the execution is most definitely not!   This is the Mood Rocking Bed by Shiner International, and it has style!

I just have to say, I don’t know whether it’s the pastoral setting, the pretty draping of the netting above, or simply that I need a nap, but that bed looks awfully tempting, don’t you think?

Created from discarded and reclaimed materials, the Mood Rocking Bed is suitable for inside and outside use, and can be made in any size, from twin to king.  It can also be allowed to rock in place, or it can be locked in any position using rubber stoppers.

Visit Shiner International’s Etsy store and see more great furniture and lighting creations.

Thanks for visiting!

Rachel

Okay, so I’m a sucker for the Victorianesque.  But isn’t it exquisite?  Thanks to the collaboration of Glasgow architectural model makers Finch & Fouracre and the folks at Another Studio for Design in London, U.K., one needn’t have a grand estate in order to own a beautiful Victorian hothouse… in miniature, that is.

As it was designed to emulate the ornate steelwork of 19^th-century greenhouses the Plantini is a lovely accent piece in its own right, but there’s a practical reason to like it.  It’s environmentally friendly.

The kit comes in a box of 100% recycled paperboard, and the biodegradable planting pot is composed of bamboo and rice hulls.  The greenhouse frame itself is made of stainless steel.  Its avowed purpose is that of planter – to shelter one’s seedlings or nurture flowers – which means it can also help improve the indoor air quality of one’s home or office.

A removable canopy and etched glass panes brings light to the plants inside.

Also in the flat-packed DIY kit are viola seeds, the compressed compost in which to plant them, and instructions.  Once assembled, the model greenhouse is 9.5 cm (3.75″) tall, and would make a lovely conversation piece atop a desk, tucked on a windowsill, or on an entranceway table.

The Plantini is available here at the Postgarden website.

~ Emerald

"Steampunk Rooster" by Ursulav

Well watch out, because Steampunk’s little cousin Farm Punk is galloping up right behind it!

Fashioned from reclaimed barn wood and discarded bits of farm equipment, farm punk is earthy, rustic and very, very solid.  This is furniture that will be around for generations (provided those generations don’t mind moving some seriously heavy stuff around with them!).  Take a look at some of the great looking pieces I found (click on an image to see the source).

The Big O Console by The Steel Fork

Vice Versa Bench by UTD

Sometimes simple is best.  This handsome set of curio shelves are made by Etsy seller TheSteelFork from reclaimed barn beams and recycled farm machinery.  Such a nice combination of rustic materials and modern style, don’t you think?  Very on trend.

Of course, if you want to be truly on trend these days, you HAVE to have a fake taxidermy deer head on your wall too, so how about one made entirely of recycled farm equipment?  Check out those wicked antlers!

If a deer is just a little TOO trendy for you, how about switching it up a bit and going for a moose instead?  This guy looks kinda sweet!

THIS moose does not!  Dang, those are some dangerous looking antlers!  You know, a moose bit my sister once….

Ahem, anyway… you can check out more crazy critters and interesting furnishings, all made of reclaimed farm materials, at The Steel Fork’s Etsy shop.

That’s what Adesso did recently with their new Reach LED desk lamp. And you know what? I’m glad they did, because this lamp is kinda sweet!

One of the first things I noticed about the Reach desk lamp when I took it out of the box was the weight. While not overly heavy, the lamp has a nice solid feel. There is nothing flimsy about it. Once I unwrapped it from its packaging material, and started to play with the positioning, I could feel the smooth movements of all the joints, and I got a little silly seeing how contorted I could make it. Hey, some people play with their food, I play with my lighting. What can I say.

Of course the most important feature in any desk lamp is the light quality itself, and here’s where the Reach really goes all out. Using a 7.2 W LED, covered by a magnifier shield, this lamp emits a really nice, wide beam of bright light. By rotating the shade arm, it’s possible to cast the light anywhere from the top of the desk, to the ceiling above, meaning this lamp can be used for task or ambient light. I love the flexibility that gives it – both literally and figuratively.

Adesso’s Chairman Lee Schaak (a.k.a. “The Lamp Dude”) says, “These lamps give people the brightness they need with the energy efficiency they want.” And efficient they are, using less than a third of the electricity needed for a comparable fluorescent fixture. Another benefit is that they’re cool to the touch, meaning they are much safer and more comfortable to be around, especially compared to those halogen task lamps you see everywhere.

All in all, I’m really impressed with the quality, style, and usability of this lamp.  Can’t wait to see what LED lighting Adesso comes up with next.  They are certainly off to a great start!

Giveaway!!!

So I’m really pleased to say, that thanks to the folks at Adesso, not only am I writing to tell you about this great lamp but I actually have one to give away (in the steel color above) to a lucky reader in the U.S.! All you need to do is leave a comment below telling me where you plan to use it. Would it be for the workplace, your home office, for a reading lamp, or some other kind of task? You can post your comment anytime before midnight Saturday, April 9th, for a chance to enter.  Randomly chosen winner to be announced next Monday.  Good luck everyone!

But Bleu Nature, a design studio located in Northern France, has found a way to turn the trite into the sublime with their Kiinau collection of lighting.

By contrasting driftwood they collect along the French shoreline, with chrome or frosted glass shades and a stainless steel base, Bleu Nature gives the driftwood a sophisticated modernity that I find quite compelling.

Founded in 1995, this company sends out a team twice a year to comb the beaches for driftwood, which they bring back to the studio and turn into lighting, furniture and accessories.

Bleu Nature prides itself on the handcrafted aspect of their products, emphasizing principles of both sustainable design and “slow design“.

Well regarded in Europe, they are currently looking for a national showroom in the U.S. where their products can be purchased.  If you are in the U.S., you can inquire at Edge Consulting regarding purchasing pieces from the collection.  All others should contact Bleu Nature directly to find out where to purchase in your country.

Designed by Tord Boontje for Botanist, these lanterns from his Free Flowing series cast such amazing shadows.  The perfect backdrop for a winter time party and a champagne toast.

Even without the soft glowing light, their form remains evocative of tree branches in winter, or a golden field of wild grasses just after the first frost.

Of course, such lovely organic shapes are nothing new to Boontje, who has created many award winning, nature influenced designs from his studio in London.  This is no accidental marriage of naturalism and modernism, mind you.  To quote from his bio,…

“The Studio’s work draws from a belief that modernism does not mean minimalism, that contemporary does not forsake tradition, and that technology does not abandon people and senses. The Studio’s designs often temper edges with softness, take inspiration from nature, and employ a décor of forms and layers to engage and entice an observer’s imagination and emotions.”

I’m not sure I’m going to get emotional about this next piece, but it definitely engages my imagination…

Laid horizontally, the branchlike lines of the lanterns suddenly become the ripples on the surface of a stream as its rushes to beat the winter freeze.  Or a very stylish tray if you aren’t feeling quite so poetic.

The Free Flowing clock shows yet another incarnation of the random curves and branching of this line.  Is this a cracking hole in frozen lake, a bird’s nest, or perhaps some beautiful coral on a far away reef?  Whatever it reminds you of, it is undoubtedly a striking accessory for any wall.

All pieces in the Free Flowing line from Botanist are made of powder coated steel, which is both partially recycled and completely recyclable.  In addition, 2% of the purchase price goes to Boontje’s charity of choice, Greenpeace.

So what images come to your mind when you see these pieces?

Although I have to wonder a bit at the idea of styling a fireplace to look like a woodland conflagration, I gotta admit, Steeltree, by talented Italian designer Paolo Grasselli, is very cool.  Or maybe I should say “hot”?  Either way, it does appeal in a wicked witch sort of way, don’t you think?

Of course, you don’t have to go with black.  There is a downright cheerful green, and an innocent looking white to choose from as well.

By using a refillable, non-polluting bio-fuel insert, the Steeltree can be used anywhere in a home without need for a chimney.  A single refill can burn for up to 6 hours.

With its sculptural good looks, the Steeltree fireplace will look decorative even when unlit.

Currently available through the Italian company Horus.

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…