When my family moved closer to the city, I lost my office — as in the room with 4 walls and a door that I could hole myself up in when I really needed to focus on work. Now, my office space resides in the sunroom that is right off the living room and one of the first things you see as you walk through the front door. Because of its prime location, I wanted to do everything I could to make it really beautiful, but functional. The first task would be covering up those windows, since the only logical place to put my desk is right up against them.

But of course, it’s called a sunroom for a reason. The space has 4 huge windows that go from about a foot and a half below the ceiling all the way to the floor, as you can see in the photos above. Three of those windows face the parking lot a few feet away, and our apartment is right near the entrance to our complex and the school bus stop. In other words, we get a lot of foot and car traffic right past these windows, so leaving them uncovered was not an option.

Window treatments can be pretty pricey, particularly if you’re trying to go organic. And as organic window treatments go, variety can be difficult to come by. I wanted something bold, fun and graphic. Since I was unable to find any that I really liked, I decided to buy some organic fabric and make my own. Except you need a LOT of fabric to cover this many windows. I gave myself a budget of $100 and decided I would come up with a more creative solution.

One night, I was searching eBay for organic bedding for my daughter’s room when it still was in the planning stages, and I came across Pottery Barn’s organic tile duvet cover. The idea hit me. I would use a king size duvet cover and cut it down to make 4 curtains. The measurements were perfect, and the eBay price was just $40.

Of course, all of this was before we moved into the new apartment. When I came up with this “brilliant” idea, I was planning from memory based on the brief tour we had of our new digs. I only accounted for only the 3 windows along the main wall. Once we moved in, I realized that there was a fourth window in the corner (shown above). Privacy wouldn’t be as much of an issue because it was facing a different direction, but I couldn’t just leave it uncovered, right?

Well, on a trip to Ikea to pick up the fancy cardboard storage boxes you see in the before photos, I happened across some panels that were the perfect color to complement my duvet cover fabric. They’re 100% cotton (not organic, but better than polyester), and they were very long, designed to be adjusted based on the length of your windows. Perfect! At $40 for a pair, I was still under budget.

So do you want to see how my duvet cover-turned-curtains turned out? Check it out below:

The Ikea curtains were the hidden tab style, so I made mine to match. I basically followed the same steps from my no-sew curtain post until I got to the tabs, which were really easy to cut and sew. In the end, I wound up with 6 hidden tab curtain panels — 4 of which are made of organic cotton — for a total of $80. How’s THAT for design on a dime?

What do you think? The room isn’t totally complete, but a couple of consignment store finds from last weekend put us a lot closer. The full room reveal is coming soon!

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

Solving a Big Window Problem with Little Money

If it seems like I’m an Amy Butler fan girl, I’m not ashamed to admit that I am. I’ve always loved her patterns, but once she starting making the transition to organics, I fell in love with her anew. And then I won my gorgeous Bucharest bedding and the deal was officially sealed. And as if I could love her work any more than I already do, I discovered some new things today:

1. She makes organic cotton shower curtains!
2. New bedding designs are available!
3. Some of her bedding has matching window treatments!

OK. I’ll stop shouting now. But really, if you could lived in the luxurious comfort that is a 400 thread count Amy Butler comforter, you’d be shouting too.

Trust me when I tell you that my husband and I spent a lot of time trying to find the perfect shower curtain for our bathroom, and we settled for a simple yellow and white traditional cotton option from Target, much to my dismay (I REALLY wanted organic). Had I known a beautiful shower curtain existed to match the fabulous bedding we already owned, my indecisiveness would’ve been eliminated. The shower curtain is currently available only in Bucharest (gray) and Coventry and only at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

The window treatments are similarly available in only two patterns — Dancing Garden and Poppy. Still, they are a beautiful example of how great it is to have patterned options for organic window treatments. You could definitely make your own curtains with an Amy Butler fabric, but premade options that are this pretty are hard to find. The catch 22, of course, is that they are only available in one length at 84″. However, you could always add a panel of coordinating fabric to the bottom (maybe in navy or green) to make them long enough for your needs. Coordinating valances are also available. I’m not a fan of the look of a valance, but I could easily imagine hacking one into two pieces to lengthen a curtain.

And lastly, how could anyone NOT swoon over this new bedding? Of late, I’ve been fighting the urge to paint a whole room in a moody shade of navy, and the new Dream Daisy collection reminds me why. It features bold floral prints that could be happily at home in modern decor, and I love the way the photos are staged! The Full Bloom collection, in shades of coral, green and blue, isn’t really my cup of tea, but gorgeous nonetheless. These beds look like such a comfortable place to sleep and lounge! And my own experience with Amy Butler’s luxurious bedding has guaranteed that I will, eventually, buy another set, because it is by far the best, highest quality bedding we’ve ever owned.

P.S. If you love all those toss pillows shown in the photos as much as I do, they are ALSO made of organic cotton and also available for purchase. Sweet!

Why It’s Green:

• All made of organic cotton

Price:

• Shower Curtains: $39.99/ea.
• New Bedding: $39.99-179.99
• Window Treatments: $99.99/pair of panels; $49.99/valance

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

More Amy Butler Loveliness: New Organic Bedding, Shower Curtains & Window Treatments

I am regularly inspired by decorating duo Sherry & John Petersik of Young House Love. However, it is pretty rare that I can put that inspiration to good use in my own home. So after my search for fun, organic window treatments for Ja’Naya’s room turned up only solid curtains and drapes, I decided I’d look for an organic fabric instead, and make the curtains myself. Except for one little detail. I’d never done it before. Ever. That, and I don’t own a sewing machine — yet. So imagine my joy when Sherry and John shared the steps behind their no-sew curtains!

Rather than repeat all their steps, because I followed them pretty closely, I’ll just let you read them in detail at the Young House Love site. Here’s an abridged version:

1. Measure your window for width and height of your panels. Add two inches to each side to accommodate your hems.
2. Cut fabric to the correct length and width.
3. Iron hems with iron-on hem tape or fusing web, which you can find at any craft or fabric store, or even Target or Walmart. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package, because different procedures are required for iron-on tape and fusing web. I used the latter.
4. Iron the entire panel.
5. Hang them with simple clip-on curtain rings (aff).
6. You’re done!

It’s really that easy, but if you want the details, please check out Young House Love. As easy as this project was though, it reminded me just how much I hate ironing…lol. Still, I’m really happy with the way they turned out. You can see from the first photo that the clip-on rings give the panels a really nice fold and hang. You’ll see more of these curtains when I reveal the final room design soon!

I was fortunate enough to have in-kind sponsor Harmony Art send a few yards of their Let It Grow organic fabric, and I got pretty lucky for two reasons.

1. Curtains generally require quite a bit of fabric — typically about 5 yards for a pair of 84″ curtains. But the 90″ width of Harmony Art’s fabrics meant I needed just 2.5 yards to make a two curtain panels. And…
2. Harmony had exactly 2.5 yards of Let It Grow on hand to send me. Now that’s what I all fortuitous!

You can find most of Harmony Art’s fabrics at Near Sea Naturals, and discounts are available for bulk orders.

Disclosure: Harmony Art provided several yards of their organic fabric for me to use in conjunction with this room design project for my daughter.

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

Pull Out Your Irons: Simple No-Sew Curtain Panels

The floral pattern on these Bethany sheer drapes from Pottery Barn isn’t really my style. So why am I posting about them? There is a point, I promise you.

Second to naked walls, one thing I absolutely hate living with is naked windows. A room just doesn’t feel complete without window treatments of some kind. I’m also partial to the cozy feeling of closing my drapes in the middle of the day to make a usually bright room just dark enough for a nap.

The problem for me is the lack of variety in curtains and drapes of the eco-friendly variety. Sure, sustainable window treatments are out there, but mostly in solid colors. No patterns or prints. So unless you want to buy some fabric and make them yourself, there just weren’t any options. Thus, while this particular pattern isn’t “me”, I do commend Pottery Barn for making organic window treatments with a little bit of personality.

And now that I think about it, I am planning to redo my daughter’s room in soft pink and green eventually, so these would look really nice layered with some white solid curtains or framing a roman or bamboo shade. See. They’ve got me thinking outside my comfort zone already I’ll probably skip the Bethany organic bedding, but a little bit of floral never killed anyone, right? The Bethany panels are available in lengths up to 103″, so unless you have crazy high ceilings, you should be able to snag a length that will allow you to hang the curtains from a few inches below the ceiling (ie. not at the top of the window frame, but way above it) all the way to the floor. Oldest designer’s trick in the book.

WHY IT’S GREEN:

• Made of organic cotton

Price: $49-59

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

Winsome Windows: Bethany Organic Voile Sheer Drapes

Even after more than a year of writing about greening the home, it is still difficult to find manufacturers who are making eco-friendly curtain panels or drapes. Custom window treatments are easier, but if you’re looking for ready-to-hang options, they are few and far between. That becomes painfully obvious if you take a look at my relatively small curtains category. So when I find curtains that are A) made of recycled materials and B) modern and stylish, I’m thrilled! These Radiant rod pocket curtain panels have both descriptions all sewn up.

They are made of recycled water bottles, which makes me super giddy. But what makes them even more unique is the subtle textured circle pattern that covers the length of the curtain. And to top it all off with a nice big bow, they are available in 7 colors and 4 lengths: 84″, 96″, 108″ and a whopping 120″. If you’re fortunate enough to have ceilings that can accommodate that kind of length, you’d be doing yourself a huge favor by hanging window treatments like these from ceiling to floor for a dramatic look.

Given that my husband and I are getting ready to start looking for an apartment (read: a new space for me to decorate), I’ll have to keep this bookmark close at hand.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of recycled plastic bottles

Price: $49.99-64.99

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

Length = Drama: Radiant Rod Pocket Curtain Panels

For years, I’ve been dreaming about having free reign to decorate a space as I pleased and actually putting my ideas for customization into action. Apparently though, that requires a couple of things, the most important of which is having our own home where we can decorate as we like. Doing a surprise patio makeover for my mother was one of very few times over the last few years when I’ve been able to take a decorating idea from concept all the way through to creation, and I loved every second of it. But by far, my favorite part of the new patio space is the custom-painted bamboo blinds that cover up the ugly storage nook where the lawnmower lives. I had the bright idea to paint the blinds with a simple floral pattern after seeing how Nicole Balch over at Making It Lovely painted a gorgeous rug directly onto the floor of her front porch — when she was nine months pregnant, no less. So here’s how I turned a pair of boring, but functional bamboo blinds into the focal point of my mother’s patio.

1. Decide what you want to paint before you start

I knew the design would have to be simple if I had any chance of actually being able to paint it freehand, without the benefit of pencil sketching. The textured surface of the bamboo blinds made sketching impossible, so I had to have a clear idea of what I wanted the design to look like before I started painting on the blinds. I created a pencil sketch on paper of how I wanted the flowers to look. The pattern was simple enough, so I moved on to the real thing.

2. Lay the blinds flat and straight

Bamboo blinds have a tendency to shift if you’re not careful. In order for the design to look the way you imagined once you hang the blinds, you have to ensure that they lay perfectly straight on your painting surface. If you don’t, the design can end up seriously distorted once hanging.

3. Paint outlines first, then fill in the blanks

I used a very thin artist’s brush to paint the outlines of my flowers onto the blinds, then went back with a wider tipped brush to fill in the pattern. Because bamboo blinds have gaps between each bamboo twig, the fine-tipped brush would have made for a loooong process. The wider brush made the filling in much easier, and creating the outlines first meant I could stand back and check the progress of the design as I was going along. In fact, I seriously considered leaving just the outlines because I loved the look, but I figured it would be more substantial and impressive if filled in the flowers.

4. Let them dry for several hours

We actually let them dry for a full day before hanging them just to make sure the paint wouldn’t drip, but in the Georgia heat, I suspect we could have hung them after about 2 hours.

5. Hang them and admire your work

We hung our blinds in a very non-traditional space. For one thing, they are outdoors. But they are also not even on a window. They’re hanging from eye hooks in the patio roof. But no matter where you choose to use your blinds, be sure to take a photo so you’ll always remember what you did. Like I said, this simple project, which took me a total of about an hour to paint, has turned our cluttered, unused nook into concealed storage and my favorite part of the patio space.

Total cost: $80.76

• Radiance Imperial Matchstick Rollup Shade, $34.88/ea. (Walmart)
• Artist’s paintbrushes, Approx. $4 (Home Depot)
• Behr outdoor paint sample, Approx. $4 (Home Depot)
• Biodegradable plastic dropcloth, Approx. $3 (Walmart)

What do you think of this project? Does it seem easy enough to attempt on your own? Have you done any similar customization projects for your home or someone else’s? I’d love to hear about them! And if you have any green decorating projects for any part of your home that you’d like to share, you can submit your project information and photos for a chance to be featured right here at Green Your Decor!

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

Green How-To: Customize Bamboo Blinds with a Graphic Freehand Paint Job

I love the look of layered window treatments, and I’ve been looking for some eco-friendly roman shades for a long time. I love the idea of hanging the shades behind some sheer panels or even heavier drapes for a look that has some dimension. Alas, roman shades made of organic cotton or other eco-friendly textiles are either hard to come by or prohibitively expensive. So even though these window treatments aren’t exactly what I was looking for, I am overjoyed to have found these Park B. Smith Eco Astor Recycled Cotton Magic Blinds.

They aren’t roman shades, but the look is pretty close. There is, of course, the fact that they require a curtain rod, which would make it hard to layer window treatments. However, they are still a great option for the price. They are available in two sizes: 30 x 72 and 40 x 72.  This would be an issue if we were dealing with roman shades, as they have to fit your window size exactly to avoid problems during installation. These have the pleated look of a roman shade, but hang on a rod, so there’s more leeway in terms of window size. They are also available in four colors, including denim.

While you may not be able to layer these on a single window without using multiple rods, you can use them on one or two windows in a woom with multiple windows, using drapes or curtains on the rest. Varying your window treatments like this in a single room will add dimension and interest. These particular blinds would pair really well with the Eco Astor Recycled Cotton Tab-Top Curtains I featured a few months ago.

On that post, reader and fellow green blogger Skye Kilaen of Crafting a Green World made the excellent point that, from a sustainability perspective, recycled fabrics are even better than brand new organic fabric. If your issue is chemical sensitivity, I would stick with organics, but if you are choosing sustainably-made materials because you are concerned about the Earth, recycled fabrics are a great option.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of recycled cotton

Price: $49.99-59.99 (aff)

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

A Green Win for your Windows: Eco Astor Recycled Cotton Magic Blinds

Finding green steals is sometimes a science. After months of doing this, I tend to know where to look and which retailers’ newsletters to subscribe to. But sometimes, I happen upon a great deal completely by chance. And anyone who says these sets of organic cotton grommet-top curtain panels aren’t a steal must not have seen the prices on other eco-friendly window treatments. A set of 2 84″ curtains for just $50 is almost unheard of and by far the best deal I’ve found anywhere.

Smart Bargains is carrying the panels in 5 neutral, obviously nature-inspired colors: camel, natural, green, chocolate and striped.  I personally prefer grommet-top curtains to almost every other style (of which there are many). The grommets lend themselves to a clean drape and a modern look that just isn’t possible with traditional rod-top panels or fancy pleated panels. At $50 for the set of 2, I really can’t complain that there is only one available size. 84″ will be adequate for most home decorators, although I do tend to prefer longer lengths to give a room some extra height.

Considering I’ve been needing some curtain panels for my daughter’s room and my room (and the ceilings are fairly low in both rooms), I’m ecstatic to have found this deal, and I’ll be taking advantage of it myself.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of organic cotton with eco-friendly dyes
• Produced in an IMO-certified facility

Price: $49.99 (aff)

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

Green Steal of the Week: Set of Organic Cotton Grommet-Top Curtains

Since I started Green Your Decor, I’ve gotten a lot of requests from people looking not just for eco-friendly curtains and drapes, for but eco-friendly rods, finials and other window hardware. But alas, they are not easy to come by, at least not online. There’s always the option of buying from your local thrift or consignment store, or rummaging through a family member’s unused hardware. But if you’re looking for something a bit more definite, you will appreciate this Recycled Glass Decorative Rod Set from JC Penney.

They are stylish, to be sure, but more importantly, the beautiful glass finials at the ends of the rod are made from recycled glass. There’s no information on whether the metal rod also contains recycled content, but the optimist in me will hope it does until I can get a concrete answer. It is available in 3 lengths: 28″-48″, 48″-86″, and 86″-120″. So if you’re like me and you like using that old designer’s trick of hanging your curtains significantly wider than the window to make it appear larger, you definitely have that option.

Happy window dressing!

Why It’s Green:

• Finials made of recycled glass

Price: $40-60

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

Eco-Window Hardware, Finally: Recycled Glass Decorative Rod Set by Studio

The world of eco-friendly window treatments is still fairly small. A handful of larger retailers — most notably West Elm — have gotten into the market with some stylish, affordable options. But for the most part, unless you’re willing to shell out $75-150 per curtain panel, your best bet is still to make them yourself from sustainable fabrics like hemp, organic cotton or even plain old linen.

These curtain panels aren’t ideal, because they aren’t made of organic cotton. But they are made of recycled cotton. The style is a mix of modern and traditional. They have the clean lines of a double tab top with a wooden button detail that lends itself to a more rustic feel. They are available in 4 colors, including denim, shown above in the center.

Not really my style, but when it comes to green window treatments, you can’t beat a price of less than $25 apiece.

Why It’s Green:

• Made from 100% recycled fabric from leftover cuttings

Price: $22.99 (aff)

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

Green Steal of the Week: Eco Astor Recycled Cotton Tab Top Curtains

When researching home textiles, I tend to stick to sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, linen and the like. But as most of you know, there are many shades of green, and many characteristics that can make a product eco-friendly.

When I first learned about Eclipse Curtains, my first question was what they are made of. Much to my dismay, I learned that they weren’t made of a sustainable fabric, but polyester. I was tempted to walk away right then and there, but another quality of these window treatments made me take a second look — they are blackout curtains, meant to block light, reduce noise and, lo and behold, help reduce your energy costs.

I was definitely intrigued by that last characteristic, so Eclipse sent me a curtain to use and review.

Blackout performance

Having only used the single curtain for a few weeks, it is hard to tell whether it will affect my energy costs any, but I can give you my perspective on its performace otherwise. I hung the Robert Thermaweave black curtain panel in my bedroom next to a traditional curtain that I’ve had for a couple of years. I thought that curtain, which is  made of dark brown cotton twill, was pretty good at blocking light. Compared to the Eclipse panel, it may as well have been sheer. Long story short: If you like sleeping in darkness, you’ll love Eclipse curtains.

Insulating performance

When I first hung the curtain, it was still hot outside. The area directly in front of the Eclipse panel was noticeably cooler than the rest of the room, and much cooler than the area in front of the curtain next to it.  The curtain itself was pretty hot, given that it is black and held in heat. But that’s the point — it kept the heat contained to the area between the window and the curtain instead of allowing it into the room.

Now that the weather is much cooler, the opposite is true. We turn off the heating and cooling system during the day fairly often. Where much of the house can get pretty chilly, our room stays much more temperate. This wasn’t true before, as our room often cooled down before any other room.

Style

My amateur photos don’t do the curtains justice, and amazingly enough, neither do the photos that came directly from Eclipse. The style that I received, the Robert Thermaweave, is truly sleek and stylish. It is made of a tuxedo black polyester with a slight sheen and a subtle grid pattern. They would be great in a room where black is an integral part of your color palette.

And if you don’t like black, they are also available in a variety of other colors.

The verdict

While I wish Eclipse curtains were made of a fabric more sustainable than polyester, I still think they have potential to help reduce your heating and cooling bills. For them to be truly effective, you’d have to use them in almost every room, or at least keep the doors closed to the rooms where you used them. The fact that they are also very affordable makes them more accessible to a much wider group of consumers. And since reducing energy consumption should be on every eco-diva’s list of ways to save the Earth, I think Eclipse curtains have got a fighting chance.

Why It’s Green:

• Helps reduce heating and cooling bills by offering extra insulation near your windows

Price: $12-40 apiece

Want to win?

Eclipse graciously offered up a pair of black Robert Thermaweave Curtain Panels for one lucky reader of Green Your Decor. Valance is not included as shown in the photo, and trust me — they look much better in person than they do in the photo. Simply visit Eclipse, then come back here and leave a comment about one thing you liked or learned by 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 5, 2008.

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 Wednesday, November 5, 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 Wednesday, November 5, 2008, to enter. U.S. mailing addresses only. A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Good luck everyone!

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

Product Review + Giveaway: Eclipse Curtains

In recent days, I’ve become much more aware of the fact that turning bamboo fibers into fabric is a process that is far from environmentally friendly. While I still believe bamboo as material in its original state is more eco-friendly than traditional woods and fibers, I’ll try to stay away from the fabrics unless there is clear evidence that the production was done in a better way.

That said, these great tab-top curtain panels from Brylane Home are not made of fabric, but slats of bamboo. And if you know anything about Brylane Home, you know how affordable all their products are. They don’t have a big selection of green items, but I’m glad to see that these are just as affordable as all their other products are. I’m personally not a big fan of the valance, or valances in general, but I love the panels.

According to the testimonials by buyers, these curtains have been very well received. One buyer did say that they are a little too heavy to be used in front of a glass door as shown in the photo, because they don’t slide along the rod very well. But I can think of more than a few places where they would be more than welcome.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of bamboo, a fast-growing grass that can be grown without the use of pesticides

Price: $9.99-$24.99

What do you think of bamboo as a fabric? Will you still buy clothing, bedding, fabrics, etc. made of bamboo? Leave a comment and let me know!

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

Green Steal of the Week: Bamboo Tab-Top Panels & Valance

I’m generally not a huge fan of big box stores or chains. They aren’t known for being very environmentally friendly, and their profit-first mentality often leaves green shoppers with no product options, and many of their products are produced overseas with no regard to Fair Trade. There’s one store that consistently adds products that make me think twice about my position: West Elm.

I knew there was a reason I love this store, and its not just they carry furnishings that would make any savvy homeowner salivate. I love West Elm because many of their products aren’t just pretty — they’re green too. And every time I go back to their website, I find new green products. Today, I found something that made me want to dance a jig. Eco-friendly curtain panels that are both stylish AND affordable.

Yes, I’ve found eco-friendly curtains before, but they tend to be in the $75-100/panel price range. Not exactly affordable for the average person. These organic cotton Selvedge panels start considerably lower than that, and even the 108″ long panels are still less than $50 apiece. There aren’t very many premade curtains, even in traditional fabrics, that come in that length.

They are available in three soft colors, all with strips of cream lining both sides. I’m not sure what the dyes are made of, but even so, I’m impressed. Now we just have to encourage West Elm to start carrying Fair Trade products too.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of organic cotton

Price: $29-49

More Green Steals of the Week:

• Fawn Organic Cotton Sofa and Chair for $579.99 and $391.99
• Dotti Doormats for $10
• Black Bamboo Rug for $39.95

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

Green Steal of the Week: Organic Cotton Selvedge Window Panel

Today’s Room: A minimal, soothing green bedroom that’s affordable even for those on a budget.

1. Dew Pillow by Inhabit  |  $60  |  Made of recycled polyester and handprinted and handmade in the U.S. with environmentally-friendly inks with no chemical waste or disposal generated. Also, all paper waste from manufacturing is repurposed as shredded packing material, and the pillow is recyclable at the end of its life-cycle (aff)
2. Mythic Interior Flat Latex Paint |  $46.99/gallon, $93.98 for 2  |  COLOR: Twilight Twinkle 031-2  |  Zero VOCs, zero carcinogens, and low odor
3. Midsummer Pendant Light by Tord Boontje  |  $49.99  |  Made of paper, so it is recyclable (aff)
   AFF: http://www.wrapables.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=C51362&prodlist=froogle
4. Bark-Wrapped Mirror from Pottery Barn  |  $149  |  Mirror wrapped in natural bark harvested sustainably from live flowering cherry trees
5. Linen Sheer Drapes from Pottery Barn, White, 54″ x 84″  |  $49/ea., $98 for 2  |  Made of 100% linen
6. Organic Hemstitch Sheet Set from Pottery Barn, Ocean Breeze, Queen  |  $149  |  Made of 100% organic cotton grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers  |  These sky blue and white sheets coordinate well with the wall color and provide a great contrast to the black and white duvet cover and shams
7. Monroe Dresser by ModLoft  |  $400  |  Wood comes from sustainable Malaysian forests, and their extended team of partners ensures it is managed responsibly (aff)
8. Bud Wall Flats by Inhabit  |  $86  |  Made of 100% molded bamboo paper pulp with no chemical fillers or additives  |  The price is for 10 18″ x 18″ panels. Lay them in 2 rows of 5 on the wall behind the platform bed to create a unique, textured headboard that will extend past the edges of the bed frame to behind the nightstands.  This will definitely be your focal point!
9. Lumalight Table Lamp, white  |  $116.10/ea., $232.20 for 2  |  Made of recycled paper
10. Monroe Nightstand Set by ModLoft  |  $225 for pair  |  Wood comes from sustainable Malaysian forests, and their extended team of partners ensures it is managed responsibly (aff)
11. The Raku Japanese Tatami Bed from Haiku Designs, Dark Walnut Finish |  $489 w/o mats  |  Made with FSC Certified wood harvested from sustainable and managed forests. Has received E-1 Emission Standard certification, meaning it uses no harsh chemicals or glues in the manufacturing process. In addition, the bedframe does not use any nails, screws or steel dowels for assembly.
12. Embroidered Flower Pillow Cover from Gaiam |  $12.99  |  Made of 100% silk by CraftBeauty, a Fair Trade group (aff)
13. Organic Cotton Nylum Bedding from Gaiam  |  $105.99 for duvet cover, $13.99 for 1 sham; $133.97 for duvet cover & 2 shams  |  Made of organic cotton (aff)
14. Wide-Border Sisal Rug from Pottery Barn, Chino, 5 x 8  |  $239  |  Made of Natural Sisal

TOTAL: $2418.13  |  You’ve still got $81.87 left for a great piece of art

Vintage Danish Modern Upholstered Arm Chair from Surfing Cowboys  |  $850  |  Reusing vintage products saves them from the landfill and reduces demand for new production, thereby conserving resources  |  This chair isn’t a must, but the clean lines add a bit of vintage glam and tie into the black from the bedding.

Any tips or suggestions for what could have been included, or excluded, in this room? Send them to jennae@greenyourdecor.com

And if you are a new subscriber, you may want to consider subscribing to Green Your Decor via RSS or email newsletter to make sure you don’t miss the other great rooms in the “Green Rooms in a Box” series!  Coming Wednesday: A slightly pricier eco-friendly bedroom full of style and flair. Thanks for reading!

MORE GREEN ROOMS IN A BOX:

• Eclectic, Eco-Chic Living Room Under $2500
• Contemporary Living Room Under $5000
• High-Priced, Celeb-Style Living Room Over $5000
• Simple, Classy Dining Room Under $2500
• Vintage Mod Dining Room Under $5000
• Posh Dining Room for the Super-Spendy
• Graphic, Nature-Inspired Bedroom Under $5000
• A Vibrant, Luxurious Bedroom on a Dream Budget
• A Fun, Funky Girl’s Bedroom Under $2500
• A Bedroom Fit for Two Boys Under $5000
• A Room for a Teen Queen Under $6500
• A Modern, Stimulating Boy’s Nursery Under $2500
• A Sassy (not pink) Girl’s Nursery Under $5000

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

Green Rooms in a Box Series: Fresh, Soothing Bedroom Under $2500

I like to think of the windows in my home as a gateway out into the world — a way for me to see what’s going on before I step outside. That said, I spend a lot of time looking at them. Through them, really, but I look at them often, too.  Like everything else in my home, I want them to look good, particularly since I’m so fond of gazing at the front yard and the little bird who likes to sit in the tree straight ahead.

But finding curtain panels that are both green and stylish isn’t easy.  And since I’m not the handiest with a sewing machine, I was happy to find these Eco Chic Panels from smith + noble.  They are available in a three lengths: 84″, 96″ or for those of you with super-high ceilings (or who want to give the illusion thereof), 108″. They are also available in five colors: Navy, Wheat, Chocolate, Steel and Green. Not the widest variety, but enough to give you an option that complements your decor.

Why It’s Green:

• Fabric made of a blend of hemp and recycled materials

Price: $161-186 per panel

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

Dress Up Your Windows: Eco Chic Panels from smith + noble