Mosaic “wallpaper” by Trend USA

1.  Recycled glass takes only 50% of the energy to produce that virgin glass does.

Oceanside Glasstile

2.  Recycled glass  can be made into any form, color, or shape you can imagine.

Bedrock Industries

3.  Glass is truly recyclable, meaning it can be recycled over and over and over again without losing quality.  Paper and many metals can only be recycled a certain number of times before they become unusable (in their original form) due to contaminants or loss of structural integrity.  Plastic is even worse, as it can only be downcycled, meaning it must be converted into a lesser form from the very beginning.

Stone & Pewter

4. Recycled glass is versatile.  It can be used anywhere that ceramic tile can be used, such as walls, countertops, showers, fountains and pools.  It can even be used for flooring.

Hakatai

5.  Every ton of 50% recycled glass saves 250 tons of mining waste.  Imagine the savings when it’s 100% recycled!

Sandhill

6.  Recycled glass is inert, meaning it won’t affect indoor air quality, or add contaminants or chemicals to the interior environment.

So have I got you interested?  Good!  Now, here are a few more things you should know before you run out and replace that grubby old bathroom countertop:

• The post consumer recycled content of glass tiles can vary anywhere from 100% down to about 30%.  Most companies make the information available to you on their website or in information sheets and catalogs, but if you don’t see it anywhere, don’t hesitate to ask.
• Even though recycled glass takes a lot less energy to produce than virgin glass, there is still a significant amount of heat and energy needed to reform it.  Check with the company you’re considering to see if they have any programs in place to either reduce or offset the energy they use in production.
• Recycled glass is BEAUTIFUL.  That being said, it’s typically made using processes that allow for some flaws, bubbles and other quirks of production, so you should enjoy a little “character” in your tile.
• All of the recycled glass tile companies I have highlighted above are located in the United States, although a few of them actually manufacture in other countries.  If you are in another country and know of a good local source for recycled glass tile that you would like to share, please let us know in the comments below.  I love hearing about new sources for good things.

Oh my, have things changed…

Oh So Faux

Consider the lovely patterns and colors available from decorative arts company, Alpha Workshop.

Kimono

Fun, colorful and handmade, these wallpaper patterns are everything 90’s wallpaper wasn’t.  But Alpha Workshop is more than just a maker of beautiful, handmade decorative wallpaper.

It is also the only non-profit, decorative arts organization dedicated to training and employing people living with HIV/AIDS.  Based in New York, Alpha Workshops provides a creative, flexible, supportive workplace for those dealing with the medical and social issues that come from dealing with a chronic disease.  They even keep an eye on sustainability…

Infinity

Says spokesperson Nora Schaddelee:

“While we don’t officially state that our wallpaper is “green,” we do strive to stay sustainable and we do whatever we can within our process.We use commercial wallpaper stock, not vinyl.  Unfortunately, it is very hard to find a supplier for recycled wallpaper ground, but we are always on the lookout. We use water-based Benjamin Moore paints with low VOCs.  Our wallpapers are made by hand, using no machinery. Thus, no toxic by-products and no emissions. Each wallpaper is made to order and in custom lengths so there is very little waste both in production and for the end-user.

Since we are a non-profit, we often receive paint and materials donations from the design industry that would otherwise be thrown away. Much of these materials get a second life within our training program where our students learn the basics of decorative arts techniques.”

Butterfly

Because Alpha Workshops produces all their papers to order, they are able to provide custom lengths and colors.  They also make lamps, tables, and can design props for retailers and event decor.  They even have a decorative finishing service.  All this as a way of providing gainful employment for skilled workers who might not otherwise be able to find a job.

So, like so many interior designers, I now run around pretending that I always knew that wallpaper could be cool.   I just never knew it could be THIS cool.

I love the exuberant free form swirls of the “Nimboo” pattern.  The bright color and large scale are perfect for bigger spaces.  And wait till you see how fun those swirls are on a pillow!

Hand embroidered by woman in India, these cheerful Fair Trade pillows are made of wool felt with feather inserts.

For those with a desire for something a little more subtle, Bholu also has the “Ziddi” pattern, which was inspired by the textural quality of traditional embroidery.

As with their children’s prints, all wallpapers are printed by Porter’s Paints on paper stock, using their own low to no VOC paints.  A portion of the sales for the Bholu line will be donated to the ‘Bholu Anganwadi Project’, which rebuilds “Anganwadi’s” (preschools) for slum children in under privileged communities in India.

There is such a joy that comes from owning something made with care by human hands, rather than the cold perfection of machines.  Every stitch a moment of time in that person’s life.  And knowing that Fair Trade practices means they are being fairly compensated for their work means your purchase directly contributes to their having a better life.

The Bholu collections can be found in shops all over the world, or ordered directly online.

Mavis Monkey

Just launched last month, the Bholu line of wallpapers from Australia based Porter’s Paints has whimsy aplenty.  Printed on paperstock with low to no VOC paint, this line was created by noted designer Jodie Fried, as part of her Bholu collection of interior products and accessories.

But beyond being cute and environmentally friendly, Bholu wallpaper has another draw…

Frederick Elephant

Porter’s Paints will be donating a portion of the sales for the Bholu line to the ‘Bholu Anganwadi Project’, which rebuilds “Anganwadi’s” (preschools) for slum children in under privileged communities in India.  They have already succeeded in building 8 schools, with more than 280 children attending.

“It is the beauty of India that inspires me; the colour, the textures, the patterns, the people and the celebrations, but most of all it is the artisans and children that we work with that inspire my designs and bring them to life. It is very exciting to be collaborating with Porter’s Paints and taking the Bholu textile range, into another dimension and craft; in turn continuing to give back to their communities. “  – Jodie Fried

Marjorie the Duck

I think the prints are so much fun.  Sweet and playful without being at all twee.

And those adorable stuffed animals?  They are available too!

Handmade out of felt by woman in India, under Fair Trade standards, the designs are based on the drawings of children in the community.

Tomorrow I’ll take a look at what Bholu has to offer for those with a desire for something a little more on the grown-up side.

Seriously, I think that sofa is smiling at me…  Sorry, just had to point that out.

Anyway, love the Eco line of wallpapers by Graham & Brown.  They’ve got that quintessential British ‘Victorian married to Mod’ look.

Printed on paper from certified sustainable forests, using no-VOC inks, these wallpaper patterns are fun AND affordable.  Best of all, they are available everywhere from the US, Canada, Russia and Holland to France, Poland and China.

So what do you think?

But I really think Farrow & Ball has done a beautiful job with their new Wisteria wallpaper.  Block printing and their own eco-friendly paints are what give the paper it’s sense of depth and quality.

If pastels don’t suit your taste, no worries.  Farrow & Ball offers this paper in 20 different colorways, including this stunner…

Wisteria is part of the new Chelsea Collection, which has two other lovely prints.  All in all, Farrow & Ball has over 25 different designs, in a multitude of colorways, all made to coordinate with their full line of low and no VOC paints.

So what do you think?  A great way to dress your home in sartorial splendor, or too great grandma’s bedroom?

One of the most interesting and beautiful aspects of trees is the variation found on their bark.  From the rough and rugged oak, to the delicate, papery aspen, trees come in a tremendous range of colors and textures.  But as much as I love wood as an interior element, it had never really occurred to me to use the bark in my designs.

Luckily, Bark House, part of Highland Craftsman, came along and created a material that any designer could be inspired by.

In the forestry business, bark is something to get rid of, either by chipping, mulching, or turning it into industrial fuel.  Bark House recognized the potential of this re-claimed material to be used instead as something of lasting beauty and value.  Says Bark House:

“The raw material we use for this application is the thin bark that grows between the limb whorls at the tops of these trees. This part of the tree is usually too small to be a mill log. So, this bark and the pole that it covers would have been hauled off for pulp or left to degrade.

[Bark House] harvests, processes, and laminates this species and others into a panel form. The other barks that we use are white birch, yellow birch, pin cherry, and yellow poplar. These panels can be ordered in any size up to 4 by 8 feet. Uses include cabinetry panels, furniture inserts, wainscoting, panel and frame walls, and the occasional free-form application.”

Bark House sources their material from sustainably managed forest, 90% of which are within a 100 mile radius of their facility.  No water is used in their manufacturing process, and what little grid energy they consume is offset with energy credits.

When I got review samples from Bark House last week, I was amazed at how lovely and natural they looked.  Complete with little bits of lichen!  You can tell that this is a raw material, tamed for interior use.  Again, from Bark House:

“It’s a joy to watch a client’s delight when they touch these materials for the first time. You can see the sparkle in their eye as their own design process kicks in while they ponder ways to incorporate their new “discovery” into their own projects. This is what we live for at our work. These pure textures from the forest that we refine into a workable form present nature back into an interior space that may have previously had her walled out.”

Well, they pegged me for sure.  I am truly inspired by this product, and can’t wait for the opportunity to create something with it.  How about you?

Image via Japanese Wall

The traditional Japanese home’s interior is made up of an artful blend of wooden floors, tatami mats, shoji screens and natural plaster walls.   Although most modern homes in Japan now use drywall and paint, the call for more sustainable building methods has created a renewed interest in the traditional plasters.

Image via Shikoku

Primarily made from diatomaceous earth, which has air purifying and sound dampening characteristics, Japanese plasters may also contain sand, straw, seaweed, and/or pigment (often in the form of a small amount of paint).  Another style of plaster,  “Shirokabe”, uses lime as the base.

Image via Japanese Wall

Unlike with Venetian plaster, Japanese plaster walls have a fairly uniform color, as well as a soft, textured matte finish that makes a lovely contrast to polished wood.  It is difficult not to feel peaceful in their presence.

There are several companies offering Japanese plasters to the international market.  Japanese Wall has a large range of different natural interior plasters to choose from.  Shikoku International’s Eco De Vita plasters are SCS certified Indoor Advantage Gold for good air quality.  Beautiful, natural lime based plasters may be obtained from Tagawa Sangyo Co., Ltd.

Excuse me while I go Zen out now…

Brought to Japan in 610 AD by Buddhist monks, the art of washi making spread across Japan, till by the late 1800’s, over 100,000 families were employed in the craft.  However, once European mechanical papermaking techniques were introduced, the number of washi makers rapidly declined, until it hit a low of only 479 families in 1983.

Image via Precious Pieces

These remaining families have worked hard to maintain the traditions of their craft, and some artisans are considered to be national treasures of Japan.

It is the beauty of the paper though, that has given washi a new life in the world of interior design.

Image via Precious Pieces

Washi is made of the pulp of a variety of plants, including mulberry, hemp, and rice.  After the fibers have been stripped, pounded, cleaned and stretched, they are mixed with a viscose liquid made from the tororo-aoi, which is a type of sticky mountain potato.  This allows the fibers to adhere both to each other and the bamboo screen which is dipped into the solution.  After a rhythmic set of back and forth motions, with screens anywhere from 1 to 100 feet, the wet paper is removed and allowed to dry.

Above is a short video demonstrating the technique.

Image of "Nori" via Precious Pieces

The end result of the process can be anything from a more traditional style of paper,

Image of "Tako" via Precious Pieces

… to something quite a bit more contemporary.

Washi paper can be laminated between sheets of glass, providing for attractive and unusual room dividers.

Image via Kamism

It can also simply be hung from a wall as artwork.

Image via Kamism

The vast array of colors, textures and patterns available in washi bring a lovely glow to the lighting collection above.

Washi paper is available to the trade through Kamism, and Precious Pieces.  Precious Pieces also has an online store with accessories, lighting and framed washi art.

I was excited to see that Idea Paint has introduced the new “Lil’ Bit” kit, which contains just enough of their terrific dry erase paint (in White), to cover 3 square feet.  The next size up kit covers 25 sf, and costs $99, while the Lil’ Bit kit is a mere pittance at $25!  Durable, water based, easy to apply, and environmentally friendly, Idea Paint can be applied to any flat surface.  Walls, furniture, refrigerators, chalkboards – you name it!

(image of 50sf kit via Idea Paint)

While poking around their website, I happened to notice that they are having a holiday sale on the Lil’ Bit kit for only $15!  I’m not sure it would fit in a stocking, but it sure would make a great gift for someone with kids, or other creative people!