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.

This whimsical LED lamp, designed by Pablo Pardo, seems the perfect fit for a child’s room.

Flexible yet sturdy, the aluminum Link Table Lamp has splayed “feet” for added stability, which only adds to it’s slightly comical look.  The 15 LED bulbs remain cool to the touch, making it the perfect lamp for little ones who may still be learning the age old “hot – don’t touch” mantra.  And with an expected bulb lifespan of up to 100,000 hours, the lamp they learn to read “Green Eggs and Ham” under may well light their way through their first college chemistry course.

Available in 5 colors, both online and in Room & Board stores.

So, here is one of the first things I saw written about from Milan this week.  Tokujin Yoshioka’s “Memory” chair.  Created from recycled aluminum, it changes shape every time someone sits in it. (Inhabitat)

To see more amazing furniture, lighting and products from Milan Design Week, check out Inhabitat’s “Best of” slide show. (Inhabitat)

Here are some cool wildlife portraits made from old topographical maps.  This one is actually from last week, but too lovely not to mention. (BoingBoing)

I love this wallpaper using old newspapers to create a grasscloth look.  Fairly expensive, but for the right room it could be stunning. (Design Green)

Love this rustic yet very modern take on the picnic bench, using brightly colored enameled aluminum and FSC certified redwood. (re-nest)

Recycled gym floor decor – fun! (Green Your Decor)

Finally, is this the greenest bulb of all? (Design Green)

Happy weekend everyone!

I want to thank our wonderful guest blogger this week, Linsi Brownson of Inspired Design Daily!  She wrote beautifully – as always.

So onto this weeks Wrap-up!

Image via Inhabitat

I don’t know why but every time I look at this image, the theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind plays round in my head.  These are in fact new energy efficient “Trex” lamps, and they are definitely worth a closer look. (via Inhabitat)

How about aluminum tiles made from retired airplanes?  You can even get them with old rivets and dings left in. (via re-nest)

A good list of 10 water efficient kitchen faucets, priced from high to low. (via re-nest)

Beautiful tile made from the waste by-products of the fishing industry (via The Thread Post)

Cute kids furniture made of cardboard, from Riki Watanabe designs first conceived of in 1965. (via Chictip)

Love this clever chair cut from one piece of plywood. (via Yanko Design)

I always advise people not to get a memory foam mattress. Now you can read why. (via Treehugger)

And lastly, although it’s not really about green interior design, Planet 100’s Top 5 Eco Contradictions is a great way to understand a little more about greenwashing.

Have an amazing weekend all!

all images via Lutron

Perhaps the most elegant of Ivalo’s new offerings is the L’ale sconce (above).  With its low profile and gentle curves, it has an air of modern sophistication.  Made of cast aluminum.

The Aliante demi sconce can be ordered in a range of finishes, including anodized, powder coat and automotive paint.  Although the fixture itself has been offered for a while, the LED version is a new option available for the first time this month.

Like a piece of metallic fabric floating through the air, the Inflection sconce’s free form shape and soft folds are a real attention getter.  Pictured above with white LEDs, it can also be ordered with either green or blue LEDs.

With dappled light peaking out from between free form cutouts, the Silvus sconce evokes a walk through the woods, or a quiet stream, making it perfect for a spa setting.  Available in both a 30″ and a 24″ version, as seen above, the Silvus sconce can be used singly, stacked or even in a large group for a more dramatic effect.

And if your project is more “fun and funky nightclub” than “rest and relax retreat”, then Silvus is also available with a host of colored LEDs as well. Who said disco was dead?

For more information, visit Ivalo Lighting, a  Lutron company.

One of  my favorite sources for lamps, mirrors, and vases, Babette Holland Design, has a new series of their lovely, spun aluminum table lamps out.  As though echoing my thoughts, they have named it “I Need a Vacation”!

Made from 75-80% recycled content aluminum, Babette Holland takes care through every part of the process to be as environmentally sensitive as possible, including using a topcoat that allows the aluminum to be recycled afterward.  Although, I can’t imagine that it’s likely these stylish lamps will ever wind up in the recycling heap!

Babette Holland also manufacturers all of their designs in Brooklyn, NY, in order to have the greatest control over product quality and safety.  This also means they do not need to worry about under who or what conditions their products are being made.

They work directly with the trade, and may be contacted for a downloadable catalog at info[at]babetteholland[dot]com

They are also available to the public through Lamps Plus and Lumens.