As much as I love eco-friendly decorating and will go the extra mile to find a used or sustainably-made version of anything I need, even I sometimes get burned out on the high cost that is so often associated with truly green products. I understand the reason behind the pricing, to some extent, but it’s still nice to find a beautiful, green product for a reasonable price. Besides, it’s been too long since I’ve featured a Green Steal of the Week These stools, woven from sustainable water hyacinth, and organic cotton napkins are a good way to end the dry spell.

The stools are incredibly simple, yet could add an easy layer of texture and style — not to mention extra seating or usable surface area — to any room. And the best part? At just $40 apiece, it would be affordable to purchase several and group them for an even more high-impact effect.

The napkins are another great find. Recently, my family fell back into our old habits and started using paper towel again, albeit 100% recycled paper towel. Still, we’ve been weaning ourselves back off them, and I’d love to add some more cloth napkins to our repertoire, since the collection can get scarce between laundry days. At just $5-6 for a set of two organic cotton napkins in several colors,  I can afford to stock up, and then we’d really have no excuse…

Why They’re Green:

• Stools made of sustainable water hyacinth
• Napkins made of

Price: Stool: $40; Napkins: $5-6 per set of 2

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Green Steals of the Week: Woven Stools & Organic Napkins

On occasion, I like to sit and dream about what I’d have in my home if I have a whole lot more disposable income. In fact, there’s a whole “dream home” folder on my computer that’s full of gorgeous pieces I’d love to own. They’re the types of pieces that stay with you for a lifetime, with a healthy dose of versatility mixed in so I could change them up slightly throughout the years. And in the folder for my dream bedroom is the Rowan upholstered bed from Green Nest.

I have a mild obsession with upholstered, tufted headboards, and this also comes with an upholstered frame. It is also available in a wide variety of very sustainable fabrics — everything from linen to organic cotton, hemp and more.  With most upholstered furniture these days, you’re lucky to have even one sustainable choice. And trust me when I say that EVERY part of the construction of this bed is sustainable.

Honestly, I couldn’t help but have sweet dreams on a bed like this. Too bad it would take a near miracle for me to be able to afford it…

Why It’s Green:

• Wood frames made from sustainably grown Alder from well-managed American forests
• Legs are constructed from reclaimed wood
• Non-toxic, water based adhesives used
• A combination of hemp webbing, jute, and hemp burlap are used to finish out the frame.
• Uses organic wool batting and 100% natural latex padding and foam from the rubber tree
• Upholstered in sustainable fabrics that are laundered in chemical-free, vegetable-based laundry detergent and are either certified organic or have been produced using chemical-free base cloth and vegetable or low impact dyes

Price: $2895-7005 depending on selected options

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Beautiful Rest: Cisco Brothers’ Rowan Upholstered Bed

I’ve always been a fan of the look of shiny chrome in my home, but as my tastes became more refined, the idea of too much chrome was just too stark and industrial for me. Clean lines are great, but I want my home to look like people live in it — not robots. But every once in a while, I’ll find a piece that manages to take my love for shiny things and mesh it with a look that is more classic and soft.  That is exactly the case here with the Miami Garden Seat from Nieman Marcus.

It is cast from recycled aluminum and has curves for days. And a piece like this is super versatile. Use it as an end table, or as a stool for extra seating. Put a couple of them together to use as a coffee table, or use it to put up your feet. I love pieces that can do double — or triple or quadruple — duty. All that’s missing is a storage compartment inside. But then again, hinges would ruin the look, so I take that back. All I know is that I really love this seat.

There’s just one caveat, albeit a big one: Like most things at stores like Nieman Marcus, it comes with a pretty steep price tag. But if you’re going to spend a lot of money anyway, you may as well buy green at the same time, right? Although I’m not really a Nieman Marcus type of shopper. Can you tell?

Why It’s Green:

• Hand cast of recycled aluminum

Price: $335

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Green & Glistening: Recycled Aluminum Miami Garden Seat

As much as I love to decorate, sometimes I really hate shopping for furniture. Why, you ask? Simply put, because of my conscience.

I am in the market for a new desk. In order to be closer to my daughter’s doctors, we are moving about an hour away into a smaller apartment. We currently use our third bedroom as a studio/office space. In the new apartment, I will have to use the small, narrow sunroom as an office space. This necessitates buying a new desk, because my current one is entirely too large for the space.

My first course of action: trying to find a used desk. I have been to literally every thrift and consignment store in town and have been watching Craigslist like a hawk. Everything I’ve found is either too big, too damaged or made of the same cheap MDF I’m hoping to avoid. And so I started looking for new desks. There’s a part of me that wants to buy the cheapest, most stylish option. But then I start looking at where desks like this were made and what they’re made of, and it makes me cringe. I’ve spent days and hours on end trying to find a desk with as much green cred as possible that I can actually afford.

The Greenest Desks

ORCHID BAMBOO DESK BY GREENINGTON: This is easily my favorite of all the desks I’ve found. It is clean and simple enough to fit into any decor and it is available the dark color that I love (Espresso). I do suspect it may be a little too large at 60″ wide. Because my Mac doesn’t require a tower, I don’t need a lot of desktop space, and I don’t have a lot of space to work with. The price also hurts my feelings a little. I certainly understand why it costs so much, but it’s still out of reach. If this were the only cost associated with our move, we could probably swing it. But with moving truck to rent, movers to pay, etc., the initial cost is just too high, at least for now. Why It’s Green: Made of organic Moso bamboo. Best Price I Could Find: $599 w/free shipping

KNU DESK 1: You’ll begin to see a trend here: Simplicity. Because the desk will be very visible as soon as you walk in the front door and won’t be allotted much space, I want a piece with few frills. This very simple piece from Knu fits all the criteria and is still big enough to accommodate my Mac. Another of my favorites that’s priced out of reach. Why It’s Green: Made of FSC certified wood whenever possible and available in six eco-friendly veneer choices. Best Price I Could Find: $789 (aff)

REKINDLE DESK BY INMODERN: This is easily the most unique among all the green desks I’ve found, with it’s bowed legs and rounded edges. It’s also available in a fabulous steel gray finish that’s unlike anything I’ve seen anywhere else. But is it too unique? Seems like it might be, because the Rekindle is hard to find. On the plus side, the price is quite a bit lower than the two options above, and it comes with lots of green features. Why It’s Green: Made of FSC-certified SmartWood, formaldehyde free and finished with water-based stains, ships flat-packed, all materials sourced in North America, and designed and manufactured in USA. Best Price I Could Find: $420.

LINEAR DESK BY INMODERN: Easily the most affordable of the truly eco-friendly desks. No real complaints about the price. But it’s really not ideal in terms of style. It would work, but I can picture myself looking at it for months and months wondering if I should have picked something else. Again, on the plus side though, it does have a complementary storage bookcase, which is something else I’d like to get for the single wall in the sunroom. And I actually like this piece. Why It’s Green: Made of FSC-certified SmartWood, formaldehyde free and finished with water-based stains, ships flat-packed, all materials sourced in North America, and designed and manufactured in USA. Best Price I Could Find: $246.99 (aff)

DIRECTIONS EAST BREEZE DESK: I like this desk, really, but something about it doesn’t feel right for my needs. Still, it’s reasonably green and very stylish, and it has a matching bookcase. Why It’s Green: Made of recyclable stainless steel with a bamboo top and finished with a water-based stain. Best Price I Could Find: $359.99 (aff)

Cheaper Desks I’m Considering

HOMETRENDS WELGROVE DESK: I really like the style of this desk, and the price makes it even more attractive. BUT, I have a lot of questions about it’s construction. For instance, the desk has a Paulownia wood finish, but is it made of solid wood, or just veneers over MDF? Does it contain formaldehyde? Were non-toxic stains or finishes used?I really have to decide whether the price justifies all those questions. Why It May Be Green: Made with fast-growing Paulownia wood and a recyclable steel frame. Price: $149.99

UO CONVERTIBLE SIDE TABLE: This technically isn’t a desk, but given it’s dimensions, it would work great for this purpose. The “convertible” part of the table is it’s height. It can be used as a coffee table at 28.5″ tall, or as a desk, dining table, console, etc. at up to 30″ tall. Useful, but I’m still not sure if it’s ideal since it’s green credentials are sketchy and it’s not exactly the most stylish table I’ve ever seen. Why It’s Green: Made of recyclable iron with a mango wood top (mango wood is harvested only after the trees are no longer bearing fruit). Price: $199.99.

The more I look at this list, the more I’m leaning toward one of the pieces from InModern. The difference in price from the cheaper options doesn’t seem worth all my questions. But I want the Orchid desk. And therein lies the reason why I’m hating this particular shopping excursion. Maybe if I’m able to make enough from the sale of my current desk on Craigslist, I’ll be able to afford the Orchid. Universe, do you hear that?

If you’ve come across any other green desks that caught your eye, I’d love hear about them in the comments below!

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

My Search for the Perfect, Affordable Green Desk

First of all, Happy New Year everyone! For the last week or two, I’ve been taking a much needed break, taking it easy and enjoying my family in a way that I haven’t been able to in a long time. Now it’s time to get back to work! This year, I have decided not to make any New Year’s Resolutions. It’s not that I don’t have goals I’d like to accomplish in 2010. It’s just that when I make resolutions that coordinate with the start of a new year, I tend to let them fall by the wayside before March 1. Sometimes before February 1. Instead, I’m just making a list of things to do that I’ll cross off as I go. I’ve already begun to tackle a couple, but one of the major points on my list is to get our home better organized.

No matter how much we clean up and how many loads of laundry we wash, my husband and I can never seem to get it completely together. This is after giving away literally boxes upon boxes of clothes, shoes and accessories when we moved. While we likely will have to pare down our wardrobes further to get where we want to be, another step in the process will be to come up with an organizational system that works. One that has a place for everything. West Elm managed to (unknowingly) answer my prayers with the beautiful, modern Bergen Closet Collection. Heavenly.

There are shelves, drawers and racks for every need, and I’d really have no excuse for the way my closet looks if I had at least one of each of these pieces. Yes, that would get a little pricey, but the price of a custom closet system would far surpass these items. Also, since we live in an apartment, it’s important that we’d be able to take all of these pieces with us when we move out. Because nearly all of these pieces are stackable, we’d be able to use them together or separately, configuring them to fit our needs now and in the future. Considering all these things, a well-organized closet system for less than $700 really isn’t a bad deal. Especially since my sanity is worth a whole lot more than that.

Available in chocolate and white.

Why It’s Green:

• FSC-certified wood veneers from sustainably managed forests
• Eco-friendly hardwood construction (as opposed to plywood or MDF)
• Finished with lead-free lacquer and water-based glues and stains
• Most hardware made from recycled materials

Price: $99-199 per piece

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Get Organized in Style: Bergen Closet Collection from West Elm

If you ask my husband what life with me has been like since we moved into our apartment, he’ll probably tell you it’s somewhere between everyday craziness and full-on, straight jacket, lock-me-up-and-throw-away-the-key insane. I’ve bought fabrics and sewn pillow covers, only to change my mind about them hours later. I even bought a chair and made my husband strap it into the trunk of our tiny Honda Accord, only to decide once we got it home that it just wasn’t right.

Yeah. I’ve been more than a little nutty. I’m convinced, however, that I WILL find the perfect chair and accessories for our home if it kills me (and it just might). And if I were basing my sought-after perfection on looks alone, this restored vintage 60s style office chair would be sitting in our office right now. Etsy seller Monarch Restoration, of Austin, TX, did a fabulous job bringing this chair back to life. The bright yellow is just what I need to get me going every day when I don’t feel like working, and the contrasting lattice print black and white fabric seat is quite literally making me drool. This is the kind of chair I see when I decorate rooms in my dreams. So what’s the problem? Well…all that gorgeous yellow fabric is none other than my arch nemesis: vinyl.

Why, Monarch? Why do you torture me so? I’ll have to pull out my green calculator on this one to figure out whether the fact that this chair is vintage negates the fact that it’s smothered in toxic vinyl. And decide if I don’t mind holding my nose every time I sit down. Maybe I’ll just think of the vinyl as faux leather, which would be vegan, and therefore green, right? Nah. Not really. This is torture, I tell you. Sheer torture.

Why It’s Green:

• Vintage office chair circa 1960s (that very unfortunately also happens to be reupholstered in vinyl)

Price: $425

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

The {Almost} Perfect Seat for Me: Yellow Vintage Office Chair

Back when I first started Green Your Decor, there weren’t very many websites dedicated to selling eco-friendly home furnishings. They existed, but tended to be hard to find or feature only a limited number of items. At the time, green retailer Green Culture was the exception to the rule. There’s a reason I included the retailer on my list of the top 10 online resources for eco-friendly decorating. They have a vast collection of eco-friendly furnishings for every room. For decor addicts like me, it’s easy to spend hours browsing the sites under their umbrella.

Even today, when more and more eco-friendly online retailers are popping up almost daily, their collection is tough to match. For decorators who like the simplicity of being able to shop in one place, Green Culture will make your life a lot easier. You can find everything from coffee tables to chandeliers and everything in between. The other bonus is that you can find decor for every budget, whether you’re pinching pennies like many of us these days or have a little (or lot) of breathing room to buy what you want.

I’ve featured their products before, including the Gorgeous Ibiza  Panel bed, which is still on my wish list for my daughter’s room whenever we move into our own home. On my wish list for today? The Napoli Console Table shown above. The metal mixed with dark wood makes it a dream for me and my living room.

(sponsored post) – I was compensated for this post, but not for my opinion. Click the link for more information.

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Green Culture is a One-Stop Shop for Your Eco-Conscious Home

I’ve been running into great deals on green nursery furnishings left and right. Maybe it’s a sign that my baby fever is turning into self-fulfilling prophecy. As much as I like that idea, right now it’s probably best that I stick to dreaming. Still, the great deals on this eco-friendly crib and high chair don’t help. The twin bed is equally as beautiful, so I’ll keep my eyes on that piece for the daughter I already have.

These prices wouldn’t exactly qualify as bargain basement, but as quality eco-friendly furniture goes, these are pretty good. It’s not uncommon to see this type of furniture priced in the thousands of dollars.

The high chair is available in pink or cherry.

Why It’s Green:

• The birch wood used in Argingnton’s furniture is harvested from sustainably managed forests
• All materials, glues, stains and finishes are 100% non-toxic and are low VOC

Price: $108.90-490 (down from $198-635)

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Green Steal of the Week: Argington Nursery & Kids Furniture

I’m coming down with a serious case of baby fever. Perhaps its the fact that we finally have enough room to welcome a new addition to our family, or the fact that it’s been a few years since I held an infant in my arms and I want my daughter to have a sibling in the household, or that so many of my friends, both in the bloggy world and the real world, are either pregnant or new moms. Most of all, it’s probably the lure of a new nursery to decorate. In any case, I’m getting a serious itch to have a new baby. I’m not the only one. My friend Renee over at Cutie Booty Cakes wrote about the same thing yesterday. These feelings, of course, have led to my imagining what my baby’s gorgeous, green nursery would look like.  The new Eicho and Roh nursery furniture collections from Spot on Square are making my itch exponentially worse.

The Eicho collection includes a minimal crib and changing table, and they are both reasonably priced and eco-friendly, which can sometimes be a tough combination to find. There is, of course, some sacrifice involved. Rather than hardwood, these pieces are made of MDF, albeit made of 100% recycled/reclaimed, formaldehyde-free MDF. Still, I think it’s a great value for parents and parents-to-be who want an environmentally-friendly nursery but who aren’t in the position to drop 4+ figures on a crib alone.

The Roh collection is drop-dead gorgeous, but definitely for the more well-off among us unless you’ve done a whole lot of saving in preparation for your little one. Along with a frame made of beautiful locally-sourced Walnut, the side panels of the Roh crib are made of BPA free, phthalate free, recyclable acrylic, making for a contemporary, but timeless look that any parent will be able to appreciate. The crib is available with just one side or both sides made of acrylic, and the ends are available in gray or white. The dresser with available changing tray are equally as fabulous. I’m drooling right now.

Soooo…now I just have to convince the hubby that it’s time for a new baby, and figure out in advance how we’d explain it to our 4-year-old.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of sustainable materials, including 100% recycled/reclaimed, formaldehyde-free MDF, locally sourced walnut and BPA-free, phthalate-free, recyclable acrylic
• Made in the U.S.

Price: $310-1990. Use coupon code “”HLWN10” to get 10% off through 10/31/09.

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Nursery Eye Candy = Baby Fever: Eicho & Roh Collections by Spot on Square

Whew! This has been a long week and a half for me. The actually process of moving is almost never fun, but even less so when you have to do it all yourself up a very narrow flight of stairs. But you know what? Having our own place is worth every bump, bruise and scratch along the way, and I couldn’t be happier if I tried. Well…I’ll be happier when we get rid of all these boxes, but still…

And having all this space has definitely given me the decorating itch. Even with boxes stacked up all in corners and along walls, I see so much potential. Take our master bedroom, for example. I’ve been saying for a while that we want to get a platform bed, but we’ve got a lot more space now than we’re used to. So much that I’d love to get a cushy chair to put in a corner for those quiet mornings when I just want to sit under a window and read.

The Linden Armchair from West Elm is green enough to be a serious contender, not to mention stylish and timeless. Even the dust cover is made of organic cotton. I can just picture curling up in this baby with a hot cup of mint tea. There’s just one problem. It costs more than my rent

Why It’s Green:

• Made of FSC-certified wood
• Cushions partially made of soy-based polyfoam
• Recycled cotton upholstery
• Dust cover made of organic cotton grown in the U.S.
• Low-impact dyes release no toxins

Price: $749 (aff)

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Just Add a Good Book: Linden Armchair from West Elm

Lately, I’ve been really drawn to furniture made from scrapwood. I thought that I really loved dark wood, and while I still do, I’m really warming up to the idea of seeing it paired with wood in other tones. The Oops Crib from Structured Green is a great example, but I’ve been looking for more affordable options. The designs by Etsy seller ecotables don’t quite have the light/dark contrast I’m looking for, but for $150-250, I really can’t complain.

The tables are made of recycled and reclaimed wood from beer tanks, water tank wood, and salvaged barn wood. Some of the wood also comes from the remnants of larger tables the designer has made, and he works with redwood, cypress, claro walnut and poplar. They all have a reddish tint to them. Although I’m not sure whether that’s the natural color or comes from stain, the red hue makes them feel warm and inviting. What I love most is that in each slice of wood, you can see the varying ages and levels of patina. They really have character and a modern aesthetic that contradicts their rustic origins.

I want one.

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade of recycled and reclaimed redwood from beer tanks, water tank wood and salvaged barn wood
• Some wood comes from remnants of larger tables the designer has built
• Finished with non-toxic natural oil and natural, homemade wax

Price: $150-250

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Table Scraps: Reclaimed Wood Furniture by ecotables

Sooo…I’m checking my Google alerts over the weekend, and what do I come across? The ‘Green & Gorgeous’ podcast series from Treehugger, Teragren and House & Garden magazine, which focuses on — what else — how to live a gorgeous green lifestyle. As most of you know, I also have a blog titled Green & Gorgeous. I’m happy to share the name with this great set of environmentalists. Check out the first podcast, in which Josh Dorfman, better known as the Lazy Environmentalist and the founder of green retailer Vivavi, talks about eco-friendly furniture — a subject you all know to be close to my heart I figured I’d give you something great to watch on this Labor Day. Enjoy the holiday and the video!

If you are reading this via email, you’ll have to click through to the site to view the video.

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

‘Green & Gorgeous’ Podcast (by Treehugger, not by Me)

I have a problem with wanting what I can’t have. For example, when we move into our new place, I have a serious urge to sell ALL of our existing furniture, which has been sitting in storage for 2 years and is no longer in remote alignment with my current taste, and refurnish the entire place with pieces that are:

1. Made sustainably with long-lasting quality, and
2. Closer to my and my husband’s now more-refined tastes

That’s flawed thinking of course, because the most sustainable thing to do would be to keep what we already have and learn to live with it. But I can’t help but dream. If we were to start from scratch? The new dining area would begin with this Fire WCS Dining Table from PURE by Ami McKay.

It is nothing short of droolworthy, and did I mention it’s on sale? A price tag of nearly $900 is still nothing to sneeze at, but it’s better than $1370. At 30″ tall and 48″ in diameter, it’s small enough to fit comfortably in a breakfast nook and big enough to seat at least 4 people. I’m also a sucker for the elegance of round tables.

Give me a beautiful capiz shell chandelier and a group of vintage tulip chairs, and I’d be in dining heaven. At least in my dreams, I would. My bloggy buddy David over at The Good Human reminded me the other day that we can’t shop our way out of the climate crisis, so I’ll likely just wind up attacking our boring, blonde wood dining table with a can of paint. Because no matter how much I fantasize, that would be the greenest thing to do.

But if you NEED a dining table, by all means, have at it

Why It’s Green:

• Made in Vancouver, Canada of sustainable kirei and wheatboard
• Uses non-toxic adhesives and finishes
• Member of the Sustainable Furniture Council

Price: $890.50

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Heat Up Your Meals: Fire WCS Dining Table by Ami McKay

My husband and I have been sleeping on just a set of mattresses on the floor for a while, because buying a bed frame just hasn’t been a priority. But I’m really beginning to miss the feeling of a fully decked-out bed. I love the low height of the mattresses, confirming my suspicion that I’d be happiest with a platform bed that doesn’t take up a lot of space. I’ve featured some great ones in the past, but the Stillwell and Low Rider beds by WONK NYC have skyrocketed to the top of the list.

Both beds are made of carbonized bamboo ply. The low-rider features a sleek, simple style with just enough corner detail to make it special. And at just 9″ high, we’d still be able to maintain the low profile I’ve come to love. I really like it, but the Stillwell has more of the features that I think I’d want in a bed, including a gorgeous headboard and storage space underneath. The headboard and storage drawers cost extra, but I’m OK with that. I think they’d be worth the price. The Stillwell is also available in natural bamboo, which is a closer match to the IKEA wardrobes we’ve had for a while.

I have some ideas about our bedding too, but that’s something we don’t need right now, so I’ll have to stay away from temptation

Why It’s Green:

• Made in N.Y. of carbonized bamboo

Price: Low Rider, $975-1475; Stillwell, $1935

© 2009 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

Stylish Slumber: Stillwell & Low Rider Beds by WONK NYC

My design sensibilities are typically very modern. Clean lines, single colors and simplicity are the hallmarks of most of the items that catch my eye. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and lately, I’ve really been intrigued by Moroccan design. The jewel tones, juxtaposition of many colors in the same space, comfy floor cushions, and ornate lines are so contrary to what I’d normally like that I can help but want to learn more. This Moroccan Side Table from Bliss Living Home is the perfect marriage of my desires to explore this design style and maintain the modern influence I’m so used to.

I’m always attracted to shiny, chrome furniture, particularly when it’s made of recycled metal. But this one has really stolen my heart because of its beautifully detailed legs. They make me want to take a trip to Marrakesh and lounge on the floor of some exotic hotel drinking a cup of tea.

It’s official. I’ve got Morocco on the brain.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of recycled aluminum

Origin: Imported, though I’m not sure from where (Morocco maybe?)

Price: $290

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Take Me Away to Marrakesh: Moroccan Inspired Table