In America we lack certain"¦traditions. The Spanish enjoy the siesta; the French have affairs; for the British, there's afternoon tea. But what's our tradition? Who knows - we're too busy rushing around. We're so accustomed to a Starbucks and Pete's on every corner, the idea of taking time for tea at home"¦well, it just doesn't … Continue reading What’s Your Tradition?
Category: Shelter
Jens Praet’s One Day Paper Waste
And not a day too late. We've seen all kinds of stuff made from recycled trash. Some of it, very cool. Some of it, well, never mind. We love the idea of reusing, but the end result definitely needs a little bit of je ne sais quoi. Jens Praet has found just the quoi I'm … Continue reading Jens Praet’s One Day Paper Waste
Have You Ever Felt So Green?
When I think of felt - I think of 5th grade. That's the year my best friend, Eden, and I created a 2-foot-high UCLA basketball player out of papier-mache. We captured him mid-stride with an orange Styrofoam basketball hanging from his hand. The light blue and yellow uniform, socks and shoes were made with felt. … Continue reading Have You Ever Felt So Green?
5 Favorite Cutting Edge Eco-Chairs
I'm all about sitting. I'm a mover and a shaker when the occasion requires, but when it's time to call it quits I bet my butt finds a chair before yours. How can I be so sure? Because I was master of musical chairs in kindergarten. I would somehow throw my little body into place … Continue reading 5 Favorite Cutting Edge Eco-Chairs
The Ultimate Guide to Eco Lighting
Maybe it's the way they can make or break a room, like the way the perfect accessory can pull together an outfit. Or maybe the whys don't matter as much as the facts. Eco-lighting is front-page news and everyone who's anyone is making the switch to green. For your viewing pleasure, I've gathered a cutting … Continue reading The Ultimate Guide to Eco Lighting
Geoff McFetridge: Coming to a Wall Near You
I didn't think it was possible but wallpaper has become huge, as in popular, hip, happenin' - most likely due to its turning a lovely shade of green (as in eco, eco, eco). It also doesn't hurt that a few of the ultra cool graphic designers du jour have lent their creative juices to the … Continue reading Geoff McFetridge: Coming to a Wall Near You
Go Green, Good Traveler: Introducing Starwood’s New ELEMENT hotels
In the days of old and eco-oblivion, you could travel the world, sleep anywhere with 5 stars and be assured of a restful, luxurious, guilt-free experience. In the 90s, smaller "boutique" hotels began to crop up - but pampering, not green, was still the priority. If you're a frequent traveler who happens to have acquired … Continue reading Go Green, Good Traveler: Introducing Starwood’s New ELEMENT hotels
Folding the Light
I have a light fetish - an all consuming, but eco-conscious obsession with lighting a room just so. The search for a quality and eco-friendly light has taken me far and wide, including New Zealand, which I wrote about in Modern Balance. Now I've landed closer to home and as eco-friendly as one can get. … Continue reading Folding the Light
Mod by Moxie
I've heard of sewing and embroidery, knitting and crochet - I've even tried my hand at a few of the aforementioned crafts. (Didn't your grandmother enforce the "you should know how to mend, sew a button and knit a scarf" rule, too?) But felting is new to me. I've been delighted by Etsy's Made by … Continue reading Mod by Moxie
Zaishu!
No, Zaishu isn't a new gadget or sugary snack. It's a sturdy little table-seat-whatsit that happens to have quite a story behind it (and on it). The story begins in Japan. Zaishu is Japanese for "small seat" - and small it is (approx 16" x 16" x 11"). Its eco-footprint is equally diminutive. Made of … Continue reading Zaishu!
Let Your Eco-Wall Mural Take You Anywhere You Want to Go
Close your eyes and mentally travel somewhere soothing. Right about now, you should be floating in the waters of Poipu Beach or Bora Bora. Unfortunately, when you open your eyes the reality of life returns. According to Thomas Wieckowski, founder of MyDigitalPrints, your fantasy vacation need not be cut short. My Digital Prints is in … Continue reading Let Your Eco-Wall Mural Take You Anywhere You Want to Go
Kitchen One – Holey Green Cabinetry
I love food and I finish everything on my plate. In other words, I don't "do" leftovers. My mother, on the other hand, has a refrigerator packed with a small army of Tupperware containers. Each one holds a fragment of this and a portion of that. She loves leftovers. Fortunately, in the world of green … Continue reading Kitchen One – Holey Green Cabinetry
DIY: Plant It and Spring Will Come
It happens. A seller on Etsy creates a fresh and fun item, but her inventory sells out in just over a week and you're out of luck. What to do? Do it yourself. Even if your thumb is anything but green, this charming planting project is simple and an easy way to welcome spring. Here's … Continue reading DIY: Plant It and Spring Will Come
Cure Your Bare Wall Blues with Something Green
I came down with some sort of bug this past weekend. I think it's called the "look around your home and feel the urge to change everything" bug. For some reason my eyes focused in on the items I hadn't seen in a long time, and I realized most of them I no longer even … Continue reading Cure Your Bare Wall Blues with Something Green
Lamp Alternative: Illuminated Wallpaper by Jonas Samson
There's no other way to say it - this is the coolest, most forward-thinking product I've seen in quite some time. Sounds dramatic, yes, but it's true. Try and wrap your head around this - illuminated wallpaper. Not glow in the dark or back-lit, but wall covering that emits light - it's a part of … Continue reading Lamp Alternative: Illuminated Wallpaper by Jonas Samson
Make a Statement with Woodsy Bond
The more I discover green innovations, the less cynical I can claim to be about the future of our planet. I'm losing my edge, people. Actually, it's a relief. Every day I learn of another green product or program or initiative or group of people devoted to the green cause. For example, Woodsy Bond Wallcoverings … Continue reading Make a Statement with Woodsy Bond
Raindrops Keep Falling, So Why Not Catch Them?
Last weekend my niece and I took a walk in the rain. At one point she looked up at the sky, opened her mouth and giggled as the raindrops fell lightly onto her tongue. I remember trying the same thing as a kid - hoping to quench my thirst rather than head indoors for a … Continue reading Raindrops Keep Falling, So Why Not Catch Them?
Turning a Mountain into a Mobile
There are so many great design magazines on the newsstand today, how do you choose? Usually I'm able to resist buying them all, but some months they're too delicious and I bring home more than I have the precious time to read. Then I watch in guilt as the stack next to my coffee table … Continue reading Turning a Mountain into a Mobile
Hungry for an Eco-Kitchen?
If you've ever remodeled a kitchen, you're familiar with this labor-intensive process that can consume weeks, if not months, of your life. Hansen Living has taken this unappealing timetable and turned it upside down. The Danish company claims it can install their kitchens in ONE day. Do I have your attention yet? Because it only … Continue reading Hungry for an Eco-Kitchen?
Tiny Showcase: Small on Price, Big on Giving
If I had a trust fund or won the lottery, I'd quit my job, travel...and collect art. My real-life options may be more limited, but I still find beautiful art at Tiny Showcase, an online community for artists created by Jon Buonaccorsi and Shea'la Finch. Tiny Showcase helps to expose and sell smaller works. Each … Continue reading Tiny Showcase: Small on Price, Big on Giving
Kim Derby 
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