Oeuf Halloween for the Kids

Oeuf Mask & Tail Sets for Halloween

by Jennifer Chait

No stranger to Halloween goodness, Oeuf has introduced us to beautiful, sustainable costume ideas year after year. From their lovely angel wing sweaters to their Where the Wild Things Are minded animal hats and booties, Oeuf is always coming up with minimal, yet sweet costumes for tots. This year Oeuf offers an adorable line-up of creative Mask & Tail sets that will easily turn your little one into the animal of his or her choice. Best of all these fun mask and tail sets can be used all year for creative play.



Made with sustainable 100% Alpaca wool, dress-up has never been as fun (or as cute) as with these wonderful animal themed mask and tail sets. Alpaca wool is naturally hypoallergenic, eco-friendly and safe for your child. Your little one can choose from various animals such as a dog, cheetah, crocodile, giraffe, tiger, raccoon, fox or zebra. When paired with a cozy sweater these mask and tail sets are perfect for kids who want to dress up for Halloween, without all the fuss of a full-on costume.

+ Oeuf Mask & Tail Sets $48.00 (at Oeuf)

Apple Table

A gorgeous wood crafted table from New Mexico artist, Mark Levin. 

Made of Cherry wood with a cocobolo stem.

Secret Desire

So I'm in the market for baby gear and would LOVE this "Wistful Weekender- Tranquil Tulilps" from Petunia Picklebottom.

I am imagining looking just like the mom in the picture ;)  Maybe this bag would help hide the real ones under my eyes. 

Desu Design Spice Rack

Love this simple clean design for a spice rack which can double as art from Desu Design. 

You can get yours here for $199.

House Plants

The USGBC's Green Home Guide recently posted a relative question and answer that I wanted to share:

Can I use house plants to improve my home's indoor air quality? 

Asked by Tom Neff , Fishers, IN

There is data and research on the value of outdoor plantings and the positive effect on air quality through natural transpiration. It would seem that the same would be true of indoor plants, if well maintained, both in terms of overall humidity levels, and in terms of potential CO2 reduction and biofiltration.

Answered by Richard Heller, New Rochelle, NY

NASA did a study in conjunction with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA, now PLANET, the Professional Landcare Network) that showed that yes,

• indoor plants not only absorb CO2 and release oxygen, but they also
• scrub the air of pollutants commonly found indoors from our carpeting, paints, and cleaning products.

Common household products can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), gases that pollute indoor air. Paint, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, glues and adhesives all contain VOCs. Breathing these compounds causes symptoms that range from allergic reactions to respiratory tract irritation to more serious conditions like cancer.
There are now paints, carpeting products, and indoor cleaners that have low or no VOCs. Regardless, NASA found that a house plant for every 50 feet will help reduce VOCs and improve home air quality.
The top air scrubbers found by NASA are listed below (this plant list came from Zone10.com):

• Bamboo palm, Chamaedorea seifritzii
• Chinese evergreen, Aglaonema modestum
• English ivy, Hedera helix
• Gerbera daisy, Gerbera jamesonii
• Janet Craig, Dracaena “Janet Craig”
• Marginata, Dracaena marginata
• Mass cane/Corn plant, Dracaena massangeana
• Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, Sansevieria laurentii
• Pot mum, Chrysantheium morifolium
• Peace lily, Spathiphyllum
• Warneckii, Dracaena “Warneckii”

Rebaroque

Rebaroque: Upcycled Speaker Frames Showcase the Art of Noise 

by Yuka Yoneda

You probably frame your art, so why not frame your music too? Rebaroque has just launched their line of custom "sound frames" that look like luxe pieces of custom art -- but upon further inspection they also function as high-quality speakers. They're made from upcycled vintage picture frames and remnant fabric and are so unique that they're guaranteed to be conversation starters at your next shindig.

 
Photo by Michael Abrego
The company was started by Brooklyn-based artists Rebecca Paul and Mikal Hameed, and was born out of their desire to create artwork that was also functional, tech-savvy, beautiful and sustainable. Paul and Hameed scour the streets to find wood to use inside the frames and around the speakers. As for the fabric that gives the sound frames their bespoke look, only scraps or remnant cloth are used.
 
Photo by Michael Abrego
While the majority of the elements that make up Rebaroque’s sound frames are reclaimed, there’s one thing they will make an exception on. They often use found or reclaimed speakers that function beautifully, but at this point every frame has one speaker that is new to ensure good sound quality. And while inspired by the rich details of the Baroque style, these babies are far from antiquated – each one features a cable that can easily be connected to your computer or portable music player, and they can be outfitted so that you can dock your iPhone or Blackberry or connect via Bluetooth.

Environment Furniture

Gorgeous sustainable case goods and upholstery from Environment Furniture. 

Their sustainablity statement:
At Environment Furniture, environmental stewardship is our responsibility and our privilege. In creating unique furniture collections from reclaimed, recycled, and sustainably harvested wood, we show our respect for nature’s bounty and reaffirm our deep commitment to sustainability. This attention to the provenance of our raw materials differentiates us from other furniture-makers, and positions us to meet growing demand for environmentally sound products.

Beautiful modern pieces, just wish their company was easier to get a hold of....

This post is for my dear friends Jenna & Willie who have gone through a few chickens to get just what they want.  Just in case your chickens are craving some modern design thought you might like this.

The Nogg 

by Yuka Yoneda, 09/27/10

So we all know that eggs are incredible and edible, but trucking them thousands of miles to get to your local supermarket definitely doesn’t make them very sustainable. Enter the Nogg – a beautifully designed egg-shaped pad that lets you house a chicken in your very own backyard. Not only does this funtional and lovely wooden sculpture add an elegant curiosity to your garden, but it also means that you can have omelettes in the morning without worrying about how much fuel was used getting them to your house.

Spotted over at this year’s London Design Festival, Nogg is engineered and handcrafted in the UK from strong cedar wood, which is naturally antibacterial and odor curbing. Aside from being eggceptionally good-looking, the prefab hen house has stainless steel trimming and the elevated glass dome, giving it a modern aesthetic. The glass top also twists and lifts for ample ventilation to make sure that your feathered friend stays nice and cool.

Mansour Modern

Growing up in a family known as one of the world's premier purveyors of fine antique rugs, Mansour's Ben Soleimani acquired a refined sense of color, style and composition at an early age.

Seeking to bring a 21st century edge to Mansour, Soleimani is the visionary and head designer of the brand's contemporary couture label, Mansour Modern. This inspired, artisan-made collection showcases his penchant for innovative and abstract techniques and "eco-luxe" components like sustainable plants, natural dyes and renewable resources.

               

Satara Home & Baby

Soft and luxurious bamboo linens feel like silk on the skin.  Satara Home offers bedding and bath options that can make you feel like royalty at home.

Ooh, check out Satara Baby as well for some environmentally friendly options for your baby.   Like this organic crib bedding set embroidered with forest animals.  Adorable!

Vintage Linen

Can't get enough of them lately and they seem to be everywhere! 

When I opened my latest Restoration Hardware catalog to find it upholstered on a few chairs I knew the word was out.  Traditionally I started seeing them as European grain sacks and now the reproductions have begun, which if fine by me because it means more affordable options.

Darling Darleen's Bathroom Remodel

If your not a fan of this ever fun blog, Darling Darleen, you should be!  Darleen is one of my oldest friends and she recently did a bathroom remodel in her New England home.  It is a perfect example of determination and elegant style well achieved.

Here is the scoop from the designer herself:
Bathroom Done!

We ended up keeping the tub, and I spent an afternoon scrubbing all the stains with Lime Out. Seriously, I scrubbed until my hands were raw, but it worked. And it now looks new. I'm so glad we decided to keep it because that tub style is very hard to find. And I'm glad that we didn't have to re glaze the tub. After doing some research we found out that it's not so great with children and everyday use.

Since we had to re-pipe the whole bathroom, I had them take out the large radiator and move the sink to that opposite wall. Good decision because we acquired more vanity space. We put a toe-kick heater in place of the radiator, which is located under the vanity.

I bought many of the fixtures from Vintage Tub--great online resource if you want the vintage bathroom look or need to replace vintage bathroom pieces. Prices are good. Below is a list of other resources and before pictures.

Honeycomb Italian Carrara tile (flooring) and subway tiles (shower)--Lima Ceramic Tiles (local)

New window and toilet--Home Depot

Tub faucet/rain shower head/sink faucet/shower curtain rod--Vintage Tub

Sink Vanity and countertop--Restoration Hardware

Medicine Cabinet/towel rod/glass shelf--Restoration Hardware Outlet

Toilet roll holder/single towel ring--Restoration Hardware

Lighting sconces--Lighting Universe

Paint color--Benjamin Moore White N33301 (beadboard and ceiling) and Quiet Moments

Oh did I mention she makes fabulous jewelry as well!  See for yourself here.

Sin in Linen

Love these traditional tattoo patterns on Sin in Linen's bedding and shower curtains. 

Fun to feel like a rebel again.  Get yours at Design Public for $39. 

Vintage Tea

An adorable take on the ever popular Fiestaware this tea set chosen by Madeline Stuart makes me want to invite some girlfriends over and chat it up while sipping from our bold colored cups. 

Poppytrail by Metlox multi-color ceramic tea set.
Materials: Ceramic
Dimensions: Tea pot: 10”W x 6”D x 4.5”H; Saucers: 6”Dia.; Cups: 4”Dia. x 2.5”H
Color: Turquoise, orange, yellow, green
Care: Mild soap & water
Price: Starting around $425

Glass Pendants

I've been looking for a new dining room shade for awhile now hoping to find something unique that's around 12" diameter.

I found these at Shades of Light they start around $159 each.  They are a little small but I love the shape and color options.

Serena & Lily Fabric

Have you seen Serena & Lily's great fabric collection lately?  So worth the visit!

Make sure you contact me if you want a discount on these designer fabrics.

Small Bath Remodel

After we have finished replacing our windows I'm crossing my fingers that my husband will have energy to help me remodel our small downstairs bathroom.  Just in case I'm sharing some inspiration.

Brook Farm General Store

Oooh, just found this lovely new store in Brooklyn that sells all the old fashion products I love.  Brook Farm General Store is like walking into my dream neighborhood store, only in Brooklyn. 

Luckily they sell online so us Idahoans can keep up.

Branch Tree Floor Lamp

If Mother Nature were a modernist, she might make trees not with gnarled, knobby roots but with slim trunks and bentwood branches. Brass shades and a bold color palette complete the polished pastiche.

• Designed by: Rich Brilliant Willing

Read more: http://www.dwell.com/products/branch-floor-lamp.html#ixzz10TohdQh4

Newspaper Chair

From Vivaterra this adorable chair takes design inspiration from the standard wicker chairs but is made of recycled newspaper.

On sale for $425.

Re-Lux Showcase

Re-Lux Showcases Luxury Furniture Made From Waste Materials

by Hazel Saunderson, 09/21/10

 

Team Inhabitat is on the scene at the 2010 London Design Festival, and one of their favorite sustainable design shows thus far was the Re-Lux exhibition at the Eco Age Shop & Design Consultancy. This collection of recycled furnishings aims to make people reconsider their preconceptions about luxury and waste by showcasing a number of luxury design pieces that have been created using waste materials. Read on for some of our favorite green design finds!

Michelle Mason’s Rosetta Rug took the centre stage at the exhibition with its bold cut-out felt shape. This luxury item is as sustainable as it is stylish, as the felt is made from 100% recycled plastic.

Eco Factory’s distinctive recycled glass bowls transform broken sheets of auto glass into beautiful housewares.

Eco Factory used plastic bottles as the main material for two of their lamps on display.