RockAppleWood specializes in making all manner of docking stations for Apple products from found and salvaged wood recovered from the foothills of California. The iPad dock (above) is made from Manzanita wood — salvaged from a tree lost due to the expansion of a local community college.

The iPhone speaker and iPad dock (below) is made from the remains of an old white oak tree found on the designer’s property.

(above) This combo iPhone and iPad dock displays the hand-craftsmanship involved in these gorgeous creations.

Find these and more @ the rockapplewood Etsy shop

related: more design finds from The Alternative Consumer

For your steampunk man cave or country living room — a vintage industrial factory cart has been fully restored and upcycled into a rough-and-tumble coffee table.

The table has been fully disassembled, cleaned and refinished. The iron components have also been carefully restored and treated with a blend of wax.

The steampunk coffee table features the original factory stencil – ” LINEBERRY, NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C.” – which appears on both sides. The oak body has been carefully sanded, smoothed and sealed in a clear urethane with wax to retain the original character of the wood. Dimensions are: 54L x 27W x 16.5T.

$625 @ the brandmojointeriors Etsy shop

related: more eco-friendly home decor items on The Alternative Consumer

A-Room-in-a-Box is the conceptual brainchild of designers Sebatiano Ercoli and Alessandro Garlandini. Each compact set of children’s furniture includes a desk, two chairs, a night table and two boxes.

The basic construction material is rice husk particle board, which is created from common agricultural waste — eliminating the need for wood, and preventing the further depletion of forests.

The entire set can be stacked into each other in a cube that measures 350 X 600 X 550mm. This makes shipping and storage less expensive and saves space in the home when pieces are not in use.

This beautifully handcrafted dining table is a juxtaposition of lyrical modern lines and rustic construction. The “Modern Slab Dining Table” was created from salvaged old-growth black walnut and was designed and crafted by Austin Aaron and his Dancing Grains Woodworks.

The tabletop retains its ‘live’ natural edges and the piece is assembled using traditional hand-cut, wedged-through mortise and tenon construction. Each table is made to order.

We shine the limelight today on a unique online etailer and social enterprise, hipcycle. As the special activities of the official Earth Month wane, we kick back for a moment and share a few words from founder, owner and Chief Hipcycler, Andrew Sell.

• AltCon: Andrew, Earth Day and Earth Month have a natural connection with upcycling. Can you give us a quick definition of upcycling?

Upcycling is the process of  converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. While the concept of upcycling has been around for ages (think about our grandparents “making do”) with the onset of technology and double income families it took a back seat. Families nowadays, however, see the value both financially and environmentally so upcyling has made great leaps and strides the past couple of years.

• AltCon: How was hipcycle started?

As a social consumer, I knew I wanted to do something “good,” and when my career took a turn, I decided to go for it. The concept behind hipcycle is to make eco products affordable, durable and beautiful — create useful, new things from existing materials — items that would appeal to both the green and mainstream consumer.

• AltCon:  Any exciting new product offerings or partnerships in the works or on the horizon?

We recently teamed up with Terracycle to offer green cleaning products – in upcycled bottles. We’ve also partnered with Bright Endeavors, a Chicago-based program for new moms. And we are currently raising start-up money to start a new line of business where we will import fair trade products made in Cambodia from reclaimed plastic bags. The funkyjunk fundraising campaign is here: http://bit.ly/I9IwYu

• AltCon – What do you see in the future for the green product marketplace, and Hipcycle in particular?

The future marketplace for Hipcycle will offer larger scale upcycled items (furniture) and our own line of products. I created Hipcycle to make green living easy, affordable, and fun. We believe that Hipcycle takes out the hassle of helping the planet.

Artist Michael Yonke creates some impressive art from reclaimed and repurposed wood. His “Contendo Lux” is a modern wall sculpture made of repurosed old-growth wood that contrasts light and dark elements to create a 3D effect reminiscent of the op-art of Victor Vararely (I worked in his gallery back in the day).

Michael sells his work at his Upcycler Etsy shop.

related: more eco art featured on The Alternative Consumer

Modern and rustic, all at the same time — the ‘Elian’ wall clock is handmade from a salvaged chunk of oak, rough sawn and lightly sanded. The clock features natural wood grain, black hour hands, a peppy red second hand and a silent quartz drive.

Each clock features its own unique grain pattern. Made in Vienna, Austria and sold online for $58 @ the Less & More Supermarket shop.

related: more eco-friendly designer products featured on The Alternative Consumer

Australian furniture maker Old School Industries creates fine furniture they deem a  “collision of bespoke detail and cutting edge design” — the result is furniture imbued with old world charm, handcrafted detail and a subtle modern sensibility.

The Dandelion writing desk feature above, has at its foundation a ubiquitous 1950′s student desk. The upcycled desk has been totally deconstructed and rebuilt into a unique piece of contemporary art furniture. A delicate dandelion graphic is featured on the desktop. An entire new leg structure has been created, giving this desk a contemporary feel while still preserving its’ retro appeal.

find it @ theoldschoolvintage123 Etsy shop

related: more eco home decor featured on The Alternative Consumer

Spring’s officially sprung. And if you haven’t already, now is the time to freshen up your home décor while sticking with sustainable—and stylish—pieces. To easily update the look and feel of your most lived-in rooms, aim to bring a bit of the outside in. Online store Verde Lifestyles offers a wide variety of natural home elements, from bamboo rugs that cover the floor to rich, mango wood dining accessories that cover the table.

To determine which area of your home could most use an inspired décor infusion, scope out your space and make note of the shapes (linear vs. organic), colors (monochromatic vs. neutral hues) and textures (sleek and glossy vs. rugged and natural). Consider adding an organic element to the areas of your home that don’t currently feature any natural pieces. Whether your budget allows for an accent like the Mango Wood Curry Leaf Tray ($45), shown above, or the smooth, modern lines of the Wood Balance Table ($601), shown below, there are options for any level of improvement. Even the entryway can get an affordable makeover with the light, springtime tones in a Tortoise Bamboo Rug — for less than $25.

By incorporating organic shapes and natural textures into your everyday home décor, you’ll subtly bring the outdoors in, creating a more inviting and comfortable atmosphere for friends and family. So what are you waiting for? Open a window and usher in some fresh air.

Special offer: Verde Lifestyles is offering a site-wide 30% discount through April 22nd. Visit www.VerdeLifestyles.com to see limited-time adjusted product pricing.