Designed by Matthias Ries, the Piegato One is made of a single sheet of steel, which arrives cut, perforated and ready to fold into a sturdy little shelf.

Of course, it’s almost a shame to fold them, since the cuts in the steel have such a fascinating graphic punch all their own.

The Piegato One is available from German based Serafini in four bright colors, as well as black and white versions.  And because they are made of steel, the shelves work well as magnet boards too.

Due to the positive response for the Piegato One, Mattias Reis has now created a version with a chalkboard (seen above), and one with a mirror. These would be great in the entry for a small apartment, don’t you think?

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…

Elegant curves define this beautiful folding chair from Whit McLeod.  Made from used oak wine barrels – many of them decades old – this chair is surprisingly comfortable and very chic.

Here on this Fontenay coffee table, it is easy to see how the type of wine, and the length of time a barrel is used, provide a rich variation in staining.

That beautiful variation is also evident in this richly patterned “barn door” by master furniture maker Cliff Spencer, also made of reclaimed oak from wine barrels.  I so wish I had a place in my house or studio to put one!

And of course, the oak can be used to create a stunning floor, like this custom one, also by Fortenay.

There are other great materials to be reused too.  For instance, wine corks make a terrific flooring, as these sweet round tiles cut from surplus wine corks show. And yes, that’s a picture of a shower floor.  Believe it or not, these tiles install just like regular ceramic tiles, with standard thin set and grout.  The only difference is the water based urethane you finish them with once they are installed.

Yemm & Hart has gone so far as to collect used wine corks, reprocessing them into 3′ x 3′ tiles, that can be applied to floors, walls or even as a surfacing material for furniture.

And of course, no post would be complete without things made from wine bottles.  Now, I could write an entire post on lovely vases, glasses and decorative items made from bottles, and maybe I will someday, but for now I wanted you to see a couple of more unusual applications.

Here are some marvelous color block pendant lamps by Jerry Kott.  Handcut from recycled wine bottles, and then reassembled, they would look striking suspended over a kitchen island, or a stylish wet bar.

Another piece I just love is this sideboard.  Designed and handcrafted by Blue Moon Bottles from recycled steel, glass and wine bottle punts (the bottom end of the bottle), it looks so pretty and yet truly useful at the same time.

To really appreciate how pretty the punts look in this table though, you have to see them with a little light coming through.  It reminds me a bit of the stained glass windows made from cut bottle bottoms that were at a Mexican restaurant I ate at as a kid.  They absolutely fascinated me.  Ah nostalgia… I have a sudden craving for cheese enchiladas now!

So, do you have a favorite piece of furniture, decorative piece, or building material you’ve seen made from the remnants of winemaking (and drinking!)?  Please feel free to share it in the comments below.

Meanwhile, just so you know, I’m on vacation.  Not a “throw all cares to the winds, sipping margaritas by the pool, can’t be reached by cell phone” type of vacation, but a little time off nonetheless. So I hope you won’t mind the brevity of my writing for the next several days.  I have some serious relaxing to do.  Maybe with a glass or two of wine in hand…

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.

…has become another man’s business.

SAGE in Design’s president and founder, David Lasher, has taken recycling to a sophisticated new level with the Raul Bench.  With a seat constructed from a mixture of 100% recycled newsprint, old corrugated cardboard and agricultural fibers, all sitting on a base made of 89.5% recycled steel, this is furniture with serious sustainability in mind.

I love the image of trash used as a printed pattern for the seat.  SAGE in Design can also use a company’s packaging materials for corporate branding which are then heat pressed into the seat panel, or the seat can be left “natural”.

Says Lasher of their furniture:

“…at Sage in Design we like to do things that people say can’t be done and our mission is simple we need to put an end to landfill waste and learn how to use our waste to build products. Most companies like to believe we can solve our waste problem by starting at the beginning of our waste cycle. We believe in starting at the end of the waste cycle, because the only way to solve a problem is at the root of the problem, Landfill.”

Of course, it’s not all trash talk at SAGE in Design.  They also make pieces out of materials like FSC certified wood, such as the Strata Bench.

Designed using Swamp Cypress (of all things!), layered with either FSC Maple, or FSC Teak, the Strata bench has a striking, yet simple form.  Like the Raul Bench, it has a recycled steel frame (stainless steel can also be requested).  All finishes are no or low VOC, and both pieces are made in the United States.

SAGE in Design offers many other items to the retail and hospitality trade, for use in hotels, retail shops and malls, amongst other places.  They have upholstered furniture, tables, planters, and even trash receptacles.

Yes, they are actually making trash cans out of trash.   Take that landfill!

If you are furniture designer Bill More, you get beautiful tables like this…

Constructed using steel and bamboo, the Ventralis coffee table is one of two striking table designs available through More’s Forged Elements furniture line.

Says More:

“Since I started designing and building furniture over ten years ago I have been conscious of my environmental impact. I always search for used materials and recycled ingredients to work with. Unfortunately, when you need to produce a consistent, high quality product, this is often a great challenge. So when I inevitably have to use new materials, my conscience makes me feel uneasy. I see bamboo and steel as lesser evils, since even new steel is created from a good percentage of recycled content and bamboo grows like a weed. I am constantly searching for new ways to lessen my impact as a craftsman.”

One of the things I found most intriguing with the Forged Elements tables, other than the lovely recycled resin insert across the top, is the fact that they have been designed with collapsible legs, making them shippable as a flat pack item.  Those legs would also come in handy should you need to store them away for a period of time, though I can’t imagine wanting to tuck something so lovely out of sight.

Bill More also designs and handcrafts custom furniture, starting with hand drawings, and then working up to full renderings before actual construction begins.

This fascinating asymmetrical cabinet was made using steel, walnut, stainless steel and slate.

Another favorite material in his designs are the recycled glass tiles from Bedrock Industries in Seattle, as seen in the side table above.

I asked Bill More how long he has considered sustainability as part of design process…

“For as long as I can remember I have had a goal of living a sustainable lifestyle, and I have always tried to translate this into my craft. I believe that if you choose to produce yet another product in this world, you have an obligation to put some thought about where the materials come from and where they are going. Thankfully, there are more manufacturers these days inventing environmentally friendly materials to work with. My ultimate goal is to spend half of my time working on growing food and sustaining my physical needs, and then be creative for the rest of the day…… I am getting closer.”

That sounds like a lifestyle we could all hope to achieve.

* According to the Steel Recycling Institute, more steel is recycled in the U.S., than any other material.

Judging from the colors for their EMU Re-Trouve line, I’d say so does Coalesse!  Aren’t these seats adorable?  There’s no other word for them.  With their tongue in cheek retro style, these would look at home in just about any setting.

Coalesse also has a handsome, if ghostly, take on classic living room furniture, in the EMU Ivy collection.  Created out of powder coated steel mesh, these pieces are certified SCS Indoor Advantage Gold, and use a minimum of materials in their construction.  The steel is also a minimum 31% recycled content, and is 100% recyclable.

The, ahem, “brightest” idea has to be these great EMU Ivy footstools.  They are designed with a photovoltaic panel in the top that powers 5 LEDs underneath.  With a convenient carrying strap at the side, they can be moved around anywhere you need a little light.  Brilliant!

So are you ready for Spring yet?

Today I thought we could focus on some of the great, sustainable storage solutions out there.

image via Iannone Design

First up are these sustainable chic filing cabinets by Iannone Design.  Constructed of bamboo, FSC maple plywood and cork, they have touch release drawers, which allows for that amazingly smooth face front.  Stainless steel handles can be added for those wanting a more traditional look.  Best part?  The fronts double as cork boards, for those who like furniture that can multi-task.   Price $995 – $1,175

image via Legare

For those just needing a little file storage, comes this cute, FSC certified bamboo file cart from Legare.   Arriving flat packed, Legare furniture is designed to be assembled by the customer using no glue, nails or screws.  The file carts are designed to stack up to 3 high, and are quite affordable.  Price $69

Image via inModern

Another great storage piece that is assembled using no tools is the Linear Bookcase with Storage by inmodern.  Constructed from only twelve pieces of FSC certified Smartwood, this striking shelf unit has the added feature of sliding doors top and bottom, providing a nice, concealed storage area.  Price $720

Image via Housefish

For those of us prone to clutter (who me?), sliding doors are heaven sent.  If that describes you too, then check out all the great, colorful door options available on this console by Housefish.  Available in either maple or walnut veneer over FSC certified plywood, there are also ten different fun colors you can choose for the doors.  A similar unit, without legs, can be stacked on top to provide additional storage.  Ships flat pack.  Price for unit as shown above $598

Image via Cleveland Art

No place to put all those samples for your various projects?  Like the industrial vintage look?  This steel dresser with zinc drawers by Cleveland Art could be your dream solution!  Specializing in reclaimed factory pieces and other industrial cast-offs, Cleveland Art creates new furniture out of old parts.  With it’s honest, aged patina, this set of drawers would look fantastic in a design studio.  Hmmm…, maybe I should check this one out myself…  Call for pricing

Image via Way Basics

Peel and stick.  How much more simple to assemble could it be?  Configurable into a seemingly endless variety of storage cubbies, these cubes by Way Basics are made of post-consumer recycled paper with a laminate surface, all of which is 100% recyclable.  Lightweight but amazingly strong, the cubes are available in six different colors, as well as plain board.  Price for a single cube $22.99

image via West Elm

And finally, for the ultimate in low-tech, sustainable storage, there is always the woven basket.  The grasses most baskets are made from are rapidly renewable, and bio-degradable – a far better alternative to any kind of plastic bin or metal box you could use.  Plus there is something soothing about their timeless simplicity. The baskets pictured above are from West Elm.  Price $39 – $79

The solutions above are but a scratch on the surface of what is available out there.  Please take a moment to look at all the great options from these, and other companies offering sustainable solutions.

Tomorrow we will explore one of the several ways to avoid having so much to store in the first place.

Tomorrow – Let’s Get Organized, Day 4 -  iPhone Applications

Monday – Let’s Get Organized, Day 1 – Sustainable Desks

Tuesday – Let’s Get Organized, Day 2 – The Naked Binder

So you can imagine how excited I was to see that Mickus Projects has created a chair using only wool and steel.

Created using digital fabrication techniques, from thick sheets of industrial wool felt, the Relief Chair is built up layer upon layer.  The precision cut pieces of felt are adhered to the steel frame using non-toxic, water based adhesives.  Once completed, any scrap material remaining is reused for other Mickus Projects pieces, such as the Refill Pillow.

By using thick wool felt, Mickus was able to avoid using upholstery foam, which is saturated in fire retardant and cannot biodegrade.   Add to that the recyclable steel frame and you have a chair with some serious sustainable creed!

Available online from Branch.

Neoporte mail box with window and newspaper holder by Blomus

For those who love the sleek look of Neoporte’s stainless steel entry doors, but worry that they won’t be able to find a mailbox worthy to share space with them comes this great line of architectural and design accessories.Made from durable, recyclable stainless steel, this line covers all the bases.  From doorbells to doormats, there is something for everyone.

Neoporte wall water fountain by Blomus

Here is a petite 20″ x 20″ wall fountain, soothing in its simplicity.

Neoporte wave wall fireplace by Blomus

This attractive wall fireplace uses alcohol gel for fuel, negating the need for venting.  Just the thing for the modernist love pad.  Let the heavy breathing commence!

Neoporte key holder with shelf by Blomus

And lastly, for those who can never find their keys…

For information on Neoporte’s Santa Monica showroom, or to request a brochure, click here.