Do you appreciate a good view when you see one? It could be of the beach at sunset or snow-covered trees in the mountains or a full moon in the desert sky. Anything. But do you actually see it, when you happen to see it as often as everyday? The young British designer Zoe Murphy … Continue reading The Seaside Views of Zoe Murphy
You need only to read a few of my previous posts (here, here, here) to learn of my fascination with the eco kitchen. Lest you start thinking that I actually cook, let me set the record straight. While I appreciate a well-designed kitchen, and I am whole-heartedly green, I do not use them or even … Continue reading A Paper Kitchen
Less is more. Form follows function. If you're an architecture aficionado, these three-word manifestos should bring visions of van der Rohe, Sullivan and Le Corbusier to your mind. But if we're referring to modern furniture with an eco-edge, then Dror Benshetrit and his Pick Chair are a more likely pair. The Pick is made of … Continue reading Take Your Pick
The title should look like this: The Bamboo Grass Mat That Would Be Really Cool If It Were Bamboo Grass. Say it isn't so. Call the eco-police. My list of clever household items that should be eco but aren't, just got bigger. Here we go again. Why make a doormat printed with a photo of … Continue reading For Title, See Content
The oh-so-sophisticated you might say "vaaaaaz", but however you pronounce it, a vase is really just a vase. Not so with the ada hanging vase from cb2. It says "I'm not your ordinary vase, I'm so much more than a vase because I hang here growing out of the wall looking like something other than … Continue reading Hanging with Ada
Fortunately, we've reached the point where it is not only un-cool, but offensive when companies ignore their footprint and don't face eco-reality. Despite the plethora of green-going ventures out there, I'm still impressed when I come across another design studio forging ahead, breaking new green ground without compromising creative philosophy. Gore Design Co. is such … Continue reading Eco-Concrete by Gore Design Co.
According to our calendars, summer is almost over. Kids are returning home from camp, school supplies are being purchased and I'm wondering where the time goes. Want your summer to last forever? The Rolling Summer House may be just what this doctor ordered. It's a huge spherical structure constructed of unseasoned wood (from local, sustainable … Continue reading Steam-Bent and Rolling Through A Garden Near You
The first thing that caught my eye about this coffee table is the orange. My favorite color, and this table runs through a glorious slew of orange hues. Candy for my eyes. And eco for my soul. table433 is made from reclaimed BlindWood, otherwise known as venetian blind offcuts. Slats of wood are individually chosen … Continue reading Seeing BlindWood
There is not a single superstitious bone in my sensitive, spiritual, sometimes cynical body. Magical thinking is not my thing. But I do believe in luck. When good things happen I attribute it to the randomness of life, the luck of the draw. If the bad stuff hits, which it inevitably does, I think to … Continue reading In the Mood for Luck
I love the French. I love their attitude, style, women, wine, croissants and beaches. Now, I'm a big fan of their cookware. Not that I cook, but I do know people who cook. And once in a while, when I'm lucky, they feed me. These are the friends who introduced me to the secret of … Continue reading Le Creme de le Eco-Cookware Crop
I never lose my keys, but my best friend does and I think I'm going to get her this. (Another friend of mine uses a yellow rubber ducky - large, yes - but chic? Not so much. I've also seen flashlights, rabbit feet, coin purses and those mini scannable super-saver cards that get you coupons … Continue reading A Rock and Roll Key Keeper
Mid-century modern, Eames-era, circa 1950-70s - there are plenty of names for the current "it" style of furniture and design. Some probably even call it old because it's not quite antique. Whatever works. I, on the other hand, am much more excited by the not new part; the not cutting down precious trees or using … Continue reading Whatever You Call It, It’s the Green That Counts
There's a lot of "scrapping" going on these days in the fashion and decor industries, mostly out of earnest consideration for eco-friendly living. I appreciate every kind of re-use, reclaim or re-invent including vintage and antique. Wood scraps are another fave of mine. The possibilities are endless when a creative mind confronts a pile of … Continue reading Leftover Leather Stays Together in Manon Juliette’s Carpet Collection
Straight shooter, no-nonsense, sans hidden agenda - it's refreshing to meet people and know exactly what you're getting. The same can be said for stuff you buy that arrives in a box at your front door. If its assembly doesn't require reading 5 pages of directions and 35 screws and it actually looks like what's … Continue reading What You See Is What You Get
At home I work at a vintage architect's desk that's big enough for my laptop, a printer, colored pencils, pens and a small army of accessories and implements. I love this desk; every scratch, gouge and pen-mark on it. But when I want to write (or IM) into the wee hours while lounging on the … Continue reading Lay Your Laptop on This
Most of my youth was spent searching - for something easier, cooler, smarter, sexier - anything better than whatever was boring and right in front of me. I was convinced there was something better out there just out of my sight. Maybe this belief motivated me to reach higher. Or maybe it left me in … Continue reading The Glass Is Greener
I have long prided myself on having a lengthy fuse. Not much bothers me. Turns out I may need to update my personal M.O., because I am getting more and more annoyed when I find a really clever, cool item that should be eco but isn't. Don't get me wrong: I'm not a mean, green, … Continue reading The Bamboo Mat That Would Be Really Cool…If It Were Bamboo
I'm here with an eco-reminder. The Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling show started this past weekend (July 20) at New York's MoMA. You can read about the show here. To all our New York readers who are lucky enough to see it in person, come back to ecosalon and comment. We'd love to hear … Continue reading Don’t Miss It at MoMA – Prefabricated Housing
Does anyone else feel slightly light-headed at the thought of hearing paper versus plastic one more time? I'm just guessing, but the question is posed to me at least once a day. Of course it's a very good question, but sometimes I just want to scream "neither, nada, none of the above", especially when it … Continue reading It’s in the Box
I can't help myself. Have you ever seen a sexier pillow? Yes, we've talked about pillows before, but this pillow is hot. A pillow like this could take a sofa or a bed or a room and push it into another dimension. I can see your questioning glance, your raised eyebrow. Let me explain. The … Continue reading Pillow Talk Too
Kim Derby 
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