness Kicked Up a Notch

Inside and out they’re made sans leather, opting instead for high quality Italian-made synthetics. Heels are crafted from bamboo or renewable plywood, while the insoles and cushions are crafted from recycled yoga mats (can you say Ohm?).

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Bay Bertea, the designer behind the Form & Fauna label, found the inspiration for her collection from her days as a yoga instructor. Imagine how comfy it must feel to step out (and onto) a yoga mat every day.

Form & Fauna shoes are good for your health. Fume-free with the help of biodegradable materials, and non-toxic, water-based glues and dyes. They’re made in the good, old, USA (how many things can you say that about these days).

Good karma and style? A great way to kick your fabulousness up a notch.

Check out the Form & Fauna website for stockists and stay tuned to Fabulously Green for sneak peeks into the Spring ‘08 Collection.