June 2008

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When you have children, you become skilled at finding places to put things. Sure, there’s a toybox in their bedroom. But without fail, toys, video games, stuffed animals and more will find their way to the living room and likely end up on the floor. Ever had an unexpected guest in the middle of a Saturday afternoon mess? It can be a mad scramble trying to find a place to stash all the kids’ junk. Yes, you can make them clean up after themselves, but no matter what you try, there will always be that little pile of stuff you just can’t seem to escape. So what is a style-savvy, green parent to do?

I used to just smile and nod at my husband to hear him talk about how much the trees and nature inspired him. That is, until I sat outside with him one day and just paid attention. No talking, no books, no nothing — just us and nature. And I got it.

There are times when simplicity will win over extravagance. The green movement, at its core, is evidence of that. When applying that to decorating, sometimes we get excited by the flash and frills of the newest products. By no means am I excluding myself from that number. After all, great home products are what Green Your Decor is all about. But sometimes, the simplest road is the right road. We can make profound statements with the style of our home even without bold patterns and bright colors.

I am a huge proponent of eliminating paper waste, and this can be done in a variety of ways. I love the GreenDimes.com service, which effectively ends the stream of junk mail that come to our homes. You can also print on both sides of the paper both at work and at home, and switch to eFax instead of a traditional fax machine. Check your bills online and bank accounts online instead of having them send you paper statements and bills. The list is endless, once you are conscious of it.

I’ve never really been a “cat person” or had one for a pet, but from my limited experience, I know that when they’re not being moody, they like to frolic and play. Of course, noone wants an ugly scratching post or unsightly fuzzy cat tree in the middle of their living room. But this cat tree…well, it is more of an artistic statement.

This is one of the most innovative and useful products I have found in a long time.  On my desk, there tends to be little piles of “stuff”. Paper clips, pens and pencils, USB drives, and lots more. I currently tend to stuff them all into the one small wire mesh basket that’s next to my mouse. If you’ve ever seen wire mesh, you know it isn’t the most attractive thing to look at. Functional? Yes. Attractive? Not in the least.

I think summer makes everyone a little giddy. At least it does for me. It’s not just that the weather is great for going outside and visiting the local community pool, although those definitely help. It’s knowing that I get to play dress up with my patio and back yard. I know — I’m a design geek. I can’t help it.

While I love home products that are made of recycled paper, its not often I like products that actually look like recycled paper. Thankfully, I’m an open-minded decorator. Otherwise, I may have missed the beauty in these Lumalight table lamps.

They are both sleek and sculptural, with a soft wave that reminds me of water cascading over the edge of an Infinity pool. When turned on, the 100% recycled paper construction allows a soft glow to shine through, creating a unique ambience. And though it must be assembled, the lamp has a zipper on the back to make that easy for you. Each lamp is signed by the designer, Roland Simmons, to guarantee its authenticity and quality.

I try every day to be the greenest mom I can be, protecting my kids from the harmful toxins found in many cleaning products and other items around my home. And when I swore off using disposable plates for the sake of the Earth, I had to find a viable alternative — preferably not one made of plastic (I don’t even want to imagine the offgassing that happens in the microwave). So that left the ceramic and glass plates I have in my cabinet. Eco-friendly as they might be, they’re not very kid-friendly. So I set out to find something I can let my kids use.

I am always looking for unique items to hang on walls. There is always wall art, and my beloved wallpaper, but sometimes I like to look outside the box for something three-dimensional that can make a bold statement without screaming. Understated, versatile elegance, if you will. And something my husband will let me get away with (ie. not too frilly or girly).