I had the pleasure last night of being part of a panel discussion on green home remodeling, presented by the Orange County chapter of the USGBC. My fellow panelists were award winning architect Brion Jeanette, landscape architect and TV personality Dean Hill, and energy efficiency expert Dan Thomson, president and founder of The Building Doctors.
Our moderator was the ever charming Cathy Baranger (with me above), one of the founding members of the USGBC chapter in Orange County.
Our setting was the beautiful Room & Board store at South Coast Plaza Village. Love those recycled aluminum Emeco chairs. So sharp!
They really pulled out all the stops to accommodate us, including setting up a terrific room for our panel discussion.
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…
A lovely new kitchen, made of reclaimed materials, that looks absolutely classic. (re-nest)
GE has unveiled their latest technology in super efficient OLED lighting. (Inhabitat)
It takes 5,000 cocoons to provide enough silk for one kimono! And this guy is raising the caterpillars, spinning the silk, and weaving it all by himself. (BoingBoing)
And finally, the most adorable ad, made on a whim by an 11 year old girl, for Harmony Art organic cotton fabrics. Seriously, somebody hire this girl! (The Journey is the Prize)
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.
We’ve got the typical “June Gloom” conditions going on this morning in Orange County. Overcast, breezy, even a little drizzle now and then. Hard to imagine that Summer vacation is about to start…
Of course, that means my son will be bringing home loads and loads of old school papers, most of which we really don’t need to keep. Perhaps we should get this multifunctional paper shredder/coffee table? Actually, with the way things are going for BP in the Gulf, they might want to invest in a bunch of them for all their executives soon. Just sayin’. (Design Sponge)
Sadly, I point you now to the final installment of the Cardboard Fort Architecture series. This scholarly set of posts has been full of architectural achievement and analysis the likes of which you rarely see. OK. Actually, it’s just damn hilarious – and the kids are SO cute! (Build Blog)
So what do you think about the recent study claiming LEED certification does nothing to ensure the interior environment isn’t still toxic? (re-nest)
I was so happy to see my friends at L.A. Box Collective mentioned on Inhabitat! If you are in SoCal, you should check out their new show. (Inhabitat)
The new issue of Lonny is here! Now if I could only get an iPad to read it on, my life would be (almost) complete. (Table Tonic)
And speaking of iPads, if I ever do get one, this is what I’m going to put it in. (Inhabitat)
That’s it for now. Wishing you a blissful weekend!
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.
Our moderator was the ever charming Cathy Baranger (with me above), one of the founding members of the USGBC chapter in Orange County.
Our setting was the beautiful Room & Board store at South Coast Plaza Village. Love those recycled aluminum Emeco chairs. So sharp!
