How long ago was it that I first talked about refinishing my daughter’s IKEA Malm dresser? It was sometime early this year, I think. Well, I’ve finally gotten around to it, and I LOVE the result!

Pinterest has been the catalyst of a lot of projects around here lately. I can spend hours getting lost in inspiration there, but I’ve been trying to take more of that inspiration and turn it into real projects. When I found the photo shown below, I knew I wanted to recreate something similar in Ja’Naya’s room.

Of course, I didn’t want to jump right into without first having some idea of how it would look. I created this mockup in Photoshop from a photo I took with my cell phone and fell in love:

So I jumped right in and started taping off the lines. I was so gung ho that I decided not to measure. I just eyeballed the distance between each stripe. Because the drawers mark the meeting point of each sideways chevron, I was able to get away with this approach.

I created my tape lines with the drawers still in the dresser so I could look at everything vertically and see how the finished result would look as I went along. All I had to do was match the tape lines on the drawer below with the one above it. The final look isn’t perfectly spaced, but I’m OK with the slightly asymmetrical lines.

Hardware

I have been obsessed with ring drawer pulls for a long time, and I was determined to use them on this piece. I couldn’t find any that I liked locally, so I wound up ordering these Hickory Hardware pulls from Amazon. They are nice and solid, but not too big or too small. The 3″ diameter made them the perfect size for these drawers, which measure 8″ vertically.

I measured 3.5″ in from the edges of each drawer and 5.5″ from the top and marked where I wanted the pulls to go. My hubby was kind enough to drill the hardware holes for me. The key is making sure the drill bit is just a tiny bit larger than your screw — but smaller than the screw head — so it can slip through to catch the grooves on your pull.

You may have noticed that the pulls are white in my Photoshop mockup. Well, I planned to spray paint them white. But once I put them on the dresser, I liked the look of the satin nickel finish enough to leave them as is.

Painting

I was wary about how a piece of IKEA’s inexpensive MDF furniture would handle being sanded and painted. I know that their solid wood pieces are hacked and painted all the time, but the Malm line has a laminate finish. After a ton of Googling and reading, I figured it would hold up relatively well and I got to task. I used medium grit sandpaper between my tape lines. I wasn’t trying to go past the laminate. I just wanted to remove the slick finish and rough up the surface so the paint would have something to grab.

You probably can’t tell much of a difference in the photo above, but trust me when I say you could see a visible change in the areas that had been sanded and the areas that had not.

I debated using primer, but decided to go without it. I regretted it later.We did four very thin coats on each drawer front, and we also did the edges.

Since we were painting on the patio, my daughter got in on the painting action — wearing one of my old t-shirts, of course. She’s been itching to paint for a long time, so I figured this was a good opportunity for her to learn proper “technique.” Lol. I talk like I know what I’m doing!

I let the paint dry for about an hour between coats and planned to pull the tape while the last coat was still a little tacky. Unfortunately, it was night time, and I fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning, I knew right away that I was going to be in trouble.

Then it all went sideways…

The problem with painting over laminate is that no matter how much you sand, the surface will still be a little slick. And latex — which all low-VOC paint is made of, to my knowledge — is notoriously easily to peel away in layers. So I started peeling the first piece of tape gingerly. Within an inch, the rest of the paint started coming off with it.

Not good.

I tried using an Xacto knife carefully at the edges of the tape. Not a good look. The blade started peeling the tape, too. By the time I was done pulling tape, I had exactly 3 clean tape lines. The rest of them had peeled in horrible, jagged shapes. NOT the clean lines this chevron pattern required.

This was about the time that I started wishing I had used primer. I don’t know for sure that it would have helped, but at least the paint would’ve had something else to adhere to. I was pissed with the outcome. So pissed that I forgot to take photos.

Still, I knew it was my own fault. I knew I’d have to start over, so I just went ahead and peeled/scraped the rest of the paint off. That took about an hour of grumbling and cursing, but eventually, I got most of it off.

There was a silver lining, though. Because I’d sanded over the tape, I could clearly see the pattern I had originally taped. The sanded areas were very visible, so I just laid down new tape lines over the old, un-sanded areas. When I was done, I resolved not to make the same mistake twice.

I again painted in 4 thin coats (again, sans primer — I really didn’t learn the first time, huh?). However, I only let the drawers dry for about 15 minutes between coats. And AS SOON as I was done painting the last coat on the last drawer, I pulled the tape.

Sweet success! The lines were clean, but for a tiny amount of bleeding from the edges of the tape.

I let the drawers dry for a full 2 hours before coating everything with some low-odor polyurethane. Honestly, I need to find another brand, because that stuff still smelled and gave me a headache. But I did the recommended 3 coats, with a light sanding between coats with fine sandpaper. Because of the smell, I let the drawers dry for a little more than 2 days before I put my daughter’s clothes back in them.

And I can honestly say I am in LOVE with the result! In fact, the corner where this dresser sits is now my favorite vignette in the whole room:

I love the juxtaposition of the sharp chevron lines next to the looser, more bohemian pattern of the comforter.

So what do you think? Have you ever had a project go completely sideways like this one did? Did you give up, or start again? Because I definitely considered giving up this time!

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Over the years, we’ve owned our fair share of patio furniture. Some of it broke, some of it was given away, and some of it just weathered in ways that weren’t very attractive. I love the look of wood outdoor furniture when it’s new, but wood can rot, split or crack depending on weather conditions, and the patina wood develops after time isn’t always nice to look at.  Finding a balance between style and durability can be a challenge. So when the folks at Trex Outdoor Furniture recently offered me the chance to try out their recycled plastic furniture, I was eager to see it in person.

However, we’d recently purchased furniture for our small patio, and didn’t have room for it. Instead, I opted to give the Trex furniture to my sister, who has had a front porch for many years with no place to sit.

This furniture is design to be very low maintenance. As in hose it off once in a while if you have a high-pollen day or wipe with some soapy water.  It doesn’t have to be painted, stained or sealed. I knew my sister would appreciate this particular feature, because I know she doesn’t have time to constantly clean and maintain it.

More than 90% of the material used to make the furniture, produced in partnership with POLY-WOOD™, is made from post-consumer recycled plastic, such as milk and detergent bottles or other HDPE post industrial material. HDPE is short for High Density Polyethylene, a very durable plastic with infinite recyclability.  Since any plastic that currently exists will be around for generations to come, I can’t think of a better, more permanent use for it.

Trex offers great customization options for all their furniture in varying styles: You can select the color of the furniture body, as well as the color of the seat (and sometimes back) cushions.  My sister chose the Trex Adirondack chair and ottoman in Sand Castle with a cushion in Linen Chili. If you’re not into the Adirondack style, there are more modern deep seating styles, counter height seating, and even a swing and rocker. My sister also found a couple of similar chairs at Big Lots (shown above). The quality is nowhere near the same as Trex, and they’re not made of recycled plastic, but the look is so similar that she couldn’t pass them up.

So here’s the big question: Is this chair comfortable?

According to my sister — and her dog, Gizmo — it is wonderful. The ottoman really made the difference in comfort. Because who doesn’t want to put their feet up when they’re relaxing outside?

My biggest qualm about these pieces is the pricing. While I understand that they’re designed to last literally for decades, I imagine it would be cost prohibitive for many families to spend so much for a single chair.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of 90% post-consumer plastic

Price: Adirondack chair, $455.98; Ottoman, $155.98

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There are goodies to be found when you love shopping clearance pages. And Viva Terra’s clearance pages have been very fruitful of late.

First up? This fabulously bohemian chair. I love barrel chairs, and I love having a special place where I can sit and read. And what better place to read than a chair made of newspapers? OK…even I can admit that’s a cheesy idea, but it’s still a nice chair. And even better, its on sale for $149, a whopping 75% off the original price of $549. And I imagine it won’t take any corny lines to sell you on those savings.

Price: $149 (aff)

Next up, this great, textural, brown shower curtain. Aside from the occasional offering from West Elm or Pottery Barn and Amy Butler’s beautiful line, stylish, organic shower curtains can be tough to find. And at this price, it’s competitive with the other options and equally as beautiful.

Price: $45 (aff)

And if you like the shower curtain, you’ll probably be happy to hear that the matching rug is on sale as well. Is it more than I would usually pay for a bathroom rug? Yes, but at least you won’t have to wonder whether it coordinates. Plus, it’s available in 2 sizes, and you don’t have to use it in the bathroom. You can use it anywhere.

Price: $79-139 (aff)

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Years ago, when my husband and I bought our first real “grown up” furniture from Rooms to Go, we didn’t know enough to buy pieces that would last. We just wanted furniture that would fit our taste (at the time) and budget. So it’s no wonder that years later, the only piece that’s left is our red sectional. Because when we were preparing to move, our dining table went kaput. Literally.

As my husband was turning it over to remove the legs, he heard a loud crack and the legs buckled. One of them had irreparably split right where it screwed into the table top. Not wanting to just throw it out, we donated it to Goodwill and set out to find another table. Craigslist was the first place I looked, but it was tough to find a modern-ish table (many were super traditional) in dark wood that we could actually afford. Same for the consignment and thrift stores.

After a few weeks of eating at the sofa, I was more than a little frustrated. In a fit of desperation, I stopped at an Aaron’s store that happened to be next to the Salvation Army thrift store. You know Aaron’s — one of those places where you can rent furniture rather than buying it outright. I NEVER thought I’d actually find something I wanted. And I had no intention of renting furniture. But sometimes, fate works things out a lot different than we expect.

Not only did I find the perfect table, with a bench like we’ve been wanting for a long time. The table is also made of eco-friendly mango wood. How’s that for destiny? And it is made doubly sustainable because it is used. But I still didn’t want to rent, and the table was a little over our budget. Rented furniture always costs more in the long run because of the ridiculously high interest payments. And we were planning to actually keep the table for good.

Come to find out we could “rent” the table, interest free, for 120 days. So as long as we pay off the full sale price in 4 months, we’ll pay no interest. PLUS, they deliver, so we didn’t have to rent a UHaul or walk a heavy table up to our third floor apartment. And even better, we got a nice discount because we specifically requested the used floor model. Score!

Of course, our new table looked a little lonely, so we were inspired to make over the rest of the room as well. Our inspiration? The FLOR rug I mentioned in last week’s post. In the photo above, you’ll see some paint samples we tested on the wall, and a gorgeous piece of art that I found on clearance that will really work well in the room.

Does that help you guess which FLOR rug I chose? Well come on then! Get your guess on and win a fabulous surprise prize!

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My daughter’s dresser officially went kaput a few days ago. She’s had it since she was an infant, and it’s been through a lot. Honestly, for a cheap piece of laminate furniture, I’m surprised it lasted this long. Anyway, we’re going to do some furniture shuffling for 3 reasons:

• We’re moving into a 3-bedroom apartment to accommodate my stepsons and a general need for more space.
• The aforementioned dresser is no longer serving its purpose.
• My husband’s 3-drawer Malm dresser from Ikea (shown above in our current bedroom) just isn’t large enough for all his clothes.

We’re going to give my daughter my husband’s current dresser and find a used 6-drawer dresser to make over for our new master bedroom. Of course, Malm dressers are plain, and boring — none of which are words I’d use to describe my daughter’s room. The old dresser lived in her closet, but she’ll have a smaller closet this time, and the dresser may not fit. So I’m generating some ideas for ways I can make over the Malm dresser to make it fit the decor of her room.

I’ve read that if I sand the veneer lightly and prime it well, it should hold paint without a problem. So of course, that’s one option. But I’m debating if I want to do something a bit more unconventional than just paint.

Thanks to the magic of Photoshop, here are some of the ideas I’ve come up with:

I love the idea of painting a large funky graphic on the dresser, rather than painting the whole thing. Plus, we still have some pink paint left over from when we painted the accent wall in her current room. Maybe not enough to paint the whole dresser, but definitely enough for something like this. Some funky knobs from Anthropologie could really make this something special, since they sort of look like eyes.

But of course, that got me wondering what it would look like if I reversed that idea. I really like the look of the wood showing through and the single knob at the middle of the starburst! Something like this would mirror the shape of the starburst above her bed without being matchy matchy.

But I don’t want it to compete with the pink TV table that’s already in the room.

And lastly, something completely different. Maybe face the front of the drawers with some wallpaper from Mod Green Pod?

Again, my biggest quandary will be coming up with something that won’t compete with the existing pink table in her room. I’m not married to any of these ideas, but they’ve definitely gotten my creative juices flowing.

So what do you think? Do you like any of these ideas? What would you do with the dresser?

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I can’t be the only one who looks forward to West Elm’s announcements that they’ve released new products. My excitement is doubled, however, because of the fact that West elm is one of the mainstream retailers of home goods that seems to be truly committed to providing greener product options for their customers. To be sure, this doesn’t apply to their entire product selection, but they consistently include products that are sustainable in some way.

Here are some of my favorite green products from their latest release:

1. Stria Bed and Storage Collection, $299-999. Made in India of  reclaimed solid saal wood drawer fronts, solid mango and acacia wood frame. The wood was reclaimed from railway trestles, and the irregular, stacked wood look is fabulous!

2. Organic Reflections Duvet Cover + Shams, $24.00 – $109.00. Made of organic cotton. Thankfully, you can also snag organic cotton comforter and pillow inserts from WE.

3. Poppy Seeds Pillow Cover, $29.00. Made of hemp.

4. Dexter Outdoor Dining Collection, $199-1295. Warmer weather means more time spent outside, and this collection of patio furniture is a beautiful incentive to do so. Made of solid FSC-certified wood.

5. Stray Dog Designs Side Table and Chandelier, $149. Handmade of papier-mâché made of recycled newpaper.

6. Organic Lily Pad Duvet + Shams, $24–$109. Made of organic cotton.

7. Recycled-Glass Stacking Vases and Votive Holders, $4-19. Made in Spain of recycled glass.

Beautiful, though not as green as I’d like

1. Jaipur Printed Dhurrie Rug, $29-199. Handwoven in India of 80% wool, 20% cotton.

2. Rainbow Napkins, $16. These are eco-friendly if they replace paper napkins, but I wish they were made of organic cotton or some other sustainable material.

There are more, but those are my picks. What do you think of West Elm’s sustainable product line? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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You may already be familiar with Ecoist, a green brand well known for its handbags, all made of upcycled candy wrappers, chip bags and other packaging. With their new Snowjob chair, they have taken the same concept to the next level!

The chair, designed by Emiliano Godoy, has a frame made of FSC-certified wood and features a vegetable based, biodegradable finish. A cover, woven of small pieces of post-industrial waste from the candy wrapping industry, then slips over the frame to create the Ecoist handbag look many people know so well (bags are shown below).

The company collects candy labels that are misprinted or feature incorrect or obsolete information, and cuts them into small sections. The labels are then folded into rectangular pieces and joined to create the cover. Of course, I couldn’t help but wonder how sturdy a chair made of candy wrappers could be. Thankfully, Ecoist adds internal reinforcement made from post-consumer recycled paper to add rigidity, so it should be safe for sitting.

The price isn’t quite as attractive as the chair itself, but if I had unlimited money at my disposal, I could easily see 6 of these around a tulip table in a minimalist, modern dining room.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of FSC-certified wood with a vegetable based, biodegradable finish
• Cover made of upcycled candy wrappers
• Made by hand with simple tools

Price: $1800

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This week is a good one for green decorators who’d like to save some money without sacrificing their conscience.

Environment Furniture is available at Gilt Groupe for up to 50% off. Unlike a lot of furniture that claims to be sustainable, this is the real deal. These are high-quality pieces that can easily become heirlooms that you pass down to your children or grandchildren. Their prices reflect that quality, and this is a great opportunity to save on these big ticket items. You’ll find sofas, bedroom furniture, dining tables, coffee and end tables, chairs and more, all made of sustainable materials.

Why It’s Green: Made of sustainable materials like reclaimed wood and textiles. One hundred percent of the peroba used by Environment Furniture is reclaimed from homes, industrial buildings, barns and other structures that are abandoned or scheduled to be torn down. Vintage military tents find new life as durable cotton canvas for high-style upholstery. This sale ends on March 5 at midnight EST.

Price: $435-2399 (down from $795-3795)

FIND IT: If you’re not yet a member of Gilt Groupe, you must sign up to take advantage of this deal. Signing up is free. To find the sale, visit Gilt Groupe, and mouse over “Home” in the navigation menu. Click “Environment Furniture.” (aff)

Building a nursery? You’ll be happy to learn that Nurseryworks’ gorgeous furniture is available for up to 25% off. The sale includes rockers, cribs, changing tables and storage pieces. And because you also need a comfortable surface for your baby to sleep, Nook’s innovative, organic cotton crib mattresses and bedding is also available, for up to 65% off.  These sales end on March 4 at noon EST.

Why It’s Green: Nurseryworks furniture is made of MDF and Paulownia wood with low-VOC finishes, lacquers, and glues. MDF is Grade EO, which offers very minimal offgassing. Paulownia wood is a fast-growing, fire and decay-resistant hardwood species. Nook’s mattresses and bedding and made of a combination of eucalyptus fiber, organic cotton, organic wool and natural latex.

Price: Nurserywork: $435-2399 (down from $795-3795); Nook: $19-412 (down from $38-550)

FIND IT: If you’re not yet a member of Gilt Groupe, you must sign up to take advantage of this deal. Signing up is free. To find the sale, visit Gilt Groupe, and mouse over “Children” in the navigation menu. Click “Top Selling Rockers and Cribs by Nurseryworks” or “Nook Sleep Systems.” (aff)

Gaiam is offering a special deal on their new organic cotton towel set. The set includes a bath towel, hand towel and washcloth, and it is available in 9 colors. The set is just $24, 50% off the regular price.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

I’ve been aware of Structured Green for nearly as long as I’ve been publishing Green Your Decor. I’ve even been able to see one of their immaculate pieces in person, thanks to the green show home I toured in Marietta back in 2009. The company is a maker of sustainable furniture that is based right here in Georgia, and their stuff is impressive. A few days ago, I ventured over to their site just to see if there was anything new. And hello! I was blown away by their newest table designs.

The Night Light table is a work of art, in my humble opinion. The Structured Green team used a pixellated photograph of the United States taken from the space station to create the design, which features the light signatures of America’s major cities. And did I mention the table is available in three different kinds of FSC-certified wood? I am literally swooning.

The Scatter Table is equally as gorgeous. In Structured Green’s words, the Scatter Table was “made for messiness.” It features a design reminiscent of a game of Pick Up Stix gone perfectly awry.

And finally, the Spider table illustrates Boston’s MBTA subway lines. But even if you’re not from Boston, you’ll be able to appreciate this gorgeous design. And to top it off, Structured Green can custom build your table with any metro or mass transit system you want. It is made of natural Bamboo ply, but it can be made with any wood combination.

These tables are definitely investment-level pieces, not for the faint of heart when it comes to pricing. But I think they’re absolutely worth the prices.

Why It’s Green:

• Tables available in a variety of reclaimed and FSC-certified woods, including black walnut, white oak
• Finished with water-based glues, low-VOC, water-based clear coat, food-grade tung oil and/or beeswax
• Made right here in Georgia

Price: $3195-3495

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I know I’ve been more than a little bit out of the loop over the past few weeks. But over the holidays, I decided to give myself a much needed, though completely unplanned, break. I stayed offline as much as possible, and I just enjoyed my family, and I am SO glad I did! So since I haven’t said it (or anything else) yet for the year, Happy New Year, and thank you so much for sticking with me and Green Your Decor!

This Green Steal of the Week is a great one. Shiraleah is a manufacturer of beautiful eco-friendly housewares. ALL of their products are made from sustainable materials like recycled paper, plastic, rubber, tin, computer and bike components and more. They’ve found a way to take these materials that others would quickly send off to the landfill and turn them into beautiful tables, frames, mirrors, vases, bowls,  benches and other housewares that anyone (especially me!) would be proud to display in their home.

These photos show a mere fraction of the sustainable housewares available in this sale, so be sure to check out the rest. And the best part? Everything (and I mean EVERYthing) is 50% off! But you have to act fast. The sale ends on Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. EST/8 a.m. PST.

Why It’s Green:

Shiraleah uses recycled materials in all their products, including paper, rubber, tin, plastic, wire, computer and bike components and more.

Price: $10-247.50

How to Buy:

If you’re not already a member of Haute Look, you’ll have to sign up to take advantage of the sale. Once you’ve registered and signed in, mouse over “Living” or “Men” in the top navigation menu, then click “Shiraleah.”

(aff): If you sign up for HauteLook via my invitation link, I will receive a site credit if you make a purchase.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

I can attest to how hard it is to find a new desk that is even moderately eco-friendly for a low price. That’s — in large part — why I ended up buying a 50-year-old mid-century desk and refinishing it. That’s why I’m pretty excited about the Pratt collection from West Elm.

You can get a desk, chair AND file cabinet for a total of less than $600. How sweet is that? To be sure, they’re not the greenest I’ve ever seen, but they come with some impressive eco-credentials. And like most furniture from West Elm, they are simple with clean lines, easy enough to adapt to a variety of decorating styles. The seem like a great fit if you’re trying to squeeze a workspace into a room with more than one function, like a living room or bedroom. If you’re like me, and have a small space to work with, they’re great space savers as well.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of FSC-certified solid eucalyptus and FSC-certified medium density fiberboard
• Made with powder-coated metal (powder coating is a no-VOC process)
• Finished with water-based stains

Price: Desk, $249.99; Chair, $119.99; File Cabinet, $149.99

BONUS SAVINGS! For a limited time, get an extra 10% off sale items at West Elm with coupon code “TG10SALE.”

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

I love Way Basics recycled paper furniture because it is incredibly versatile. If you remember, we used a bunch of units to create the storage system in my daughter’s bedroom, and it has been perfect for that purpose thus far.

The only problem is that the core Way Basics components — Z Boards — are so versatile that it can be difficult to imagine how you can use them to create unique designs. I like to think of them like building blocks that I can put together any way I want. But in case you want something unique, but can’t come up with a design on your own, check out the new Madison and Savannah bookcases. Both could be used as room dividers.

The Madison Bookcase is available in white, black and espresso and features a modern, asymmetrical design. The image above shows two Madison units pushed together for a really unique look. The Savannah Bookcase is beautiful in its simplicity, with storage from front to back and on one side.

Like all Way Basics pieces, they are made of recycled paper, incredibly easy to put together and water resistant (though not completely waterproof).

Why It’s Green:

• Made in the U.S. of recycled paperboard

Price: $92.50/ea.

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Amenity never fails to impress me with their gorgeous eco-friendly furniture, organic textiles and housewares. This weekend though, you have a great chance to take advantage of big savings during their sample sale. You can get their beautiful pillows, wall art and table linens for up to nearly 80% off! I imagine a lot of this stuff is going to go fast, so you might want to act now if you’re interested! The wall art, particularly the ones geared to kids, would make great holiday gifts. Personally, I plan to get a table runner to use during the holidays.

Why It’s Green:

• Pillows and table linens made of an organic cotton/hemp blend with non-toxic, water-based dyes.
• Printed and sewn in Los Angeles.
• Wall art printed in the U.S. on 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton.

Price: $17-47

BONUS! Use coupon code “welcome20” to get an additional 20% off your order!

Shiner Furniture at the Foundary

Deal sites are popping up everywhere these days — hence the format change on the Green Your Decor coupons page. Today, I discovered a new one: The Foundary. They exclusively sell beautiful housewares, from furniture to bedding, tableware and more. While not all of the companies featured specifically make green products, all of them were selected with quality and longevity in mind. In other words, you’re going to find quality pieces.

Today though, you can get sustainable pieces from Atlanta furniture maker Shiner Furniture. Shiner makes unique, modern furniture from recycled and reclaimed materials and sustainably harvested wood. They also have a couple of great pieces made from cardboard. Given that they are made by a local artist, I have had my eye on Shiner for a while. But their stuff can be hard to find, since they sell exclusively to retailers and not to the public. This is a great chance to get some unique pieces at discounted prices.

Why It’s Green:

• All furniture made from sustainable materials like recycled cardboard, recycled metals, and reclaimed and sustainably harvested wood
• Made in Atlanta, GA

Price: $142-1813

How to Buy:

If you’re not already a member of The Foundary, you’ll have to sign up, which is free. Once you’ve registered and signed in, scroll toward the bottom of the page to find the banner that says “Shiner.”

(aff): If you sign up for The Foundary via my invitation link, I will receive a site credits if you make a purchase.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.

I’ve noticed that a lot of people wind up at Green Your Decor looking for eco-friendly sofas and chairs — particularly ones that are priced reasonably. The problem is that pretty much all the ones I’ve written about in the past no longer are for sale. So here’s a roundup of some reasonably- and not-so-reasonably-priced eco-friendly sofas and chairs, in order of price. Some are greener than others as well, so be sure to read the descriptions. As a general rule, the more expensive options will have more eco-friendly qualities than the lower-priced ones.

West Elm’s Henry Sofa, $699-849. Frame constructed from sustainably harvested hardwood, pillow fibers are created from recycled water bottles, springs constructed of 70% recycled high-gauge steel, foam in cushions and arms is made from 20% soy-based materials, padding and fiber on the seat is constructed using recycled carpet materials, and made in the USA in west elm’s own FSC-certified factory. Available in cotton and linen/cotton blend fabrics, though none are organic.

West Elm’s Linden Sofa & Chair, $899 (sofa) or $1379 (for the pair). FSC-certified wood frame and legs, fabric is 100% recycled cotton a nd low-impactdyes are GOTS certified, decking and dust cover are organic cotton, foam is partially soy based, and made in the U.S.

Parlour Sofa from CB2, $999. Made with a certified sustainable, kiln-dried hardwood frame, seat cushion made of soy-based polyfoam and fiber, upholstered in cotton (not as good as organic, but better than polyester).

Greenington Magnolia Loveseat, $1319 and Magnolia Sofa Chair, $839. As truly green furniture goes, Greenington is up there with the best of them.  Made of sustainably-harvested bamboo. The style of these is “love it” or “hate it.” They remind me a bit of patio furniture, but I think they could work surrounded by the right colors and decor. (aff)

If you want something really green…

If you want a sofa with LOTS of green credentials, there are a bunch of options, but you’ll have to spend more. Here are a couple of my favorites, with pricing where available.

Camille Sofa from EKLA Home (call for pricing). Upholstered in 100% U.S.-grown and -milled organic cotton fabric, and made with natural Rubber, 100% organic U.S.-grown and -milled wool, organic cotton barrier cloth, FSC-certified alder frame and legs, recycled steel springs and Safecoat no-VOC stain. It doesn’t get much better than that, but this sofa will run you a couple thousand dollars.

EcoBalanza Square Sofa, $4600. Made with FSC-Certified, kiln-dried wood, natural latex foam cushions, 8-way hand tied coil springs and eco-friendly adhesives. Available upholstery options include recycled Polyester along with organic hemp, cotton and wool.

General Tips

When you’re really on a budget for furniture, you have to get creative. Buying used furniture from Craigslist or a thrift store is always a good way to go. Find a good upholsterer in your area, or if you feel adventurous, attempt to reupholster your found pieces on your own. There are tons of tutorials online, and you wouldn’t believe how beautiful you can make your home with used pieces. A great example:

Chloe Vintage Sofa by EcoChic, $1750. A petite vintage sofa was recovered in charcoal velvet fabric and given new wood legs. The price includes two linen accent cushions.

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There are probably very few people who shop online and don’t know about Gilt Groupe. It is an online-only retailer that offers typically high-end products for seriously reduced prices, but only for a limited time. The sales typically last 24-96 hours, so if you see something you need (not want), you need to act fast. This is one of the cases when Gilt Groupe is not just offering eco-friendly products, but products that could really help anyone setting up a nursery or a room for a child do so for a significantly reduced cost.

A wide range of Argington’s gorgeous eco-friendly products are on sale, including:

BEST DEAL

Sahara Crib, Changing Table & 2 Dressers: Available as a 4 piece set in Red Maple for $1,129 ($2470 retail: Absolutely the BEST deal). This set is the same as the one shown in the second image above, though that one is a different color (Ebony). NOTE: The Ebony 4-piece set is already sold out, so I expect this set to sell out fast as well, particularly because the crib is not available by itself. I also haven’t seen the Red Maple color anywhere else.

OTHER PIECES

• Sahara Changer in Ebony (shown at top): $422
• Sahara Dresser in Ebony (shown at top): $298
• Ayres Rolling Trundle Bed: $225 ($360 retail). NOTE: Twin bed is already sold out.
• Ayres Bed Guards: $48 ($85 retail)
• Organic Twin Reversible Quilts in 2 colorways: $52 ($95 retail)
• Organic Reversible Sheet Sets in 3 colorways: $57 ($115 retail)
• Organic Reversible Boudoir Pillows: $14 ($28 retail)
• Organic Twin Pillowcase & Duvet Sets in 2 colorways: $47 ($95 retail)
• Organic Reversible 4-piece Crib Bedding Set: $90 ($185 retail)

For each item, you’re looking at 50% savings or more. It’s really worth it if you are expecting a baby or know an expectant mother. I think the nursery is the one room in the home where I wouldn’t hesitate to spend more in order to make it completely eco-friendly with no toxins to affect my baby, but Gilt Groupe has made it so you really don’t have to spend much at all.

Even if you already have furniture and simply need bedding, this is a great deal to take advantage of while it lasts. The Argington sale ends at noon Sept. 19, or whenever all the products are sold out. Several are already gone or only available via the waiting list.

Why It’s Green:

• Bedding and textiles made of organic cotton
• Furniture made of sustainably harvested birch and finished with zero-VOC, non-toxic stains and finishes

How to Buy:

If you’re not already a member of Gilt Groupe, you’ll have to sign up. Once you’ve registered and signed in, mouse over “HOME” in the top navigation menu, then click on Argington Furniture, which should be the very first link.

(aff): If you sign up for Gilt Group via my invitation link, I will receive a $25 site credit if you make a purchase.

© 2008-2011 Green Your Decor. Do not republish any items from this feed without permission.