September 2008

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One decorating trend I’ve been seeing a lot of lately is birdcages. At first, I wasn’t too keen on the idea. Images of feather-filled pet store cages and old episodes of Looney Tunes featuring Tweety Bird being pursued by Sylvester the Cat came to mind. Not exactly something I would want to be reminded of every day. It took a while, but eventually, I was able to look past their function to their form. They really can be beautiful pieces of sculpture.

When it comes to furniture rehabilitation, I am still in the imagination phase. I love daydreaming about finding some awesome piece of furniture sitting by the side of the road. Sure it may be rusted and dinged up — a lot of TLC and a little spray paint would be all it needed. After all, even I know that I handy can of spray paint is the trash digger and thrift store shopper’s best friend. The problem? Spray paint isn’t exactly good for the environment, spewing all those nasty chemicals into the atmosphere and whatnot.

When I was a little girl, I always wished I could fly, or at least defy the forces of gravity for a little while. I would hang upside down, and even shimmy across a ledge that went around the back of my neighbor’s 2-story house. Stupid? Most definitely. I could’ve easily killed myself had I fallen, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. (I can say that about a lot of things in childhood).

I am always impressed by mosaic artists.  There is a specific mosaic I can think of that uses tiny images of Bob Marley to create one large, poster-sized portrait of him.  Even as a graphic designer, its hard for me to fathom the skill and foresight it must take to put together tiny pieces of paper of tile to create images that are not only recognizable, but absolutely breathtaking.

That’s why the Ave Maria, Linda! print by Schimmel art is so beautiful to me. Want another reason to love this red-haired, blue-eyed beauty? She is made up entirely of paper tiles cut from junk mail! Way to take something that annoys me to no end and turn it into something that will last for generations!

As the green culture grows and becomes more desirable, more retailers and manufacturers are adding eco-friendly products to their offerings. However, there are a few companies that stand out from the crowd — some because they started with a green foundation, and others because they offer sustainable products with the same zest and prominence as their more traditional offerings. Here are my picks for the top 10 online retailers for eco-friendly home decor:

Even though we don’t have a curbside recycling program in our county, recycling is fun for me. Thankfully, the neighboring county has a robust program, so we box up our recyclables every week and drop them off at one of the many recycling centers. I love the idea that somtething I once may have thrown away could return to me as something completely different, all because I put it in a big blue bin instead of sending it to the landfill.

I’m going to break from my typical posting regimen today to share some news with you — and to get your feedback about it. I was recently approached by the folks at Wal-Mart to participate in their ElevenMoms initiative. ElevenMoms is a group of mom bloggers who are dedicated to helping folks save money and make their dollars go as far as possible. They post videos on Wal-Mart’s YouTube channel with money-saving tips and guest blog on Wal-Mart’s site.

As eco-friendly decorating goes, there are lots of small, sustainable choices you can make, like buying organic bedding or tableware made of recycled glass. But when it comes to bigger purchasing decisions like furniture, a lot of consumers are simply priced out of the green marketplace. Of course, there is always the option to buy used furniture from Craigslist, eBay or your local classifieds or thrift store, which is the greener choice anyway. But if you’re on a budget and in the market for new green furniture, the pickings can be slim.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’m originally from the Caribbean, so I tend to fall head over heels for anything that reminds me of the ocean — sandy colors, coral patterns, beach stones…you name it. Still, this lamp falls on that really thin line. You know — the line between unusually fabulous and over-the-top gaudy.

I am drawn to its organic shape and the shade made of natural, fossilized cocoa leaves, as well as the whimsical nature of the gangly “tentacles.” Definitely not something you see every day. But while the natural and green versions might have a chance in my home, I draw the line at the multicolored lampshade. Reminds me too much of stained glass windows in an old church.

I love the look of glass bottles used as decor accents. Once they are stripped of their labels and grouped, they can become an interesting art piece in your room. You can group all shapes, sizes and colors to create something that is unexpected, completely unique and fabulous. Used on your mantle, or as a centerpiece on your dining table, they are simple, beautiful, and a great incentive to reuse those glass bottles you may have tossed in the recycling bin or the trash.