For as long as we have been married, and even in the years before we took the plunge, my husband and I have been house watchers. For fun, we would (and still do) literally drive around to all the subdivisions along a stretch of any given major road in our area looking for open houses to explore. When we lived in a state that wasn’t open house-friendly, we’d stop by Realtor’s offices armed with a map and our IDs to get keys for all the gems we wanted to see. In all those years (we’ve been married for nearly 6, and we’ve known each other much longer), there has been one common thread in all the houses we’ve loved — ginormous closets. We can’t help it. Once you’ve lived for a while, you accumulate lots of stuff. In our case, we’ve accumulated lots of clothes and shoes, and we need a place to put it all.
We’ve actually done a pretty good job of getting rid of lots of unnecessary items over the past few years. Why? Because we’ve been stuck with tiny closets. That we’ve had to share. Sounds like fun, huh? Given this turn of events, Solid Wood Closets is my dream come true. You don’t find messy, overstuffed closets in well-decorated homes, so my idea of a perfect closet is one that comes complete with beautiful wooden separators, frosted glass doors and compartments that make it easy to tell where everything goes. The problem is that the particleboard used to make many of these closet systems isn’t especially eco-friendly. Even if it’s made of recycled wood, unless it’s also made with non-toxic, formaldehyde-free adhesives, particleboard isn’t terribly green.
Solid Wood Closets makes their systems from solid rubberwood, a great sustainable hardwood. On top of that, they are reasonably affordable, with systems for reach-in closets starting at around $480. Sure, you could head to the Container Store or Walmart and get a mesh or plastic closet system for much less, but my dream closets don’t include mesh, plastic, or particleboard. In fact, one of these would be ideal for us right now, given the state our closet is in. (see the photo above). Incidentally, this is the first time in several years I’ve had a closet to myself, and it’s still a sight for sore eyes, even after a valiant effort at organization.
Why It’s Green:
- Made of solid rubberwood, a sustainable hardwood that is harvested for wood only after the tree has reached the end of it’s lifecycle as a latex source
Price: Approx. $479.99-1088.96 for full systems. Some pieces can be sold separately. (Prices reflect current 40% off special. The company is also offering free shipping for a limited time)
SUBSCRIBE
I’m Jennae Petersen, and I’m a lot of things. A mother, a graphic artist, a connosieur of beautiful interiors and a purveyor of all things design. Green Your Decor was borne of frustration in my attempts to find eco-friendly housewares that were also beautiful, and inspiration to do something to reduce my own carbon footprint and help others do the same in a beautiful way.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I love those systems. They are especially needed in closets in older homes where space is often a problem.
Carla | Green and Chics last blog post..Eco Fashion: Clothing Swapping – On and Offline