{ Posts Tagged ‘Environmentally Friendly’ }

inVU celebrates earth day with 15% off

Thinking of a little spring makeover for a tired piece of furniture in your home? Take it over to inVU Drapery Co. and get a sweet discount on earth-friendly fabrics and reupholstery services.
invu earth day inVU celebrates earth day with 15% off

In honour of Earth Day (April 22nd), inVU is offering a 15% discount on their eco-friendly fabrics. You can also get 15% off the reupholstery services if you bring in your own furniture and use an inVU fabric.
Just pop into either the Toronto store or 9,000 sq.ft. Mississauga location to browse the extensive selection of fabrics.


Will you be celebrating Earth Day?

mid-century furnishings by Lunar Lounge Design

I am a lover of original mid-century mod furnishings, but not the high-end price tags that usually come with these classic designs.

Enter Lunar Lounge Design by Jonathan Sebastian – a Winnipeg-based online company offering affordable and original, hand made mid-century furniture designs. Catering to residential, commercial and hospitality environments for clients around the globe, Lunar Lounge’s furnishings are made to order specifically for the client and are available in a variety of materials, finishes and colours. In addition to their ever expanding product line, the company also offers custom design and fabrication services!

This November marks Lunar Lounge Design’s 10-Year anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, the company just launched a new website and “look”! Jonathan Sebastian, Owner and Chief Product Designer at Lunar Lounge, has invited me to their studio for a first hand look at all the fab furnishings! I can’t wait for the “field trip”; and of course, I will tell you all about the experience when I return. In the meantime, I’ve been browsing online and picked out a few fav’s.

I love the fun colours and great price point of the Booma Mid Coffee Table [$150.00 USD, Lunar Lounge Design, 3/4" Canadian Maple Ply - available in a variety of stain colours - and includes standard 14" Hair Pin Legs].

Lunar Lounge Design Booma Mid Coffee Table mid century furnishings by Lunar Lounge Design

Say goodbye to that dingy, old recliner and say hello to the Leentu Lounge. It’s the perfect marriage of comfort and style  [$500.00 USD, Lunar Lounge Design, 3/4" formaldehyde free Canadian Maple Ply - from renewable, sustainable resources - in semi-gloss finish and slung-style woven-web seating].

Lunar Lounge Design Leentu and Ottoman mid century furnishings by Lunar Lounge Design

Love the versatility of the Ply Bak Bench 2. It’s a stylish statement for your front hall and bedroom. Or try using it in the living room as an ottoman and, in a pinch, extra seating for guests  [$280.00 USD, Lunar Lounge Design, 3/4" Canadian Maple Ply, foam cushion with Baron upholstery vinyl fabric and brushed aluminum legs].

Lunar Lounge Design Ply Bak Bench 2 mid century furnishings by Lunar Lounge DesignTo see more from Lunar Lounge Design and to place an order, check out their website and Etsy Shop!

Lunar Lounge Design   82 George Avenue – 2nd Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada   R3B 0K1   t: 204.799.2265 www.lunarloungedesign.com

amy*

Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.

a visit with Kate and Birdie Paper Co.

I recently had the opportunity to visit with Gloria Wall, Creative Director and founder of Kate & Birdie Paper Co.

about Kate & Birdie:   Founded in 2004 and based in Downtown Winnipeg’s trendy Exchange District, Kate & Birdie specializes in hand-illustrated note cards, invitations and stretched canvas prints. The designs are vintage inspired and are chalked full of colour and charm! Located on the top floor of an historic building, the K&B studio is bright and open; and, it boasts as much charm as the company’s note cards do! As I sat in the K&B studio looking out at Winnipeg’s landscape, I felt like I had been transported to a metropolitan city like New York or Chicago!

70 Arthur Street1 a visit with Kate and Birdie Paper Co.

Kate & Birdie Studio: 708-70 Arthur Street, Exchange District of Winnipeg

Gloria admits that most people are surprised to learn that K&B is based in Winnipeg. Having grown up in a small town outside of Winnipeg – loving art, food and design – Gloria had always aspired to live and work in a big city like New York. Of course, after marrying and having a child, New York was less of a priority, but that didn’t stop Gloria from launching a successful stationery design business.

Today, K&B products are available in 600 stores worldwide; and, in November 2010, Chapters / Indigo stores picked up the line. Last year the company launched a brand new collection, which included a line of wrapping paper featuring popular K&B designs. Creating designs that will have longevity is a primary goal of Gloria’s so she refrains from getting too caught up in trends. Instead, Gloria looks to old cinematography, local architecture and nature for inspiration. Here are two of Gloria’s favourite pieces (and mine too!):

KB YellowBunniesCard a visit with Kate and Birdie Paper Co.

Yellow Bunnies Card, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.

Kate & Birdie’s yellow baby bunny card is an original, hand-drawn illustration printed on recycled stock made with wind power using vegetable-based ink. Paired with a 100% recycled brown bag envelope and enclosed in biodegradable cello wrap. $4.50 / card.

KB ForestSquirrels a visit with Kate and Birdie Paper Co.

Forest Squirrels Note Card, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.

Kate & Birdie’s grey forest note card is an original, hand-drawn illustration printed on recycled stock made with wind power using vegetable-based ink. Paired with 100% recycled hand-dyed charcoal envelopes. $12.00 / box of 8

what’s in the works: In May of this year, Kate & Birdie’s website is scheduled for a new look. The revamped website will feature an online shopping component that will allow customers to stock up on their favourite products from the comfort of their own homes. Also in the works for Kate & Birdie is the release of a new wrapping paper collection. The new collection is scheduled to debut at the National Stationery Show in New York this May, but Gloria treated me to a sneak peek! I just love how this new wrapping paper design blends a modern pattern with a classic colour palette of charcoal and white. Take a look…

KB CharcoalPineWrap a visit with Kate and Birdie Paper Co.

Evergreen Wrapping Paper, Kate & Birdie Paper Co.

Kate & Birdie’s hand-illustrated evergreen and pinecone design is now available in charcoal and white wrapping paper. Printed on FSC certified 100% pcw recycled paper with vegetable-based ink and processed chlorine-free. $3.50 / flat sheet or $7.00 / roll of two sheets.

at home with Gloria: Gloria has a passion for interior decor and hopes to one day expand her home goods collection of stretched canvas prints to include a line of textiles, bedding, wallpaper and area rugs. Gloria believes a home should be an expression of the owner’s personality. What could be more perfect for personalizing a home than K&B’s playful patterns and colourful compositions? Looking forward to it Gloria!

Kate & Birdie Paper Co., 708-70 Arthur Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada   R3B 1G7   t: 204.943.6827   f: 204.943.6827   e: info@kateandbirdie.com   www.kateandbirdie.com (all photos provided by Kate & Birdie Paper Co.)

amy*

Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.

jenna rose at pistachio

Hamilton-based designer Jenna Greenberg brings a fun and fresh approach to the items she designs and I’ve just had a look at some of the great stuff in her fall collection. Jenna illustrates her designs by hand, then screen-prints them onto cushions, hampers, table linens and bags. Using non-toxic, water-based pigments and remaining a friend of the environment by using natural and organic materials, Jenna creates designs that’ll add a dash of rustic charm to your home. The patterns, mostly nature inspired, are simple and so sweet. Want to see for yourself? You can view Jenna’s work at the upcoming One of a Kind Show (Toronto, November 25 to December 5) or visit Pistachio. For more information, visit jennarose.ca. In the meantime, check out some of my favourites from her new collection:

jenna rose1 jenna rose at pistachio
jenna rose2 jenna rose at pistachio
jenna rose3 jenna rose at pistachio
jenna rose4 jenna rose at pistachio
jenna rose5 jenna rose at pistachio

sneak peek at the one of a kind show

A busy long weekend ahead, for sure (glorious weather forecast, family wedding on Saturday, and helping my parents move for the first time in 30 years on Sunday! Sheesh!), but if you’re in Toronto, you might consider popping in to the One of a Kind Show. I took a sneak peek at the show yesterday – 450 vendors this time around! – and wanted to share some of my scouts with you here as an early Easter treat.

The real standouts of this show? Eco-chic cushions!

ooak1 sneak peek at the one of a kind show

Amy Migicovsky of Rock My Soul crafts these brilliant, psychedelic brights right here in Toronto. At $50-$100 a pop, the silk-screened cushions are made from natural organic cotton, and deliver a startling punch of California cool. Definitely one of the most striking booth designs of the entire show.

ooak2 sneak peek at the one of a kind show“Fun, funky and bohemian” is how Amy describes her hippie chic style.

ooak3 sneak peek at the one of a kind showAlthough I’m not quite daring enough to go full-on flourescent at home, I do love Amy’s graphic Bamboo cushion at right (above).

I also had to say hi to Nathalie Butterfield and Terra Kushner of FLUF Design, whose eco-chic home textiles I’ve always admired for their earthy, grounded colourways and environmentally-conscientious design practices (image below). Lovely stuff! (They have my last feature on Fluf Design from the March 2010 issue of Style at Home hanging in their booth – thanks so much, ladies!)

ooak4 sneak peek at the one of a kind show

I also met up with the lovely Jenna Greenberg of Hamilton’s Jenna Rose, an artisan who I’ve also had the privilege of featuring in Style at Home in the past. Her urban chic screen-printed cushions are absolutely charming (below)! The Townhouse print is so sweet.

ooak sneak peek at the one of a kind show

Jenna’s also added these crazy-comfy throw blankets to her ever-expanding collection.

ooak6 sneak peek at the one of a kind show

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yumi and laurie blanquette

yumi yumi and laurie blanquetteSpring may be struggling to spring around us but there`s still nothing cozier than snuggling up with a blanket on a crisp, cool evening, after the sun has retired for the day and a slight chill creeps into the air. Perfect for those nights? The Blanquette from Yumi & Laurie. These light, 100% organic blankets are beautiful, available in a vibrant rainbow of colours and in a variety of stylish patterns. Check out yumiandlaurie.com for more information. Looking for more eco-friendly ideas? Check out executive editor Laurie Grassi`s blog Natural Chic!

P.S. Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/StyleAtHome

reusable zip-top shopper

picture 1 reusable zip top shopperEverywhere you turn, it seems that going green is getting more and more stylish. As much as possible, I just say no to plastic carrier bags when I`m shopping, instead pulling out my trusty fabric bags, which I keep tucked inside my purse for such occasions. But I just love this fab new option from Danier. The 100% recyclable Reusable Zip-Top Shopper is a stylish spin on the typical reusable bag and adds a fashionable flair to being environmentally responsible. Plus, a percentage of each bag sold will be donated to Zerofootprint, an organization dedicated to helping people manage and reduce their carbon footprint.

With any purchase, the prices are $1.99 (small), $2.99 (medium), 3.99 (large). Without purchase: $5.99 (small), 7.99 (medium), 9.99 (large). For more information, visit danier.com or zerofootprint.net.

For more great ideas about stylish green living, check out executive editor Laurie Grassi`s blog Natural Chic.

interior design show roundup: chroma lab

chromalab2 interior design show roundup: chroma lab

The oft-achromatic Interior Design Show certainly benefitted from the vibrant burst of colour provided by Boston-based Chroma Lab, making their debut at the Studio North space. I was instantly drawn to their brilliant wall clocks (at top right of the image above): birch plywood faces, adorned with super-cool patterns painted in lively low-VOC Benjamin Moore Aura Collection hues. Chroma Lab founders, Alicia Cornwell and Tony Bevilacqua have an eye for graphic punch — not to mention an eye for fab vintage furnishings. The desk and telephone table were thrifty finds that the duo repaired, redesigned and repainted for a fresh lease on life. Great green design!

6.5 to 9.5″ Chroma Lab wall clocks

Price: about $75 US each 

Available at: Chroma Lab at Supermarket

oh so pretty drawer papers

drawerpaper5 oh so pretty drawer papersEveryone in the office was absolutely drooling over these fabulous retro drawer papers: their rich chocolate colour backgrounds, and, of course, their fabulous scents: verbena, rosewood, green tea, fig, and my personal fave, orange blossom. The sheets (six to a box) are made of recycled paper, as are the boxes, natch!

And if lining drawers isn`t your thing, use them for wrapping paper or other paper projects.

You`re sure to love the company`s matching stationery and other paper goods, too!

Available at: www.soapandpaperfactory.com

Price: $28 US per box

good for you bath products

carrots21 good for you bath productsAfter hiring an environmentally friendly cleaning service during a really busy period, I realized, if I`m having environmentally friendly products used on my apartment, what about on me??

So I set out to find more eco-friendly bath products, and Yes To Carrot items caught my eye with their paraben-free* formulations.

My faves? The C How To Shower Carrot Rich Shower Gel, C Through the Dry Spell Deliciously Rich Body Butter, and C Is for Hair Care Hair and Scalp Moisturizing Mud Mask — perfect for colour-treated hair.

Available at: Shopper`s Drug Mart

Price: $9 to $14

*Check back soon for a glossary of terms I’ll be compiling on eco terminology!