eco-chic design

modern design for sustainable table settings

Soon I’ll be at NYIGF 2010 here in NYC to check out the latest sustainable designs in home furnishings. I can’t wait to see the PaperStone tablemats and coasters by Dinah Coops as well as her hemp/organic cotton tea towels that are part of the sustainable display. Her eco-modern tablemats and coasters use PaperStone that’s made from 100% recycled paper, non-petroleum resins and organic pigments. It’s a stone-like material and contrasts beautifully with her free-flowing and modern designs. I especially like Dina Coops’ designs for the triple seed pod coaster, the sea fan with trunk coaster and the little cone plant with squiggle coaster. The squiggles of her elegant compositions remind me of drawing with pebbles on slate as kids in Germany. No wonder Dinah Coops describes her PaperStone tablemats and coasters as a modern take on traditional European slate tableware. Each coaster or placemat is silkscreened by hand and treated with a protective coating of water-based polyurethane and silicone. They are backed with a thin layer of cork so that you won’t have to worry about scratching your favorite eco-chic tabletop. Her sustainable napkins and tea towels are made of un-dyed 100% linen or hemp/cotton blend with similar abstract compositions of nature silkscreened by hand with water based inks. Thanks to their neutral color palette the minimalist designs fit easily into any eco-modern home.

modern recycled glassware

Upcoming Thanksgiving makes me realize how grateful I am for everyday things like access to clean water. That’s why I love the sustainable concept behind the tranSglass tumblers that are part of the Design w/Conscience program founded by Artecnica in 2002. The program combines modern design with the traditional craft of artisan-made goods to promote self-sustaining communities in underdeveloped countries.

In the case of the tranSglass tableware collection designers Emma Woffenden and Tord Boontje collaborated with Guatemalan craftsmen through the help of the non-profit organization Aid to Artisans. The results are these gorgeous glass vessels made from recycled post-consumer wine or beer bottles. All bottles were collected from local restaurants or recycling plants around Guatemala City then cleaned, handcut into new shapes and polished. The collection includes eco-modern vases, carafes, tumblers and candleholders in different shades of green, clear and brown with a polished or satin finish. The sleek and sustainable glass designs are perfect for modern eco-homes. It’s no surprise that the sustainable tranSglass collection is part of the permanent collection at the MoMA here in New York.

bottled water design with an environmental cause

Finland has some of the world’s best water on tap and you might wonder why anyone who lives there would want to buy bottled water. Unless it looks as cool as the donut shaped bottle from Plup that donates 10 euro cents from every purchase to the Baltic Sea Action Group to help with the cleaning of the Baltic Sea.

The Finish company Plup was founded by designer, artist and director Stefan Lindfors. The innovative donut shaped design allows for the bottle to be stackable, durable and portable which makes it easy to reuse. Even that the 0.4L bottle is made from the highly recyclable plastic HDPE the company would rather see you refill and reuse it. The HDPE bottle looks modern with its clear round body and the starfish-shaped cap. It almost functions as a hip accessory so that you’re less likely to forget your reusable water bottle at home. An optional beltclip makes it easy to carry for hiking or boating. So far the Plup bottle is only available in Finland. Soon it will come in different colors and transparencies depending on other content such as juice. Plup is planning an expansion to other countries like the US and Australia and is on the lookout for charities that fight major local environmental problems. It might be worth checking out.

stylish and sustainable coffee sleeves

Occasionally I still use disposable paper cups for coffee or tea but I make it a point to opt out of the cardboard sleeves to reduce my eco-guilt. Megan Auman’s cozy/cuffs made out of wool felt are a great eco-modern alternative. Not only are they reusable and keep your fingers from getting burnt but they also double as eco-chic bracelets. I’ve raved about the sustainability of wool felt in pillows before and I’m glad to see the eco-friendly material used in a multifunctional application. It’s another way to reduce waste.

The design of the cozy/cuffs is inspired by Megan’s jewelry and sculptural objects that explore floral patterns found in textiles and decorative ironwork. They are laser cut and made of 100% wool felt imported from Germany. All designs are locally manufactured at her studio in Jonestown, Pennsylvania. I love the modern take on floral designs and the contemporary use of colors like light green, turquoise blue or simply grey and black. Not only can you color coordinate the eco-chic accessories to any outfit, but they also make a statement that you care about the environment. The eco-friendly cozy/cuffs are a great conversation starter about wasteful paper consumption. Maybe next time you’ll pick up more than fair-trade organic coffee at your favorite coffee shop.

from waste to modern eco-bowls

Prompted by my discovery of Husque’s Frag bowls at the Museum of Art and Design store in Manhattan and the arrival of nut season I want to applaud Husque for turning industry waste into sleek eco-design. The stunning Husque bowls by designer Marc Harrison are locally produced sustainable design based on Australia’s iconic macadamia nut that’s native to the East Coast of Australia.

All Husque designs are made from discarded macadamia nut shells that are milled into fine particles, melted with a polymer and then formed into organic shapes that recall their origin. The dark brown outside of the designs has a satin sheen and is hand rubbed with macadamia oil while the colorful inside is polished to a mirror gloss finish. I love the contrast of the vibrant almost neon colors of the lining with the dark brown color of the macadamia nut shell. It looks classy yet contemporary at the same time. Most of all I love how Husque turns waste from the macadamia nuts industry into useful yet beautiful objects such as bowls, trays or vases. My personal favorite is still the Frag bowl that makes a great centerpiece and conversation starter on eco-design for any table. Not only do the highly nutritious macadamia nuts have health benefits for humans but they also benefit the health of our eco-system since the macadamia nut trees help prevent soil erosion and are highly sustainable. Did I mention yet that the Husque designs look simply stunning?

pack your own eco-lunch

Not sure why it took me so long to discover To-Go Ware’s reusable RePEaT utensils especially since I’ve already featured so many green alternatives to plastic bottles and bags. Berkley based To-Go Ware was founded by Stephanie Bernstein in 2004 to combat today's throwaway culture of plastic. Her company acknowledges that a modern life-style is a life on-the-go, but she’s committed to offering eco-friendly and modern alternatives like her RePEaT utensils. Their name originated from the fact that the holders for the bamboo utensils are made from recycled PET plastic. Not only do they give plastic bottles a second life, but they also help to keep more plastic out of landfills. I love that each set includes a fork, knife, spoon and even chopsticks since I never know what I’m in the mood for in regards to a quick lunch. They are great for the office, schools and picnics at the park or beach with their fun, colorful designs. Other To-Go Ware products include food carriers made out of stainless steel that come in recycled cotton bags that are woven from cotton scraps collected from recycling sites and dyed with natural colors. Now all you have to do is to remember to put them into your bag in the morning and you’re all ready to reduce, reuse and repeat.

go green with your daily coffee fix

It’s much easier for me to cut my paper and plastic consumption than coffee. That’s why I love that these chic insulated mugs from Earth Lust are a stylish green alternative to take out coffee that typically comes in a paper or styrofoam cup. They are cool enough to bring to the office or the park during the summer. Just think about all the paper cups, plastic lids and cardboard cup jackets that you’ll be saving every single day if your coffee consumption is similar to mine.

The 20 oz insulated mugs or thermos come in two sleek designs that are both inspired by nature and reflect the company’s commitment to promote a green life-style. One is a simple feather design and the other one has a botanical design with the word change. It’s a great reminder to change your coffee consumption habits to reuse, refill and recharge. The double walled #304 food grade stainless thermos keep your cold drinks cool for up to 16 hours and your warm drinks hot up to 8 hours. They are consciously produced in China with fair trade and labor conditions but designed and tested in California. Both designs feature non-toxic paints and BPA-free safe polypropylene #5 caps. Now go ahead and enjoy your cup of organic, shade-grown and fair trade coffee.

a refreshing take on green design

We all know that it’s important to keep plastic bottles out of landfills through reusable water bottles. But what if you don’t like tap water as much like myself and prefer sparkling water or soda? I received a demonstration of SodaStream’s home soda makers at the Go Green Expo 2009 earlier this year and was surprised how much I liked the sparkling water. Even the sodas made with flavored syrup were really refreshing and not too sweet.

The average American consumes about 600 cans or bottles of soda and sparkling water each year according to SodaStream. In addition just think about the thousands of miles that your favorite bottle of imported sparkling water has to travel to reach you. A SodaStream home soda maker is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and to keep plastic bottles and cans out of landfills by turning tap water into sparkling water or soda within a few seconds. It uses no batteries or electricity since it operates on the power provided by its compressed gas carbonators. Once empty they are returned to the company to be cleaned, inspected, refilled and reused. The line of home soda makers includes the SodaStream Penguin that comes with two glass carafes and the Sodastream Pure made of high quality plastics and brushed stainless steel. Who says you can’t make your own designer water? Both designs are a great alternative to beat the summer heat in green style.

green your coffee addiction

My first encounter with the eco-friendliness of the French Press was last fall when it was mentioned in Barbara Flanagan’s book “Smart Home” as one of 98 essentials for scaling back. That’s when it dawned on me that my Bodum Chambord French Press is way more energy-efficient than a traditional drip coffee maker.

My second realization occurred this week when I worked on a system and life-cycle analysis of the French Press for my certificate in sustainable design. It’s amazing how many ecological and ethical consequences a cup of coffee has in regards to coffee production, energy consumption and water supply. I really hope you buy coffee that is fair-trade, organic and shade-grown to prevent deforestation. But back to my Chambord French Press that’s made out of glass and stainless steel. It’s quite ingenious in its simplicity and obviously doesn’t require any paper filters. This summer Bodum will be releasing the BEAN French Press. It has a patented new locking lid system that offers a heat seal and precision pour spout and comes in eight bright colors. The manual brewing system is still the same and certainly a much greener way to enjoy your coffee in the morning than drip brew. And it tastes way better since it keeps more of the coffee's essential oils and flavor. Now you can feed your coffee addiction without the eco-guilt.

celebrate summer in green style

It’s time to pop the cork and toast to summer in an eco-modern way with these recycled cork coasters by Australian company Lightly. They are part of Lightly’s dEco range of environmentally-friendly products that include recycled cork and rubber placemats as well. Earlier this year the company introduced three new botanical designs inspired by patterns in nature and  blossoming flowers: Daphne Daffodil, Dahlia Daisy and Eco-sphere. All designs come in red, white, black and green. As a big fan of turning waste into something useful I was glad to discover that they are made from 100% recycled cork and rubber gathered from Australian wineries. They are heat resistant and perfect for indoor or outdoor entertaining.

What I love about the Eco-sphere Placemat/Coaster design is the playful approach to dining. The coasters pop out of the center of the placemats allowing you to mix and match colors. It’s a fun way to entertain guests and makes setting a table more creative. In addition to the brighter colors they also come in the three natural colorways tan, Van Dyke brown and slate black. The designer behind these modern eco-designs is Melbourne based Cindy-Lee Davies who launched her company in 2005. I was introduced to her work through Design Abroad, which represents other great eco-conscious designs here in the US like the Electric Firefly lightshades.