Cloud Berry is a Scandinavian online boutique that sources out high quality ethical and environmentally friendly products. Many of their products are design icons rich in Scandinavian heritage.
Littala Kastehelmi Bowl : Designed in 1964 by Oiva Toikka
Le Klint Joker : Designed in 1970 by Christian Raeder
Fair-trade aims to ensure that producers in poor countries get a fair price for goods and services, as well as safe working conditions and healthy business relationships. Fair-trade shops are filled with unique decor from all corners of the globe. Talented artisans work to create one of kind handmade items. Many of these items are eco-consious and are made using salvaged wood, recycled glass, pop tins, vegetable dyes, magazines and coconut shell.
I like having decor in my home that I know was hand made by a skilled artist, and by purchasing it I'm helping that artist succeed in their craft, rather than have them work in poor conditions and hawk their goods for pennies.
Hand cut and hand painted by skilled Haitian artisans. Children of the world recycled from a 55 gallon metal drum.
Metal Wall Hanging - $100
Vietnamese Recycled Paper Bowl - $12
India Enamel Painted Brass Vase - $50
Imagine having a smokeless fire that burns clean and comes from a can. It doesn't require a chimney flue, and can be placed anywhere in your home or yard without any installation requirements. It's simple, flexible, effective and cozy, and it's fuelled by the renewable energy of Denatured Ethanol. You're able to manipulate and control the size of the flame and the amount of heat generated. All you need is a burner or a range and your set.
Denatured Ethanol is made from plants and does not release any toxins or carbon dioxide into the air. It's clean and it's safe. One quart of denatured ethanol can burn for up to 5 hours depending on the size of the flame.
In regards to your range, you have many options. Ranges comes in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your personal style and abode. Some are free standing and portable, others can be mounted to the wall, or you could have a custom burner or range built in.
My favourite ethanol fire place is the minimal Piet from Cavallius Design. It is so beautiful. It's egg shaped dome is insulated so even while the fire burns hot, it's ceramic shell won't burn your fingers - this also means you can snug it up close to the wall. It's easily portable too, just think in the bedroom tonight, on the patio tomorrow.
For a minimalist look the Fusion - Eco-Smart Fire is clean lined and open on both sides which gives a unique sense of space.
Maybe you're looking for a change, or you've recently moved out on your own. Either way you need furniture.
Look at your local thrift and consignment shops and check garage sales. I can guarantee you'll find at least one excellent item to purchase. Lots of thrift shops work with charities, so consider your money well spent and saved. You could also be saving un-wanted items from the landfill. However I wouldn't jump at the opportunity to purchase a used sofa or side chair due to the harmful chemicals used in their foam stuffing.
When purchasing sofa's and lounge chairs be sure to buy green. Make the effort to buy items that are low, or better yet, free of harmful toxins like formaldehyde and flame retardants which can be found in the polyurethane foam used to stuff seat cushions. These toxins can be absorbed into your body through your skin and released into the air as dust particles. Yum!
Pure by Ami Mckay - Cyrilla Day Bed
Located in Surrey B.C - Pure creates beautiful pieces of furniture that do not off gas or leach harmful gases into the air.
Alex Witko and Courtney Hunt are both university graduates with a degree in architecture, they're also the brains behind Vancouver based company "Organelle Design." Their genius is to take our seemingly endless supply of waste and create new design possibilities. With a keen eye for finding street and alley "stuff," they re-purpose they're finds into unique and functional objects.
Hangeliers are made from new wood and plastic hangers, recycled bike rims, chain rings, all the pieces are held together neatly with zap straps. Brilliant!
You can purchase a Hangelier from Etsy or Supermarket.
When we first moved into our new home, we didn't own much and we didn't have the funds to buy brand new top quality pieces. But as it turned out, we didn't have to go far to find a bargain on some used top quality pieces. Our first, and one my favourite purchases (an adjustable vintage arc lamp - $24) came from a local shop called Uniquely Green Home Decor.
Uniquely Green isn't just a home decor shop, it's a consignment shop with an emphasis on local artists, recycled materials and quality furnishings. I spoke with owner Victoria Biggs and she shared some of her thoughts on buying trends, and the importance of making environmentally responsible purchases.
ALI: What was your motivation behind opening a home decor consignment shop?
VICTORIA: I opened our store 9 years ago and called it "Uniquely Yours Furniture on Consignment." It was challenging to find good used furniture at that time. The internet wasn't as accessible and Craigs List didn't exsist. I often wished there were stores that carried high end furniture that busy people with families and jobs could easily access. I've always loved used furniture, antiques, quality well built wood products, and shopping for treasures. There just weren't any furniture or household decor stores around that you could spend hours browsing in. It was a good fit for me.
ALI: Since you first opened, what changes have you seen in buying trends?
VICTORIA: Craigs List has become a household name, buying on the internet has increased ten-fold and recycling has become a way of life. The interest has really increased on items made from recycled goods, to the point where you can't tell the difference between a manufactured item and an item made from recycled materials. There is a lot more awareness and support around products made locally and made from sustainable (our soy candles) or biodegradeable products (the plastic bags we carry) or even reusable (our bum genius diapers).
ALI: Do you think that this latest movement in buying green is just a trend or do you feel that people really understand the changes we need to make?
VICTORIA: One only has to look at all the damage and pollution we as a society have created in the past 100 years comparitively to the last 1500 years - to know that recycling, reusing and buying "green" must become a way of life for everyone everywhere. It is a universal challenge that requires a universal solution. It's an exciting time for new products, new inventions and creativity.
ALI: Does Uniquely Green carry a specific style of furniture & home decor?
VICTORIA: Our store standards require that our used furniture & furnishings be in mint condition & that we have a market for them. We prefer our new green lines to be locally made and purchased. We have unique items all the time from jewelry to antiques and high end dining room suites. I love some of the vintage Sherman jewellry we have, as well as the Vintage Remix Jewelry from Dotted Loop - a designer in Vancouver who remixes vintage jewelry and has been showcased in "Elle" and "Fashion Magazine."
ALI: How much of your own home have you decorated with furniture from consignment?
VICTORIA: My entire house has been furnished with furniture, decor, rugs and pictures from our store. My son-in-law laughs at me because sometimes I leave the prices underneath certain pieces of furniture, that way I know what I paid when I switch them up and re-consign them for a new piece, or a new look! Hundreds of our customers brag that they've purchased their favourite piece from our store and love the looks they have achieved re-decorating on a budget. In fact, our customers coined the phrase "Uniquely Chic" to describe their decorating style from Uniquely Green. The best benefit of consigning is you can bring in items you already own and are tired of, and buy new items from us by using the money in your Uniquely Green account - never having to pay a cent. It's a beautiful thing and a win/win for the environment, for your home, for your style and for the community at large. How great is that!
Uniquely Green Home Decor is located at: 20241 Fraser Hwy. Langley B.C Telephone: 604-530-6765 / Website: www.uniquelygreen.ca
On a recent trip to Costco Jesse came across a Herman Miller work chair, we each took a seat and oh wow, talk about comfort and good posture. So after some hesitation over the price, ($300) we decided to take the Herman Miller plunge. And I must say after a few hours at my work desk in a Herman Miller Caper Studio Chair, I'm not hunched over with neck and shoulder pain! I would recommend these chairs to anyone who spends any amount of time at a desk. Herman Miller has a range of styles and colours to choose from - some futuristic, some very "office" looking and some are just down right stylish. Even better it comes with a 12 year warrantee and is made entirely of recyclable materials at a LEED certified factory using renewable energy . This makes me very happy and my back thanks me for it!
I've always had a thing for Egypt, it conjures up all kinds of ideas of royalty's opulence and power. Stories of the pyramids, gold, queens, pharaohs and lost civilizations. So what does this have to do with personal style? Here are few Egypt inspired pieces I might like to add my home...
Ten Thousand Villages - "Naturally Woven Basket"
I always come across clients, who much like myself have mini objects clustered every where. Pairs of earrings, paper clips, loose change, keys, jewelry etc... They're items we use everyday so we can't be bothered to put them away, because come tomorrow we'll have to go searching for them. That's why I love the Egg Flats from Branch. They're cool and convenient. On your desk, in the bathroom or on the kitchen counter - they make an excellent catch all for your everyday odds and sods ...and a great fruit basket too.
B&N industries has just released new fixture and perimeter panels for retail applications. B&N has always had great style and good looks and these new panels are no exception. They're made of reclaimed and recycled wood veneer in Western Redwood, Douglas Fir, and Asian Teak. The reclaimed timber helps re-use and recycle materials that would otherwise be landfill. The veneer and panel substrate are both FSC certified and finished in a low V.O.C varnish. And by using choosing these products you can earn LEED credits.
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