Another glowing idea from Duffy London: art that illuminates!

These luminous pieces can brighten any room. The canvas is made from 100% cotton (from sustainable sources); the frame, from FSC-certified wood; and the print is illuminated by long-lasting low-energy fluorescent bulbs. So, while art can be pricey, at least it doesn’t come at a high cost to the environment.

Available at: www.galerie-co.com

Price: $185 (small, 65cm x 65 cm), $595 (large, 90cm x 90cm)

Baby, it’s cold outside, and leave it to Canadians to come up with the steamy stylish eco solution: The Sauna Box. Toronto-based design firm Castor has a created an entirely self-contained sauna made from an unlikely suspect – a recycled shipping container. Powered by the sun and heated by wood, the sauna is custom fit to your site, and comes with all the necessities one should expect: iPod and guitar hook-up, carved stools, a magnetic truck light, a wool toque and a set of bronze antlers

Visit: www.castordesign.ca and check out the product video (to the tune of Broken Social Scene). For more information and pricing, call 416-994-1232.

Eco-friendly stuff from top designer Amy Butler is fabulous but all too often just isn’t available in Canada.

That’s why we were so excited to see these lush, colourful 100% organic cotton blend towels at Bed, Bath and Beyond! They’re supersumptuous, with a lovely velour band to up the richness factor and come in Orange, Turquoise, Lime, Plum (from top).

The bath towel measures 30″ X 54″, the hand towel 16″ x 28″ and the washcloth 13″ x 13″. Machine washable.

Available at: www.bedbathandbeyond.ca

Prices: $18 (bath towel), $13 (hand towel), $8 (washcloth)

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What better time to show your support and buy a work of art produced by the Comite Artisanal Haitien, which represents more than 170 Haitian artisans and groups, than now, in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake?

This fabulous wall hanging is made from recycled oil drums, and represents the Tree of Life, the classic symbol of the interconnectedness of all life on earth.

It would look equally wonderful indoors or out, measures 24″ in diameter and has a protective coating to prevent rust.

Available at: www.serrv.org

Price: $46 (US)

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Do you have a pretty product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

This adorable bin is the ideal storage solution in a kid’s room or play area. At 17″ high and 20″ in diameter, it can be used to store everything from toys to laundry, and the cotton canvas it’s made from is sturdy enough to stand on its own even when empty.

Green factor: The über-cute felt hippo motif is crafted from 100% recycled water bottles (other designs are also available), and the cotton is organic.

Price: $38

Available at: www.saplings.ca

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Do you have a pretty product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

Introducing a chic, eco-friendly gift that really does keep on giving: Ecojot’s trendy, eco-friendly and socially responsible notebooks. Launched this year, Ecojot’s Buy One, We Give One campaign advocates children’s literacy in developing countries by donating one notebook for every one purchased. They’re distributed directly to schools and students via three foundations –
Ve’ahavta, Free the Children, and the Stephen Leacock Foundation for Children.

The notebooks themselves? Entirely eco-friendly! The funky notebooks, colourfully designed by artist Carolyn Gavin, are made from 100% post-consumer waste, using vegetable-based inks and glues and biodegradable packaging. They’re also made in Canada, and at a biogas-fuelled mill.

Price: $17 (6″x9″ Jumbo Journal, 150 pages); $10 (5″x7″ journal, 80 pages); $5 (3″x4″ notebook, 50 pages).

Available at: Grassroots, Midoco, Write Impressions, The Papery and more; visit www.ecojot.com for a full list of retailers across Canada.

Put your best foot forward on some eco-friendly floors this year. Here are a few of our faves!

1.  Torlys Recycled Leather Planks

Sleek, elegant and eco-friendly: these leather tiles are available in a variety of colours and textures. Available in tile or plank format, the rich flooring is made of 100% recycled leather with cork backing and is completely VOC free!

Price: $11 per plank Available at: www.torlys.com

2. Recycled Metal Tiles

And now for something completely different: These recycled metal tiles are often used for bathroom and kitchen walls, but also make for a chic surprising new floor accent. Tile sizes range from 2×2 to 12×12 and are available in either 100% recycled aluminum or brass. Colour accent tiles are also available, a great way to add an unexpected and eco-friendly element to home.

Price: $35 US  per sq. ft. (aluminum); $70 US per sq. ft (brass) Available at: www.ecofriendlyflooring.com

3. Olde Wood Limited Reclaimed Wooden Planks

Add centuries of history to your home with reclaimed antique hardwood. Available in wide-plank oak, hickory, maple, pine and more, the wood was salvaged from old American barns dating back to the 19th century, and has a beautiful weathered look. Visit their warehouse to custom-choose planks with markings like saw marks and insect and nail holes.

Price: From $7 US per plank Available at: www.oldewoodltd.com

Plastic bags, out. Reusable totes, in.

Old news by now, right? Well, here’s what’s new: Trendy, earth-friendly totes for the stylish socially responsible shopper to storm the market in style. Below are just a few faves from Australian-based Envirosax, offering a proverbial grab bag of totes in various styles, fabrics and prints.

Graphic Selection

Size: 19.5” x 16.5” (unrolled), 4” x 1.5” (rolled)

Price: $9.50

Available at: www.envirosax.ca

Presenting some exciting products for your wall-to-wall eco overhaul!

CLD Pure Wallpaper

CLD PURE wallpaper (Carey Lind Designs, Crown Wallpaper) covers your walls with natural, non-PVC product. These stunning, subtle solids and loud patterns are printed using low-VOC water-based inks so you can breathe easy in your own home.

Price: $80–$100 per roll Available at: www.crownwallpaper.ca

Bamboo Wall Flat by Inhabit Living

For a touch of texture, try these bamboo wall flats by Inhabit Living. Made from 100% bamboo pulp with no chemical additives, these tiles are a wonderful way to make your walls pop! They’re also 100% biodegradable. Customize your look with placement (you can rotate, mix and match the tiles) or paint colour (eco-friendly paint, of course).

Price: $86US per box of 10 panels (each panel 18” x 18”) Available at: www.re-modern.com

Milk Paints by Homestead House

Toronto-based Homestead House is all about natural products and cultural heritage – we like! Great for indoor or outdoor use, these milk-based paints are made with natural ingredients and pigments boasting Canadiana names like Voyageur Red and Rideau Blue. They’re 100% biodegradable, durable, and only take about a ½-hour to dry! (We really like!)

Price: $37.00/1 lb Available at: http://homesteadhouse.ca

Five fabulous green gift ideas for kids.

Mobiles by Petit Collage
Both peaceful and playful, these mobiles make an artistic, organic addition to a kid’s room. Made with sustainably harvested bamboo plywood, the retro animal motifs are super ‘70s and super cute!

Price: $75
Available at: www.saplings.ca 

Stylish Organic Cotton Bedding
I wish I could find these eco-chic sheets in grown-up sizes. They’re made in B.C. with sustainable, fair trade cotton harvested in the USA and India. The bright colours and funky patterns are created with low-impact dyes and inks, so little sleepers are not only snug and stylish, but safe from harmful chemicals, too. Wahoo!

Price: Blanket, $49-$175
Duvet Cover,  $114-$225
Available at: www.snugasabug-organic.com

Building Blocks
Aspiring architects and budding builders will delight in this 50-piece set of blocks, while parents will appreciate that they’re educational and eco-friendly. The blocks are made from 100% recycled and locally sourced maple that’s free of dangerous materials, so you won’t mind if some blocks end up in the young ones’ mouths… and, well, don’t they always?

Price: $55
Available at: www.grassrootsstore.com