BKLYN Design Show

Image via BKLYN Designs

In general, a lot of our blog posts have been given fairly practical advice and shown some good, everyday tips that everyone can use. But sometimes, it’s really just fun to see what’s out there that’s new, different, innovative, and just a bit crazy in the eco-design field.

Already mentioned multiple times (‘cause it’s just that awesome!), Inhabitat is the place to go for these fresh, unusual, and often avant-garde design ideas. One of their recent posts was absolutely incredible because it included a video showing new designers’ work being displayed and tried out by attendees of the BKLYN Design Show.

Watch the 5-minute video here at Inhabitat.com.

In the video, you will see designers explain and display their work. The first designer’s chair is made out of an old buoy, some aluminum, and a piece of cork. Then we are shown a chair—made by a designer calls his crafts “Fun-iture”—made completely out of reclaimed tennis balls from Columbia University’s tennis courts.

My favorite quote of the piece:

When I first started making furniture, I would lead with the form and then search for material. But when I became a sustainable designer, I looked for the material first, and the material dictates both the form and the function.

I thought that this quote was very insightful. But don't take my word for it... go to the website and see for yourself!

From Wall to Wall

Image via Nendo

Today, I’m focusing on how to liven up your walls. So far I have given you some pretty sensible advice on how to decorate your home in a more eco-friendly and economical way. To mix it up a bit, I’ve decided to make this post part practical, part whimsical.

Firstly, here’s an article on the Inhabitat blog about the elements of environmentally-friendly wallpaper. They highlight Mod Green Pod wallpaper, a line that is very bright, bold, and colorful—which I love!

Here’s a great website for the everyday decorator. Velocity offers not only eco-friendly wallpaper, but also many other types of eco-friendly wall décor, including flat prints, stretched canvases, wall decals, wall hangings, and wall panels.

For those of you who are a bit more adventurous, check out this crazy idea. Think you are living "green"? Well, the architecture and design group Nendo Studio in Japan made a house that is literally green. The Moss House located in Tokyo features moss on the interior walls shaped into a pattern that looks like a modern wallpaper. The pictures of the home are amazing.

Want art that is also functional? Take a look at Mark Kinsley’s amazing graphic wall shelving. Half wall mural, half shelving unit, this guy’s invention blows me away. Form plus function… what’s more green than doing double-duty?

Paint it Green

Image via interiordesign.net

In my last post I told you where to score some great recycled goods. But what are you to do if your new old stuff is looking a bit too dated? Update it – the green way.

One of the best ways to make something old look new again is a fresh coat of paint. Yet according to the EPA, the air indoors can be many times more polluted than the outside air, and paint can be one of the biggest offenders of indoor air pollution.

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are the greatest offenders. They are potentially carcinogenic carbon-based chemicals that are extremely harmful in the home. This article outlines the potential hazards of paint. It also describes different types of environmentally-friendly paint (including low VOC paints, natural interior paints, and exterior paints), tells how to remove paint, and gives great additional tips.

Many companies have caught on and have released lines of low- or zero-VOC paints. Yet consumers must be careful about the assertions of these companies. According to this post on environmental blog Inhabitat, “there is no third party verification of the claims” of Sherwin-Williams that the whole company has become green. They go so far as to say “these types of claims [would be classified] as greenwashing."

The safest option for both your health and the environment is natural paint. While in the past they have been criticized as lacking quality, today the quality is much improved and natural paint is a great option. If you want to explore the various types of natural paints, this website provides a list of multiple natural paints and finishes.

Happy painting!