Those prim Victorians definitely wouldn’t have appreciated the sensuous curves of Onyx’s brilliant, and oh so modern, interpretation.

The Moebius is beautifully woven out of sustainable rattan and water hyacinth.  The twists and turns of an actual Möbius Strip are preserved to create the gentle curves of the back and seat.

The amazing framework of this chair can be appreciated best without the additional water hyacinth woven in.  In fact, the double armchair can be ordered this way as well, which is personally my favorite of the two versions.

Despite the lovely outdoorsy images, this chair is intended for indoor use only.  To find out more, including how to order, click here.

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…

Elegant curves define this beautiful folding chair from Whit McLeod.  Made from used oak wine barrels – many of them decades old – this chair is surprisingly comfortable and very chic.

Here on this Fontenay coffee table, it is easy to see how the type of wine, and the length of time a barrel is used, provide a rich variation in staining.

That beautiful variation is also evident in this richly patterned “barn door” by master furniture maker Cliff Spencer, also made of reclaimed oak from wine barrels.  I so wish I had a place in my house or studio to put one!

And of course, the oak can be used to create a stunning floor, like this custom one, also by Fortenay.

There are other great materials to be reused too.  For instance, wine corks make a terrific flooring, as these sweet round tiles cut from surplus wine corks show. And yes, that’s a picture of a shower floor.  Believe it or not, these tiles install just like regular ceramic tiles, with standard thin set and grout.  The only difference is the water based urethane you finish them with once they are installed.

Yemm & Hart has gone so far as to collect used wine corks, reprocessing them into 3′ x 3′ tiles, that can be applied to floors, walls or even as a surfacing material for furniture.

And of course, no post would be complete without things made from wine bottles.  Now, I could write an entire post on lovely vases, glasses and decorative items made from bottles, and maybe I will someday, but for now I wanted you to see a couple of more unusual applications.

Here are some marvelous color block pendant lamps by Jerry Kott.  Handcut from recycled wine bottles, and then reassembled, they would look striking suspended over a kitchen island, or a stylish wet bar.

Another piece I just love is this sideboard.  Designed and handcrafted by Blue Moon Bottles from recycled steel, glass and wine bottle punts (the bottom end of the bottle), it looks so pretty and yet truly useful at the same time.

To really appreciate how pretty the punts look in this table though, you have to see them with a little light coming through.  It reminds me a bit of the stained glass windows made from cut bottle bottoms that were at a Mexican restaurant I ate at as a kid.  They absolutely fascinated me.  Ah nostalgia… I have a sudden craving for cheese enchiladas now!

So, do you have a favorite piece of furniture, decorative piece, or building material you’ve seen made from the remnants of winemaking (and drinking!)?  Please feel free to share it in the comments below.

Meanwhile, just so you know, I’m on vacation.  Not a “throw all cares to the winds, sipping margaritas by the pool, can’t be reached by cell phone” type of vacation, but a little time off nonetheless. So I hope you won’t mind the brevity of my writing for the next several days.  I have some serious relaxing to do.  Maybe with a glass or two of wine in hand…

Click here to find out more about their 050 chair.

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.

Here we see the Qbik steel lamp, designed by Enrico Zanolla and Andrea Di FIlippo for Miniforms Spa.  With its boxy form and heat releasing perforated top, this lamp has a very modern industrial feel.  But folded metal can also look a bit softer…

Somehow, Los Angeles based designer Brooke Woosley has taken a single sheet of aluminum, and given it lightness of form that belies its heavier nature.  Inspired by origami, the Oru table has a glossy white auto finish top, with a matte blue underside.  The folds are created using a water jet to cut perforated lines along which to bend the metal.

A similar technique of perforation was used to make the folds for the Noshi Stool by Designloop, although here the material is laser cut steel.  Unlike the previous pieces however, this one is in production and available for purchase ($243).  Cute, handy, and very, very durable, the Noshi also comes in grey and black.

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.”

That journey began shortly after the studio’s opening in 1987 with a commitment not to use wood from tropical rain forests.  Later, under the influence of furniture maker George Nakashima and inspired by the Cradle-to-Cradle principals of McDonough and Braungart, William’s work and life both came to reflect a philosophy blending art, deep ecology, and an utter respect for man’s place in the natural world.

He feels strongly that wood is “a precious resource that must be used responsibly.”  Accordingly, his primary source of lumber is urban salvage: trees that are blown over or cut down due to disease or construction, and then milled on site or at the arborist’s yard.  This is important, as otherwise these trees would just be burned or go to clog local landfills.

At the shop based in Pasadena, outside of Los Angeles, CA, William has access to tree species normally found all over the world, including black acacia, claro, walnut, camphor, carob, and elm.  He is also careful to use salvaged and “found” objects, and to use renewable resources such as bamboo.

The wood is carefully chosen and worked with the individual nature of the material in mind.  In the design process William is influenced by the structure of trees, buildings, and animals.  He tries to balance the rough beauty of the raw material with the necessity of shaping it into an intentionally crafted form.  Furniture is made in small batches using as much handwork as possible and held together with strong traditional joinery that allows the pieces to last for generations.  The natural beauty of the wood is preserved and enhanced with a finish of non-toxic linseed or tung oil.

According to William, there is an inherent interdependence between object, designer, maker, and environment, and this belief is clearly evident in his work.  Looking at the latter, one can almost feel the energy of the artist there breathing in tandem with the original spirit of the wood itself.  It is a juxtaposition of nature and artifice. The boundary between art and design is eliminated, and the viewer feels an urge to be still, to attend, to be drawn in by each unique piece.

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.

Well, time to hit the road…

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.

Nicely bridging the gap between modern and playful that often exists in contemporary kids furniture, April Hannah’s debut collection hits all the right notes.

She was even kind enough to offer the grown-ups a desk in their own size.  For once parent’s don’t have to envy their kids having all the fun!

Click here to inquire as to availability.  And yes, April Hannah is based in Brooklyn.  With such amazing “trees”, how could she not be?

I mean, when you name your new chair line the “Kiss My Arse Recliner“, what is left for a poor blogger to do?

Designed to Q Collection’s usual high eco standards, this recliner is both functional and elegant.  Yes, an elegant recliner.  I never thought I would say those two words in the same sentence either.

Here is the list of sustainable features:

* no brominated flame retardants

* 100% certified wood

* no formaldehyde added

* no polyurethane

* natural latex foam rubber

* 100% wool batting

* natural jute webbing & burlap

* water-based, non-toxic glue

Currently available, in four pesticide free fabrics, for $1,690, this chair, along with the rest of the pieces in their new Studio Line, can be customized with your own eco-friendly fabric, or a selection from their For the Trade fabric collection.

I don’t know about you, but I know what my husband is going to want for Christmas….

It’s also home to the Martha’s Vineyard Furniture Company, whose specialty is making beautiful, sustainable pieces like the reclaimed barn board table above.  Part of their Agrarian Green collection, the Tisbury Dining Table is made to order in either the Antique Walnut finish shown above, or in the lighter Old Growth Oak with Driftwood finish.   There are also options for a turned leg, tapered leg, or even a breadboard extension!

Several of the pieces in the line, including the Lagoon Pond Kitchen Island above, allow for custom, environmentally friendly milk paint colors and finishes as well.

If you happen to be one of the lucky folks who get to while away the summer in Martha’s Vineyard, you should stop by Interiors Studio in Vineyard Haven where you may see examples from all three of the sustainable furniture lines Martha’s Vineyard Furniture offers, including the Many Shades of Green line, made of no-VOC painted Hevea wood (seen above), and the Olive Street collection of upholstered pieces.  For those not quite so lucky, all of the furniture is available online through their website.

So how did this company come to be?  Well, when you have an interior designer, an environmental consultant, and a retired business owner, all in the same family, it almost seems inevitable doesn’t it?  Says the company website -

“The beautiful Island of Martha’s Vineyard was the inspiration for our furniture. Each piece of furniture is named after a place on the Island and each color selected for our painted furniture is a reflection of how we see life on Martha’s Vineyard.

We think “Islanders” and “Wash-a-shores” alike would agree.”

Well, I’ve never been to Martha’s Vineyard, but if any of you dear readers have, please let us know what you think in the comments.

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.

Designed for use as a stool, Spring might also make a pretty side table with a small glass top balanced on it.

Since it is relatively light weight and easy to pick up and move, it makes for great party seating too.

So what would you use the Spring for?