A little while back when we finished my daughter’s room, you might remember that there was a blank spot on one side of the room that was waiting for something special: custom-built Owyn toy box donated by Mod Mom Furniture. Well, Owyn is here, and I can unequivocally say that he was well worth the wait.

Previously, all of Ja’Naya’s larger toys were housed inside a large, blue plastic bin that we acquired sometime over the past few years in one of our moves. It was functional, but it was hideous — which is why I kept it hidden away as much as possible. Owyn, on the other hand, will live proudly next to the wall we like to call the “art gallery.” Here he is in the context of the whole room:

From the product photos, it is hard to tell, but Owyn has two compartments — not the one large compartment I was expected. I would’ve realized this had I read the product description more thoroughly, but alas, I didn’t. This means that Ja’Naya’s toy piano will have to find another home (probably on a shelf in the closet), but most of the other toys fit comfortably. It is really short and squat — the perfect height for a child. And since that wall is the only spot in the room with an exposed outlet for a night light, the height is also perfect in that the outlet isn’t covered up, so we don’t have to move the toy box at night.

Overall, we LOVE this toy box. And knowing that it was made by the hands of a mother who loves the Earth as much as I do makes it that much sweeter!

If you want a Mod Mom toy box, keep in mind that it will come with a wait. Because Kiersten makes each one by hand, they generally take 8-11 weeks to be shipped. But like I said, it was worth the wait.

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade to order of sustainable Baltic Birch plywood from Russia (E1 Certified)
• Finished with non-toxic paints from Pittsburgh Paints (inside and leaf lids) and non-toxic, low-VOC water-based polyurethane from Deft

Price: $399

(Sponsored opp): This toy box was donated as part of a room redesign project. The opinions are 100% my own.

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

His Name is Owyn the Eco-Friendly Toy Box, and We Love Him!

I’ve been having a blast decking out Ja’Naya’s new room with the help of some wonderful in-kind sponsors. It’s killing me that I can’t reveal the whole room just yet, but I’m waiting for a couple of key components that will really complete the look, so you’ll have to wait just a little bit longer.

In the meantime, though, I decided to give you a sneak peek of the room. The image shown above is just a sneak peek of the sneak peek   Want to see the full image? Head over to the Green Your Decor Facebook page. And if you’re not a fan yet, why don’t you become one while you’re at it? Hint: It’s a photo of our favorite little corner of the room.

The full room reveal is coming soon!

Update! The room is done! Want to see how it turned out? Click here!

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

A Sneak Peek of Ja’Naya’s New Room…on Facebook

My daughter is four years old, so she’s at the age when she’s learning how to read and tell time. Thanks to the poster hanging in her room from MadeByGirl, “love” was the first word she learned how to spell. Because of this, I realized that I have the opportunity to use her room decor not only to surround her with beautiful things, but with items she can learn from. Sure, the clock and alphabet poster from the dollar store are functional, but they aren’t exactly a work of art, and they certainly are not made of sustainable materials.

Here is some of my favorite beautiful, educational and sustainable kids’ decor:

1. Bamboo Clocks by Decoylab: Teach them how to tell time in the most stylish way with these modern clocks. Made in the U.S. of sustainable bamboo. Price: $48-68 (aff)

2. My Favorite Things poster by Petit Collage: Now THIS is an alphabet poster I can learn to love! It is available in two color schemes — pink/orange and blue — so your favorite little one can learn in style with whichever colors best match your decor. Printed in Portland, OR with soy-based inks on 100% recycled paper. Price: $30 (aff)

3. Periodic Table Shower Curtain: This is definitely a bit much for my preschooler, but if you have older children, this is a great reminder of a science lesson we’ve all had to learn. Made of EVA, which is technically still vinyl, but is a much safer alternative to PVC. Price: $30 (aff)

4. Letter Lights by Perch: What kid doesn’t want to see their name in lights? In this case, they’d at least get their initial, unless your child has a really short name or you have a really big budget Handmade in Brooklyn, NY of ceramic. Price: $110

5. Dr. Seuss organic bedding from Pottery Barn Kids: Remind them of their favorite storybook characters with this sweet unisex bedding. Sleeping with Horton and Sam I Am is bound to make them want to read. Made of organic cotton and Oeko-Tex certified. Price: $23-114

6. Multibox by Green Lullaby: Your child may love their toy blocks, but these particular blocks will make mom and dad happy too. They’re great for kid-friendly storage that could double as seating, and the bold colors and educational motifs will foster learning. Made of recycled cardboard, 100% recyclable and finished with non-toxic water-based paints and adhesives. Price: $59.99 for a set of 3

7. EnviroBanks: They have to save money at some point, and in this economy, that’s a lesson that will go a long way. Ditch the cheap plastic piggy banks in favor of a more sustainable — and stylish — option. Available as a cow, kangaroo, koala or panda. Made of wood from sustainably-managed plantations with non-toxic glues and dyes and recycled packaging. Price: $24.75

8. Pillow Talk Collection by Alexandra Ferguson: This pillows will teach, and constantly remind, your kids of some important, sometimes tongue-in-cheek life lessons. If you’re like me and most other parents, you’re probably ready to scoop up that “No Whining” pillow right now. That’s a lesson my daughter could stand to see on a regular basis Handmade of 100% recycled felt. Price: $45-119

The most important lesson in all of these items, however, is the one that they share in common — that we must each do our part to make this Earth a safer and more beautiful place to live.

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

Learning in Style: Kids’ Decor can be Beautiful & Educational Too

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

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

The high chair is available in pink or cherry.

Why It’s Green:

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

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

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

Green Steal of the Week: Argington Nursery & Kids Furniture

So…you all know how much I love bird decor, right? If you do, it should be no surprise that I’m drooling over this birdhouse lamp by inke. I have every intention of painting a forest mural on the walls in my daughter’s room, inspired by this gorgeous nursery “before & after” over at Design Sponge. Can you just imagine how beautiful it would be to have this hanging on the wall amongst the trees?

In the main image, you can see it paired with the beautiful inke wallpaper tree I featured last year, made of vintage wallpaper. I’m seriously ready to go get a few pints of paint right now so I can get started on the mural.

The $300 price tag on this baby does give me a little pause, but I guess you have to pay if you want a birdhouse made of reclaimed French oak. It does, however, give me a goal for my next treasure hunt at the Habitat for Humanity Re:Store. I’ll be looking for an old birdhouse to turn into a lamp.

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade of salvaged French oak
• Compatible with CFLs

Made in: Leiden, the Netherlands

Price: $300

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

It’s For the Birds: Birdhouse Lamp by inke

If you’re wondering about the erratic posting schedule here at Green Your Decor since last week, there is an explanation. My family and I are moving into our own place after 2 long years, and I am buzzing with excitement! It’s an apartment and not a house, but I’m still incredibly giddy about the prospect of having a 6 new rooms to decorate. Of them, I think I’m most looking forward to doing my daughter’s room, because I know I can have fun with it. I’ve been looking for some wall art that I think suits her personality and taste, and these fabric wall stickers by Mae jumped out at me as soon as I saw them.

If you’re familiar with typical wall stickers, you’ll know that many of them are made of toxic vinyl. Not exactly something I want to hang in my toddler’s room. These stickers by Mae are made of fabric rather than vinyl. On top of that, they are designed to be can be reused indefinitely.  They are also — mercifully — washable, so they truly are built to last. Can you imagine how fun these would be in a nursery?

I am particularly fond of the Forest Critters set, which includes a rabbit, owl, squirrel, mouse, 6 birds (yay!), a tree stump, greenery, florals, 5 hearts and a top hat. In other words, more than enough to make a unique, lasting wall art installation perfect for a 4-year-old who loves nature. I’d definitely pair this set with with the Build a Tree kit to make a cute forest scene. For the little man in your life, there are also boy-friendly options like the dinosaurs shown above.

Technically, we can paint the walls in the apartment, but we’d have to paint them back before we move out. We’re painting the living room and dining room, but we may leave the bedrooms alone. This would be a great way to dress up my daughter’s walls, even without paint.

Why It’s Green:

• Stickers made of fabric rather than vinyl (though I’m not sure what specific type of fabric)
• Washable and reusable (Can be removed and repositioned indefinitely)

Price: $42-115

NOTE: We are moving this weekend, starting tomorrow, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see another post until next week. I will post if time allows, but I can’t guarantee it. Thanks for reading!

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

Stuck-on Style: Mae Fabric Wall Stickers

Small though they may be, children are expensive to raise, sometimes more so when you’re trying to raise them with green values. So when I find Nurseryworks eco-friendly furniture on sale for 50-70% off, I take notice.

I’ve had my eye on the Nurseryworks Storytime Bookcase, top left, and Vale Headboard for quite some time now, so I’m ecstatic that fawn & forest has slashed prices on these, and many other Nurseryworks items. This is one of my favorite manufacturers of modern, incredibly stylish furniture for kids that also happen to be sustainably made and non-toxic.

At these prices, I imagine these pieces won’t last long! See below for the full list of Nurseryworks items on sale at fawn&forest.

NOTE: Notice the new logo for Green Steals of the Week. It’s less intrusive and easier to fit with photos, so look out for this icon instead of the old green one.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of MDF and Paulownia wood. MDF is Grade EO, which offers very minimal offgassing. Paulownia wood is a fast-growing, fire and decay-resistant hardwood species.
• Uses low-VOC finishes, lacquers, and glues.

Prices:

• Loom Changing Table: $330 (on sale from $1110)
• Goodnight Ottoman: $310 (reduced from $620)
• Vale Headboard: $312 (on sale from $625)
• Storytime Bookcase, single: $350 (reduced from $700)
• Storytime Bookcase, double: $625 (on sale from $1250)
• Mini Sleepytime Rocker: $92.50 (reduced from $185)
• Perch Stool: $212 (on sale from $424)

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

Green Steals of the Week: Huge Reductions on Nurseryworks Furniture

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!

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

Never Feel Alone Again: Fuz Corky Corkboard & Dusty Chalkboard

It never fails. Every time my daughter and I set out to really clean her room, it ends in one of two things:

1. I want to give away half (or more than half) of her toys because there are just too many, or
2. I end up frantically searching for better ways to store and organize all her stuff

Since we gave away a lot of her toys when we moved back to Georgia from Tennessee, the second outcome won this time. For the sake of my sanity, I really need to find a good, kid-friendly storage solution. I don’t know if this is the perfect solution for us, but Green Lullaby’s eco-friendly storage furniture is good enough to share nonetheless.

Their MultiBox (found via Inhabitots) is a combination of a storage unit, a chair and an educational block. The fully recyclable box is made of recycled cardboard, and it’s covered in a fire retardant solution that is supposed to be non-toxic. I’m going to have to do some research on that one, but that’s a great feature in theory. Some other great featured? The box is water-resistant and the surface can be cleaned easily with a wet wipe.

If you’re intrigued by the MultiBox, you’ll want to see the rest of Green Lullaby’s products, including a bench/table, a baby cradle (yes, a cradle made of cardboard) and a dollhouse.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of recycled cardboard and recyclable
• Finished with non-toxic, water-based paints, adhesives and fire retardant

Price: $59.99 for a set of 3 MultiBoxes at Olive & Bean

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

A Tidy Place for Tots: MultiBox by Green Lullaby

From the moment she was born, my daughter has loved being wrapped up in a cuddly blanket. Sure, that’s normal for newborns who are still getting used to life outside the warmth of the womb. But my daughter never really outgrew this particular attachment. Luckily for us, she’s not attached to any one particular blanket — just to blankets in general. This means she carries them around the house and always wants to be wrapped, or covered up or otherwise near the comfort of her snuggie-of-the -moment. Truth be told, I’m pretty attached to blankets myself, though I prefer to leave them on my bed. So Ann Heaney of OrganicBlankees.com is welcome in our home anytime, and so are her blankets.

Ann sent me one of her blankees to try, shown above, and I’m not lying when I say it was love at first sight. Made of organic cotton velour and trimmed and embroidered with hemp silk, the couch-sized blanket is easily the softest one we’ve ever owned. Back in the days before we knew enough to care what the products we bought were made of, we owned a soft silky blanket made of some kind of acrylic velour that we thought had descended straight from heaven. In hindsight, that thing may as well have been made of itchy wool in comparison to Ann’s blankee. If you’ve never gotten your hands on organic cotton velour, trust me when I say you want to. There’s nothing else like it.

Aside from the obviously luxurious materials, the craftsmanship of this blanket is superb. The trim was obviously added with extreme care, and the embroidered monogram of my daughter’s initials is done just as well. In fact, it is so well made that I hesitate to give it to her, because I know it’ll wind up on the floor, in the bathroom and everywhere else my daughter goes. Something this special should be treated as such. So after I wrapped up in the blankee to enjoy it’s luxurious comfort for a while, I folded it up and put it back in the box it came in to be put aside as a surprise for my daughter’s birthday in August. Sure, it will be in the middle of the sweltering Georgia summer when she receives it. Trust me. That will make no difference. This is a blanket I know she’ll use all year long.

The Organic Blankees are available in natural organic cotton velour or fleece with your choice of trim styles in a variety of colors, as well as three sizes, from baby up to couch size. I have several friends who are expecting, and these will be very high on the list of shower gifts.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of organic cotton fleece or velour
• Trim made of hemp silk

Price: Starts at $48-138 depending on size and options

(review)

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

Love at First Snuggle: Couch Blanket from OrganicBlankees.com

In general, I try to make my life as paperless as possible, but I am a sucker for beautifully printed works. And deep down inside, I know I’d be happy to spend the rest of my days creating simple, hand-embossed posters on an ancient letterpress. This is a dream I am actively trying to pursue, and I’m doing a lot of research on the letterpress process and what I’d need to get started. Since the startup costs for this particular dream are a bit out of reach at the moment, I’ll settle for admiring beautiful letterpress pieces from other designers.

Etsy seller sweetbeets has found a fan in me, whether she knows it or not. Sweetbeets, a.k.a. Lisa, is also a fellow blogger over at ModEcoKids, a blog about beautifully designed, sustainable children’s products, so she truly is a woman after my own heart. Her letterpress counting posters may be simple, but in no way are they boring or mundane. Their simplicity makes them the perfect teaching tools for young children who are learning how to count. Two-color illustrations of easily-recognized toys, animals and other objects will make counting enjoyable. In fact, my own 3-year-old daughter has her eye on the pink and green poster because she knows it matches the colors in her room.

Why It’s Green:

• Hand-printed on a vintage letterpress on 100% recycled cotton paper

Price: $30

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

Just Letterpress Me: Recycled Counting Posters by sweetbeets

As idealistic as I was when I started Green Your Decor, I always had a nagging question in the back of my head. Would I eventually run out of products and designers to write about? Would the trend toward greener living eventually fade into the past? Would everyone just go back to doing things the “conventional” way, chemicals and all?

It is product designers like Jenny Lee-Katz who give me renewed hope that the future — for me and everyone else — is indeed a greener one.

According to her site, Katz always had a love for textiles and design, but was appalled at the amount of waste created by the manufacturing process. She soon discovered that instead of the traditional dyeing process, textiles could printed digitally with eco-friendly pigment dyes that are printed directly onto the surface of the fabric, leaving almost no waste.

Jenny has taken care to make sure that every conceivable aspect of her products are eco-friendly and easy on the Earth. And on top of the great respect I have for this attitude toward the environment, her textiles are absolutely, drop-dead gorgeous. Her collection includes beautiful printed fabrics made of hemp, organic cotton and linen, and a variety of housewares utilizing these fabrics, including throw pillows and eco-friendly floor cloths, a great alternative to an area rug. Also in the works is a line of kid-friendly prints and matching products, along with a collection of beautifully designed handbags.

Is there anything Jenny Lee-Katz can’t do? That remains to be seen, but I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on her site.

Why It’s Green:

• Textiles printed with pigment inks on organic cotton canvas, hemp and linen
• Non-slip rug pads are plant-based
• Floor cloths finished with an ultra-low VOC, soy-based protective coating
• Bags finished with a water-based sealant

Pricing

• Fabrics: $90/yard
• Floor Cloths: $170-470
  
• Pillows/Pillow Covers: $126-160
  

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

Designer Spotlight: Jenny Lee-Katz

I take so much pride in promoting the work of another blogger…another mom. But even if Jackie Hernandez of Tiny Decor weren’t my bloggy buddy, her efforts to make and sell nothing but beautiful, eco-friendly, handmade products still would have gotten my attention. I have featured her work before, including a Green Room in a Box using products only from her store. But her new artwork is definitely worthy of attention. I bookmarked it a while ago, and I’m glad I found it again.

These cute animal silhouettes are all hand-printed on organic cotton and shipped ready to hang. I personally want to get all three in a couple of different colors to create a mini gallery (like the one shown above) in my daughter’s room. I’ve said before that I love animal motifs for kids’ rooms because they are unisex and will grow with a child. This elephant, giraffe and lion in funky prints and colors are definitely sophisticated enough to last into the preteen years, and perhaps beyond. And isn’t the whole point of sustainability buying products that will be around for a long time?

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade in the U.S.
• Printed on 100% organic cotton

Price: $48/ea.

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

Wee Wild Kingdom: Animal Silhouette Art by Tiny Decor

When it comes to decorating kids’ rooms, you can never go wrong with animal themes.  They’re great for girls and boys, and they never go out of style (unlike the Strawberry Shortcake TV set we hastily bought for my daughter’s room a few years ago).  If that animal-themed decor also happens to be a place to put things away, I’m easily sold. These elephant hampers are cute, and they might actually make your kids want to put their dirty clothes in the right place

Besides the fact that they feature adorable elephants with floppy ears, these hampers are made of organic cotton. I couldn’t find any information about the sizing, but my best guess would be that they aren’t terribly large.  And even if you didn’t want to use it as a hamper, it seems like it would make great toy storage as well. While it is available in pink and blue, Uncommon Goods only has the blue elephant in stock at the moment. I’m a little sad about that since it is reasonably priced and my daughter is in need of a new hamper, but I’ll keep my eye out for when the pretty pink elephant is back in stock.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of organic cotton

Price: $38 (aff)

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

Animal Attraction: Organic Elephant Hamper from Uncommon Goods

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that I love doing room plans. I could sit all day with a pencil and paper, a ruler, some measurements and an idea. I’ve never been great at sketching, but I love seeing the ideas in my head come out on paper. So what’s the problem? I tend to get a little carried away. I have fun creating ideas for my daughter’s room because it’s girly and cute. But sometimes, I forget that it’s more than just a beautiful room — it’s a place where she has to live and have fun. Adding a couple of elements like these Kumo Friends organic pillows from Jaya loves Tekeko would definitely add to the fun factor.

Each pillow represents a character: Professor Acorn, Hedgehog, Eggboy, Leafgirl, Owlie and Raindrop. Each character is full of color and handdrawn goodness, and the team at Jaya Loves Tekeko clearly isn’t afraid to have a little fun. My guess is that my daughter would most like curling up with Owlie, reading to him and giving him “checkups” with her doctor set. And because they are not only organic, but printed with water-based inks, I don’t have to worry about her getting too close.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of a blend of organic cotton and bamboo
• Insert made of kapok fiber with an organic cotton shell
• Printed with water-based inks
• Hand printed and sewn in the U.S.

Price: $62/ea.

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

Just for the Kids: Kumo Friends pillows from Jaya loves Tekeko