Go to the local – or chain – hardware store and take a stroll to the paint section, where rows upon rows and literally thousands of color choices may await customers. What’s in that paint? In many cases, that information can be more than difficult to unearth.
In the vast majority of cases the base material is latex, supplemented by a witch’s brew of chemicals to achieve consistency, color, and so forth, produced with petro-chemical or synthetic ingredients. The result, whatever the formula, is often toxic. Who wants that?
Florian Speier and Jessica Pfohl are among those looking for something more. Out of frustration at the “greenwashing and lack of ingredient transparency in the paint industry,” the husband and wife team founded Unearthed Paints with the determination to help change the industry.
In the world of green design, everybody brings something to the table. Some people arrive with a primary concern about chemicals and other pollutants in our homes and workplaces. Others are motivated by a love of the natural world and a desire to preserve it. Still others hope to find a spiritual and life changing aspect to sustainability, which is where the book “EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience” fits in.
Guided by changes in her own life, Debra Duneier has created a business – and now a book – around her idea of EcoChi, a marriage of sustainable design and Feng Shui principles. Starting with how she found herself in business as a Feng Shui consultant, and began integrating aspects of an eco-friendly lifestyle in her design, Duneier then takes us through a series of illustrative examples of clients and how she arrived at beneficial solutions to their design problems, using her trademarked EcoChi system. Chock full of information on things as varied as tips to make your hotel room feel more like home, and how to use EcoChi to improve your family and romantic relationships, this book attempts to illustrate the correlation between Feng Shui, sustainable living, and environmental psychology.
This slim, but information packed volume is the perfect fit for those looking to combine an interest in sustainable living with Feng Shui. Although this book does not contain images of the design work described, I’ve heard there will be a follow-up book, and I’m hoping that they will be included there. It would definitely be an added benefit to see a spacial representation of the solutions described in the text.
Since I am not a practitioner of Feng Shui, I can’t attest to the authenticity of the advice she gives, but she does make many good points about sustainable design that could prove useful. I’ve had several clients over the years that have been concerned with finding a balance between their desire for a “good flow of energy” in their homes, and the wish for environmentally friendly design. I wish I had had this book to loan them at the time.
Visit the EcoChi website to find out more about the book, including how to purchase either the hardcover version, or the eBook.
The lovely folks at Near Sea Naturals, the already notable internet source for organic fabric, have taken things to a whole new level with their new venture, American Grown-Spun-Milled. With an inventory consisting of nothing that isn’t organically grown and then spun and manufactured in the United States, they are fulfilling a growing need for more locally based materials. They are also continuing a long tradition of cotton and wool production in North America, as well as providing work for mills whose workload might otherwise be shipped off to China or India for cheaper manufacture.
Says Tara Bloyd, president of NearSea Naturals -
“At a time when many textile jobs and businesses are going overseas, our customers are demanding domestic, sustainable fabrics. They understand the importance of supporting the US textile industry and want to keep their business supply chains local.”
So far, their inventory is small, but enticing. I imagine as demand increases so will the number of choices. For now, here are some of the lovelies they have:
Doesn’t every parent wants a give their child the whole world?
Well now you can – at least in pillow form – thanks to Etsy seller My Bearded Pigeon. Who wouldn’t want to dream of great explorations while snuggled up on this pillow?
Since the adorable child is not included, here’s what the pillow looks like on its own…
This bright and cheerfully colored map, circa 1865, is printed onto a 100% organic cotton pillow cover, with a black organic cotton back and zipper closure (insert not included).
My Bearded Pigeon also has an amazing selection of decorative map pillows for grown-ups who dream of travel.
I am so looking forward to this weekend! Why you ask? Because this is where I am going to be on Saturday…
I’m absolutely giddy about it, which I’m sure leaves some of you wondering about my sanity. For those of you who share in my enthusiasm for all things “woady” I promise will give you all a full report next week.
And don’t forget! We are giving away a great Adesso Reach LED desk lamp this week! You have until Saturday at midnight to enter.
Meanwhile, here are some of the things that caught my eye this week:
1. This tutorial for recycling porch light fixtures into terrariums is so brilliant. I’m definitely adding this to my list of things to incorporate into my new office space. (design*sponge)
3. We are all so used to the idea of flatpack furniture, what with IKEA and all, but when designer Kem Weber pioneered the idea with his Airline Chair, people thought it was weird and he only managed to sell about 200 of them. Man, what I wouldn’t do to own one of those amazing chairs. (Boing Boing)
4. And speaking of IKEA, they recently made a pledge to transition to 100% “better cotton”. It looks to be a step in the right direction, but is it really enough? (Inhabitat)
5. I’ve always liked cheery yellow in a traditional kitchen, but never figured it would look right in a modern one. Here is a super sleek, modern kitchen with bright glossy yellow cabinets, and I have to admit, it looks great! (Trendir)
6. Wood is becoming an increasingly popular element in many interiors. This lovely home takes that idea to the nth degree. (2Modern blog)
7. And now I’ll leave you with two fascinating videos. The first is an interview with a woman who lives in a 90 sf “apartment” in New York. She’s managed to make it quite livable, although I could never sleep in a bed like that!
The second video I’ve included just because it’s so darn peaceful, even if it is a commercial.
Happy Spring everyone! Ours started out with a bang last night – literally. At 4:30 AM my family awoke with a start as a huge clap of thunder echoed overhead. For the next 15 min. we got to enjoy quite a light and sound show, which even included some hail (to the delight of my nine-year-old).
This morning it’s all sunshine and fluffy clouds, which is the perfect setting to think about springtime. In celebration of the change of seasons, I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of my favorite floral prints in organic and sustainable fabrics. Enjoy!
So, as I mentioned on Tuesday, I’m going to be working on my office for the next month trying to give it a little bit more of a “style”. Although this week is devoted to purging all the stuff in the office that just has to go, I must to admit that my mind is already racing ahead to all the great things I can do with the space once it’s cleaned up. Since I live in a house where the dog and I are the only ones with estrogen, I’m thinking I might go little girly with my office, and make it a bit of a retreat from all the testosterone too.
So, the minute I saw this pillow on Etsy, I knew I had to have it.
Created by Canadian designer Sara Smile, this hemp and organic cotton blend pillow cover is just plain girly fun! And it’s also a very reasonable $39 USD.
It’s Friday!!! And we are in the middle of the nominating process for Apartment Therapy’s The Homies 2011! Want to help us reach the final cut? Click here, and then leave the following comment:
We’d love to be in the final 6 blogs for voting. It’s a great way to reach new readers, so we can keep getting the word out that green interiors are the way to go!
OK, now that that little bit of business is taken care of, on to some of the fun stuff I’ve been clicking on this week:
1. Non-toxic dyes from agricultural waste seem to be the next new thing. Here is a program developing in Argentina. (Treehugger)
2. Inhabitat is launching a Green Home Expert series. Sigh. They didn’t ask me… (LOL) However, they do seem to have a roster of amazing talented people! Definitely something to watch. (Inhabitat)
3. I love the concept behind this uber modular shelving. Constantly convertible, and a lovely organic form as well. (Yanko Design)
5. I die for this beautiful upcycled doily lamp. Seriously, you have to look at this thing. Makes me want to run out and invest in doilies (did I just type that???) (reMade USA)
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.
Hand embroidered pillow by 
