I remember being fascinated by the wet, weathered textures and mysterious origins of the driftwood washed up on shore.  Where did it come from?  It was easy to imagine all sorts of stories: a wharf damaged by storms, or a pirate ship sunk with its treasure at the bottom of the sea…

Of course, there were never pirates off the coast of Los Angeles, were there?  But one can dream.

And one can have the romance of that dream in one’s living room, kitchen, bedroom… anywhere in the residence, really, with these cool creations by Shipwreck Furniture.

South African builder Nic Kruger thinks so.  One fine day he stumbled across the wreck of the ex-fishing boat Kunene and fell in love with her timbers, of which he says:

“Most people will regard a sight like this as a heap of old rotten timber, but to me this is like treasure.”

Treasure indeed.  Nic carted bits of his find off to his workshop, from the timber started cleaning out the many rusted nails – source of many of the intriguing dark patches that complement the wood’s natural grain – and in time set to work on his first project, the inconspicuously-named Table 1.

There are several furniture makers out there using scavenged or reclaimed wood.  Water towers, old homes, barns…  the list is as diverse as the people finding inspiration in the “unwanted” materials they work with, but Nic’s team finds special challenge in their nautical resource.

“We use exclusively timber from wrecks,” he says, “which in many ways limits us in conventional thinking and forces us to let the timber dictate the size, shape and finish of the final product.  These boats are chopped up with chainsaws and little regard for future use.  The parameters were the size of the dump-trucks that were used to transport it…  Boats are also not square or box shaped.  It is their beautiful streamlined hulls which makes it possible for them to sail the oceans.  For exactly this reason there are very few straight planks that come off these wrecks.”

Playfulness and adaptive creativity abound in Nic’s work – as it must, for the nature of the wood demands such an approach.

A member of the Shipwreck team works full time cleaning and dismantling the metal-rich wrecks, a process that rips through a lot of saw and planer blades.  Some of that metal is incorporated in the studio’s furniture.

Although the pieces may look rough, even a casual glance reveals the skill and careful attention to detail that goes into their making.  Wonderful, the patina from years of usefulness at sea!  One wonders if the ghosts of wind and brine still cling to the wood.

There’s a delicious tactile appeal that prompts the urge to reach out and explore the textures.

“Our aim is to capture and preserve as much of the character and history of our wrecks in our furniture,” says Nic.  Well, he succeeded.

And his work is fun to look at too.

~ Emerald

Images courtesy of Shipwreck Furniture

Seattle, WA may be a Mecca for coffee lovers, but there’s so much more to the city than that.  It’s also a hotbed for sustainable business ethics and the development of a low-impact lifestyle, both of which mesh nicely with this week’s featured company, Viola Park.

But to tell their story it’s necessary to back up a bit.

Since its inception in 2001 Henrybuilt, the parent company of Viola Park, has taken a practical approach to environmentalism.  According to the company, longevity is among the most important aspects of sustainability.  And so, along with careful materials selection, Henrybuilt strives for solid, long-lasting construction in its cabinetry & furniture designs for kitchen and home.

From the start founder Scott Hudson intended for his company to offer a product balanced between the highly functional modular designs of Europe and the work of custom cabinetmakers here in the U.S. – high quality design for the middle range of the market.

When the recession hit, sales dropped, and Hudson’s creative response was the creation and 2009 launching of Viola Park.  The approach is small scale, with design-oriented modular kitchens manufactured in whole and delivered complete, using a standard set of components designed to work in a wide range of situations.

A configuration tool on the Viola Park website leads customers through the initial stages of design, so that even those without training in interior design can have an active hand in creating their kitchen.  Customers then work directly with a company engineer for the finishing stages.  The kitchens are manufactured to order at Henrybuilt, in Seattle, and shipped directly to the buyer.

No middlemen.  No warehouse full of pre-fabricated cabinetry collecting dust.  And lower costs for everyone concerned.

“I think that kitchens designed as systems – more unified wholes – are absolutely the future,” says Hudson.  “The way it is done now is a waste of economic resources, not very functional and much more likely to be replaced a few years later.”

Component materials are selected for durability, beauty, and conformity to the company’s sustainable ethic.  Each item is hand made on site with the same craftsmen overseeing the entire production process.  The results are sturdy, sleek, perhaps even minimalist, yet warm and inviting.

One sterling example of Viola Park design is the inconspicuously named Island B, which features components like a pivot storage system, drawer organizers, and an integrated bread box – enough to earn “Best of 2011” award from Interior Design Magazine.

And as for that sustainable ethic?  These kitchens include a base cabinet core with no added urea formaldehyde, and use FSC Certified woods with water-based low VOC lacquers.  Bamboo plywood is an option frequently used.  Countertops may be composed of PaperStone, an architectural surface material made with petroleum-free phenolic resins and post-consumer recycled paper.

PaperStone is certified by the FSC, Smartwood, and Rainforest Alliance, can add to a project’s LEED points, and, according to Pure Green Magazine is “impossible to damage”.  Sounds good!

~ Emerald

All that glitters may or may not be gold (in fact, it is usually polished brass), but it certainly is a hot design trend right now.

Mind you, this isn’t your mother’s 1980′s era brass.  You know, the kind that was used for overly ornate faucets and accessories to go with the Laura Ashley wallpaper and the little pink soaps in the guest bath?    <shudder>

Instead, gold is now the accent of choice to warm up that other trending “color” – crisp white.  Although gold can also be used to great effect with navy blue, chartreuse, and blush pinks, it is white that really begs for it.

If you want to try out this design trend, try accessorizing with brass planters or bowls you find at a flea market or thrift shop.  Just be sure that they have simple, modern forms, and can be polished up to a high shine.  Or find some silly ceramic figurines that could be improved with a solid coat of gold paint, then group 3-5 of them together on your mantel for a fun and trendy look.

For more ideas and inspirations, check out my All That Glitters board on Pinterest.

Thanks for visiting!

The sources and credits for the images above can also be found on Pinterest.

Jerry used to be a detergent bottle but now he’s gained new life as a kid’s nightlight… or, perhaps, as a whimsical conversation piece owned by an adult who hasn’t forgotten how to be a kid.  Isn’t he great?

Steven Wine created Jerry and his menagerie of companions as a diversion from his regular work as lighting designer for ABYU (And Bob’s Your Uncle) and its partner company, BNO Design.

“I originally made these upcycled nightlights for kids’ rooms,” says Steven, “but adults seem to like them too!  Sometimes when I finish a particularly cute one, everyone in the studio laughs when they look at it.  That’s pretty much what it’s all about!”

The upcycled menagerie is only a part of a larger story.

These are creatures of fantasy and whimsy, of smaller scale but no less creative than Steven’s usual, larger light fixtures: airy sculptures of glass, metal, and (quite often) feathers.

“We specialize in creative custom lighting products that emphasize the value of good design and craftsmanship,” says Steven.  “Our limitless exploration of materials enables our artists to look at lighting with a unique perspective.”

Jerry and his co-creations can be found at the ABYU online shop, here.

~ Emerald

Recycled wool sweaters are a definite trend right now (hmmm, next Trending post?), and I’ve seen lots of cute pillows, stuffed critters, and the like made from them, but this is the first time I’ve seen an entire blanket!

Created by Michelle Christman from LovelyJustLovely, this blanket is made up of 8 different thrift store sweaters that were then felted, pieced, and then sewn together with a tight zigzag stitch.

Michelle has several different versions in her shop, including this lovely green colored one with a black and white check.

What I really love about these blankets, other than the obvious reuse aspect, is how flexible they are style-wise.  The geometric lines, combined with the patchwork composition, would lend themselves equally well to either traditional or modern decor.  And the pricing is surprisingly resonable, considering the amount of time and effort making a blanket like this must surely take.

Thanks for visiting!

Rachel

 And 19^th-century architect Louis Sullivan proclaimed that “form ever follows function,” an idea that vastly influenced the modernist movement in design.

One can find much to uphold both maxims in the work of Stella Bleu Designs, where the creations of Mississippi-born designer Katie Katzenmeyer are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, elegant and sturdy.  In a word, useful.

On view at her website (along with her Etsy shop, here) are shelves and garment racks made from industrial steel pipe, reclaimed wood, and other salvage materials gleaned from local, family-owned salvage yards and demolition sites.  Everything is made from scratch in house.

Stella Bleu items are designed by Katie and hand-crafted by her husband, Andy.  Each piece of pipe is cut, threaded, and welded by hand per customer order.

Of note are the mobile garment racks made of aged reclaimed barn wood, raw steel, and vintage heavy duty casters, all of which combines into a solid, practical work of art of which William Morris would approve.

And while whimsy figures throughout Katie’s work, I’m particularly fond of the “This Way That Way” pipe lighting fixture inspired by classic retro motel signs and the coat rack crafted of reclaimed maple gym flooring: every sneaker streak speaks of young athletes of days gone past.  Fun stuff.

Which is your favorite?

~ Emerald

So, get ready to meet the “new” critter on the block…

Whether the Fantastic Mr. Fox, dapper in his regal orange coat, or the clever and magical Japanese kitsune, the big ears and clever ways of the fox capture our imagination.

So go ahead.  Get a little foxy with your home!

To see more images, inspiration, and sources for some of these great fox finds, check out my Trending – Foxes board on Pinterest.

Thanks for visiting!

Rachel

Whatever you call it, the time that gave birth to the Art Deco was one of opulence and optimism. Skyscrapers were going up, speakeasies were going underground, and the whole world was giddily coming out of a period of war.

(click on image to see full size)

Today, Art Deco is quietly, but firmly making a reappearance.  The bold geometric patterns that characterize the style were everywhere on the runways this year.  The costumery and interiors of Boardwalk Empire and The Artist have reintroduced a younger generation to the strong black and (almost) white palette.  The graphics for modern day posters are harkening back to the days of Art Deco and its curvealicious  cousin, Streamline Moderne.

Want to introduce a little Art Deco to your project?  Try borrowing from the simple but potent color combination of black, cream, and gold.  Lots of gold.  Then give it a feminine touch by adding coral or shell pink.  Or why not find an old club chair, with upswept arms and deep, cushy seats?  Perhaps some pillows with Art Deco inspired fabric.   Don’t forget the silk, the pearls, and the cocktail shaker.

You can mix Art Deco in with so many other styles.  Modern, Arts & Crafts, Mid-Century, traditional Japanese, Chinese….  the list goes on and on.  The key is to mix it in, not let it dominate, because you would quickly start to feel like you were living in a museum or a movie set.  That is, unless you WANT to live in a movie set.

As an aside, I love researching and writing these Trending posts, so you’re going to be seeing a lot of them from now on.  As an interior designer, I’m drawn to trends like a magpie, and I bet you are too.  Right now, I am playing around with ideas for how to make the trending articles even more relevant and useful, such as shopping lists, additional resources, and how to recreate the trends while sticking to sustainable practices.  If you have ideas on how they could be more interesting or useful to you, please let me know in the comments below.

As always, I have made a Trending – Art Deco board on Pinterest with even more images and inspiration.

Thanks for visiting!

Rachel

The idea of low- or no-VOC paint or finishes seem to have seeped into the public consciousness enough that the former are commonly found at big box home improvement stores.

Low-VOC carpet? Not so much.

So it was pleasant to discover these flooring options by Merida Meridian: carpet patterns which can not only contribute to LEED points but which are, according to the company, “Green-Label Plus certified”.

So what does that mean?

GLP+ is the carpet industry’s reply to questions over the effect its products have on indoor air quality. Certification is given to those products which pass a 14-day emissions testing process – one which was developed in co-operation with the EPA and which utilizes a laboratory independent of the industry itself.

Merida offers a range of 23 GLP+ certified carpets in 55 different neutral-toned color variations. The carpets are intended for a dry, indoor environment and are suited for light to medium foot traffic.

Most are woven from a fiber obtained from the agave plant – sisal, from plantations in East Africa. No pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used in sisal production, most of the weeding is done by hand (as opposed to by herbicide), and, since the fiber is a rapidly renewable resource, its use as flooring can contribute one full Indoor Environmental Quality credit to LEED Ratings.

One product line, Pure, surely feels delicious to bare feet, as it is crafted from a blend of different New Zealand wools. Mmmmmm… And warm during winter, too. Sounds nice, no?.

~ Emerald

Images courtesy of Merida Meridian.

Looking for a little good luck?  How about this Lucky Horseshoe?

This recycled burlap pillow has (Irish) Whiskey stamped all over it.

Love this sweet little felt bunting made from a recycled wool sweater.

You can’t have celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without a shamrock, so why not get one made of reclaimed wood?

Why not rest your head and dream of the beautiful island itself on this map of Ireland organic cotton pillow?

And if your feet are tired after doing a Guiness fueled jig all night, then you’ll want to have this soft, cozy Organic Cotton Nautical rug to walk on the next day.

Have a wonderful St Paddy’s Day and thanks for visiting!

Rachel