July 2008

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It’s not often that I come across a product impresses me as much in person as it does in theory. A few weeks ago as I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Apartment Therapy, I came across an innovative new company called Way Basics. They make a product called zBoard, which essentially is a basic, eco-building block for anything you can imagine. A little vague, I know, but the product is so versatile that its also a bit hard to describe.

Just as I had given up trying to find a truly stylish, modern shower curtain made of organic cotton, West Elm has come to my rescue. Even though PETA shower curtains are a viable alternative to vinyl, I’ve never been a fan of anything that looks like vinyl either, so while it is definitely affordable, its not desirable, at least for me.

Today’s Room: A graphic, contemporary, nature-inspired bedroom for less than $5000.

1. Bel Air Canopy Bedroom Collection |  $2513.70  |   This set includes the BelAir Queen canopy bed with 2 night stands, a 6-drawer dresser and mirror from the Borneo collection  |  Made from sustainably harvested hardwoods in accordance with ITTO (International Tropical Timber Organization) guidelines for the sustainable management of Natural Tropical Forest.
2. Bloom Large Wall Print, Cream and Cocoa, by Amenity, Cream and Cocoa, Rectangle  |  $300 |  Made in the U.S. of 100% pure organic cotton certified by SKAL and printed with eco-friendly, non-toxic, water-based dyes (aff)

Thank all my loyal readers, subscribers and first-time visitors who entered the Green Your Bath Giveaway! I received a total of 806 entries, subscribers included, and lots of great comments on how to green your kitchen. The suggestions were awesome. But I know you really want to know who the winner is, so without further delay, the winner, as selected via Random.org, is:

vanessa@integrativewellnessworks.com

Vanessa will be contacted via email for delivery information.

I also wanted to make a point to point out some of the great comments readers added with suggestions for how to green your kitchen. Here are some of the best:

I’m one of those people — you know —  the ones who can never find their keys. I always think I remember where I left them. Then I’ll find them on top of the refrigerator, on the bathroom counter or laying hidden on my desk behind my laptop. If I don’t find a place for them soon, there’ll come a day when I’ll completely miss an appointment or be terribly late for some event because of my frantic searching.

When I was shopping for my daughter’s nursery, a lot of people told me I wouldn’t need a changing table. “You’ll never use it, and you’ll have a buy a dresser later anyway,” they told me.  Well, they were wrong. The changing table was the single most used piece of furniture in her nursery. It was easier for me to change her when I had all the necessities at hand instead of trudging around the house trying to find everything when she needed to be changed.

Today’s Room: A minimal, soothing green bedroom that’s affordable even for those on a budget.

1. Dew Pillow by Inhabit  |  $60  |  Made of recycled polyester and handprinted and handmade in the U.S. with environmentally-friendly inks with no chemical waste or disposal generated. Also, all paper waste from manufacturing is repurposed as shredded packing material, and the pillow is recyclable at the end of its life-cycle (aff)
2. Mythic Interior Flat Latex Paint |  $46.99/gallon, $93.98 for 2  |  COLOR: Twilight Twinkle 031-2  |  Zero VOCs, zero carcinogens, and low odor

Today’s Room: A modern, ultra-fabulous dining room for people with deep pockets.

1. Tropical Mirror by Stray Dog Designs, white | $450 | Handmade by Haitian artisans of eco-friendly papier mache from recycled materials with low-VOC paints
2. Bamboo Dinner Napkins by Boxwood Goods | $44 (set of 4), $88 for 2 | Made of 100% bamboo
3. VivaTerra Flatware | $219 (set of 4), $59 for 1 place setting; Total: $337 (1 set, 2 place settings) | Made of stainless steel by a company that promotes and practices eco-friendly, sustainable living. This flatware is made to last forever (aff)

My husband and I spent an afternoon earlier this week making our way through thrift stores trying to find hidden treasures: ie. ugly, outdated, or damaged furniture pieces that we could rehab and turn into something magnificent. The thing about that is, you literally have to be a visionary. You have to be able to look past said object’s current state and see it for what it can be — not always an easy task.

I’ve mentioned more than once that disposables are the bane of my existence. When I look back at how many of them I’ve thrown away over my lifetime, the vast majority before I become ecologically enlightened, I’m ashamed at my own wastefulness. Thankfully, I now know better and consequently am doing better. Disposable flatware was the easiest to give up. Sure, it’s a pain to wash 10-20 forks and spoons every day, but I’d much prefer to do that than have all those throwaways clogging the landfill for all eternity.