Materials

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Its hard to imagine walking on stones with your bare feet and enjoying the sensation. In fact, just thinking about it makes my feet ache a bit. Images of jagged edges poking my toes and tearing at my sensitive skin come to mind — not pleasant. Thankfully, this gorgeous tile from modwalls will completely dispel that notion. Not only are the stones used to create this tile completely smooth and polished — they are absolutely beautiful, too.

Many people don’t realize that good old linoleum is among the most eco-friendly flooring options out there. It is also one of the most affordable. Linoleum is durable and biodegradable, made up mostly of natural linseed oil, and truly low in toxins. The problem is that many people tend to associate linoleum with their parents’ or grandparents’ floors that were installed in the 1940s and 50s, including the scrubbing involved with cleaning them, and the toxic paste required to install it. Well I can tell you that linoleum has come a long, long way since then. As you can see from the photos above, it can look as clean and contemporary or simple and classic as you want it to, and there is no stinky adhesive involved.

Give your walls a little texture and character with this beautiful grasscloth wallpaper by Twenty2 Neptune. The paper reflects light, so it will give your flat walls a little dimension. Create your own island getaway, or use it as a natural complement to your ultra-modern decor. The grasscloth is made of hand-woven jute, a renewable resource, and the color is created with natural, nontoxic vegetable dye. It is available in seven colors clearly inspired by nature: blanche, natural, cacao, chanterelle, grenadine, neptune (shown above with chair) and chlorophyll (also shown above).

Price: $32/yard

Finding eco-friendly fabrics is easy — unless of course you are looking for something with a little color and/or style. ModGreenPod must have realized there was a hole in the market, because their collection of beautiful patterned fabrics are as green as they get. The fabric shown above is their Grand Jubilee pattern, a bold damask available in a variety of colors. It is hand silk-screened using water-based, non-toxic inks and available in 100% organic cotton. The printed fabrics also are finished with a mechanical process that uses pressure and heat instead of chemicals. No harmful chemicals are used throughout production. Another plus — it is also available in a vinyl-free WALLPAPER (all colors except for Basil and Blueberry). I will, however, warn you in advance that it will not come cheap.

I took me some time to find eco-friendly tile made of something other than glass, but the Ecoycle tile by Crossville attempts to fit the bill. EcoCycle contains 40% recycled ceramic content, certified by Scientific Certification Systems, so it will contribute LEED Certification for new buildings or major renovations. It comes in 8 earth-toned colors. The floor shown above is comprised of Wetlands, Marshland and Pine Barren 12″ x 12″ tiles. And because the tiles are prices so well, you won’t have to dig a deep hole in your pocket to have beautiful floors.

Price: $3.23-$3.49 per square foot

If you want to go green in your kitchen or bathroom, you can do more than just purchasing EnergyStar appliances. IceStone surfaces are made with 100% recycled glass in a cement matrix and reduce the amount of glass that ends up in the landfill. They are kitchen countertops and backsplashes, bathroom vanities and shower walls, tabletops, flooring, and outdoor pavers. And they are remarkably durable as well — up to 13,000 psi, IceStone surfaces are stronger than marble, and they are heat and scratch resistant. It also comes in a 23 different colors, so you can truly customize it to match your kitchen. The detail photo above shows the Icicle Blue finish.