Wrapping up this week’s look at the mainstream manufacturer’s no-VOC flat paints, we have Benjamin Moore‘s Natura.

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Welcome to the second in our series of posts on no-VOC paints.  Today we are reviewing Harmony, by Sherwin Williams. Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday, we began the work on our series of “So, Does It Work?” posts by painting an 18″ x 18″ patch of wall with Dunn-Edwards brand new low odor/no VOC line of paint, Enso.  Other than the comedy of me painting in heels and a chefs apron, while my p/t assistant Julia scribbled notes, everything went smoothly.  Read below for what we found out…

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There are a LOT of materials out there touting their eco/green/sustainable claims, so how do you narrow it down to the ones that will work for you?  Well, we here at TIR aim to help you a bit with that, via our ongoing series “So, Does It Work?”  Although in no ways a scientific study, we will nevertheless try to be as consistent in our use and analysis of materials as possible, in order to give you the best information with which to make your own decisions.

So what is our first victim material to review?  I thought we couldn’t find a better place to start than the ever expanding options in “no-VOC” flat paint.  Starting this week, we will look at 10 different paint brands, across three different categories: Mainstream, Eco-Friendly, and Boutique.  This week we will try out three of the top mainstream U.S. brands – Dunn-Edwards, Sherwin Williams, and Benjamin Moore. Read the rest of this entry »

I had so much fun writing about Bholu wallpaper for kids yesterday that I never managed to show you the two great patterns for those with more grown-up tastes (plus some pretty pillows too).

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! Read the rest of this entry »

What kid wouldn’t love this cheeky monkey family?

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… Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve got a bunch of accounting stuff waiting for me (wheee!), so my post today will be brief.

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?

This weeks guest blogger is David Johnson of Sidecar Furniture.   An accomplished craftsman, David is also a member of LA Box Collective, a select group of professional Los Angeles based furniture makers, committed to environmentally conscious design and production.

A green finish that meets today’s standards set by petroleum-based finishes can be a bit of a conundrum.  Mainstream furniture and cabinets are normally sprayed with nitrocellulose lacquers, varnishes, and the like.  Icky and stinky as they are they really protect the wood by basically coating it with a layer of plastic.

A few years back, water based polyurethane finished came out as a green alternative but, like anything new, they were slow to be accepted.  There were complaints that they were hard to work with and the color was off but the manufacturers listened and solved these problems while at the same time making these water based finishes even more safe for the environment.  A finish that I’ve wanted to try is Vermont Coatings Poly Whey, available locally in Southern California at Livingreen.  Polyurethane finishes do require some work to apply nicely so they add some cost to a project

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I have a soft spot for wisteria.  I know it is one of those things, like tea-cups and lace curtains, that evokes the early 1990s and old issues of Victoria Magazine.  I can’t help it.  It’s still just so darn pretty and it reminds me of Spring.

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… Read the rest of this entry »

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! Read the rest of this entry »