I always have the best intentions when it comes to setting my table. I will pin photos of lavish table settings on Pinterest, and promise myself that for the next holiday, I’ll make my table look just like them — or better. Needless to say, it usually doesn’t work out that way. After spending all day in the kitchen on Thanksgiving or Christmas or whatever, the last thing I’m interested in doing in making the table look great. Jennifer Nelson of Home Sweet understands that, and she has created a product that will let you give your table a little something extra without all the fuss.

Her “chopped” table runner is just 24″ long — big enough to make the table look fancy, but small enough to avoid getting in the way while you’re eating. While having the place settings at the ends of the table on top of a traditional table runner looks nice, the ends of the runner always end up requiring more cleaning than the middle — because the person seated there is likely to spill something on it. This “chopped” runner is a great solution.

Like all of Home Sweet’s other sustainable home textiles, the table runner in block-printed by hand with water-based inks. The table runners are printed on a gray recycled hemp/organic cotton blend fabric that has a cool, slubby appearance — sort of like linen. I personally love the texture of it, and the gray and navy color scheme is perfect for my dining room — a great complement to our ikat dinnerware.

Why It’s Green:

• Hand-printed with water-based inks
• Made of a recycled hemp/organic cotton blend fabric

Price: $28/ea.

Want to Win?

Home Sweet is offer a chopped runner to one lucky reader. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Javascript must be enabled to to see the Rafflecopter. If you still cannot see it, wait for the page to load completely, or refresh the page. Entry period ends at 12:01 a.m. 12/27/11. Please note that this giveaway ends AFTER Christmas!

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I am a very big proponent of using real dishes all the time — even on occasions when you have to serve a lot of people. But if there was ever a time to pull out and use your “good dishes”, it’s during the holidays. And as it turns out, good dishes also make a pretty sweet gift.

Baked in the Balkans Dinnerware is a collection of tableware imported from Eastern Europe. Why import? Well, in the Balkans, pottery is still hand-produced via traditional methods: On wheels, glazed with salt and enhanced with watercolor paints. These pieces are free of toxic paints, dyes, artificial glazes and anything else you wouldn’t want touching your food.

There are several styles to choose from, some in solid colors, and some featuring more elaborate patterns. Personally, I love the Glosee collection, which features a glossy (hee hee) finish that makes for a very contemporary look. I also love the fact that these dishes are both microwave and dishwasher safe, since I’m not a fan of putting plastic in the microwave.

Baked in the Balkans pieces are designed to be durable and stylish, and they’d make a great gift for almost any adult on your list.

Why it’s Green:

• Handmade using traditional methods
• Free of toxics paints, lead, dyes and artificial glazes

Price: $99/4-piece place setting

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Every summer, we have a full house. My stepsons will spend the next few months with us, and whenever they’re here, it becomes painfully obvious to me that we don’t own enough plates and silverware to accommodate all of us at meal time. Unable to find a dinnerware set I liked at my favorite thrift stores, I recently started looking for more affordable options that would hopefully also be durable. I stumbled on these bamboo plates at CB2, and I knew I’d found what I was looking for.

As much as I love the bamboo dinnerware from Viva Terra that I featured a few weeks ago, they just weren’t right for our needs.These solid color plates from CB2 will fit right in with our existing tableware, which features shades of red, orange and yellow. I’m also incredibly thankful that this bamboo melamine is dishwasher safe and less likely to break than ceramic. While our kids are used to using ceramic and they’ve never dropped a plate, accidents happen. Plus, when we’re in the mood for a picnic in the park, these will be a lot safer and lighter to take with us.

And did I mention the great price? See for yourself below…

Why It’s Green:

• Made of bamboo

Price: $2.50/ea.

(NOTE: The multicolored tray pictured with the plates isn’t made of bamboo)

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Don’t these plates make you want to sit outside with a pitcher of lemonade? Most affordable, patterned plates are made of melamine, which can potentially leach toxins if it is heated. In other words, you’re safe as long as you don’t put them in the microwave, but why take the chance, right? These babies are made of renewable bamboo, so that makes them an instant win in my book.

Between the fun shape, colorful patterns and the great price, I’m tempted to “let” my husband barbecue every day so we can have an excuse to eat outside. Or at the very least, they’d make a festive, reusable addition to my daughter’s end-of-summer birthday party.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of bamboo
• Biodegradable

Price: $39/set of 4 (aff)

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It’s getting easier to find eco-friendly furniture and housewares on sale, but I almost never find sustainable, home decor weight fabrics discounted in the same way. One Kings Lane made my day today! They are offering 6 different Mod Green Pod fabrics (including the one I bought to reupholster my cane chair) for a little more than 50% off! You can get 2 yards for $39, a nice break from the regular price of $80.

Why It’s Green:

• Mod Green Pod fabrics are made of 100% organic cotton
• Cotton grown, woven, and printed in the United States using non-toxic pigments

Price: $39/2 yards (regularly $39.75/yard)

How to Find It: The fabrics are part of One Kings Lane’s “Spring Fling” sale. If you’re not a member of the site, you’ll have to sign up to take advantage of the sale. (aff)

Ikat Dinnerware

My love affair with ikat patterns isn’t going away any time soon, and I almost swooned when I saw the price reduction on Viva Terra’s gorgeous Ikat Dinnerware set. It is on sale for a whopping 75% off, for individual sets of bowls, salad plates and dinner plates, and for the entire set of 12 pieces. We have been looking for a new dinnerware set, and I was this close to buying them. I stopped long enough to ask my husband what he thought, and I’m glad I did. He doesn’t like them. At all. I’ve been known to be a tyrant when it comes to decorating, and I’m sincerely trying to be more respectful of his opinions. He has veto power. So although my heart is in my stomach because I want these so bad, I won’t be taking the leap.

Hopefully though, someone else will be able to take advantage of this incredible deal!

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade by ceramic artisan
• As a company, Viva Terra is committed to sustainability. Virtually every product in their catalog is eco-friendly in some way.

Price: $85/for set of 12 pieces! (reduced from $349) (aff)

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It is very rare for me to find great deals on two brands I love as much as these two. But today, the Foundary has outdone itself with sales on both Perch! Designs’ beautiful ceramic tableware and lighting AND AphroChic’s gorgeous silk and linen pillows and textiles. I’ve rarely seen either of these brands offer sales or discounts, so this is a great opportunity.

Perch! offers a gorgeous line of whimsical, colorful ceramics, and the sale includes some of their most popular pieces. You can get your hands on their Spot bowls or Early Bird light for up to 40% off.

The AphroChic sales includes the Haze pattern, which is featured on pillows, placemats and table linens, along with the gorgeous Mandala, Reflection and Silhouette pillows. If you’re like me and you’ve had your eye on these for a long time, you don’t want to miss this opportunity. The hardest thing for me to decide is which I want first!

Why It’s Green:

• Perch! products are handmade with low impact materials and processes, non-toxic finishes and byproducts.
• AphroChich textiles are made of materials like silk, linen and organic cotton

Prices: Perch, $19-119 (up to 40% off); AphroChic, $23-140 (up to 30% off)

How to Buy:

If you’re not already a member of The Foundary, you’ll have to sign up, which is free. Once you’ve registered and signed in, look for the banners that say “AphroChic” and “Perch! Designs.”

(aff): If you sign up for The Foundary via my invitation link, I will receive a site credits if you make a purchase.

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

The week has just started and already I’ve found 2 great deals for you!

Amenity is having a huge clearance sale on products that have been discontinued. You’ll find wall art, table linens, pillows and more marked down by up to 75%. Given the quality of their products, you really can’t beat the pricing. I assume the sale will end once everything is sold out, since these are all discontinued items.

Mod Green Pod is also offering their Wee Jubilee fabric in the licorice colorway (black & white) for 50% off. If you’ve ever wanted to try their fabrics but balked at the pricing, now is a good time to do it.

Why It’s Green:

• Mod Green Pod fabrics are printed in the U.S. on 100% organic cotton using non-toxic pigments
• Amenity’s sale textiles are printed on a hemp/organic cotton blend fabric and printed and sewn in Los Angeles with non-toxic, water-based dyes

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Pure Citizen is one of those sites that you just can’t help but love. It is a “Deal a Day” site in the spirit of Groupon, Gilt Groupe and others, but with one important distinction: Pure Citizen offers only eco-friendly products. The sales generally last 24 hours, except on weekends or for special events, and the discounts are notable.

Today, Pure Citizen is having their first home sale, with a variety of housewares and products, including:

• Soy candles by Dirt Candles for 40% off
• Fair Trade pillows, coasters and wooden sculptures for up to 50% off
• Recycled glass votive candle holders and vases for up to 50% off
• Beautiful recycled glass tableware by Shiraleah for up to 40% off
• Bamboo eating utensils and stainless steel containers by T0-Go Ware
• Cleaning products from Better Life (some of my favorites! Remember this review?)

The site is worth checking out, if only out of curiosity. Even if you don’t need any of these products today, there are new sales every day, and you can always rest assured that the products available have been vetted for their sustainability. Plus, in this gift-giving season, this is a great way to save money on eco-friendly gifts.

Why It’s Green:

• Pure Citizen vets all their products as being eco-friendly in some way. You’ll find Fair Trade products, products made of recycled or otherwise eco-friendly materials, handmade items, and more!

Price: Discounts for this sale are up to 50% off (but sometimes, you’ll get up to 90% off!) (aff) Remember, the sale ends at midnight Dec. 1!

NOTE: If you’re not yet a member of Pure Citizen, you must sign up to take advantage of these deals. Signing up is free.

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

Today is Green Gift Monday, a day established to help frenzied Cyber Monday shoppers divert their spending toward greener products and causes. I can’t think of a better time to introduce you to the Macy’s Heart of Haiti product line.

Heart of Haiti is a collection of art, housewares and accessories handmade by Haitian artisans in an attempt to help them get back on their feet after the historic earthquake that shook the island nation in January. The earthquake made it virtually impossible for Haitians to make a living. When you buy one of these pieces, it directly benefits the Haitian artisans who created them. They receive 22% of the retail price for each item in the collection. This sustainable income will allow these artisans to repair homes, pay for their children’s schooling, and feed and clothe their families.

Here are some of the artists this campaign is helping:

When the Blogrollers reached out to me and asked if I wanted to be a part of the team of bloggers working to promote Heart of Haiti, I jumped at the chance. While for the most part, I recommend buying products that are made in the U.S., the biggest exception to that is Fair Trade products that help the artisans who create them have a better life. This is also a special opportunity to shine a light on people who are in dire need of help, and whose plight has been long forgotten by many because Haiti is no longer in the headlines daily.

In this collection, you’ll find beautiful artwork (all of which reminds me of my own upbringing in the Caribbean), stunning mirrors and wall art, tableware, jewelry, and more. There’s something for everyone. Heart of Haiti is featured in my Green Gift Guide, and any of these items would make a great, meaningful gift that gives back. To learn more about Heart of Haiti, click here.

Why it’s Green:

• Handmade by Haitian artisans in cooperation with Fair Winds, a Fair Trade partner, and Macy’s
• Many items are made of recycled materials, including recycled oil drums, newspaper and more
• Your purchase will help Haiti recover in a way that is meaningful. There’s something to be said about helping others by giving them the means to help themselves.

Price: $10-275

(Disclosure): I am a Heart of Haiti Ambassador. While we are not compensated for our participation, we will receive free products so we can see these artisans’ work in person. Given that I would gladly tell you about this for free, I plan to give away the products I receive to my readers to encourage you to support Haiti in its recovery.

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

Amenity never fails to impress me with their gorgeous eco-friendly furniture, organic textiles and housewares. This weekend though, you have a great chance to take advantage of big savings during their sample sale. You can get their beautiful pillows, wall art and table linens for up to nearly 80% off! I imagine a lot of this stuff is going to go fast, so you might want to act now if you’re interested! The wall art, particularly the ones geared to kids, would make great holiday gifts. Personally, I plan to get a table runner to use during the holidays.

Why It’s Green:

• Pillows and table linens made of an organic cotton/hemp blend with non-toxic, water-based dyes.
• Printed and sewn in Los Angeles.
• Wall art printed in the U.S. on 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton.

Price: $17-47

BONUS! Use coupon code “welcome20” to get an additional 20% off your order!

Shiner Furniture at the Foundary

Deal sites are popping up everywhere these days — hence the format change on the Green Your Decor coupons page. Today, I discovered a new one: The Foundary. They exclusively sell beautiful housewares, from furniture to bedding, tableware and more. While not all of the companies featured specifically make green products, all of them were selected with quality and longevity in mind. In other words, you’re going to find quality pieces.

Today though, you can get sustainable pieces from Atlanta furniture maker Shiner Furniture. Shiner makes unique, modern furniture from recycled and reclaimed materials and sustainably harvested wood. They also have a couple of great pieces made from cardboard. Given that they are made by a local artist, I have had my eye on Shiner for a while. But their stuff can be hard to find, since they sell exclusively to retailers and not to the public. This is a great chance to get some unique pieces at discounted prices.

Why It’s Green:

• All furniture made from sustainable materials like recycled cardboard, recycled metals, and reclaimed and sustainably harvested wood
• Made in Atlanta, GA

Price: $142-1813

How to Buy:

If you’re not already a member of The Foundary, you’ll have to sign up, which is free. Once you’ve registered and signed in, scroll toward the bottom of the page to find the banner that says “Shiner.”

(aff): If you sign up for The Foundary via my invitation link, I will receive a site credits if you make a purchase.

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

I’ve been so out of it since my daughter started kindergarten that you’d think I was the one who had to go to school every day. Now that she’s in school, I’m trying to get back into the swing of things, and that has proven harder than expected. Part of the reason I haven’t been posting regularly is that I’ve had quite a bit of graphic design work, but it’s also been because of sheer exhaustion. While I screw my head back on straight, I do have some great handmade products to share with you:

Etsy is always a great resource when I’m looking for products made of reclaimed wood at a reasonable price. Seller Evotiv is a great example of this. ALL of their products are made from reclaimed wood and other recycled materials. And as much as we’ve all learned to love shiny new things (school shopping season, anyone?), there’s nothing like the patina of old wood that has stood the test of time. How awesome is that wall art and the wood peeking through the center of that bright white coffee table?

So check out Evotiv’s shop and bear with me. We will return to our regularly scheduled programming as soon as possible…

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade of reclaimed and recycled materials
• Made in the U.S. (Portland, OR)

Price: $8.95-324.95

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

A few weeks ago, I sent out a tweet about one of my favorite catalogs:

I know that many design enthusiasts eagerly anticipate when stores like IKEA and Pottery Barn release their catalogs and new products. And while I like to ogle these catalogs and can appreciate the fabulous design, I’m much more excited when companies like Viva Terra debut new products. Why? Because I know they have been sustainably made and I can feel good about buying anything I discover that I can’t live without

I ventured over to the Viva Terra site today, and I found LOTS that I am really excited about. Here are some of my favorites:

Eco Sectional Sleeper: Made with a certified sustainable wood frame, water-based wood finishes, recycled fiber filling in the pillows, soy-based filling in the cushions, and organic cotton ticking with tufted buttons framed by linen. $4950. (aff)

Etched Silver Armoire: LOVE this! It’s not quite as green as I would like, given that it’s made with German silver, but it is also made with reclaimed wood. $995. (aff)

Flowing Script Chair: Made of recycled metal and upholstered in linen. $349. (aff)

Vintage Kantha Upholstered Chair: The patchwork fabric is handmade by Indian artisans from vintage cotton saris. The chair also features organic linen upholstery fabric, recycled fibers, down pillow fill, and certified kiln-dried hardwood frames. $2595-2695. (aff)

Meadowflower Rug: I can remember watching my mother crochet blankets and Christmas ornaments as a little girl, and this rug reminds me of that. The flowers are delicately handmade, but the color scheme and randomly shaped edges give the rug a modern look. Hand-crocheted of wool. $395-795. (aff)

Moroccan Hanging Lamps: Do I even need to explain why these caught my eye? Handmade of recycled aluminum. $149-449. (aff)

Ikat Dinnerware: I had to save the best for last. I LOVE this dinnerware! This is the type of setting I could easily see passing down to my kids. Handmade by an artisan ceramicist. $98-349. (aff)

There are many more new items that I’d like to share, but you can check them out for yourself at the Find natural home décor, unique women’s accessories, elegant dinnerware, organic gifts and more at VivaTerra site. Seriously, I think this is one of my favorite product debuts in a while.

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

My husband, daughter and I have long been used to the idea of not using paper towels or napkins. But for my stepsons, who are here for the summer and are used to different type of lifestyle, the transition took a little explaining and demonstration. Since then, I don’t think they’ve asked about it because they’re now used to paperless living. It’s really not a hard transition to make once you’re prepared with rags, towels and cloth napkins to pick up where their paper counterparts left off. And if you needed a more stylish kick in the pants, the new organic cotton napkin and placemat designs from Paper Cloud should do it.

The colors and patterns scream nature, and they’ll be a good reminder of why you’re trying to kick your paper habit in the first place. Not to mention how gorgeous the yellow napkins will look next to the blue placemats. Our table tends to remain bare, but for special occasions, but now that we have to clean up behind four kids after every single meal, I’m definitely considering some placemats as a buffer between them and the surface of the table, which we do our best to keep in good condition. The blue ones also happen to be the perfect accent color, so I’ll really have to think about this.

Why It’s Green:

• Handmade in the U.S.
• Made of organic cotton printed with water-based inks

Price: $18-24

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

To say that I am obsessed with design would be an understatement. I am that person who will spend hours in a store’s stationery aisle staring at beautifully adorned wedding invitations — even though I’ve been married for nearly 7 years. It’s not that I plan on needing them anytime soon. I just have a thing for paperie, but my aversion to dead trees means that I admire much more frequently than I purchase. Buying THIS paperie, however, would be guilt free for two reasons:

1. These are made of recycled cardboard
2. They are likely to last a long time

These letterpress coasters by Ali Drew are my definition of fabulous. They are the kind of detail pieces that tell you that a homeowner (or renter) really cares about style. Because only a person who truly cares would take the time too buy something this pretty for the purpose of holding up wet glasses.

But I have other visions for these beauties as well. I can picture them in a simple grouping inside a picture frame as a unique piece of art, or used to line the inside of a boring drink tray, rather than sit atop a table.

Either way, I’m smitten.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of recycled cardboard

Price: $21 for a set of 8

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Lately, I’ve been obsessed with the details of a room. You know — all the little things that turn it from a house into a home. Without them, we’d be faced with blank tabletops, empty dressers and no sense of personality. As I move from room to room throughout my home, I’m happy to say we see these little touches of personality everywhere. But in the dining room, it is the same “personality” my husband I have had since we got married nearly 7 years ago. The same boring candlesticks and candles we’ve been using for as long as I can remember. You can see them used here on our Thanksgiving table. I think it’s time for an upgrade.

These Solano Candle Holders are fun and funky, and the black-brown color will easily fit into any decor or color scheme we might choose in the next 7 years. I can also imagine them mixed and matched with the candle holders we already have for a really eclectic display, maybe inside a tray or sitting inside an ornate mirror. The varying heights also give them depth, unlike the four we have now, which are all the same height.

They are a little pricey, but it really doesn’t seem like a lot to pay for something we can likely use for years to come. And if paired with a nice bowl similarly made of recycled materials, we’d have the makings of a beautiful tablescape — and a place to put our fruit I’m torn between the recycled wire bowl, which has a silvery finish with a hint of gold, and the recycled metal paddle bowls, which resemble a bird’s nest. I’m definitely leaning toward the latter, particularly because it is available in several sizes, so I could mix and match.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of recycled wire

Price: Candle holders, $145; Wire Bowl, $72, Paddle Bowls: $25-84 (aff)

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