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.

Slowly, but surely, I’m working on our office space. As I mentioned in the post about the curtains, it is the very first room you see as you walk in the front door, so I really want it to be beautiful. The color scheme is orange, blue, black and white. Clearly, my beloved green Steelcase Amia chair stuck out like a sore thumb. Not to mention the fact that nearly two years of wear and tear really had done a number on it’s upholstery. I’m almost embarrassed to show the photo above. It is easily the most comfortable office chair I had ever owned, but it was no longer the most stylish.

Something had to be done. I bought several yards of Mod Green Pod’s organic cotton Aspire fabric a LONG time ago with the intention of making some pillows and reupholstering a chair that I ended up donating to Habitat for Humanity. Since that never happened, I had that beautiful fabric just sitting in my craft bin waiting to be used. It was a perfect fit for the Amia, since it is a fairly rugged, home decor weight fabric meant to stand up to constant use.

How do you like her now?

I was skeptical at first about pairing the Aspire pattern with the orange I already had on the windows, but I like it. Aspire is a very deep slate blue — almost gray, actually. It’s a nice complement to the lighter blues I’m using throughout the rest of the space.

I will admit I was petrified to take apart this $600 chair, afraid that I would irreparably damage it. But once I removed the back from the base with a few screws and some elbow grease, the rest was pretty easy. The plastic base came apart from the front of the chair in a few snaps, and all it took was a few staples to secure the fabric. The bottom of the chair back required a special strip that snapped into the frame. This strip was attached to a piece of stretchy fabric that was then sewn into the seam of the green fabric. Since I couldn’t remove this necessary part without ruining it, I had to improvise around this obstacle. I folded the fabric and stapled it into the seam so the staples wouldn’t be visible. I think I did pretty well, and it’s invisible unless you flip the chair over and inspect it carefully.

I totally cheated on the seat. I didn’t have the right tool to remove the seat from the chair base. So what did I do? I used a flat head screwdriver to push the fabric snugly between the seat and the plastic base. The fit is very snug and secure, and I almost wish I had just done the same with the back. Then it would be really easy to remove when I decide to change the fabric again. Since I plan to own this chair for a very long time to come, it’s nice to know that I can change the fabric as my mood and decor changes. I wish still wish I could be spending my days working from a vintage tulip or lucite chair, but something tells me this is a lot more comfortable.

I’m pretty happy with this makeover that cost me nothing but some fabric I already had.

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

Who ever thought it would be so difficult to find a used desk? There was no shortage of options on Craigslist, but most of them were made of either made cheap particleboard, hideously ugly, overpriced, or some combination of the three. I found two for great prices, but they were sold before I could get to them. So when I happened upon this beauty just minutes after it was posted, I didn’t hesitate to contact the seller.

My new desk is from Hooker’s Mainline collection. I haven’t been able to find any information about this particular desk, but I’ve found photos of other Mainline desks that are much more ornate (see photos below). Apparently, they were made in the 50s and 60s. I bought it from a nice older man whose mother-in-law had passed away. He said she’d had the desk for as long as he could remember, and it is in great condition. The desks below are selling for as much as $895. I paid $100 for mine. Clearly mine is a lot cleaner and simpler than these, but now I have an idea of its value.

So that brings me to my quandary. I initially wanted a used desk so I could paint it white and have the talented Kristen of kfd designs paint an awesome pattern on the surface. The desk even came with a piece of glass to protect the desktop (though I forgot to put it on before I took the photos), so her work would be perfectly preserved. But now, I am afraid to “ruin” the desk by painting it. The finish is admittedly not my favorite, as I prefer darker wood tones, but if I sand and stain or paint it, I can’t really go backward.

I initially wanted to paint the entire desk white, but now I’m considering a less traditional finish, similar to what Sherry and John over at Young House Love did to their mid-century dresser-turned-changing table, shown above. I’m considering staining it darker and painting the top and drawer fronts white. What do you think? Should I leave it as is or take a risk to make it more in line with the rest of the decor in my work space?

Want to see what I did with the desk? Click here to see the results of my makeover!

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

A few months back, I wrote about my search for an affordable, eco-friendly desk. Later, I decided to get the Terra Console from West Elm to use as a desk, but that didn’t work out. So I had been searching Craigslist for a desk for what felt like months. It seemed like everything was either overpriced, made of particleboard, or both. Finally, last week, I found a gorgeous MidCentury desk that I couldn’t pass up! I’ll post pics as soon as I pick it up and tell you what I plan to do with it. In the meantime, I had to share this gorgeously ornate, completely over-the-top desk I found at Restoration Hardware.

I am in love with the chunky corbels made of beautifully-aged reclaimed teak. They are reproduced from an edifice in Philadelphia and elaborately hand carved. I am normally not a fan of anything quite this ornate, but I can easily envision this in a sparse, modern office, surrounded by white lacquered pieces. It would be the focal point of that room — no doubt.

If you like the style, but think it would be better suited in a living room or entryway, it is also available as a slightly smaller console table.

Why It’s Green:

• Hand-carved from reclaimed teak

Price: $1095

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

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!

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

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

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

My husband and I bought a cork board a few weeks ago to help us keep track of our appointments, leave cute little love notes for each other, etc. I resisted at first because cork board are generally not that great to look at. If he had suggested this cute Corky corkboard by Fuz, I would’ve agreed in a heartbeat! In fact, I’m tempted to take our boring, ugly version back to the store right now and place my order.

And of course, we’d have to get his female counterpart, the Dusty chalkboard, so Corky wouldn’t get lonely At less than $30 apiece, these accessories would be perfect for showing off the quirky, eclectic side of your personality in a way that is both stylish and functional. They’d also be great in a kids’ playroom, a homeschool classroom or even a regular classroom.

Why It’s Green:

• Both made of recycled materials
• Cork is a renewable material
• Made in the U.S.

Price: $29 for Dusty and $29 for Corky

REMINDER!

Today is launch day over at my new blog, Green & Gorgeous. Red my confessions about my worst habits, find some great eco-friendly apps for your iPhone or iPod touch, and enter to win a set of four of the best organic bar soaps I’ve ever tried!  And if you’re among the first 1000 people to subscribe, you’ll be entered to win one of 10 special green gifts from me! So get on over there and join the conversation!

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

When I first began dreaming of working from home, I always had rosy pictures in my mind of what my workspace would look like. First of all, it would be more than just a workspace. It would be an office, complete with a door I could close to shut out distractions. It also would be outfitted with a gorgeous, eco-friendly desk with lots of space on top for my shiny new PowerMac and MacBook Pro. Yes. I want both.

Fast forward to today, and the reality is a tiny, kid-sized $5 desk from Goodwill shoved up against a window, with no new Macs in sight. Still, a girl can dream, and I’m sure my daughter will appreciate a desk to do her homework on, since I plan to pass it on to her when my dream office finally becomes a reality. The Breeze Series Bamboo Top Desk and Shelf are certainly going on my short list for office furniture.

First, they have the dark wood color and modern profile that I love, and the stainless steel certainly lends itself to a contemporary vibe. Second, at 55″ wide and 27.5″ deep, the desk is by no means huge, but certainly large enough to suit my needs, and considerably wider and deeper than the space I have now. I love that the desk comes with a very simple storage shelf, though I know I’d need a couple of bamboo baskets if there is to be any hope of keeping it organized. The matching 4-tier shelf would be the perfect complement, and I imagine it residing comfortably behind the desk.  I have this thing about balance and symmetry (my graphic design background probably has a lot to do with that), so two pieces that work this well together are ideal for me.

And as eco-friendly furniture goes, these are moderately priced (meaning above $100, but still far from 4 figures).

Why It’s Green:

• Made of bamboo and recyclable stainless steel

Price: $449.99/ea. (aff)

Discounts: Click here to get $20 off your purchase of $100 or more or $30 off orders of $200 or more.

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

There’s a lot to love about working for myself for a living. My commute is short (as in from my bedroom to my desk), I can wear whatever I want to work, and I set my own schedule and pace. It’s not quite as easy as I’m making it sound, but it definitely has its perks. And of course, I want a work environment that is as stylish as it is functional. My current work area is a little lacking in both areas, but I am confident it won’t be this way forever. Especially not when there are affordable furniture options like Target’s bamboo desk and bookcase, both of which are currently on clearance.

Of course, if you’re looking for affordable office furniture, you can always hit up your nearest Goodwill/Craigslist/yard sale. You can often find great deals (I got my desk at the local Goodwill for $5). However, as is furniture is sometimes damaged or outdated. If you can’t find a used piece that you like, this desk and matching bookcase are 2 great options to anchor your stylish workspace.

The desk isn’t very large at 48″ wide, so it’s more of a writing desk. It will work if you use are using a laptop or a smaller desktop, but there won’t be room for much else. My $5 desk is about this size, and the desktop space is inadequate for my needs. It will serve you better if you don’t have a lot of computer equipment.

The matching bookcase, priced just $5 higher, is equally stylish and fairly spacious at a little taller than 5 feet. The three shelves would be great for storing files and books, and the bottom cabinet is a great place to put all the things you don’t need to have readily at hand.

Together, the bookcase and desk are stylish and definitely adequate for a home office. And at less than $300 for the pair, they are definitely more affordable than some of the other eco-friendly office furniture out there. I won’t assume they are the greenest options out there, because if they are sold at Target, they were very likely manufactured overseas. I also can’t vouch for the quality of these pieces or how well they’d hold up to daily use. For the price, you may have to sacrifice a little in these areas. These are all things you need to consider when making any furniture purchase, particularly if your ultimate goal is to stay green.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of bamboo

Price: Desk, $144.99; Bookcase, $149.99 (aff)

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

For the past few years, I’ve made New Year’s resolutions that have fallen by the wayside within a few weeks. This year, I’ve decided to make a few resolutions throughout the year in hopes that I’ll be able to start the new year with most of them already complete. One of them has been to do a better job of organizing my work area. I’ll have to start over pretty soon as we prepare to move to a new state in a few weeks, but one of the things I know that organized work area will need to have is a great calendar. These would also make great, inexpensive green gifts for those on your holiday list. Here are 5 stylish, eco-friendly options I’ve found:

1. Susy Jack 2009 Deluxe Calendar

One of my favorite paper product designers is back at it, creating this bold, graphic statement of a calendar. It features 12 pages printed on cover-weight paper that feature abstract, graphic images, many of which are nature inspired. It would also be perfect for me because I have a habit of forgetting to flip to the next month. The pages can be separated and hung in a row, so I wouldn’t have to switch to a new page. Not to mention it would create an awesome, artistic focal point on the wall above my desk. This is a defiinite contender.

• Why It’s Green: Printed locally on recycled paper with soy-based inks
• Price: $34

2. Magnolia Moonlight 2009 shout Calendar

Etsy is always a great resource for well-designed paper products, and this one shouted at me as soon as I saw it — literally. The shout calendar features a thought- and talk-bubble theme in vibrant colors that appeal to the graphic artist in me. The addition of small hand-written notes would give this calendar even more personality.

• Why It’s Green: Printed double-sided on 100% recycled chlorine-free cover paper with soy inks.
• Price: $30

3. Birds in a Tree Letterpress Poster Calendar

If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you probably expected to see at least one calendar with a bird motif in this collection. I can’t help it! I just love bird art. Not the photorealistic portrait kind, but I really like graphic depictions of these winged creatures. The calendar features a stylized tree that is the home to 6 birds and an owl, with the top bird in such a good mood that he is singing out “Yee-Haw!” Looks like a good time!

• Why It’s Green: Letterpressed on 100% recycled kraft card stock
• Price: $35

4. Jessica Gonacha 2009 Calendar

I am a graphic artist, but give me a pencil and paper and ask me to draw, and what you’ll get is a bunch of barely recognizable scribbles and stick figures. OK…that’s a bit of an overexaggeration, but let’s just say I’m better with a mouse and a monitor.  So I can appreciate artist Jessica Gonacha’s hand-drawn illustrations, which make this calendar a clear standout. Each month features a vibrant piece of art that will make me look forward to the months to come. I need that kind of motivation!

• Why It’s Green: Printed on recycled cover stock
• Price: $30

5. Asgard Press Vintage 2009 Calendars

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that I have to consider my husband’s taste when I’m decorating. I tend to get all gung-ho and sometimes forget to ask if he likes something. So this pick is in his honor. These awesome calendars from Asgard Press feature vintage Mad Magazine covers, superheroes and football programs from nearly any big football school you can think of — from Alabama to Yale and everything in between. Sounds like a great gift for nearly any man. Even if he doesn’t like football, what man can resist a vintage Superman cover?

• Why It’s Green: Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks
• Price: $18.95

Want to win one?

The folks at Asgard Press sent me a couple of calendars to review and give away to my great readers. My husband went right for the MAD Magazine calendar, but I’ve got two more left — a DC comics superheroes calendar and a vintage University of Georgia football calendar. To enter, visit Asgard Press and take a look around, then come back here and tell me which calendar is your (or your husband’s) favorite. Do this by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 18, 2008. Two lucky winners will be selected.

Want to enter more than once? Boost your chances of winning by completing one or more of the tasks on this list. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:

1. If you haven’t already, sign up for Green Your Decor’s email updates by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 18, 2008. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. After you sign up, FeedBurner will send you a verification email. Please do not ignore it — your entry will be invalid if you do not verify. All current subscribers are eligible to win. And there’s no need to leave a comment letting me know you subscribe by email. I’ll know you’re a subscriber
2. If you’d prefer to receive your updates via RSS, sign up for the GYD feed. Then please leave a comment letting me know that you’ve done so, and be sure to include your email address. RSS subscribers are anonymous otherwise.
3. Blog about GreenYourDecor.com and post a link to your blog entry here.
4. Stumble or give a thumbs up to any page at GreenYourDecor.com via StumbleUpon and post a link to your SU profile to verify your thumbs up.
5. Fave Green Your Decor on Technorati. Then come back here and leave a comment with your Technorati user name so I can verify it.

So that means every participant can receive up to 6 entries. You have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, to enter. U.S. mailing addresses only. Two winners will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Good luck everyone!

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

Ever since I got an iPod for Christmas a few years ago, I have rarely bought CDs. There’s some stuff I just cant find on iTunes, but for the most part, I just download the songs or albums I want. I’ve also converted most of my CD collection to MP3 format, so I don’t use them much any more. However, I do have quite a stack of software CDs on and around my desk. I keep them on hand in the event I ever need to reinstall. I also have a sizable supply of blank CDs and DVDs so I’ll always have one on hand to provide native files to my design clients.

What I don’t have is a good way to store them.  I’d prefer to have them up off the desk, because that is valuable real estate. Hanging some sort of storage unit on the wall seems like the perfect solution, and this X CD Holder from Zanisa will allow me to do that in style. Made of bamboo, it features 5 stylish, slanted compartments for storage. I visualize attaching some patterned wrapping paper or fabric scraps to the back for some added dimension.

Looks like my CDs will soon have a new home

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade
• Made of bamboo

Price: $45

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

I like the idea of being able to go green in every room in my home, from the kitchen to the bathroom and everything in between. In my home office (more of a work area right now), part of that is going paperless whenever possible. I also repurposed a utility table to use as a desk. But the major green work solution? My gorgeous Amia chair by Steelcase.

A few months ago, I featured the Amia for its features on paper. It really looked to be the ultimate in sustainable design: Gold Cradle to Cradle certification for indoor air quality, 97% recyclable, it can contribute to your home’s LEED certification…the list goes on. But, I wondered, how would this chair stand up to real use?

Steelcase sent me a chair to use and review, and I couldn’t be more excited about that. I wanted to delay the review a bit so I could get to use the chair for a while and see how it really feels. I knew it would be a huge step up from the cheap rolling office chair I had bought a few years back that was literally falling apart. The entire back fell off every time I made a sudden move, and the mechanisms that made the chair move up and down worked occasionally, at best.

Functionality

From day 1, the Amia improved my work environment. My lower back didn’t hurt nearly as much at the end of the day. After a few weeks, it didn’t hurt at all (though my shoulders were still tense at the end of the day). Every part of the chair is adjustable, so you can make it fit your individual body, height and needs:

• ARMS: You can slide the arms forward and back and rotate them for optimal comfort, and you can also adjust their height.
• SEAT: In addition to adjusting seat height, you can adjust its depth, sliding it forward and backward to conform to your posture.
• BACK: There is a LiveLumbar support cushion inside the back that can be moved up and down for extra support where you need it most. The entire back can also be leaned backward or positioned upright, and you can adjust the tension.
• WHEELS: I opted for the standard carpet casters, but they rolled easily on both carpet and bare floor.

Style

If you’re looking for a work chair that is both functional and stylish, this is it. The Amia chair is minimal and clean. I choose the green fabric, but there are lots of other colors to choose from, so it isn’t tough to make it match your decor. I also chose the platinum frame since I’m not very fond of black. This is just enough to make it feel modern and unassuming — two qualities that can’t be ascribed to very many work chairs.

Though I may eventually change the fabric if when I get tired of the green, this may very well be the last work chair I ever own.

Verdict

If you’re in the market for a new work chair and you can afford to spend a couple hundred bucks, you will not be disappointed by the Amia. It is comfortable, adjustable in all the right places, and stylish enough to fit in with your office decor without sticking out like a sore thumb.

And did I mention it’s Green? It’s eco-qualities are too numerous to mention more than once, so see the “Why It’s Green” list below. The Amia gets an A+ in my book, and I resoundingly recommend it.

Why It’s Green:

• All materials in the Amia chair were required to pass materials chemistry analysis by MBDC, an independent organization that tests each substance for safety to human and environmental health
• Chair is 98% recyclable by weight and the use of inseparable mixed materials was avoided to make recycling easier
• Amia earned the Gold Cradle to Cradle™ Product Certification from MBDC for using environmentally safe and renewable materials
• Amia has Indoor Advantage™ Gold certification for protecting indoor air quality, so it may help contribute toward earning LEED credits for your home
• Should you decide to resell, donate or recycle your Amia chair someday, the Steelcase Environmental Partnership program can help connect you with ways to do that

Price: $599-664 (aff)

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

When it comes to my graphic design business, there is little that I print on paper. I use eFax and keep electronic copies of my faxes, keep my accounting records on computer and have a couple of sketch books for putting design ideas down on paper. Still, this doesn’t stop the top of my desk from becoming a magnet for clutter, mostly from mail, magazines and my daughter’s endless toddler doodling. I have one of those old plastic trays for sorting paper, but it is small, so most stuff ends up on top of it rather than sorted neatly inside it.

This great 8-Slot Literature Sorter looks like the answer to my clutter problems. Each slot is lette-sized, so I’d be able to fit all those pesky magazines in it, along with the calendar, menu and newsletter my daughter’s preschool sends home each week. And because there are so many compartments, I could dedicate each to a specific purpose. I can just picture it now with a nice vase of fresh flowers on top of it. Clearing the clutter and adding some foliage just might motivate me to get more done than I have been lately.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of recycled cardboard

Price: $16.99

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

We all have them: cell phones, iPods, PDAs, organizers…and all those essential electronics have to end up somewhere. If you’re anything like me, they wind up in a pile on top of your desk, cords tangled on their way to the nearest outlet. I haven’t been using my iPod a whole lot anymore since I’m working from home, but there’s still the cell phone, and occassionally my PDA since I don’t have a Blackberry that does it all.

In my quest for organization, I have tried to remove everything from my desk that isn’t absolutely essential — which means that it’s left a bit bare and boring. As evidenced by the eco-chic desk caendar I featured a few days ago, I don’t want it to be completely devoid of personality.

These awesome bamboo desk accessories by Kangaroom Storage are the perfect solution. They make a 2-pod and 3-pod gadget charging station, as well as laptop and monitor stands with charging stations built in. No matter which fits your needs, it is sure to add some eco-friendly style to your work station. In fact, these are so sleek and functional, you’d definitely benefit from adding one to your desk away from home.

One thing is certain: it will keep your gadgets close at hand and their cords tangle free, and they’ll free your desk of the electronic clutter we have all become so accustomed to.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of sustainable bamboo

Price: $25-45

Want to win one?

The gracious folks at Kangaroom sent me a 2-pod charging station for my own use, but I decided to give it away to you, my wonderful readers. Pay a visit to Kangaroom Storage and take a look around at all their products. Then come back here and leave a comment telling me what you liked best and why. I’m partial to the bamboo products shown above because they are made of a great, sustainable material. Not to mention they are gorgeous, and very sturdy!

Want to enter more than once? Boost your chances of winning by completing one or more of the tasks on this list:

1. If you haven’t already, sign up for the Green Your Decor newsletter by 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 22, 2008. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. After you sign up, FeedBurner will send you a verification email. Please do not ignore it — your entry will be invalid if you do not verify. All current subscribers are eligible to win. And there’s no need to leave a comment letting me know you subscribe by email. I’ll know you’re a subscriber
2. If you’d prefer to receive your updates via RSS, sign up for the GYD feed. Then please leave a comment letting me know that you’ve done so, and be sure to include your email address. RSS subscribers are anonymous otherwise.
3. Blog about GreenYourDecor.com and post a link to your blog entry here.
4. Stumble or give a thumbs up to any page at GreenYourDecor.com via StumbleUpon and post a link to your SU profile to verify your thumbs up.

So that means every participant can receive up to 5 entries. You have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, September 22, 2008, to enter. U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. A winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced here, and the winner will be contacted via email. Good luck everyone!

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

If you compiled an archive of my Google searches, you’d find a lot of them like this: “insert-month-here 2008 calendar.” I never remember what day, or date, it is, and I’m always working on projects that require me to know. Sure, it would be easy to just buy a calendar to stick up on the wall near my desk, but I haven’t gotten around it it — and cute kitties and cartoon characters aren’t really my style.

If I could, I would personally thank Cat Seto for creating this Eco-Chic Desk Calendar. It’s fits my style in every way: It’s gorgeous, it’s green and its functional. There are separate sheets for each month, all featuring awesome typography, graphics and colors. And as if you needed another reason to love it, at the end of the year, you can send your used pages back and Seto will recycle them and send you a coupon for refill pages.

Sounds to me like she’s a designer who knows what it means to be truly green.

Why It’s Green:

• Printed on 100% recycled paper
• Packaged in a biodegradable bag,
• Wood block stand made from reclaimed lumber
• Send used calendar pages back to the designer, who will recycle them and send you a coupon for refill page

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