In Victorian times, it was considered unseemly to snuggle too close to your intended until you were married. So for all those lovesick ladies and gentlemen, the “courting bench“, was invented. Also referred to as a tete a tete, the courting bench consisted of two seats joined together, but facing opposite directions. Very popular amongst worried Victorian parents. Probably not so much for the young men and women required to sit politely in them.
Those prim Victorians definitely wouldn’t have appreciated the sensuous curves of Onyx’s brilliant, and oh so modern, interpretation. Read the rest of this entry »
Wine is a wonderful thing. I should know, because my husband works in the business. Yeah, it’s tough being married to somebody who has to bring home bottle after bottle of delicious wine to taste. I know, I know. Your heart bleeds for me.
Anyway, wine is a multi-billion dollar, global industry, and anything that big generates a LOT of waste. So I thought I would share some of my favorite sustainable goods made from the remnants of the wine making process…
Here is an interesting interview with Marc Schamburg of Australian design firm Schamburg and Alvisse talking about the big pile of “eWaste” behind him and how it can be turned into the chair he is sitting on.
Click here to find out more about their 050 chair.
I’m in the process of trying to catch up on all I’ve missed while I was “enjoying’ my annual Summer cold and laryngitis fest. As i’ve been plowing through an amazing backlog of design websites, I thought I would share with you one of the trends that really seems to be taking hold – metal origami.
image via Yanko Design
Combining the green design communities love for the efficient use of materials with the energy savings of flatpack design, these three dimensional pieces made of a single sheet of recyclable metal are all the rage.
Stranger Furniture is proof that deeply sustainable can mean deeply beautiful.
When the roughness of bark and the “imperfections” of natural wood are respected and used, when the natural, intricate grain of a board is allowed to shine forth in all its beauty, when the source tree “speaks” for itself, the results are tangible.
William Stranger’s work encompasses not just cabinetry and tables but also humbler creations such as lamps, utensils, and cutting boards. Each aspect of his work supports a goal of creating zero waste. Recycling is practiced whenever possible; scrap wood is donated to schools and other artists; even sawdust is used as animal bedding and then composted in order to minimize the shop’s impact. As the artist explained, these business choices spring from a commitment “to an evolution that will take us beyond sustainability.” Read the rest of this entry »
I’m off to Pasadena to pick up a beautiful artisan dining table for a home here in Orange County (I’ll show you pictures tomorrow), so I don’t really have time to do much of a post today.
Still, I wanted to leave you with something, so how about this charmingly quirky little side table I found on Etsy? Made by seller lovenostalgicwhimsey out of a vintage red suitcase, it’s legs are detachable for easier shipment and storage. I remember using a suitcase just like it in powder blue when I was a kid. I felt so grown-up! Of course, I’ve just dated myself, haven’t I? Oops.
Recently making its debut at BKLYN Designs, this collection instantly won accolades, including the Inhabitat Editor’s Choice Award for best Kid’s Design & Newcomer. And why not? After all, not only are the pieces crafted entirely from sustainable materials such as FSC certified, no added formaldehyde plywood and soy based glues, but their great graphic punch is based on that icon of green – the tree.
I often time spend a bit of time trying to come up with a good post title. You know, something quirky or alliterative. However, Q Collection left me no choice but to go with the obvious…
I think the simple, whimsical form of the new “Spring” tabouret is absolutely lovely.
Designed by Dutch designer Erik Jansen for the Belgium based furniture company Wildspirit, this piece utilizes the flexibility of bamboo strips to great advantage, providing a seat that looks surprisingly comfy despite the hardness of the material. The use of the lighter, natural color of bamboo is also rather refreshing, as opposed to the more commonly used caramelized hue.
The interioRevolution is a design blog devoted exclusively to sustainable interior design. Through product reviews, guest blogs by experts in their fields, special features and spirited discussion, the interioRevolution provides new knowledge and expands the dialogue on sustainable interior design.
