If all flashlights ever make you think of are spooky stories at sleepovers, or late night runs to the campsite porta-potty, then you haven’t seen how cool Conant Metal & Light can make them…

And if you think a pendant fixture from a repurposed flashlight has a sly sort of style, wait till you see the fun they had with a table fan… Read the rest of this entry »

I’m in a bit of a silly mood this morning, which you will discover at the end of the post, but for now let me introduce you to a great line of furniture from Australia…

Created from Moso Bamboo, one of the most eco-friendly species of this fast growing plant, the award winning Wambamboo line of furniture by Kent Gration deftly combines a modernist style with an ancient building material.

Very conscientious about the environmental impact of the furniture line, Wambamboo follows the supply chain from it’s beginnings in the Zheijang province of China, where the bamboo boards, veneers and poles are sourced and manufactured, to it’s end point in Brisbane Australia where the furniture is crafted.

Read the rest of this entry »

I think someone dreamed up these lovely lamps after sipping a few too many Pina Coladas on the beach…

“I know”, they must have thought, “What if we use all this seaweed lying around on the sand, stick it on top of a coconut tree and call it a lamp?”*

Thankfully, the designers at Chista obviously waited till after vacation to put pen to paper, because the resulting lamps are quite elegant.  The bases are made of sustainable coconut wood, which gives them a wonderful grain pattern, as well as a pleasant warmth and character.  The shades are woven of seaweed and linen.  Yes, seaweed.  I admit to never having seen seaweed used in this way, but considering the results, I hope to see a lot more of it soon. Read the rest of this entry »

Happy (rainy for us SoCal folks) Friday!  Nothing beats the rainy day blues like a picture of some cute kids, so here goes…

Image via re-nest

As cute as they are, it’s really the organic cotton fabric that makes my day.  It’s from a nice list of eco-friendly fabric sources I saw on re-nest.

Next up – a lamp made from it’s own cord, maps as wallpaper, and the craziest way to make toilet paper ever! Read the rest of this entry »

Everybody knows that a more energy and water efficient home is a good thing, but how many of us really have the time to figure out how to make it all happen?  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just pick up the phone and call someone, have them come out and evaluate your home, give you a customized list of recommendations, and then sell and install all of the items you need to accomplish your goals?

Well, if you are in the U.S., now you can*.  For $99, New Leaf America will come to your home and do an efficiency audit.  When they are done, they will give you a customized report, as well as a DVD full of  helpful home efficiency tips.  They also give you a customized list of recommended products, including things such a bulbs, smart power strips and low-flow faucet adapters.  Best of all?  They provide free** installation for anything you purchase through them.

They also have a free online lighting energy calculator that helps you determine how much you will save from switching from incandescent to high efficiency bulbs.  Even if you’re not looking to switch your bulbs out yet, it’s fun to play with just to see what a difference a little wattage can do!

If you are in a country outside of the United States, and know of a similar service, please let us know in the comments section.  We are always interested in finding out what is available world wide.

*Currently New Leaf America has service available in California, Arizona and Utah, but they will continue to train new auditors and expand into additional states soon.  Contact them for more information.

** Sorry!  That was my error.  There is a charge for installation, although it is quite reasonable.  Pricing varies by project.

After a long, dark, wet week here in Southern California, it’s nice to look at light filled spaces like these…

Image by Rinne Allen via Interior Design "Cindy's Salon"

Seen on the Interior Design Magazine “Cindy’s Salon” blog, this lovely little cafe looks so cheery with its blue and white color scheme, and open spaces.  But what really stands out are the marvelously refurbished chairs…

Read the rest of this entry »

Ever since I was a child I have had a fascination with corrugated cardboard.  I loved the wiggly line running through the middle, and marveled at how strong three sheets of brown paper could become because of it.  Now that I am focused on sustainable design, my affection for it has only increased.

Images via Graypants

So please join me as I ooh and aah over these fantastic recycled cardboard Scrap Lights by Graypants. Read the rest of this entry »

All images from Fire Farm

When the First Unitarian Society of Madison, WI asked Fire Farm to create light fixtures for the new addition to their historic Frank Lloyd Wright Meeting House, they had an unusual request.  Would the designers at Fire Farm please find a way to recycle the old copper roofing from the original building into the new fixtures?

Over 50 years old, and weathered to a soft green, the original roof tiles had character to spare.  Turn them over though, and the beautiful warmth shown out like a new copper penny. Read the rest of this entry »

Image via Pharox

The Holy Grail of LED technology is the replacement for the standard 60 watt incandescent bulb.  It must be affordable, efficient, screw into a standard socket, and have that warm pleasing light we all grew up with.  Oh, and dimmable would be nice too!

Well, Pharox, a LED lighting company, has managed to get closer than anyone has before. Read the rest of this entry »

Perhaps it is the darkness this time of year, when the sun often stays hidden behind clouds for days at a time.  Or maybe it’s that the Christmas lights have all been stored away, and we miss their twinkly cheer.  Whatever the reason though, lighting was a popular theme on design blogs this week.

Image via Inhabitat

First up is Inhabitat’s post on the New California Craftsmen, and their intriguing designs, including this free form pendant made of scrap bird’s eye maple and aluminum rods.

Think that’s unusual?  Then how about this…?

Read the rest of this entry »