25Feb08
Tord Boontje has designed another elegant and modern light fixture. The 2nd Shadow table lamp is created out of a duet of ideas Boontje’s played with before: delicate, cascades of florals (think Garland Light), with translucent glowing sheets of mylar (think Icarus). The result is pure magic: a light that when on reflects enchanted shadows around a room, like something out of Shakepeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Made Extra Fabulous
Tord Boontje’s palette of materials typically involve lightweight metals and mylar – both of which are recyclable. But seriously, something this beautiful I’d keep around forever, wouldn’t you?
Check out the Studio Tord Boontje website to learn more about this amazing Dutch designer. The 2nd Shadow light can be purchased online at generate, and the MoMa store.
14Nov07
Photo courtesy of splityarn
Here’s an easy idea for tree ornaments. Make them for you or send them as gifts.
Design it yourself:
1. Get your blank canvas: a package of class glass ornaments from a crafts store (I get mine at Michaels).
2. Be innovative: use whatever lovely leftovers you can find. This is the fun part. Consider it your own designer’s challenge. Channel your inner Martha. In the famous words of Project Runway’s Tim Gunn: make it work.
Odds and ends or unexpected textures work best and can even tell a story. Yarns from knitting projects, ribbons from birthday parties, confetti in your hole puncher, toothpicks, rubber bands, scotch tape (sculptor Tara Donovan’s work might inspire some out-of-the-ball thinking here). Or use your hole puncher to make confetti. If you have a paper shredder, you can create ribbons from virtually any paper source like magazine ads, old photos, etc. The more your reuse, the greener it is.
3. Fill ‘em up and you’re done!
Variation: Wishful Thinking
I made these five years ago for family and in-laws from used leftover vellum. Three different colors. I composed a one sentence wish for each member. Then I cut them into ribbons placing each person’s wish into the respective family ornament. People loved them and spent an hour shaking them up and reading their individual wishes. Martha would have been proud.
Big design day ahead. Until tomorrow!
Filed under Gifts+Gifting, Handmade, Refashion+Refurb|
Tagged Christmas, DIY Style, Eco-friendly, Handmade, Holiday Style, make your own ornaments, Ornaments, Recyclable, Recycled |
05Jun07
Let me be honest: I wanted to love this purple pill. I wanted it to deliver the aromatherapy I sorely needed and that was promised to me by the company. In truth, the new aroma pill by method falls very short of my expectations. Although a delight on the eyes, it’s been an assault on my nose.
Many of you know out there know of my personal love for method cleaning products, which sit proudly on the countertops in my kitchen and baths. I fell hard for their “good looks-meets-good cleaning” approach. So what went wrong this time?
THE UPSIDE
Design: visually flawless (Karim Rashid impresses again). Who thought an air freshener could look sophisticated, elegant, and fun-loving? Bravo.
Green Factor: Biodegradable, non-toxic ingredients, recyclable packaging, and a “no animal testing” policy have made method a favorite company of mine.
THE DOWNSIDE
Function: a promising idea that failed to deliver. You plug it into an outlet and miraculously, the fragrance wafts into the air. It plugged in easily, sorely needed fragrance control. After an hour in the socket my nose was overwhelmed. I plugged it in a second time hoping for different results. The aroma had enough of a “deodorant” smell to be grating. Out it came.
Price: an eye popping $10. Steep for air fresheners, but since method did promise aromatherapy it seemed worth the price. I’m hopeful that perhaps the Eucalyptus + Mint refill might prove me wrong.
Anyone else tried these? If there’s one you recommend I’d love to make the switch.
23May07
We’ve featured the wonders of recycled water bottles as art before, but this cascading fabric designed by British artist Michelle Brand truly mesmerizes me. The inspiration for these plastic petals were found at the bottom of a bottle–literally. Turn your empty Dasani bottle upside down and voila–a botanically inspired base. Michelle cuts, sands, and strings together recycled bottles to create this light catching fabric. Which goes to prove you can find beauty in the most unexpected, mundane places.
Up close and personal…Window Screen from the Flowerfall Series
Blossom Series of ambient lighting uses energy-efficient LEDs and recycled plastic petals:
Blossom lights aglow:
For Londoners interested in seeing Michelle Brand’s work on exhibit you can check out the Green Modernism Show at CUBE, on exhibit until this Saturday, May 26.
Via Belle Vivir
Filed under Art+Graphics, Interior Design, Multifunctional Design, Refashion+Refurb, Textiles+Fabrics, Unique|
Tagged Art, design, Eco-friendly, Michelle Brand, Recyclable, recycled art, water bottles |
04May07
A roundup of fabulously green style finds around the web…
HOT IN THE KITCHEN
FEEL-THRU STYLE
Made of
biodegradable felt. Can be converted into wall art, table runners
Spotted at
Charles & MarieFOLDING FUN
Foldschool DIY Cardboard Furniture for kids by
Truc DesignRecyclable, collapsible designs. Free pattern downloads available.
Spotted at Style Hive
01May07
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.
Filed under Furniture, Interior Design, Lifestyle Tips, Office Style, Refashion+Refurb, Sales+Shopping|
Tagged Cradle-to-cradle furniture, Eco-friendly, Non-toxic, Recyclable, Steelcase, Think Chair |
30Apr07
Remember these? We’ve declared our love for SIGG last September for these sleek, customizable bottles designed for style-conscious, earth-friendly people on-the-go. With over 144 designs to select from, coffee lovers everywhere could find a fun, expressive alternative to the impersonal, disposable paper cup.
Now your chance to design your own SIGG has arrived. SIGG is calling all creatives to design a new bottle expressing your eco-values with style of course. The winner will receive 100 printed bottles to share with family and friends, limited edition bottles sold exclusively through Patagonia. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation, a not-for-profit organization committed to protecting our oceans and beaches.
If voting for the winner is more your thing you can rate the entries here. Submission deadline is June 1. For full contest details check out SIGG Art. Good luck!
26Mar07
Decorative wall decals are an simple way to personalize and dramatically change the look and feel of any room. They’re ideal for artistic little tykes, who can mix and match to their hearts’ content.
These stainless-steel Wall Puddles by Toord Boontje bring a little bling to any wall. Three designs in all: Bird (7” x 10”), iris or daisy (11 1/2” x 10”). Their self-stick backing makes for goof-proof installation. Available for $30 each at romp.
Designed by Dutch designer Inke Heiland, each animal silhouette is hand-cut from vintage wallpaper and available in 3 different prints per animal. Available exclusively through romp in the U.S., or through the designer’s website in the Netherlands.
Other eco-friendly appliques worth considering are the removable or magnetic styles we featured here and here.
23Mar07
Happy Friday Everyone! Here are a few eco-modern finds around the web this week…
BASKET WEAVE
Tatu Table by
Stephen Burks for
Artecnica.
One of Artecnica’s “Design with Conscience” projects
supporting artisans in South Africa. Made of
recyclable galvanized steel.
Spotted at
Unica HomeCOMFORTABLY WASTE-D
Finally, a green take on the ever popular Fatboy, these body hugging mod pods by Barcelona-based
WASTE are made from
recycled automotive upholstery.
Spotted at
NotCot via
TreehuggerA FIELD OF GLASS
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!
