Happy Halloween from me and Ja’Naya the peacock! We hope you/your kids got all the candy you/they can eat On a side note…

WE NEED YOUR VOTES!

I entered Ja’Naya in 2 costume contests on Facebook, and we’d love to get your votes. If you like her costume, please VOTE HERE (Juan of Words) and VOTE HERE (Children’s Place)!  Thanks in advance!

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

A Michelle Kaufmann-designed Breezehouse, by Blu Homes. Do I really need to explain this one? OK. Simply put, it’s green, and it’s freaking gorgeous! Oh yeah. And it’s a house. That we would own. Sure beats an apartment…

EKLA Home Kristina sectional sofa: In the gray fabric shown, NOT bright green, of course. It is made of natural rubber, 100% organic U.S.-grown and -milled wool dyed with fiber reactive low-impact, non-toxic dye, 100% organic cotton barrier cloth, FSC-certified alder frame and legs, recycled steel springs and Safecoat no VOC stain. About as green as it gets.

Angela Adams Betty rug: Beside the fact that it is beautiful, it is handmade of 100% New Zealand wool with a 100% cotton backing, using natural latex adhesive. It is also Rugmark certified for being free of child labor. This one is made in India, and a portion of the proceeds from every rug sale is donated to the country where it was manufactured.

PUBLIC Bike. For now, any bike would do, but if I could have one of these beauties? I’d be in heaven!

What’s on your green wish list these days?

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I hate to state the completely obvious, but you may have noticed that things have been slow down around for the past — ummm — year or so. I promise that I’m not giving up on blogging. It’s just that after blogging about green decorating for so long, in the way that I’ve been blogging, I’ve sort of run out of new products to talk about. OK…that’s not quite true. There are still products to blog about, but not enough to warrant the kind of frequency with which I posted in the first few years of Green Your Decor.

This has led to an evolution of sorts. The change isn’t complete at all, but instead of focusing so much on green products, I plan to do more posting about projects I’m actually doing. Like making over my daughter’s room (and all the tiny details I’m procrastinating about That’s not to say I won’t blog about cool green products. I absolutely will, when I find some worth blogging about. But you can expect to see a lot more of ME, showing you what I’m doing at home, talking about some of the green habit I’m sadly not as adamant about these days, projects I’m tackling, etc.

My point is that the green will live on, albeit in a slightly different form. I found myself with a little blogger burnout, and I had to figure out a way to overcome that. I will still blog about all things green and beautiful for your home, but hopefully, I’ll be blogging equally about practical uses for those things I talk about, as well as DIY projects you can all attempt, too. After all, what’s greener than doing it yourself, right? I don’t want to blog just for blogging’s sake, or to meet some imaginary quota I made up in my head. I want to offer more quality content that you can apply to your own lives.

There’s also the little matter that I’ve been up to my eyeballs in graphic design projects, so those have taken up a huge chunk of my time as well. Suffice it to say I’ve been a busy lady. And I’ve been tired.

So forgive me if posts are fewer and further between. I still love all things eco-friendly, and I still love blogging. I may do a little less of it, but I’m not going anywhere, in case you were wondering

P.S. And for those of you who have asked about my daughter, she is doing exceptionally well. She is still in remission and positively thriving. She’s in first grade this year, and we’re super proud that she’s been advanced to a second grade reading level. She’s still in treatment, and will be for a while, but she’s really doing well. We couldn’t ask for a better outcome from a scary situation.

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In our previous apartment, we had all these grandiose plans about making our patio space beautiful. We planned to add planting boxes, gorgeous furniture and solar lighting. Alas, none of that ever came to pass. We never even bought chairs, and as a result, we rarely spend any time on the patio.  Now that we’re in a third floor apartment with fewer bugs and more breeze, we were determined not to let the same thing happen twice.

Our patio has a wooden slat floor with the slats spaced a little further apart than I would like. We can look down and see everything on our downstairs neighbor’s patio. Presumably, that also means they’d be able to look up and see everything on our patio. We decided that the first order of business would be to buy an outdoor rug.

You might recall that a few years ago, my husband and I furnished my mother’s front patio as a surprise. Well, the recycled plastic rug shown in the photo above did NOT hold up well to the elements. Even though it was used infrequently, it started breaking apart after a couple of months and had to be thrown away. There was nothing we could do to save it. Eco-friendly or not, if it lasted only a couple of months, it’s not really “sustainable” at all. So we knew we wanted something more durable this time, and also something softer under our feet. We opted for a nylon outdoor rug in a fun, graphic pattern (aff).

I was also determined to find us some seating so we can actually enjoy the patio. With the Fourth of July coming up, we plan to watch the nearby fireworks from our balcony, so chairs were a must. But inexpensive, eco-friendly chairs are not easy to come by — particularly when you’re shopping for individual chairs rather than a full set. We went with a “lesser of two evils” approach: We passed up the plastic chairs and went for chairs made of powder-coated steel, though the seats are made of polyester (aff). All steel contains recycled content, and powder-coating is a no-VOC process.

Finally, we had to do something to keep my daughter happy. We grabbed a Topsy Turvy Strawberry Planter, a bunch of strawberry plants and some potting soil so she can get a taste of gardening, even without a yard. I have no idea how they’ll turn out, but we’re hoping we’ll soon have a robust crop of strawberries to pick from whenever we choose. The exterior of our building is being painted in the next week or so, so we’ll hang it once that’s done.

We’re not done out there, but for now, at least we have a space we can use rather than a patio that will never live up to its potential. And as I’ve come to realize, sometimes functional is much better than perfect when it comes to decorating.

Disclosure: I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation for sharing an outdoor project with You. Participation is voluntary and as usual, all opinions are my own.

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

West Elm never ceases to make my day when they release new organic bedding designs. I admit, I stalk their site for months waiting for new designs to arrive, and I’m like a kid in a candy store when they finally do. With good reason, too. My obsession with chevron patterns is still in full swing, and I can’t get enough of the new Organic Chevron Duvet Cover and shams shown above. And how freaking gorgeous is it when paired with that moody cobalt blue wall? I think I’m in love.

But you all know how I feel about birds, so it only makes sense that the Organic Bird Collage design is competing for my attention. When I saw it from afar (or rather in a thumbnail on the multi-product pages), I wasn’t thrilled with it. But on closer inspection, once I realized it was also reversible, let’s just say I changed my mind. I can’t resist the little birdies!

The Organic Charcoal Leaf Duvet is the final new release. I love nature and organic patterns, but I’ve never been big on photorealistic florals. The imperfection of this graphic interpretation of leaves is endearing.

Given that we’re moving this weekend, I’ve been racking my brain about what we should do with our new master bedroom and the third bedroom we’re acquiring. These photos have settled 2 things in my mind: We’re painting at least one wall cobalt/navy blue, and I’m going to make a neutral, upholstered headboard for our master bedroom. I love the tailored look, and I don’t feel like using the wall flats again

See you next week once we’re all moved in!

Why It’s Green:

• Made of organic cotton

Price: $24-109

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

At the moment, I’m not a fan of spending a lot of time in the bathroom. At one time, it was one of my favorite places to “get away” from everyone. I could go in there, close the door and be alone. But when your bathroom is as boring and utilitarian as mine was, spending time there gets really old really fast. Unfortunately, we’re renters, so there’s not a whole lot I can do about it beside add a few accessories and maybe paint. But what I wouldn’t give for my bathroom to look like this:

Now THAT is a place where I could spend some time! But because this site is about style with substance, you know there must be something more to this image than good looks. This eco-friendly bathroom vanity is made of solid, FSC-certified cherry wood.

Can’t you just picture it paired with some gorgeous recycled glass tile? Add the tub shown above, also made of FSC-certified wood, or any of a variety of other eco-friendly bathroom products and you’ve got yourself a gorgeous green room you won’t be able to wait to use!

Why It’s Green:

• Made of FSC-certified wood

Price: $3369.99

This is a sponsored post. As usual, all opinions are my own.

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

So…our apartment looks like it was recently hit by a bomb due to all the packing we’ve finally gotten around to. And I’ve been so busy for the last few weeks that I’ve barely had time to breathe, let alone blog. But at least my daughter is spending a few weeks with my sister and mom going to summer camp (she’ll be the house that falls on the witch in their rendition of the Wizard of Oz tomorrow night…lol). And if there is a silver lining, it’s my wonderful husband, who gave me the beautiful flowers you see above a few nights ago — just because. Gotta love that man!

So pardon the dust around here while we get our lives back in order around yet another move. And, like me, cross your fingers that this will be the last one for a while I promise, there is some great content, including a few awesome giveaways, right around the corner.

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One of the things I hate most about being a renter (as I’ve said many times before) is having to live with carpet. We do everything we can to minimize the amount of dirt and grime that makes its way through the house, taking off our shoes at the door. Still, keeping it clean is an uphill battle. Our Bissell Envirovac doesn’t have as much suction as it used to, and quite frankly, it’s a pain to pull out this hulking machine for small jobs like cleaning under the dining table. Because we can’t rip out the carpet and replace it with beautiful caramelized bamboo floors like I’d like, a great vacuum is a must — preferably a lightweight, cordless one that takes little time to grab and go.

I recently had an opportunity to try the new Dyson DC35 Digital Slim vacuum, and I couldn’t wait to give it a go. Want to see why I’m so excited about it? Check out this video:

In the next few weeks, I’ll share more with you about this great little machine and show you how I’ve been using it around the house. Trust me when I tell you I’ve already put it to the test, and it has yet to disappoint me!

It hit Walmart stores on April 22 if you’re interested in checking it out, and you can also find it at Dyson.com.

Disclosure: I am a member of the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with a Dyson DC35 Digital Slim vacuum to review and compensation for my time. Participation is voluntary and as usual, all opinions are my own.

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

I don’t know what rock I’ve been living under, but the HGTV Green Home giveaway has been live for a while now, and I’m just getting around to taking the tour. To put it lightly, I am in love! The 2011 Green Home is located in Denver, CO, and compared to last year’s, it feels much more like a home that could work for a family.

The style of the home is decidedly modern, both outside and inside, with few traditional influences. I am perfectly fine with that, but I know there are fans who would’ve preferred some more traditional elements. Still, this is the style of house my husband and I always hope we’ll discover somewhere in metro Atlanta, without having to build custom.

I personally LOVE the palette and overall look on the first floor. The gray, white and yellow color scheme is likely what I would choose for my own living room if I could do it all over again (and it is the palette we are currently using in our master bedroom). It feels very loft-like, and the colors continue from the living room through the kitchen and dining room.

Interior designer Linda Woodrum said shopped for decor with Denver’s young, urban couples in mind. “We’re not living in Mom and Dad’s house,” she said.

The first floor also features a “Do Room,” which is essentially a laundry/craft/work room with an ingenious storage system that allows you to hide all of these functions when you’re not using them.

It also features a sliding barn door made of reclaimed wood that I am absolutely in love with!

Upstairs is a loft space/lounge area along with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths.

While the living room downstairs feels like a showpiece, the loft looks like a place to lounge on Saturday afternoons or in the evenings before the family turns in for the night.

The master bedroom suite isn’t my favorite space, because it almost feels too neutral. I love the low platform bed, but I’m iffy on the headboard. But I guess if relaxing is what you’re going for, it’s perfect. The master bath gets points for feeling like a spa, and the dark cabinets and modern hardware are right up my alley.

The “girl’s bedroom” looks every bit like my own daughter’s idea of heaven. The color palette is bold and saturated, and the room is spacious enough to accommodate sleepovers and other girlish antics. What I like most about it is that much like my daughter’s current room, the decor can work for a young girl, but isn’t so childish that she would outgrow it quickly.

Finally, the boy’s bedroom leaves something to be desired — mostly space. Compared to the other bedrooms, this one feels tiny! Still, in person, I’m sure it’s not as small as it appears in photos, and the decor is gorgeous. And that striped wood floor? I love it!

Overall, the home as a whole has me captivated. Check out this 90-second tour (if you’re reading this via RSS or email, you’ll likely have to visit my site to see the video):

Solar panels will provide 75% of the home’s energy, and sustainability was taken into consideration in every design decision — making for a home that is as green as it is gorgeous. I really couldn’t ask for much more. I’ve been entering the giveaway daily. Plus, this year, you can enter twice a day: Once on HGTV.com and once at FrontDoor.com.

What do you think of this year’s Green Home? Will you be entering the giveaway?

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

Every year on Earth Day, I debate whether I should write a post. After all, this site is dedicated to all things green 365 days a year. Still, I wanted to acknowledge that if you’re one of many who have never really thought about their impact on the planet, today is a great day to start.

So what am I doing today? To be honest, the same thing I was doing yesterday.

• When I go to the grocery store, I’ll take my reusable shopping bags and be selective about the food I buy.
• I’ll think twice about whether I really NEED to drive somewhere, or whether I can walk or combine the errand into another trip.
• I’ll tell my daughter she can’t use the “regular” lotion because I don’t know what’s in it and give her pure coconut oil to use instead.
• When my extended family gets together, my husband and I will collect all the recyclable bottles, cans, etc. instead of throwing them all in the trash. And we’ll do our best to encourage them to use reusable materials instead of disposable ones (and that tends to be an uphill battle).
• Before I buy anything, I’ll stop to think about whether I really need it. This will help save the planet, but it will also stop me from blowing a hole in my wallet with unnecessary spending.
• I’ll try to make things I want myself rather than buying them.
• I’ll have lots of fun trying to find used treasures at local thrift stores and on Craigslist instead of buying new.

And I’ll keep doing other simple, nondescript things like that. In other words, I’ll lead by example, and hope that all the things that have become a part of my every day living will inspire others around me to make similar changes — or at least to be curious enough to ask about it.

I will try to educate people about why green living isn’t just for hippies and why its something we all should care about. And I hope you will do the same.

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

We often hear that we all need to reduce our water consumption, but getting people to make a connection between their own water usage and the need for reduction can be a difficult leap. I think this graphic sums up many water facts in a way that is easy to digest and understand:

Source: eLocal.com. Click the image to view a larger version.

NOTE: This graphic comes from eLocal.com. I did not research the numbers, so I can’t confirm whether they are 100% accurate. I was not paid to share this graphic. I simply believe it was important to share something that so simply conveys such a broad issue.

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

As I say every year, I’m a believer that every day is Earth Day. Still, I understand that retailers don’t necessarily ascribe to my philosophy. I’m still happy to be able to save money on green items that I need or would’ve bought anyway. Here’s a roundup of retailers and manufacturers who are offering specials sales, deals or coupon codes for Earth Day. I’ll update this list as I learn of new offers.

Beautorium

• Get a free gift worth $20 with your $60 purchase of John Masters products. PLUS, get 10% off your John Masters purchase with coupon code “JMorganics.” Exp. 4/22/11 (aff)
• Get up to 20% off during the Beautorium Earth Day Sale! Get 20% off $200 with coupon code “SAVE20“, 15% off $100 with coupon code “SAVE15“, OR 10% off $60 with coupon code “SAVE10“! Exp. 4/24 (aff)
• Get 10% off nontoxic nail polish by Scotch Naturals with coupon code “polish.” Exp. 4/30/11 (aff)

Better World Books

• Get 20% off 3 or more used books with coupon code “EARTHDAY.” Exp. 4/26/11 (aff)
• Get 5 used books for $15 in the Better World Books Bargain Bin. Free shipping in the US, and just $3.97 worldwide. No coupon code needed. (aff)

Brilliant Earth

• Purchase any ring from April 18-24 and receive a FREE LIMITED EDITION “Green on the Inside” recycled sterling silver charm necklace with an ethically-sourced green sapphire.

Gilt Groupe

• On Earth Day (Friday, April 22nd), Lauren Bush is curating Gilt Groupe’s Good and Green Sale with brands like Doucette Duvall, Stewart + Brown, Loomstate and more! If you’re not a member of Gilt Groupe, you’ll have to sign up to take advantage of the sale. Signing up is free!

Graze Organic

• Get free shipping at Graze Organic with coupon code “EarthDay.” Graze sells 100% organic cotton lunch totes, sandwich bags and napkins that are made in the US. Exp. 4/24/11

I Am Beyond

• Shop at I am Beyond between April 22 & 28 and support a worthy cause: Use coupon code “EARTH” at checkout and they will donate 15% of their proceeds to TreePeople, an organization aimed at “greening” local communities. You’ll also be entered in their Earth Day giveaway!

Juice Beauty

• Juice will donate 10% of every product purchased to The Organic Center. You’ll also receive a FREE full size Organic Facial Rejuvenating Mask with every purchase with coupon code “EARTH.”

LifeFactory

• Get 20% off LifeFactory’s BPA-free, glass baby bottles with coupon code “KIWI20.” Exp. 5/22/11

NIMLI

• EARTH DAY SALE! Get 35% OFF any order with coupon code “EARTHDAY11.” Exp. 4/25/11 (aff)
• Get 10% off any order with coupon code “Shop10.” (aff)
• Get 30% off all Reveal handbags with coupon code “REVEAL.” (aff)

Pangea Organics

• Get 25% off everything at Pangea Organics. No coupon code necessary. Exp. 4/30/11

Pottery Barn

• Get free shipping on all organic bedding and bath at Pottery Barn with coupon code “EARTHDAY.” Exp. 4/22/11
• Get 20% off organic and eco-friendly items at Pottery Barn Teen & Pottery Barn Kids. No coupon code needed. Exp. 4/25/11

ReBinder

• Get 25% off storewide at ReBinder. No coupon code necessary. Exp. 4/24/11 (aft)

Seventh Generation

• Get 10% off Seventh Gen’s Healthy Home Starter Kit and a free tote bag. No coupon code necessary.
• Print coupons for discounts on Seventh Gen cleaning and personal care products.

Speesees

• Speesees is offering tees, tanks, shorts, pants and jackets for just$10-15 during their 4T Sale for Earth Day! No coupon code needed. Exp. 4/20/11

Spirit Beauty Lounge

• Get 15% off your order of $150 with coupon code “15EW11″.
• Get strong>$20 off your order of $100 with coupon code “20EW11″.
• Get strong>$10 off your order of $50 with coupon code “10EW11″.
• Get strong>FREE SHIPPING when you spend $30 with coupon code “FSEW11″. Exp. at midnight 4/22/11
• Get 10% off every order at Spirit Beauty Lounge with coupon code “RO1010.” Spirit offers a great variety of eco-friendly beauty and personal care products and accessories.
• Get $5 off any order with coupon code “MYFIVE.” You must be a registered user to use this coupon.

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

Every few months, I take a look at the parts of this site that people are using most and try to improve it however I can. As such, I’ve added a few new features in the last couple of weeks:

House Tour

I wanted to make it easy for old and new readers to find projects I’ve done in my own home without having to scroll through my archives. I created the House Tour page to collect all of them in one place. You’ll find photos of the rooms in my home, along with links to any related posts and the places where you can buy the items I used (if you’re interested).

Please take a second to check it out and let me know what you think. I included some photos of my home office that I’ve never published here — so there’s your incentive!

GYD Store

I often get emails from people requesting specific green products that they can buy for their homes. Though there are tons of options in the archives, some of those products are sold out or no longer being made. So I’ve create a store here at Green Your Decor so I can keep my suggestions fresh and current. Simply click the “Store” link in the navigation menu.

In the store, powered by Amazon, you’ll find items that I actually own or have used (or very close lookalikes with similar green qualities), along with a collection of beautiful items in the following categories: Art, Bedding, Bath, Decor Accessories, Dining, Fabrics, Furniture, Kitchen, Lighting, Nursery, Pillows and Window Treatments.

If you believe something is missing, let me know and I’m happy to add it if its available. I will constantly update the store as I find new, high-quality items that I believe you’ll love.

Savings Newsletter

The Green Coupons page is the third most-visited page at this site. I update it every weekday morning with current short-term sales from sites like Gilt Groupe, Groupon, Pure Citizen and others like them, along with regular coupon codes to help you save money while you shop green. I take advantage of a lot of these deals myself, and they have allowed me to purchase eco-friendly items and services my family needs and uses at great discounts.

While some of these deals are home-related and warrant a blog post here, many of them are in other categories, like apparel, services, food and more. Because I know it can be a pain to check the page every day, I have decided to create an email newsletter to send you the best of the best deals each weekday. The first newsletter will go out on April 4, so sign up now!

Current Green Your Decor subscribers will automatically receive the new newsletter. If you subscribe by RSS, or if you’re not yet a subscriber but want to receive this newsletter, please sign up below:

NOTE: If you are a current email subscriber who does not wish to receive the savings newsletter, you have two options.

1. Contact me with your email address and request that you be removed from the list (though you will still receive the regular feed emails)
2. Click the “unsubscribe” link when the first newsletter is released on April 4.

More than anything else, my goal is to create a well-rounded helpful experience for all of you, so please let me know if you have suggestions of features, products or ideas that you’d like to see!

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

For the past few months, updating the green coupons page has been a large part of what I do here at Green Your Decor. Every weekday, I scour short-term sale sites like Gilt Groupe, Pure Citizen and others, and publish their current deals on eco-friendly products and services. I’ve gotten a great response about the page, and I’m considering expanding the service. Please take a minute to answer the brief poll below. It is just 3 questions, and it will help me decide if I want to add on to the coupons page and service.

Thanks in advance!

NOTE: If you are viewing this post via email or RSS reader and you don’t see a poll embedded below, you will have to visit the site to complete the poll. I’d really appreciate it if you’d do that!

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

One of the things I most wish we could do to our apartment is add lighting where there is none and replace boring fixtures with ones that are more fun. Because to say the least, much of our apartment is dark. All. The. Time. Even with the windows open. So I’m feeling particularly envious of the High-Minded Chandelier and Well-Defined Lamp by Stray Dog Designs for Anthropologie.

Stray Dog has long been one of my favorite makers of sustainable lighting. All of their pieces are made with sustainability in mind, and these two are no exception.

The Well Defined table lamp is composed of a shade made of repurposed dictionary pages atop a recycled glass base. The High-Minded Chandelier is handmade of recycled encyclopedia pages-turned-papier mache.

In my opinion, they are the ultimate textured neutrals. They are black, white, and translucent, and still strong enough to visually carry a room. And the irony of using recycled dictionary and magazine pages to create lighting you’d likely use for reading isn’t lost on me.

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade of recycled and repurposed materials

Price: Lamp, $388; Chandelier, $998

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