Decor

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Creollus Sustainable Home Lighting

May 27, 2009 in Decor, Furniture & Appliances by Jennifer | No comments

Creollus (pronounced kré/ol/lus) was established in 2001 and currently offers a wide selection of sustainable and unique lamps.

Recently, Creollus sent me some info about the design and production process that’s really cool so I thought I’d share. The raw materials used for the creation Creollus lamps include banana fibers (raw materials discarded at harvesting), recycled kraft paper (from cement bags) and natural pigments extracted from the ground/soil making these lamps a beautiful and green choice for your home. See the banana fibers below:

The fibers don’t look like they’ll become a lamp huh? And yet…

Creollus carries three unique product lines: Housewares, Fashion Accessories, and Fine Art. Visit Creollus to see all their goods which include many various lamp designs. Or learn where to purchase Creollus products for your home.

New Kelly-Moore zero-VOC paints to choose from

April 22, 2009 in Decor, Green Building by Jennifer | No comments

Low and no-VOC paints are rising in popularity. With consumers asking for more, additional paint companies are debuting new lines of eco-friendly paints. One such company is Kelly-Moore Paint Company, Inc. Kelly-Moore not only has two new lines of Zero-VOC paints available but they’re the first to offer a recycled paint choice.

About the paints:

Enviro Coat and Green Coat: Both of these lines are zero-VOC. Enviro Coat is a premium quality, low-odor, 100 percent acrylic interior paint so good for residential use. It can be tinted to a variety of custom colors and cleans up easy with good old water. It’s USDA-acceptable and contains an anti-microbial agent to control odors.

Green Coat is a professional quality paint. It provides a durable finish, is available in a wide range of custom-mixed colors, and is free of air-polluting solvents. Green Coat will be available in six stock colors starting soon (May 1).

eCoat: This is Kelly-Moore’s recycled paint choice. I’m not as familiar with recycled paint so this was interesting to read about. “ECoat is made with a minimum of 50 percent post-consumer waste paint. Easy to clean with water, eCoat comes in flat, eggshell and semi-gloss enamel and is ideal for residential and commercial use.” I really like the eCoat colors too – very earthy. See below…

According to Steve DeVoe, president of Kelly-Moore Paints. “The quality of our paints reduces the need for frequent repainting, which lowers the overall cost-per-foot-per-year for the consumer. This also helps the environment, as less paint waste is disposed of in landfills.” That’s actually a good point. The less product you actually need, the better for the planet.

Lastly, Kelly-Moore’s ‘green’ paints are made in one of the most environmentally friendly paint manufacturing facilities in the country – which is pretty cool.

Visit Kelly-Moore Paint Company, Inc to learn more.

Used Home Furnishings and Decor – Choose Useful and Green Used Home Goods

January 7, 2009 in Decor, Furniture & Appliances, Green Your Home by Jennifer | No comments

In a previous post, How To Choose Green Used Home Goods, we looked at what to avoid when shopping for household goods at a thrift store, antique shop, or other used goods place.

Here are some ideas about making used products work for your home:

Basic rules…

  1. Think useful over decoration, or you’ll end up collecting a bunch of junk you don’t need.
  2. Think about how the object might look with minor adjustments – i.e new fabric on a stool, new paint on a frame, or an old tweed blazer made into pillow cases.
  3. Think outside the box. Re-purpose an item. Almost everything has more than one use.

Old jewelry can be used to spiffy up a picture frame.

Cool recycled wooden crates can be made into shelving or even a small table.

Reclaimed house items, like doorknobs, non-rusty fixtures, and drawer pulls can be used as coat or towel hangers on your wall.

Clear and colored glass vases or bottles can be used as a window cover – i.e. line them up (like in the picture above). You get privacy, but without a curtain. Plus the light shining through is cool.

Old buckets, bathtubs, sinks, boots, carts, and more can be used for interesting container gardens.

You can make wind chimes from old silverware, jewels, and small tin toys.

Old dishes can be broken up and used for a new mosaic table top.

Books that can help you make the most of used goods:

Abode a la Mode: 44 Projects for Hip Home Decor

Decorating with Great Finds(82 ways to use finds from antique stores, garage sales, & attics)

Garage Sale Decorator’s Bible: How to Find Treasures, Fix Them & Furnish Your Home

Junk Beautiful: Room by Room Makeovers with Junkmarket Style

What have you re-purposed for your home?

Used Home Furnishings and Decor – How To Choose Green Used Home Goods

January 5, 2009 in Decor, Furniture & Appliances, Green Your Home by Jennifer | No comments

Buying used, from a thrift store, antique shop, or flea market is one great way to keep it green. You’re giving old products a new life, avoiding production of new products, and getting some cool unique finds to boot. That said, you do need to be smart about which used products you choose for your home. Buying the wrong used item isn’t green, it’s a waste of time and money.

Used products to avoid:

Avoid impulse buys: Like any purchase, you need to ask some fundamental green purchasing questions before you buy. Make sure you’re getting something you’ll actually use.

Avoid broken stuff: Some broken items are ok. If you’re sure you can fix it (really sure)  go ahead and buy. If something is going to take massive repairs to get it halfway presentable or working, don’t bother.

Avoid multiple projects: A project is not so broken you can’t fix it, say a shelf that needs refinished, but having too many projects on hand pretty much ensures that none of them will get done. One project at a time is smart.

Avoid non-green kitchen supplies and dishes: If it’s not energy efficient or a smart green tableware choice avoid it.

Avoid safety hazards: Old furnishings may have lead based paints – fine if you’ll refinish it, but not ok as is. Same for thrift toys and especially baby furniture. Make sure everything works and won’t harm anyone.

Avoid large textiles: In most cases used textiles aren’t a great green deal. Most won’t be made of eco-friendly materials, most are super hard to properly clean, and with something like an old pillow, it’s almost impossible to sanitize.

Later we’ll look at some good used home product decisions.

Organic Cotton for the Bedroom

December 22, 2008 in Decor, Green Your Home, Organics by Jennifer | 5 comments

In How To Choose Earth-Friendly Bedding we looked at some easy tips about how and why to choose organic cotton for your bedroom. Now I’ve gathered up some excellent options for earth-friendly bedroom living and decor…

Above is the lovely Amenity Bloom Organic Cotton Duvet Cover in Cream & Lavender – beautiful organics for a peaceful night.
Read the rest of this entry »

Fun Green Holiday Gift Idea – Lite2Go

November 20, 2008 in Decor, Furniture & Appliances, Holiday Gift Guide by Jennifer | No comments

Lite2Go is way fun, and I think it would make a great green holiday gift. Take a look:

Lite2Go is about as fun as a low-key lamp can get. The lamp packaging becomes the recycled polypropylene shade, the instruction booklet and label are printed on recycled paper with eco-friendly inks, and it comes with a CFL bulb. It’s a very neat idea. I love that everything is used to make the lamp. Kids would get a kick out of that.

$65 – Lite2Go

+ 3R Living

Hemp Shower Curtain

October 12, 2008 in Decor, Green Your Home by Jennifer | No comments

Each little green step you take adds up to a whole bunch of green living perks. Even something as small as your choice of a shower curtain can make a difference. With all the dangers of PVC, you’ll want to look for a PVC-free Shower Curtain Liner. If you can’t find a decent PVC-free liner, a second choice is to choose a shower curtain that needs no liner at all.

For example, a Hemp Shower Curtain can be used sans liner. Hemp is not only naturally resistant to bacteria and mold, but hemp is a sustainable, easily renewed crop. If you have a well-ventilated bathroom a hemp shower curtain will work fine for your shower – just remember to wash it every few weeks.

The Hemp Shower Curtain from are naturals, is made from 100% natural hemp canvas, is a tight weave for leak protection, and is machine washable; a much better choice than having a vinyl liner.

Quick Tip: Arrange Your Furniture to Save Energy

October 6, 2008 in Decor, Green Your Home by Jennifer | 2 comments

You might not think that how you arrange your furniture matters, but furniture arranging is actually a smart green action step.

If you arrange your furniture around the TV, most likely, the TV will be turned on. Instead arrange your furniture in such a way that motivates family gathering and conversation. Place furniture around a table with board games underneath. If you’ve got a reading or work space, arrange a couple of chairs around one nice light source, instead of having two lamps per room. Create a play space or art station for your kids in the brightest room of the house, and use dimmer, less energy draining lights in their actual bedrooms.

Each small step you take at home can help to save energy, create family time, and foster happiness – all you have to do is take the time to think it out, before you arrange your house.

Re-purpose the Furniture You Own

September 30, 2008 in Decor, Furniture & Appliances by Jennifer | No comments

Today we’re talking about sustainable furniture. One great way to own sustainable decor, with very little cost, is to re-purpose the furniture you already own. A close second choice is to remake furniture you find at a thrift store, garage sale, or antique store.

Some ideas for the furniture you already have:

1. Add new hardware: A new shelf knob or handle can remake an entire piece. Try something natural, like the Viola Knob from the Carol Beach Pressed Flower Knobs Collection or the recycled glass Drawer Pulls from the Aurora Accents Drawer Pulls Collection (available in six colors; Amethyst, Apricot, AquaBlue, ClassicClear, Cobalt, and Emerald). Both are available at Nature’s Hardware.

2. Refinish with healthy paints and non-toxic varnish: Don’t forget to sand your piece down first.

3. Use stencils: You can go one step beyond painting and stencil cool designs on a shelf or wall mirror. In fact, if you’re really creative, I’d go freehand.

4. Use covers: You can re-top a table with recycled glass tiles or cover that old couch with some new organic fabric.

To learn more read Reasonable Redecorating: Reuse, Refinish, and Repurpose.

Still to come: Places you can score sustainable furniture.

Sustainable Furniture Guidelines

September 30, 2008 in Decor, Furniture & Appliances by Jennifer | 2 comments

Incorporating green options into your home includes many aspects – building, energy systems, landscaping, interior decor, and even furniture. If you’re going to build or remodel green, why fill your home with toxic furniture?

Home decor is just as important as what’s on the outside of your house. Following are some tips that can make choosing sustainable furniture a little easier:

Look for the right wood: Make sure to buy furniture made from fast growing woods like bamboo or mango, or look for wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC is a worldwide healthy wood standard.

Re-make what you already have: Maybe you don’t need new furniture. You could refinish your current furniture and make it bright and new. Fresh non-toxic finish or paint, plus some cool new hardware (like shelf knobs made from natural items) can cast a new light on old pieces.

Recycled and reclaimed pieces: Another option is to choose thrift store, antique shop, or garage sale furniture. You can re-purpose a piece, although sometimes it’s perfect as is. You can also look for shops that specialize in reclaimed and recycled woods or full pieces.

Go organic: When it comes to recovering an old couch, or even buying new chairs, look for fabrics that are organic or even vintage (re-used).

Look for healthy finishes: You can have healthy, sustainable wood furniture, but if it’s slathered in toxic sealing chemicals, it sort of cancels out the good. Make sure your furniture is finished in eco-friendly paints and varnishes.

Forget leather: The upside of leather is that it lasts and lasts. Long lasting is a smart eco-trait. However, the downside of leather is of course you have to skin an animal to get it. Also, leather production is costly and an energy drain – you have to have pastures for cows, factories for production, and forests are cleared for grazing. Leather is not a good eco choice.

Buy local when possible: It’s not always easy to buy everything local, but if you can, it’s better for the earth. Shipping is a large energy drain and doesn’t foster community.

Later we’ll look at some sustainable furniture options – and some ideas for re-purposing what you already own.

[Reclaimed Wood Table with Stainless Channel Tray shown above available at Acacia]

10 Tips for Greening Your Bedroom

August 14, 2008 in Decor, Furniture & Appliances, Green Your Home by Jennifer | No comments

This week we’re looking at easy and effective ways to green your living spaces. So far we’ve looked at how to green up both your living room and the baby nursery. Today, we’ll look at the bedroom.

  1. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs rather than typical incandescent bulbs in lamps and overhead. You can even use LED lighting if you only need to light a small space. It’s the bedroom – you could just go with some soothing organic candles.
  2. If you charge items in your bedroom, unplug them when they’re not charging. In fact, it’ll save even more energy if you unplug lamps and stereos as well.
  3. Use a non-toxic, chemical and pesticide free organic mattress.
  4. Be sure to invest in soft organic pillows, blankets, curtains and other natural bedding accessories.
  5. Choose sustainable bedroom furniture that’s non-toxic.
  6. Use natural flooring options or choose natural safe carpet.
  7. Instead of mothballs in your closets and drawers use natural cedar blocks, dried lavender, or make a mix of dried orange peels, cinnamon, cloves, and essential oils.
  8. To remove stains from bedding try a natural method: sprinkle the stain with table salt and lemon juice; leave your linens sitting in the sun for a few hours; brush off salt and wash on gentle.
  9. To keep your bedroom clean aim for all natural green cleaning methods. Green cleaning is important, but you really want to avoid chemicals in the bedroom.
  10. Choose environmentally friendly paints for your bedroom walls.

10 Tips for Greening Your Nursery

August 6, 2008 in Children & Babies, Decor, Furniture & Appliances, Green Cleaning, Organics, Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

This week we’re going room by room, looking at how we can green up all the spaces of your home. It’s really important to keep your little one’s sleeping space free from chemicals, toxins, and other icky things. Babies, with their smaller bodies and immune systems are more sensitive to everything. Following are ten tips that can help you green your nursery.

organic baby nursery

  1. Get rid of smelly baby odors (think diaper pail) with natural methods.
  2. Install energy saving lights and light bulbs. You can also set up lighting on a timer or sensor – for example, a night light on a sensor can save a ton of energy.
  3. Use non toxic paints and finishes on the walls and furniture.
  4. look for refurbished or recycled furniture. If you refinish it yourself, remember to use healthy non lead, non-toxic laminate or paint. Avoid materials like plywood and particleboard, because it usually contains formaldehyde.
  5. Be sure to buy a  safer, greener, baby mattresses. These used to be spendy, but you can find great deals on green mattresses and it’s worth it. While you’re at it, make sure to invest in organic baby bedding as well.
  6. Look for flame-retardant and sustainable floor coverings and rugs.
  7. Invest in toys made from sustainable wood, non-toxic materials, and made with Fair Trade practices. These type of toys cost more, but it’s better to buy fewer toys that are safe than a bunch of plastic toys chock full of chemicals. You can even consider what you have around the house as toys. Babies still love to bang on pots, play with cups, and dance with you – try to have fun with fewer toys overall.
  8. Invest in greener diaper choices.
  9. Keep your baby clean with natural soap and care options.
  10. Stock up your baby’s closets with natural and organic clothing finds. For some ideas visit the following stores:

Green Building Resources & Green Living Tips

July 29, 2008 in Alternative Energy, Decor, Save Energy, Sustainable Building by Jennifer | 1 comment

I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but Best Green Home Tips used to be located in a different spot, at the RiverWired network. Over there, we looked at many a green building and remodeling tip. I thought that if you missed these posts, it would be cool to catch you up to speed.

green living

Following are some of the best posts that you may have missed the first time around…

Green building:

Green home interior:

Alternative energy & energy saving:

This catches you up on about half of the green building blog. Later this week, I’ll post a second batch of great links that can help you to build and live green.