Eco-Friendly & Green Living Blog

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)

Pump up the volume on sustainability – Magno’s AM/FM two-tone Wooden Radios are made with love (of the earth!) and a commitment to building sustainable jobs and forestry in Indonesia.

Based out of the small Indonesian village of Kandangan, the man behind Magno, Singgih S. Kartono, builds sustainable industry through carpentry and craft – the radios are made by farm labourers-cum-craftsmen in communities hit hard by declining agriculture.

Kartono fights for forests by raising community awareness (for example, by starting a tree-planting program with the local high school by making his radios with only locally harvested new-growth wood, and replanting every tree used by Magno).

“As a wood consumer, I feel morally responsible for replacing the wood I’ve used,” Kartono says. “Currently, Kandangan has almost no forest land. The population is about 4,000 people. If we were to employ the whole population of Kandangan, we would abolish unemployment but most important, for every [person] we employ, we’d generate more woods through our forest regeneration programs.”

Pairing retro charm with social and environmental sustainability, these radios are playing my tune!

Available at: www.ministryoftheinterior.net

Price: $235 small (5 x 7.5 x 3.75″), $295 medium (7.5 x 7.5 x 4.25″), $352 large (7.5 x 12.25 x 4.25″)

More Information: www.magno-design.com

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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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

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

Warm up chilly fall days with this sleek-looking, high-efficiency fireplace.

The RAIS 60 Insert System is a zero-clearance-firebox insert that has an air-tight lock for efficient wood burning and a cool (literally and figuratively!) hollow handle that you can touch bare-handed. The fireplace comes in both black and gray.

Price: $5,200

For more info and availability: www.rais.com

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Cannot say enough about the work that Boomerang Paint is doing!

The Quebec-based company takes unused paint and stain (even the hardened stuff!), reformulates it and repackages it, then sells it in a recyled plastic container. In 2008, the company recycled some 4,000,000 litres of paint.

About 1%  new material is added to ensure good quality re lustre levels (which are low across the brand), viscosity and drying time. The finishes are washable and the alkyds can be used on exterior surfaces, including wood.

The Boomerang paint colour palettes are shown below; the selection, not surprisingly, is somewhat limited, but for a lot of people who are racked with indecision when faced with thousand of paint chips, that will be a total bonus!

Price: approx. $15

Availability: For a retailer near you, click here.

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

Crate & Barrel does houseware basics beautifully, and these bamboo salad bowls are no exception.

Made of pressed natural bamboo grown without fertilizer or pesticides, they’re handmade, foodsafe and waterproof!

Available at: www.crateandbarrel.com

Price: $32.95 US (serving), $9.95 US (individual)

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Would you believe this stunning lamp is made of 100% wool felt? And waste material at that? This natural white beauty is 11″ in diameter at the bottom, 13″ at the top, and takes a maximum 60-watt bulb to set a lovely atmospheric mood.

Available at: Eurolite, www.eurolite.com

Price: $396

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Looking to have a ton of people over but don’t have enough cutlery to go around? Really don’t want to buy plastic and toss it into the garbage after knowing it’s just going to end up in a landfill?

Check out this biodegradable cutlery. Made from potato starch, it’s not only biodegradable, you can compost it, too – it completely breaks down in three to six weeks. And while the price is somewhat higher, isn’t it worth it for never having to rely on petroleum-based plastic knives, forks and spoons again?

Available at: www.grassrootsstore.com

Price: $5.99 (package of 50)

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