Crate and Barrel Eco Sofa

In 2001, I published a book called CONSCIOUS STYLE HOME that was one of the first books on eco-friendly home design.   Back then, you couldn't really find upholstered green pieces of furniture; if you wanted some green, you had to do it yourself.

One of the tips in the book was that you could bring your own fabric to Crate and Barrel have them create custom slip covers or custom upholstery.     I brought a bolt of Polish hemp fabric and had some pieces made, at a great cost.

Fast forward seven years and lo and behold, Crate and Barrel is selling eco-friendly furniture.  It's right on the sales floor and can be yours if you're in the market for a new sofa.

Welcome to the eco-cottage, indeed.     I love the fact the cushions use soy-based foam, which is a renewable resource, instead of petroleum-based ones commonly found in sofas.    Now the big question is, why can't ALL their sofas just go green?   

Going Solar @ Home

Well, today was a horrific, rainy mess in New York City!   And what a day---overcast, dark and gloomy---to demonstrate and discuss outdoor solar lighting!   

For the latest and greatest in outdoor solar lighting, check out this online video at CBSNEWS.COM.     It features everything from choosing the right lanterns to spotlights to gadgets and even Japanese style shoji lanterns that all use solar technology to power up and light up the yard.

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Eco Paint Chips

I get lots of questions from people asking what they can do to add color to their walls if they rent a home or live in a campus dorm room.    Obviously, painting isn't an option, unless you want to re-paint the entire place right before you move out (or forfeit the security deposit).      The eco-solution?   Poster size paint chips.

Yolo Color House makes a line of environmentally-friendly paints.   To help their customers envision what their room might look like in one of their shades of paint, they enlarged the itsy, bitsy paint chip into a poster-size version.    For $5.99, you can order a variety of Yolo paint chip posters and tack them all over your wall.

If you can't paint the walls, why not buy a variety of Yolo posters and cover an entire wall with them?   They come with adhesive stickers on the back, so you just peel and stick.    You can either do an entire wall in one color or just do a variety of colors to create a colorful patchwork pattern.    

Hemp Ipod Covers

In New York City last week, lots of public relations agencies were having something called a Holiday Press Preview.   Basically, lots of magazine editors---including myself---are planning our December/January issues now and we get a sneak peek at what's coming out this holiday season.

Since I'm always on the hunt for green and gorgeous items, I thought I'd share this little gem: hemp Ipod covers.   Don't you love the colors?   

And since they're hemp, they will last a long longer than canvas since hemp is 1 1/2 times stronger than cotton.    Plus, it's eco-friendly since no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are needed to grow hemp.

Now if I could only remember who makes these!!!   I have to go through my notes... once I find it, I'll update this post with the ordering info.