by jennae on June 21, 2008
Photos from Duro Design
Green flooring options are becoming more abundant these days. And if you know anything about carpet, you know that no matter what it’s made of, even if it’s recycled or otherwise eco-friendly in terms of materials, it is one of the most unhealthy (though affordable) floor coverings you can have in your home. Carpet traps everything you track in on the bottom of your shoes: dirt, bacteria and who knows what else. If you must have carpet, stick to area rugs or carpet tiles that can be washed and/or replaced.
by jennae on May 20, 2008
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
Green flooring options are becoming more abundant these days. And if you know anything about carpet, you know that no matter what it’s made of, even if it’s recycled or otherwise eco-friendly in terms of materials, it is one of the most unhealthy (though affordable) floor coverings you can have in your home. Carpet traps everything you track in on the bottom of your shoes: dirt, bacteria and who knows what else. If you must have carpet, stick to area rugs or carpet tiles that can be washed and/or replaced.
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I’m Jennae Petersen, and I’m a lot of things. A mother, a graphic artist, a connosieur of beautiful interiors and a purveyor of all things design. Green Your Decor was borne of frustration in my attempts to find eco-friendly housewares that were also beautiful, and inspiration to do something to reduce my own carbon footprint and help others do the same in a beautiful way.
