Eco-Friendly & Green Living Blog

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.

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I just fell for the classic but updated look of this Azure sofa from Crate and Barrel. Tufting, curves – it’s got it all!

It’s shown above in Whitney Bran linen/rayon blend with self-welt detail but it’s also available in other colour options (a custom colour is shown below).

And, of course, it’s eco-friendly.

• the seat and back cushions are filled with soy-based polyfoam
• the cushions are wrapped in fibre made from clear and white plastic bottles
• the frame is made from hardwood that’s FSC or SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certified

With these lines, it would look amazing in just about any room, modern or fresh traditional, and with hundreds of fabric options, you could really give it your own personality twist!

Available at: Crate and Barrel stores; for locations and to order online, visit www.crateandbarrel.ca

Price: from $2,199

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Scatter a few of these seahorse pillows around your home for a nautical look that’s sure to brighten up your summer!

These pillow covers from Humble are 100% organic cotton twill and are printed with non-toxic water-based inks in (clockwise from top left) Metallic Gold, Navy, White and Tomato; custom colours are also available. Each is 18″ square; inserts are sold separately.

And if you really love the motif, splash out on a matching tote, also made of organic cotton! It measures 18″ wide x 15″ high x 5″ deep.

Humble has all kinds of other home decor items on offer through custom orders: table runners, draperies, bags and pouches and other goodies!

$1 of every sale goes to the Coral Reef Alliance to help protect coral reefs all around the world. Visit www.coral.org for more information.

Available at: www.humble.bigcartel.com

Prices: $34 US (per pillow, inserts not included), $22 US (tote), $22 US (bamboo insert), $46 US (kapok insert)

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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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So pretty! These 20″-square cushion covers are a lovely way to change up your decor for the summer.

They come in four simple but stunning colours (from top) – Natural, Sea Spray, White and Clay – are knit from undyed organic cotton, and are machine washable, so no worries when it comes to care.

Perfect!

Available at: www.westelm.com

Price: $29 US each

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I’m not generally into room sprays, preferring to just keep things clean and fresh smelling that way, but we work right next door to the Canadian Living Test Kitchen, and sometimes when they’re cooking something fishy, garlicky or overwhelmingly greasy first thing in the morning, it’s all we can do to not flee from our offices.

Smells Life a Flower Shop Body & Room Spray has been a saviour on those occasions.

Made by Canadian company Mythical Matters, this spray is so natural you can use it as a perfume, and it really does smell just like a flower shop – truly evocative, but in a really subtle way, of fresh-cut greenery and beautiful blooms.

It’s made of water, alcohol, witch hazel distillate, aloe vera extract, glycerin and perfume and comes in a recyclable amber glass bottle; a percentage of every sale will be donated to the Toronto Wildlife Centre.

Available at: www.mythicalmatters.com

Price: $24.99 (8 oz.)

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There are so many wonderful natural products out there now, you can decorate a whole room with them. Don’t believe me? Check out this room by IKEA. Almost every product in it is natural, from the fibres in the rug, to the rattan in the mirror. And doesn’t it look gorgeous!

So look for natural products where possible and go as green as possible. You might not be able or willing to go 100% green, but whatever you can do is great!

Melbu rattan mirror, $149.

Kvist bamboo flooring, $3.79 per sq ft.

Klinteby 100% wool rug, $199.

Leran rattan/bamboo pendant lamp, $119.

The Karlstad sofa’s 100% cotton cover is machine washable and doesn’t have a stain-repellent coating, $599.

Felicia 100% silk cushion cover, $9.99.

Alvine Krans 100% cotton cushion cover, $14.99 (set of 2).

Skimmer Fin solid mango wood candlesticks, from $12.99.

Blomster recyclable glass vase, $14.99.

Available at: www.ikea.ca

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Is this not one of the most amazing tables you’ve ever seen? Designed by Chris Kabatsi of Los Angeles-based design company Arktura, the Hive table features an algorithmically generated pattern that reminds me of lace or a spider’s web.

Why is the table green? Because it’s constructed of mostly recycled steel and zero-VOC powder-coated finish and is produced in a wind- and solar-powered facility.

The accommodating size – 50″ wide x 16″ deep x 16″ high – means it can be used as a bench or table, and it comes in orange (pictured), black, sea green and white.

Available at: www.vivavi.com

Price: $1,790 (US)

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I’m seeing a recurring theme in the images I’ve been putting up lately: clean, bright and white!

This flirty Fly cushion from Canada’s own LoooLo Textiles is no exception. LoooLo’s green claim to fame? “Every pillow or blanket we make uses our own hand- and machine-knit biodegradable textiles. Yes, you can throw them in your composter at the end of their useful life and they will biodegrade within 1 year.” LoooLo also uses Canadian suppliers whenever possible. That’s saying something!

The Fly is shown here in Lamb and also comes in Mink, Slate and Buffalo and three different sizes, 9″ x 18″, 11″ x 23″ and 18″ x 18″.

Available at: www.looolo.ca

Price: from $125

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