Green Your Decor

Sylvania’s Earth Day Challenge & My Energy Gauntlet (+ Giveaway)

jennae — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:35:37 +0000

I’m generally averse to any challenges that specifically coincide with Earth Day. It’s not that I don’t think the day is important. It’s just that because I focus on green living every day, it tends to feel a little disingenuous to ask people to make this or that change for Earth Day when I really want them to do it all the time. However, I also realize that this day is an excellent opportunity to educate the masses about green living. And when a company like Sylvania approaches me with a challenge so simple that literally anyone can participate, it didn’t take much convincing for me to sign on. Especially because all of these changes are ones that can be done any time of the year.

So what exactly is the 40 for the Future Challenge? Well, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Sylvania is challenging everyone to take small actions to improve energy efficiency at home and at work. And over 40 days, lots of small actions will add up to 40 million kilowatt hours of energy saved. That’s a huge number to aspire to, but one that I believe can be reached if we all take part.

And everyone who participates will be entered to win daily prizes, weekly prizes and an awesome grand prize: A carbon-neutral, three-night vacation at Disneyland®. To offset the carbon emissions from the trip, Sylvania will give one classroom a lighting upgrade that will reduce their energy usage. This drawing is offered to K-12 educators in a public or private school in the United States, and eligible entrants must present the lessons of the “40 for the Future Earth Day Challenge” to their students. Also, everyone who takes the challenge will be rewarded a coupon for $1 off a Sylvania energy saving light bulb.

Click here to take the challenge!

So far, here’s what I’ve pledged to do:

Turn incandescent lights off when not in use
Turn CFLs off when not in use
Dry dishes using the air-dry setting on the dishwasher
Don’t charge electronics overnight
Use warm or cold water in your washing machine
Use a low-flow showerhead
Turn off computer monitor(s) at night

There are many other small changes you can make, and I’d love to hear what you’ve pledged to do in the 40 for the Future Challenge! You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook if you so desire.

Throwing Down the Energy Gauntlet

Sylvania’s challenge reminded me of a personal energy assessment I’ve been meaning to make in my own home. I have been focusing so much on indoor air quality in my home that I sometimes forget to pay attention to our energy usage. But in addition to the 40 for the Future Challenge, an electric bill of $200+ bought me out of my energy stupor. I also read at another blog (I read so many that the link escapes me, but I’ll link to it as soon as I find it) about how this particular blogger did a room-by-room assessment of her apartment to see what items she had that were plugged in all the time, and therefore using ghost power. She did pretty well, with very little plugged in other than the refrigerator and stove. When I looked around my own home, I’m embarrassed to say that I have a lot more than that.

So here’s my challenge to myself and to you. Go around your home and do a room by room assessment. How many items do you leave plugged in all the time? What do you leave turned on that you could easily turn off or unplug? I’ll list all of mine (as of today), and ask you to do the same in the comments section. Then every week, we’ll check in again to see if and how we have improved. I have a special prize, from my own personal stash, to offer. I’ll keep it as a surprise for now, but here’s a hint: It’s one of the items listed below that I always leave plugged in (but shouldn’t). Every reader who participates will get an entry to win for each week that you comment.

So here goes nothing:

Living Room

Lamp (main light source)
Laptop charger
Cordless phone
NOTE: Our TV, Wii, DVD player are all plugged into a smart strip. What this means is that whenever we turn the TV off, that automatically cuts power to all the peripherals and shuts off the power strip. I strongly recommend using one of these for your TVs and computers, and I need to get some for my own computers.

Dining Room

Cordless vacuum charger
LED night light

Laundry Room

Washer & Dryer

Kitchen

Stove
Fridge
ActiveIon water ionizer (a cool little gadget that allows you to clean and sanitize using JUST water. Really.)
iPod speakers & dock

Home Office/Studio

Desk lamps (rarely used)
Closet lamp (rarely used)
PC desktop tower & monitor
Mac desktop
External hard drive
Cordless phone
Printer
Paper shredder
Battery recharger

Shame on me! This is the room where I need the most improvement, since most of these items could easily be unplugged or at least turned off when not in use. I know. I’m a bad girl. I need to get some smart strips in here!

Daughter’s Bedroom

TV
Playstation (used as a DVD player)
Lamp (used regularly)
Nightlight

Master Bedroom

TV
2 lamps (we only ever use one)
Alarm clock
Charger for a voice activated TV remote (that we haven’t even programmed yet…tsk, tsk)
My cell phone charger
Husband’s cell phone charger

OK. I’m done embarrassing myself now. Clearly, we have a long way to go. We are moving into a new apartment next Thursday, but we’re taking all these items with us. We have GOT to be more conscious of unplugging a lot of these items. Next Wednesday, I’ll check in with you and let you know how we’re doing, and then again during the weeks following our move. The final check-in will be on Wednesday, April 21. I hope a lot of you will choose to join me and Sylvania on this journey!

Giveaway

As I mentioned, I have a special surprise giveaway package that I’ll reveal next week. For every week that you check in, you will receive an entry, for a maximum of 6 entries. For your entries to count, you must:

Tell me what you did to participate in the Sylvania 40 for the Future Challenge
List all the items in your home that are plugged in all the time, and show an effort to reduce your energy usage each week (In other words, the point is that you have fewer items plugged in during the last week than you did during the first week).

The giveaway entry period starts today and will continue through Wednesday, April 21 at 11:59 p.m. The winner, who will be randomly selected from all entries, will be announced on Earth Day, April 22. U.S. mailing addresses only!

I hope all of you are as excited about this as I am, because it really has the potential to improve the energy efficiency of all our homes. I can’t wait to read all your entries!

(sponsored opportunity): Full disclosure: I am being compensated by Sylvania for my time in participating in and promoting the 40 for the Future Challenge. And anyone who knows me knows that I wouldn’t participate if I didn’t believe it was truly an opportunity to make a difference, however small.

Sylvania’s Earth Day Challenge & My Energy Gauntlet (+ Giveaway)

Special Green Room in a Box: A Room for Ja’Naya

jennae — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:32:44 +0000

Today’s Green Room in a Box is part of a special project that is really near and dear to me. My family has been through a lot in the last several months since my daughter’s diagnosis, but none of us have been through more than Ja’Naya herself. She is doing really well with her treatment and handling it like a trooper, but my husband and I wanted to do something special for her to help ease the transition. Next week, my family is moving to be closer to her doctors, and we decided to completely redecorate her room (in eco-friendly fashion, of course) so she’ll have a special place to play and relax, especially after long days at the clinic.

I reached out to several sponsors, who were more than happy to help us do this makeover by donating product. All those sponsors are designated below as “In-Kind Sponsors” (meaning they donated product to the project).

Inspiration Room

The image above was my inspiration for the room. It has been in my inspiration folder on my computer for a while, and for the life of me, I can’t remember where I got it, but I’ve always loved this room! If anyone recognizes it, please let me know so I can link back to the original site. We don’t plan to paint (although that could change), so I love the fact that this room is vibrant and happy even with white walls. I also loved the uber-organized storage system surrounding the bed, complete with a comfy-looking bench. Though we chose a completely different color scheme, we hope to accomplish a similar look. And here’s the products we’ll use to do it:

1. Large Green Capiz Cylinder Wind Chime from Celery Street | In-Kind Sponsor | $52 | Handmade of capiz shells | I plan on using a very simple technique to turn this wind chime into a show-stopping “chandelier,” and I’ll publish a tutorial showing you how to do it too.

2. Beautiful As I Am Print | $15 | Technically this didn’t cost my anything since I designed and printed it myself, BUT I do plan on selling it in my new Etsy shop More on that soon!

3. Self Love Poster from I Love My Hair | $30 | Handmade | This poster spoke to me the very second I found it, and I didn’t even hesitate before purchasing it. Click the link to see the full image, but it says “I went natural for me and my daughter. I wanted to be an example of self-love.” I wrote about my journey to natural hair a few times over at Green & Gorgeous, and given that the chemo still could make my daughter lose her hair (although it thankfully hasn’t thus far), this poster really has special meaning for us.

4. Curtains made of Let It Grow organic fabric from Harmony Art | In-Kind Sponsor | $18.84-23.55/yard | I’ve had my eye on the fabrics by Harmony Art for a long while, and I’m SO happy I finally got the chance to incorporate them into a project! The curtains and bench cushion cover will both be made of Harmony organic fabrics. No-sew curtain-making tutorial to come!

5. Dresser from local antique mall | $50 | We bought and refurbished a small dresser to use as a TV stand. Details coming soon!

6. Wallter Starburst Wall Application | In-Kind Sponsor | $142 | For weeks, I had been scouring thrift stores, yard sales and Craigslist in hopes of finding a mirror to paint pink. When that turned up nothing I liked, bought a cheap mirror from TJ Maxx and painted it, only have it completely fall apart the next day (no joke). Then I remembered this wood-based peel-and-stick starburst that I found via the Friday Room Reveal from reader and photographer Kelli Taylor. It is made in the US., and it is absolutely gorgeous! I’m not sure what the wood is made of, but I definitely prefer products made in the U.S. to ones made overseas. Besides, I plan to paint it with low-VOC paint.

7. Recycled Metal Letter Hooks from Urban Outfitters | $3.99/ea. | Made of recycled tin cans | If there’s one thing I’ve learned as the little one has grown, it’s that organization is essential. These small but functional hooks will give her a place to hang her coat, backpack and even her guitar when she’s not using them.

8. Upholstered Tufted Headboard | About $150 total | I made this baby last weekend, and I’ll share all the details in a tutorial post soon!

9. Handmade Lampshade by HomeSweet | In-Kind Sponsor | $65 | This shade goes perfect with the thrift-store lamp I updated for Ja’Naya last year, and it is block-printed by hand on a hemp/organic cotton blend fabric. And if you’ll notice the brown pillow on top of the bench to the left of the bed, that was also made by Home Sweet.

10. Organic pillows and tote bag by Humble Collection | In-Kind Sponsor | $10-28/ea. | I fell in with these hand-printed organic pillows when I featured them last year, and I’ll be using several of them in Ja’Naya’s room, including a tote bag I plan to turn into a pillow.

11. Storage system from Way Basics | In-Kind Sponsor | There are few products as innovative and affordable as Way Basics, and after seeing how well my Cube2 has held up after more than a year, I knew I wanted to create a storage system using their products. If you take a look at the inspiration photo above, I plan to create a similar system with storage on either side of the bed and a bench in the corner, all using WayBasics products. I worked with them directly to create a custom system that would work for my measurements.

12. Laguna BlanQuette from Yumi & Laurie (review) | $78 | This blanQuette, made of organic cotton and bamboo, will be perfect spread across the chocolate brown duvet cover we already own. And if you’d like the chance to win one, I’m currently giving away three of them!

13. Letter Lines wool rug from Merida Home | In-Kind Sponsor | $699.90 | I’ve always loved the idea of putting area rugs on top of wall-to-wall carpet to make a room really pop. This gorgeous, U.S.-made wool rug from Merida Home is going to make quite a statement in this room! (aff)

Note: If a product shown in the photo is not mentioned above, it means we already own it (like the LOVE poster and bedding).

A part of me can’t help but feel like something is missing. I still need to find natural storage baskets that will live inside the Way Basics cubes and other kid-friendly accessories, but I feel like it’s something else. Readers, what do you think of the room thus far, and is there anything you would add? I’d love to hear your opinions in the comments below!

More to come on this project:

Step-by-Step Dresser Refurbishing
Upholstered Headboard Tutorial
No-Sew Curtain Tutorial
Tote Bag Pillow Tutorial
Wind Chime-to-Chandelier Tutorial
Final Room Reveal!

Special Green Room in a Box: A Room for Ja’Naya

Green Steals of the Week: Woven Stools & Organic Napkins

jennae — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:49:01 +0000

As much as I love eco-friendly decorating and will go the extra mile to find a used or sustainably-made version of anything I need, even I sometimes get burned out on the high cost that is so often associated with truly green products. I understand the reason behind the pricing, to some extent, but it’s still nice to find a beautiful, green product for a reasonable price. Besides, it’s been too long since I’ve featured a Green Steal of the Week These stools, woven from sustainable water hyacinth, and organic cotton napkins are a good way to end the dry spell.

The stools are incredibly simple, yet could add an easy layer of texture and style — not to mention extra seating or usable surface area — to any room. And the best part? At just $40 apiece, it would be affordable to purchase several and group them for an even more high-impact effect.

The napkins are another great find. Recently, my family fell back into our old habits and started using paper towel again, albeit 100% recycled paper towel. Still, we’ve been weaning ourselves back off them, and I’d love to add some more cloth napkins to our repertoire, since the collection can get scarce between laundry days. At just $5-6 for a set of two organic cotton napkins in several colors, I can afford to stock up, and then we’d really have no excuse…

Why They’re Green:

Stools made of sustainable water hyacinth
Napkins made of

Price: Stool: $40; Napkins: $5-6 per set of 2

Green Steals of the Week: Woven Stools & Organic Napkins

Beautiful Rest: Cisco Brothers’ Rowan Upholstered Bed

jennae — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:52:10 +0000

On occasion, I like to sit and dream about what I’d have in my home if I have a whole lot more disposable income. In fact, there’s a whole “dream home” folder on my computer that’s full of gorgeous pieces I’d love to own. They’re the types of pieces that stay with you for a lifetime, with a healthy dose of versatility mixed in so I could change them up slightly throughout the years. And in the folder for my dream bedroom is the Rowan upholstered bed from Green Nest.

I have a mild obsession with upholstered, tufted headboards, and this also comes with an upholstered frame. It is also available in a wide variety of very sustainable fabrics — everything from linen to organic cotton, hemp and more. With most upholstered furniture these days, you’re lucky to have even one sustainable choice. And trust me when I say that EVERY part of the construction of this bed is sustainable.

Honestly, I couldn’t help but have sweet dreams on a bed like this. Too bad it would take a near miracle for me to be able to afford it…

Why It’s Green:

Wood frames made from sustainably grown Alder from well-managed American forests
Legs are constructed from reclaimed wood
Non-toxic, water based adhesives used
A combination of hemp webbing, jute, and hemp burlap are used to finish out the frame.
Uses organic wool batting and 100% natural latex padding and foam from the rubber tree
Upholstered in sustainable fabrics that are laundered in chemical-free, vegetable-based laundry detergent and are either certified organic or have been produced using chemical-free base cloth and vegetable or low impact dyes

Price: $2895-7005 depending on selected options

Beautiful Rest: Cisco Brothers’ Rowan Upholstered Bed

Luxury on a Budget: Yumi & Laurie blanQuette Giveaway No. 2

jennae — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:25:03 +0000

Waaay back in 2008, I introduced many of you to Yumi & Laurie, a company that makes gorgeous eco-friendly textiles, specifically their signature luxury blanQuettes. I fell in love with the style and story behind this product without ever having experienced one myself — until now. Owner Laurie Suzuki recently sent me not just one, but two of her gorgeous blanQuettes so I could see for myself what all the fuss is about.

I can unequivocally say that I now get it.

We are addicted to blankets in this house. I have one over the back of my desk chair that use to get comfy, we curl up in them on the sofa, and we even take them in the car with us on long drives. I can easily say that these blanQuettes are the most luxurious throws we own. They are unlike any other blanket in our collection, and we have quite a few. The colors are vibrant and stunning, and they are the weight of a hefty blanket with a texture similar to a really high-end towel. It’s like the most luxurious robe you’ve ever owned, but it won’t make you hot if you’re wrapped too long.

They are made of 50% bamboo and 50% organic cotton. This construction also makes it antimicrobial, so it can actually get wet without any worries about mold. It can be hung out to dry, much like a towel, and used again. I haven’t had the chance to test this particular feature, but it’s nice to know.

As you can see above, my daughter is having a good time with her blanQuette. At 6′6″ by 4′9″, it is more than big enough for her to wrap up in. In fact, we both easy cuddled under it, which is a good thing, since we usually find ourselves fighting for covers on the sofa. I’m not over-exaggerating when I say that I love them. They are so versatile and available in so many colors that they can fit into any decor, and thrown over the arm of a sofa or folded across a neatly made bed, they could be a great finishing touch.

And at these remarkable prices, slashed significantly from where they were a year and a half ago, you’re getting a luxury project at a non-luxury price. A win-win situation, really.

Why It’s Green:

Made of 50% Organic Cotton and 50% Bamboo
Yumi & Laurie textiles are antimicrobial

Price: $78-88 (down from $195-235)
SPECIAL OFFER! When you purchase a blanQuette from Yumi & Laurie, mention that you found them at Green Your Decor, and get 2 free washcloths, also made of 50% organic cotton/50% bamboo.

(review)

Want to win?

Yumi & Laurie is generously offering up a Laguna blanQuette (shown above) for three lucky readers of Green Your Decor in the winner’s choice of color. That’s right! Three of you will get to experience the luxury for yourselves! So how do you win? Visit the Yumi & Laurie site, then come back here and leave a comment about which of ALL the blanQuette styles you’d love to own AND how you’d use it. Do this by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, March 22, 2010, to enter.

Want to enter more than once? Boost your chances of winning by completing one or more of the tasks on this list. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:

Make a purchase from Yumi & Laurie and get 5 bonus entries! And don’t forget to use the special offer above to get 2 free washcloths!
If you haven’t already, sign up for Green Your Decor’s email updates by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, March 22, 2010. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. Current subscribers must leave a comment saying that you are a subscriber to be entered.
If you’d prefer to receive your updates via RSS, sign up for the GYD feed. Then please leave a comment letting me know that you’ve done so, and be sure to include your email address.
Become a fan of Green Your Decor on Facebook and leave a comment on the wall. Then leave a comment letting me know you’ve done so.
Follow Green Your Decor on Twitter. Then tweet about GYD or this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet.
Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your post.

You have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, March 22, 2010, to enter. A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Good luck everyone!

Luxury on a Budget: Yumi & Laurie blanQuette Giveaway No. 2

Looks Good on Paper: Recycled Leaf-Shaped Bowls

jennae — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:02:37 +0000

In the year and a half I’ve been running Green Your Decor, I’ve seen LOTS of items made of recycled paper. Mirrors, vases…even tables. Still, I’m always amazed by the ingenious ways artisans re-imagine paper as a medium. This set of recycled paper bowls are among my favorite finds yet.

They are very clearly made of recycled paper, but the shapes, reminiscent of paisley, are also something all their own that transcends their humble beginnings. Every time I write something like that, I wonder how it must sound to other people when I get excited over something like paper bowls. I can’t help it, though. In addition to the simple beauty of the bowls themselves, what’s even better is the story behind them:

This product is made as part of a program that helps street children and other social work projects in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The program is designed to help poor and neglected children and adolescents earn an income and get an education, but it also provides training and promotes self-reliance for disadvantaged families and people of ethnic minorities.

If you ask me, this would be $20 well spent.

Why It’s Green:

Handmade by Vietnamese artisans
Made of recycled magazine pages
Made as part of a social development program to help disadvantaged kids and families

Price: $20

Looks Good on Paper: Recycled Leaf-Shaped Bowls

Wow! New Delight Wallpaper from Mod Green Pod

jennae — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:33:18 +0000

I’ve been wanting to cover something — anything really — in wallpaper for quite some time, but I’ve been too chicken to try it, afraid I’ll make a mess of everything. But there’s always something that puts a light under your butt to make you face your fears. In this case, that catalyst is the new Delight Wallpaper from Mod Green Pod. To be honest, I love all their wallpapers, but this new design is just ME. It feels like exactly the type of pattern I’d spend months hunting for to complete a room. It comes in three fabulous color combos, shown in order above: water/peppercorn, butter/coffee and caramel/licorice.

And since vinyl is not welcome in my home, I’m ecstatic that all their wallpapers are hand-printed on FSC-certified paper. Seriously, I think I’ll start small with my adventures in wallpapering — like maybe on the drawers of an old dresser that needs refinishing, or for the top of a table that needs some TLC. The paper is too beautiful to put inside dresser drawers, but that would be a great use for it too.

I’m a repeat fabric customer with MGP, and something tells me I’ll be placing another order pretty soon. Now to find a coupon code…

Why It’s Green:

Printed on FSC-certified paper (unlike most wallpapers that are printed on toxic vinyl)
Printed by hand with water based inks and finished with a water-based glaze

Price: $75/roll

Wow! New Delight Wallpaper from Mod Green Pod

Large & Lovely: Recycled Magazines Wall Mirror

jennae — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:08:25 +0000

A few months ago, I featured a clock made by an ingenious Etsy seller c2design of recycled magazine pages and a CD. I fell in love with that clock, and I love it still, but it is just too small for the place where I want to put it. So when I stumbled on this beauty at Organize.com, I felt like I had struck gold.

This one is a mirror, and the magazine pages are rolled much smaller, and many more of them are used. As a result, the size of the overall piece is much more substantial: 35″ in diameter instead of 16″. In fact, the center mirror on this piece alone is 16″. I just hate that it costs more than $200. Never one to spend that much without a fight, I’m actually working with c2designs to see if she can make a larger version of her masterpiece, because I’d much rather give her my money.

But one way or the other, I WILL have a recycled magazine clock or mirror hanging on the wall of our new apartment when we move.

Why It’s Green:

Made from magazine overprints and extra copies that would otherwise have been discarded into landfills
Rolled by hand

Price: $249.99 (aff)

Large & Lovely: Recycled Magazines Wall Mirror

Green & Glistening: Recycled Aluminum Miami Garden Seat

jennae — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:36:07 +0000

I’ve always been a fan of the look of shiny chrome in my home, but as my tastes became more refined, the idea of too much chrome was just too stark and industrial for me. Clean lines are great, but I want my home to look like people live in it — not robots. But every once in a while, I’ll find a piece that manages to take my love for shiny things and mesh it with a look that is more classic and soft. That is exactly the case here with the Miami Garden Seat from Nieman Marcus.

It is cast from recycled aluminum and has curves for days. And a piece like this is super versatile. Use it as an end table, or as a stool for extra seating. Put a couple of them together to use as a coffee table, or use it to put up your feet. I love pieces that can do double — or triple or quadruple — duty. All that’s missing is a storage compartment inside. But then again, hinges would ruin the look, so I take that back. All I know is that I really love this seat.

There’s just one caveat, albeit a big one: Like most things at stores like Nieman Marcus, it comes with a pretty steep price tag. But if you’re going to spend a lot of money anyway, you may as well buy green at the same time, right? Although I’m not really a Nieman Marcus type of shopper. Can you tell?

Why It’s Green:

Hand cast of recycled aluminum

Price: $335

Green & Glistening: Recycled Aluminum Miami Garden Seat

A 30 Family Rummage Sale? Yes, Please!

jennae — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:22:43 +0000

I found out last week that our local Habitat for Humanity had planned a huge rummage sale — 30 families combined PLUS items from the Habitat ReStore — to benefit the organization’s home-building projects. There was no way in the world I could pass up such a huge opportunity to find great vintage items, and I had a couple of specific items in mind. I wanted to get a dresser for my daughter’s room and some throw pillows to use inside some new covers. I didn’t find everything on my list, but I did score some great finds, as you can see in the image above.

If you’re like my husband, you’re probably thinking “what the heck is that big white thing?” It’s actually a cornice box, used at the top of a window to make window treatments look all fancy. I’m personally not a huge fan of the look, so why in the world did I buy it? Well, I plan to flip it upside down and use it to make a headboard for my daughter (more about her new room design later). I love the shape at what is the bottom of the box, with the gold edging. It is very close to the shape I had drawn in a mockup of her new headboard, and I would’ve needed a carpenter to make my sketch a reality. I almost couldn’t believe how perfect the cornice is. This cut down a LOT of the work, AND it was only $15! We’ll see if I’m still so excited once I actually start trying to make the headboard.

I also got 3.5 yards of some beautiful Schumacher Shaded Harlequin fabric. And I paid a whopping $2 for it. If you know anything about Schumacher fabrics, you know that they are generally available only to the trade (ie. interior designers) and they are generally pretty expensive, sometimes upwards of $100/yard. This one feels like a linen blend, and I LOVE the colors and pattern. I’m trying to decide where to use it, but I definitely have some ideas…

I also got about a yard of some pink fabric, and three throw pillows to use as inserts. Altogether, I spent a total of $21. I’d say it was money well-spent, especially since each of these items has a designated purpose. And the Schumacher fabric? Swoon.

What is the best thing you’ve ever found at a thrift store or yard sale? I’m still on the hunt for the perfect desk and dresser, but maybe hearing about some of your treasure hunts will give me hope that they’re out there somewhere!

A 30 Family Rummage Sale? Yes, Please!

Bathroom Envy: Organic Blend Towels by Amy Butler

jennae — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:22:47 +0000

I have been trying to think of some clever way to introduce these towels by Amy Butler, but then I decided that their beauty is enough of an introduction. Really, I wish I could step out of the shower into any one of these gorgeous patterns. And if I didn’t love Amy Butler enough before, when she announced that her new bedding line would be made of organic cotton, I am definitely loving her now. When designers that I — and so many other people — admire make a commitment to making greener products, it makes the whole community take notice. It forces all of us to realize that while this way of life is no longer optional, there’s no reason it can’t be beautiful.

And these towels are really affordable too, and certainly cost less than many of the luxury towels we see every day that are made of traditional cotton or other non-sustainable fabrics. I wish they were 100% organic cotton and not just a “blend,” but this is a step in the right direction. I can’t vouch for their quality, but I just may buy a couple for my daughter’s bathroom. If I do, I’ll definitely let you know how they hold up.

Why It’s Green:

Made of an organic cotton blend

Price: $5.99-12.99/ea.

Bathroom Envy: Organic Blend Towels by Amy Butler

Pretty & Philanthropic: Organic, Fair Trade Pillows

jennae — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:23:46 +0000

Have you ever spent 6 months looking for the perfect pillows? I’m almost ashamed to admit that I have, and I’m really hoping someone else answers yes so I don’t feel like a complete nutjob. Ever since we moved into our apartment in September, I had been looking for two orange accent pillows to go in our living room. It seems sort of ironic that I would find them now, almost a month to the day before we are moving. Again. But still, these pillows from Gianna are everything I wanted and more.

These days, it’s not tough to find housewares that are either organic or Fair Trade. Finding options that are both, however, is a little bit harder. These pillows, in addition to being absolutely gorgeous, are handcrafted by women in India who are fairly compensated for their work. But Gianna goes further than simply telling customers that the pillows are Fair Trade.

The company actually highlights individual artisans so you can read about them and their lives, and even see photos of them at work. The woman shown above, Surekha, is one of those artisans, and according to the Gianna site:

Surekha works outside the doorway leading to her home and finds the rhythmic in-and-out motion of her embroidery needle meditative.

Stories like this are the reason I think it’s so important to be a conscious consumer. It’s not often that we get to see the faces behind the products we buy, and opportunities like this should be embraced. This philosophy is behind all Gianna products, so it is a retailer you can feel god patronizing.

Why It’s Green:

Handmade of organic cotton
Fair Trade (from India)
Colored with natural dyes made from berries and other local plants

Price: $52-68

Pretty & Philanthropic: Organic, Fair Trade Pillows

Nursery Chic: Stylish, Organic Crib Bedding from EGG

jennae — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:54:39 +0000

I’d venture to say that nursery decorating is one of the most enjoyable household tasks a woman can do. It tends to be easier than other rooms, because you’re generally starting from scratch instead of trying to sort through years worth of stuff. And even if you already have the major pieces, like a crib, rocking chair, etc., making it a unique space for your little one to play and grow is a great feeling. And so I completely understand the drive to make a nursery not just gorgeous, but completely organic and non-toxic and safer for an infant. So by my estimation, organic crib bedding is the only way to go. And this organic crib bedding from EGG? Let’s just say it almost makes me want to have a little egg of my own.

These products were completely new to me, which was an unexpected surprise, given that I tend to see a lot of repetition in product selection as I go from green store to green store. These crib sets are gorgeous, featuring fun, kid-friendly motifs like chicks, balloons and an animal parade. But unlike most crib bedding with these types of themes, which — let’s be honest here — tend to be pretty cheesy, these are sweet and sophisticated at the same time. And more importantly, they are all organic, which is one of the best ways to give your baby a great start in life.

If you don’t green any other room in your home, definitely aim to make your nursery as eco-friendly as possible, keeping air quality and exposure to potential toxins in mind. It’s a decision you’ll never regret. And of course you don’t have to spend nearly $400 on crib bedding to do so, but these sets were just too gorgeous to pass up!

Why It’s Green:

Made of organic cotton
Filled with recycled, formaldehyde-free filling
Colored with low-impact, water-based dyes

Price: $370-395 (chick crib set in both colors available from GreenDepot for $350)

Nursery Chic: Stylish, Organic Crib Bedding from EGG

Friday Room Reveal: Kelli’s Bright and Beautiful Nursery

jennae — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:00:04 +0000

It makes my day when readers thank me for helping them make their homes greener through this site. I feel like I’m doing my job of making green decorating accessible to any and everyone. It makes me even happier when I get to see photos of their fully-decorated spaces. Kelli Taylor of Purple Tree Photography, is one such reader, and I hope you’re as stoked about her gorgeous nursery as I am. In her words:

I just finished my baby nursery that I wanted to submit. I found the eco-friendly crib and changing table thanks to you!! Other green items in the room include: paint, crib mattress, FLOR rug, changing table pad, redone rocking chair, sheets & changing table sheet.

CREDIT: All photos by Kelli Taylor of Purple Tree Photography

Now for a breakdown of her shopping list:

Crib and changing table (filled with cloth diapers): The CUB Netto deal that I found on your blog! YAY – THANK YOU! (Note: This deal is no longer available)
Paint: Sherwin-Williams Harmony Zero VOC paint
Mattress and changing table pad: Organic Naturepedic from buy buy baby
Crib sheet & changing table sheet: Made of organic cotton and found at Babies’R'Us on clearance. Killer deal! I think the brand was Summer.
Rocking chair: Given to my Mom for her baby shower for me (before photo shown) and she painted it for me (same kind of paint as the room). I had the pad made.
Rug: FLOR carpet tiles
The light bulbs of course!

I don’t know about you guys, but I am loving the light blue and orange color scheme! It feels like creamsicle on a hot summer day, and it is completely unisex. In fact, I was so impressed by the room that I didn’t even think to ask Kelli whether she has a little boy or a girl until I started writing this post! She did a great job of taking a few eco- AND budget-friendly pieces and turning them into a minimal, soothing space that any infant would be happy to grow up in.

Oh, and if you are as impressed by these photos as I am, that’s because Kelli is a professional photographer. You can see more of her awesome work at Purple Tree Photography.

Friday Room Reveal: Kelli’s Bright and Beautiful Nursery

I’ve Got the Blues: Indigo Shower Curtain from Viva Terra

jennae — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:38 +0000

I’ve never been a “muted” kind of girl when it comes to color. Although I do love shades of gray and chocolate brown, I’m also not afraid of bright pops of color like chartreuse, orange or yellow. In fact, I need that kind of color to inspire me. So when I want fabrics dyed with completely natural pigments like clay or vegetable inks, I’m generally left wanting more color. There’s one exception to this: Fabrics dyed with indigo.

The resulting color is a rich, bold blue — almost black with hints of purple — that really makes my day. The Indigo Shower Curtain from Viva Terra is a perfect example of natural dyeing done right. I’ve been seeing a lot of indigo lately, and it clearly has become a decorating trend. I’m generally not a fan of trends, preferring to choose what I like based on my overall taste, but this is one trend I’d be happy to embrace. In fact, if I had my own home, I’d be very tempted to paint a bedroom navy blue just so I could hang this shower curtain in the adjoining bathroom.

And given that the pickings are pretty slim when it comes to organic shower curtains, this is a welcome addition to the small,but growing, list.

Why It’s Green:

Made of organic cotton
Dyed with natural, plant-derived indigo

Price: $65 (aff)

I’ve Got the Blues: Indigo Shower Curtain from Viva Terra