Talk about character… this colorful sideboard/buffet features over a dozen different reclaimed woods recovered from old barns and farm houses. The piece features a variety of wood grains, color hues and wood vintages. (more…)

Does your child need more friends … or furniture? How about an adorable table and chair set that provides both?

This handmade table and chairs set is perfect for any nature-loving youngsters bedroom or workspace. It’s constructed of eco-friendly, renewable birch plywood with no nails or screws, and finished with a water-based, non-toxic, natural varnish.

The whimsical table is supported by a tree trunk-shaped base. You get a choice of animals (2 chairs). Intended for kids 3 and up.
$898 @ paloma’s nest

related: more eco-friendly furniture ideas from The Alternative Consumer

Green your home with a low-maintenance, micro-environment. These lovely handmade glass terrariums are created by Ashley Bram-Johnson in Philadelphia. The sculptural geometric designs of the pieces make them both visually unique and very functional. The planters are created in a variety of shapes to accommodate shapes, sizes and needs of different plants. A fun design project, and neat way to add fresh outdoor elements into your indoor space.

Terrariums with openings can be placed with the opening skywards for plants that do not need a sheltered environment, like herbs, flowers and hearty succulents. Or, the planter can be placed on its side as a terrarium, with enclosed sides and only one opening at the front to create a micro-environment suitable for cacti, succulents and air plants.

The solder used in construction is lead-free. Appropriate terrariums come with a kit that includes the supplies you need to get started: pebbles, activated charcoal and helpful tips on care and planting. Plants, soil and planting mediums are not included. Most of the terrariums sell for between $45 and $150 @ the ABJ Glassworks shop.

Reuse wood and save a living tree … This handsome bench was handcrafted in NYC from vintage bowling alley wood. The eye-catching, rustic-modern bench has some great lines and actually looks pretty comfortable.

The piece measures roughly 73″ long and 20″ high. Color variation requests are welcomed. $1,400 created in NYC @ PositiveSpaceDesigns

When looking for ways to decrease adverse environmental impacts in and around your home, an obvious solution like using sustainable resources in construction is a good start but not the end all.

• The first consideration around your yard should be fertilizers and water conservation. Composting is not only better than most commercially available fertilizers it will save you money as well. Many of the most used commercial fertilizers have a serious impact on water quality.
• Regarding the use of water, recovery and storage are critical. Rainfall collection has far less impact on the environment than using city and town tap water. Not only does the tap water require energy to collect, purify and pump it is paid for in most places via utility bills or taxes and its chlorination is a known pollutant designed to kill things.
• When purchasing furniture for your home think twice about the addition of chemical fabric protections. These chemical substances become a permanent source of air pollution in your home and the manufacturing process has long term effects on the environment at large.
• Cleaning supplies consisting of natural citrus work very well and are a better alternative than chemical only formulas. Check labeling for phosphate content in soaps and detergents and choose natural alternatives when possible. Zeolite is far more environmentally friendly alternative, so read those labels and product formulations.
• Wood furnishings for dining rooms and even bed frames are not only more beautiful but a sustainable choice. You can choose from not only responsibly harvested virgin wood but also recycled and reclaimed wood as well. Formica and metal alike have far more adverse impact in both the production process and when disposing of them. Vinyl and plastics can be replaced with leather which is more durable and comfortable. Vinyl and plastics are produced from refined petroleum products and many never breakdown. Modern leather production has far less impact.
• Countertops and tiles are commonly available in natural stones such as granite, marble and quartz. And there are several sleek options made of recycled material such as glass. These are long lasting alternatives to artificial materials like concrete tile and Corian synthetic counters. In terms or cost, while perhaps more expensive, they add value to your home’s resale value.

Eco friendly homes are not only based on insulation and roofing choices. Greening your home is an ongoing process that requires choices and decisions on a daily basis that have lasting effects on the environment.

The inclusion of earth-conscious furnishings and household items are also important.

The clocks, above and below, are handmade from recycled, reclaimed and upcycled materials – including colorful rolled-up old magazines (above), vintage sheet music (below) and reclaimed chunks of oak (bottom).

Most of the one-of-a-kind clocks feature old, scratched vinyl records as backing and are sealed with a non-toxic finish. (more…)