eco-chic design

modern eco-dream houses

I’ve been a huge fan of Michelle Kaufmann’s architecture for a while, but I’ve always felt intimidated to write about her since there are so many innovative features that make her homes eco-friendly.  

Her design process is based on 5 ecoprinciples: smart design, eco-materials, energy efficiency, water conservation and healthy environment. She started her company in 2002 with the goal to build sustainable, well-designed homes that are affordable as well. Her company offers several prefab homes that include the Glidehouse™, Sunset Breezehouse™, mkLotus™, and mkSolaire™. Every home includes a sustainable floor plan, energy efficient lighting design and building systems as well as eco-friendly materials and finishes like bamboo or reclaimed wood flooring. Each home is solar ready. I also love that Michelle Kaufmann branched out into designing products like her modern and sustainable lighting vessel that doubles as a vase.

trash it in green style

I always love when two parties come together to create something truly unique like these chic Artala trash cans that are biodegradable.

Umbra was founded in 1979 dedicated to design and manufacture contemporary and affordable objects for the home. For this project the company teamed up with the New York based artist Joshua Davis to create three designs in collaboration with the designer David Quan. The resulting Artala cans come in red, kiwi or ocean and carry the artist’s signature style of patterns that combine computer art and technology yet feel very poetic. To me they look like Jackson Pollack-meets-Emilio Pucci with their bold, brightly colored graphics that seem slightly psychedelic. It’s another example that eco-friendly design doesn’t need to be boring.