interiors

Part 14 of our 15-part Q&A series on all aspects of green building from the publishers of HealthyHouseInstitute.com. Click here for the introductory post and furthur details.

Question: We’re getting ready to move into our new healthy house. Do you have any additional advice?

Answer: Congratulations! By using healthy building materials and installing a ventilation system, you now have a healthy structure. However, you must realize that what you put inside your house is just as important as how you built it. We’ve heard of cases where healthy houses were filled with unhealthy furnishings and maintained with unhealthy cleaning products. The result was poor indoor air quality. Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy products out there that can be substituted for all the unhealthy ones. Lynn Bower's book, The Healthy Household, goes into interiors in considerable depth, but the following questions and answers cover the highlights.

Question: Antique furniture was made before particleboard and other synthetic materials became popular, so it’s healthy, right?

Answer: Not necessarily, old furniture can be contaminated with musty smells, tobacco smoke, pesticides, and perfume odors—all things that affect air quality. Some pieces are actually moldy. If an antique piece has been refinished recently, it may be bothersome because of a noxious stripper that was used, or because of an oil-based stain or finish.

We have an antique oak desk that belonged to John’s great grandmother. Over the years it picked up a wide variety of odors, and it was too bothersome to bring it into our healthy house. We thought about stripping the finish off ourselves (3M has a low-tox product that’s widely available called Safest Stripper), but decided to take it to a commercial stripper. They had more powerful stripping chemicals, the correct safety equipment, and they knew where to properly dispose of the spent stripper and old finish. Once it was stripped, it didn’t have the original odors, but it did smell of stripper. So, we put it in the garage and let it air out for a couple of months. Once it was aired out, we finished it with a water-based urethane floor finish. It’s now odor free and sitting in our entry hall.

Question: I think outgassing from some of my new upholstered furniture is affecting my health. Any suggestions?

Phew, I'm exhausted but here's my second installment on ICFF 2008.

(The first is here, and for even more, check out my blog, http://www.greenmodernkits.com/casa-ti1.htm.)

Lessee... Let's start with...

Orange22.

http://www.orange22.com/ http://www.botanistseries.com/

Sweet John Huang emailed me about their project.

Beautiful products! I love how they nest together, how they maintain a continuity of form while embracing different personalities, and with recyclable materials.

And note:

"When we began thinking about the Botanist™ Blank Canvas project back in 2006, we knew we wanted to produce more than beautiful furniture. Botanist is about entrusting our colleagues – each of whom we admire, to do what they love and give back in the process. Botanist is simply a unique business model that serves as a catalyst to empower design for positive change,”

Dario Antonioni, founder of Orange22.

Botanist Blank Canvas matches each designer’s royalty to a charity or foundation of their choice. Collaborate, create, and give back... responsible design."

I deeply appreciated learning about what causes these designers care for, and thank them for all that they do to help others. From their web site:

"Designer: Kahi Lee

What was your inspiration?

I call my design "Unlock the Cure". Cancer has affected far too many people in my life and I'm committed to doing something about it. The cure is out there, we just need to find the key. The light-reflective and luminous quality of the metallic finish symbolizes hope and optimism.

Why is it important for you to give back?

I want to give back to the Cancer Research Institute because they are leaders in supporting the development of strategies to treat and prevent cancer. Giving back is important to me because I think we all have a duty to try to leave this world a little bit better than the way we found it.

Name of line: Albero

Designer: Joe Ricchio with Kara Larsen

What was your inspiration?

The concept is my expression of the beauty of life. I chose a delicate and elegant branch with dew dropping off of it to represent earth, water and life.

Why is it important for you to give back?

DIFFA: Design Industry Fighting Aids. I have been donating to them for many years for a variety of reasons: 1 ) Larry Pond was the Director of Design at Stendig and introduced my first chair, he began DIFFA and has since died of AIDS, 2 ) I have a family member that is HIV positive and 3 ) I believe it is simply a good choice.

"

"

rECOlector's CH07 by Eugenio Menjivar

I enjoyed meeting Eugenio Menjivar and his wife, who were very kind to walk me through the details and ideas behind their lamps.

rECOlector's CH07 takes typical egg cartons of 100% recycled paper, the metal stands are reused from objects found in junkyards, and uses water based colors to create soft lamp shades inspired by dancers.

InModern / EcoTots

InModern.net / EcoTots.comInModern / Ecotots: ICFF 2008 - see post here: http://www.buildinggreentv.com/keywords/furniture/3619

What I like about the surfin collection is that I could picture a child loving the pieces and recalling them fondly years later; yet there was something extremely stylish and not cutesy or overly-bright about the design and in the colors they chose.

I enjoyed meeting Jay Slifer, vice president of design. We hung out awhile and instead of talking shop we caught up on our kids. : )

Molo Design

Molo Design's Softlight & Softwall & Softblocks & Softseating...

I love it. Of course it's dramatic.

My only hesitation is... regardless: cloth or paper...

How do you clean it?

Sorry, I'm a mom,I have to wipe everything. But I love the possibilities...

Here are my pictures:

Animavi's Artisan Screen

My pictures or the pictures on their website do not do justice to the subtle, gorgeous translucency of this wall screen.

Imagine resin panels that give the touchable urge of softly ground glass / candy, grounded in a safe, solid base to define your living space.

I've asked the designer to email me some better pics, but in the meantime see it here: http://www.animavi.com/

"The Animavi Artisan Screen is one-of-a-kind metal artistry. Inspired by hand-crafted jewelry, its true function, to redefine space, is complimented by its flexibility to take on both linear or serpentine form. Set of seven bases.

See its eco-profile here.

Features:

• Freestanding screen comprised of 7 hand-crafted steel bases
• “No tools” installation
• Welded construction, threaded connecting points
• Each base unique with patina in three optional finishes
• Vertical post/finial connection point supports a 7’ plank

Versatile configuration options:

• LINEAR: Two solid steel rods connect base pieces
• SERPENTINE: braided steel cable connects base pieces
• Steel is clear-coated - indoor or outdoor applications
• Multiple planking options available, colors per manufacturer choice."

Modern Outdoor ModernOutdoor.com

Environmentally conscious outdoor furniture that is sleek and modern. I really liked the etra chaise lounge in white, the talt lounge, talt barstool with bar height table, and LOVED the talt low sofa and low lounger chair in white with lime fabric!

I also really liked the talt bench and table together as dining... Amoeba Light

http://www.thesimplelight.com/gallery_1.html

I'm going to be honest. I love the form, it's beautiful.

But... Would the design really work as well with a typical florescent or LED light?

I was really surprised more lighting people hadn't made the jump to green light bulbs...

This is the episode you've been waiting for, the one where we finally get to see how Kevin will put the finishing touches on a long project. Health expert Alyssa Alvord explains to Kevin about non-toxic wood finishes for furniture, while interior designer Vanessa Grant talks about natural fabrics and furnishings.

As a special treat, Kevin visits the home of Zem Joaquin, eco-editor of House & Garden, whose blog Ecofabulous has long been an inspiration to all of us at Building Green TV.

Kevin's motto is "buy the best that you can buy," and it shows throughout his home, from the antique armoires Kevin bought for his bathroom vanities, to his sleek Valcucine kitchen made of recycled components. You'll learn that buying the best isn't always expensive, and that you can even find eco-friendly products at the local mall if you know what to look for.

To find out when Episode Twelve: Interiors is airing in your town, visit our Station Finder. And if you have tips on interior furnishings and design items you'd like to share with other readers, visit our share section. 

The advent of compact fluorescents has been a boon for energy savers everywhere, but to date the things have been rather utilitarian to look at. A lampshade goes a long way, true enough, but there's something innatelty satisfying about good design, even in ordinary objects like light bulbs. Well, CFLs have been around long enough now that a few brave and enlightened souls (forgive the pun), have been inspired to create art with them. Hulger's Plumen Project is a "reaction to the lack of real diversity, imagination and personality offered by the market today."  Their twisty, witty bulbs make you want to put the lampshade on your head and throw a party. Link via Inhabitat.

Equally delightful is the recycled fluorescent tube light by artist Castor Candensis. 

Italian food has firmly staked its claim as one of the world's most popular cuisines. A treat for the eyes, nose, and taste buds, it's easy to see why the kings and queens of pasta live such happy and healthy lives.

The sights and smells of the Italian countryside serve as inspiration for California based Nomine's line of soy candles. Pronounced "noh-mi-neh", Nomine "simply means 'name' in Latin and was chosen to celebrate the power of the meaning behind names."

Started by Nancy Covello as part of her dedication to alternative health therapies and a vegetarian lifestyle, all of Nomine's burning beauties are made from only soybean wax and essential oils - 100% free of petroleum ingredients found in "traditional" paraffin candles.

Our wax burns longer, cooler, and clearer than paraffin candle waxes, with little to NO carbon build-up. Soy wax does not produce black soot, which can leave residue on furnishings and walls. The wax is made predominantly from domestically grown crops supporting U.S. farmers and the economy.

Available in both jars and as tea lights, there are four scents in the Nomine collection, each representing one of the four seasons. You can buy each candle individually from the Nomine website, or as set of all four seasons (shown above, includes a box of matches). Each of the candles in the "Botanical Jar Collection" feature a beautifully applied image on their glass jars, adding both pleasant smells and sights to your own eco-abode.

Zem at Ecofabulous got us thinking about candles today. We were particularly surprised by the statistic she cites stating that seven in ten American households burn candles regularly. Who knew we were such a romantic culture?

Ordinary paraffin candles are made with petroleum byproducts, and produce soot when burned that, while perhaps not a statistically significant factor in global warming, is certainly a lung irritant to those who inhale the fumes. Soy or beeswax candles are the way to go. To read more about the virtues of soy vs. paraffin candles, check out ecomall's shopping guide. But we have a soft spot for beeswax candles, with their heady natural aroma and golden color. Care2 explains why beeswax rules: "Beeswax candle fuel is the only fuel that actually produces negative ions, which not only helps remove pollution from the air but increases the ratio of negative ions to positive ions, the ideal and necessary scenario for clean air."

We love giving--and getting--candles as gifts. Decorative objects that produce hours of sensual pleasure, they are things we tend never to buy for ourselves--at least not the heavenly-scented, fancy kind. Beeswax Candleworks sells every shape of candle you can imagine, from tapers and pillars to tiki idols and christmas trees, at reasonable prices. Kathleen Lewis makes scented beeswax candles that come in jars--perfect for bringing with you to personalize a hotel room with lavender or sage if you're travelling this season. Fusion Home has an assortment of gorgeous candles for holidays and beyond, including the witty pine cone replicas pictured here.

We've all read about toxic chemicals that the government allows in food. Recent news about toys made in China containing lead and unhealthy plastics has brought more attention to the important sustainable children's market. The next generations will be inheriting all of our successes and failures - shouldn't we start them off on a positive note?

Los Angeles-based non-profit organization Healthy Child Healthy World has been promoting positive choices and changes for children sine 1991.

Healthy Child Healthy World exists because more than 125 million of America's children now face an historically unprecedented rise in chronic disease and illness such as cancer, autism, asthma, birth defects, ADD / ADHD, and learning and developmental disabilities. Credible scientific evidence increasingly points to environmental hazards and household chemicals as causing and contributing to many of these diseases.

In response to a report from the National Research Council (NRC), Healthy Child Healthy World has teamed up with Ohio-based Naturepedic, whose dedicated solely to creating organic cotton mattresses that promote the health and safety of children.

The aforementioned NRC study concluded that "50 percent of all pregnancies in the U.S. are now resulting in prenatal or postnatal mortality, birth defects, developmental neurological problems, or otherwise chronically unhealthy children. According to the report, exposure to toxic chemicals or environmental factors may have been a factor in as many as 28 percent of the 4 million children born each year, with at least 1 in 6 children having neurological or immune reactive conditions including autism, schizophrenia, ADD, dyslexia and various learning disabilities."

Whether shopping for a friend with a new one or if you have had the blessing of a baby being introduced into your world, visit Healthy Child Healthy World's website for more information about developing a sustainable environment for your bundle of joy, including recommended companies and brands.

Efficient, attractive design is at the heart of modern culture. The basis of all Swedish creations is that it has to be both beautiful to look at and useful in a straightforward way. Embracing the advantages of intelligent design is helping to move the green lifestyle even more mainstream than it was in the 1960s.

But where do we go to buy all of these products with smart design and sustainable features combined? One of my personal favorites is the Branch online store, based right here in San Francisco.

As a social activity, shopping gets us out into the various neighborhoods in our city, allowing us to connect with other people along the way. As a cultural excursion, it gives us a chance to discover what’s new and interesting in the world. At the same time, there’s an element to shopping that we find quite troubling. We buy things that appeal to us—we love a product’s styling, for example—though we may have little idea of where a product comes from. Instead of asking people to stop shopping (which is, of course, pretty darn impractical), what if we changed the paradigm of shopping itself?

Everything from larger items; like furniture and lighting; to home and lifestyle accessories; such as pillows, plates, and dog toys; are available in this easy-to-navigate web store. Well-known eco-brands like Amenity, Bambu, Ting and K Studio are featured. Looking for something special? Check out the smaller, local collections such as Perch!, Esque and Dwelling. Ready to outfit your sustainable abode? Then Branch is your one-stop-shop for modern interiors.

You spent a lot of time, effort and money ridding your home of tacky, toxic carpet, only to have that new expanse of elegant bamboo flooring marred by an unsightly cat tree. You know the kind, a towering series of poles and platforms, slathered in the cheapest shag carpet remnants imaginable.

Fear not. You can order up one of these breakthakingly elegant throne-like, scratchable objects from kittypod. If your cat is a traditionalist, and a scratcher, think about a plain but virtuous sisal hemp scratching post, or an organic cotton Amish pet bed, both from A Natural Home. Or maybe your indoor/outdoor cat would prefer a Rustic Cat Tree from Natural Tree Furniture.

If you're on a budget, try the Nature's Foundation Cedar Pet Bed for $24.99, which is filled with cedar chips to repel fleas and help eliminate odors without chemicals.

Thanks to Ecofabulous for unearthing this splendid stainless steel bar cart from Fusion Furniture Gallery. As novel as it looks, it also comes with an interesting story to share over cocktails. According to Zem: "originally used in Virginia hospitals to store medical charts, these gems have remained untouched 150 feet underground in the Atchinson Caves (former limestone mines of Kansas), where they were stashed when the mines were converted into military storage during World War II."

If you love the look but gulp at the $1500 price tag, you can do what Kevin did when furninshing his closets, and take yourself on down to Home Depot, where you can pick up a stainless steel Husky 8 drawer tool cabinet for about the same as it would cost to ship the Fusion bar cart to your home.

Vintage office furniture can add some retro industrial chic to your home, and you can either find a retailer that specializes in refurbishment, or better yet, hunt down your own pieces in the wild, on craigslist or ebay, or better yet, at a thrift store that's owned and operated by a worthy charity.