If you're planning a green home makeover, you've probably looked into the neat, but often pricey, options out there for eco-conscious furniture and decor. But what are those of us on shoestring (or even half a shoestring) budgets to do? Well, if you're in the NYC area, I highly recommend you check out Build It Green, a warehouse in Astoria that's like a Home Depot for environmentalists. BIG is chock full of very reasonably priced lumber, lamps, chairs, toilets, tchotchkes, doors, and pretty much anything else you might need to spruce up your pad and the awesome thing is that they're all reclaimed from places around New York. I was lucky enough to pick up 2 huge panels of frosted plexiglass from an Oscar de la Renta showroom for only $35 each, and next week I'm heading back to try to pick up some carpeted platforms scrapped from the Conan O'Brien Show! Click through the slideshow to see more sweet stuff I encountered on my tour through this trove of
Yuka Yoneda
Yuka is a writer and designer from Queens, New York. She received her bachelor’s in Business Management from Stony Brook University, and holds a degree in Exhibition Design from F.I.T. In 2008, Yuka looked in the mirror and didn’t like what she saw. Always feeling like there was something missing from her life, she had turned to excess, amassing a mountain of clothes, shoes, bags and random tchotchkes to fill the void. In an act of desperation, she founded Swyyne.com as a guide for urbanites wanting to change their piggish ways and has been learning and smiling more ever since. When she is not writing about sustainable design, Yuka amuses herself by making trash into treasure, hunting for goodies at her favorite thrift shop, The Family Jewels, and trying to eat every type of food in the world.
February 9, 2010
If you're planning a green home makeover, you've probably looked into the neat, but often pricey, options out there for eco-conscious furniture and decor. But what are those of us on shoestring (or even half a shoestring) budgets to do? Well, if you're in the NYC area, I highly recommend you check out Build It Green, a warehouse in Astoria that's like a Home Depot for environmentalists. BIG is chock full of very reasonably priced lumber, lamps, chairs, toilets, tchotchkes, doors, and pretty much anything else you might need to spruce up your pad and the awesome thing is that they're all reclaimed from places around New York. I was lucky enough to pick up 2 huge panels of frosted plexiglass from an Oscar de la Renta showroom for only $35 each, and next week I'm heading back to try to pick up some carpeted platforms scrapped from the Conan O'Brien Show! Click through the slideshow to see more sweet stuff I encountered on my tour through this trove of
February 8, 2010
As greener gadget geeks, we’re pretty enthralled with the assortment of energy and earth-conscious gizmos that emerged last year, and we’re even more excited about what this year holds in store. Check out our short list of the most promising new greener gadgets and don’t forget to vote for your favorite freshly unveiled designs from this year’s greener gadgets competition here!
READ MORE AT LIFESCOOP >
February 7, 2010
There is only one thing on the Earth that is more sexy than a person who cares for the environment, and that’s a person who cares for the environment in silky, barely there eco-lingerie! Simultaneously clean up the planet and dirty up your sweetheart’s thoughts with the sultry and sumptuous selection of eco-undies in our Green Guide to Sustainable Skivvies that are sure to cause a different kind of climate change in the bedroom.
READ MORE AT ECOUTERRE >
February 6, 2010
If you’ve ever lamented having to throw away a piece of saran wrap, this might cheer you up. This rather striking piece of outdoor eco-art is made out of 10,000 feet of recycled plastic-wrap salvaged from a warehouse! Reader amputectecture says:
“This piece invited people to leave the prescribed paths and enter the chained-off grass. The plan was comprised of four triangles, radiating from one tree in varying heights to create a temporary exhibition space.”
Very cool. Thanks for the tip amputecture!
READ MORE >
February 5, 2010
If you’ve got a toddler running about the house you may have asked yourself “Isn’t there some way I could put all of that energy to good use?” Well the folks who came up with Rocco, one of the awesome entries in the Greener Gadgets design competition, were thinking the same exact thing. When kids rock on Rocco, the kinetic energy is converted into electricity that lights up Rocco’s ears which detach and can be used as nightlights, flashlights or a lamp!
READ MORE AT INHABITOTS >
February 4, 2010
Check out this tip we received from reader isupereco: “H2O Architects designed an incredible looking wall planter dubbed the “Grass Mirror.” The planter is 43 inches long and 4 inches deep and adds a stunning effect to any room. The “Grass Mirror” is actually made up of highly reflective polished stainless steel which creates a very unique look for your wall.”
Thanks isupereco!
February 3, 2010
One of our favorite publications, GOOD magazine, has just joined forces with PRE and Studio X to launch a design competition to rebuild Haiti. The contest comes at a time when Haiti needs it the most, and offers a great opportunity for you to contribute your skills to do some good. They’re asking designers, architects and visionaries to examine the social, economic, governmental and residential areas of Port-au-Prince and come up with strategic, organizational, institutional, and/or architectural solutions for one or all of these institutions.
The winner of this month’s competition will receive half of the pooled entry fees, while the remaining half of the entry fees will be donated to the Haitian relief effort.
ENTER THE COMPETITION HERE >
February 3, 2010
Ask most people about Flushing, Queens and they’re likely to either stare blankly or venture “Where the Nanny is from?!” That all might change with the development of a 1.8 million sq. foot, $850 million megacomplex for the area. Dubbed Flushing Commons, the spacious, airy design (which is quite a change from the cramped, cluttered landscape that is the current neighborhood) will feature a landscaped plaza, shops, restaurants and residences and strive for LEED Silver certification. However the area is already a bit of a traffic nightmare (Flushing is home to the 3rd busiest intersection in New York City after Herald Square and Times Square), so the project faces some tough opposition from residents who are afraid of even more congestion.
February 3, 2010
When it comes to being eco-friendly, Valentine's Day has got a pretty ugly rep. But going green this February 14th doesn't mean you have to suck all of the fun out of giving gifts to your sweetie! Why not turn this Hallmark holiday into an opportunity to support ethical and eco-conscious businesses with your dollars while simultaneously showing your special someone just how you feel? From sexy sustainable skivvies to gorgeous green jewelry, check out our Valentine's Day Eco Gift Guide for everything your main squeeze wants.
February 1, 2010
While we’re not the biggest fans of Hallmark Holidays (especially the ones that make us single people want to seek refuge in cave somewhere), we do encourage everyone who does want to pick up something for their special someone to use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to support responsibly, sustainably and locally made jewelry. And as our values change and more and more of us are sick of having the same things that everyone else has, why wouldn’t you want to skip your in-mall jewelry store and opt for something that is just as unique as the person who makes your world a better place? We really worked hard to incorporate beautiful items that you can feel good about giving into this year’s Valentine’s Day Green Jewelry Guide, so check it out!
13 ECO-FRIENDLY JEWELRY IDEAS TO GREEN YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY >
January 31, 2010
The art of upcycling isn’t always practical – as is the case with these rather jagged-looking metal undies. But don’t go thinking that all accessories made from old computer chips and circuit boards are so painful. Some, like these rather gorgeous earrings and this opulent bib necklace, are actually quite lovely and will definitely cause less… chafing.
READ MORE AT ECOUTERRE >
January 30, 2010
We’re all about prefab homes for humans, but cats need shelter too! Luckily, there’s Caboodle – a corrugated cardboard modular condo that your feline friends will be delighted to move their little cat possessions into immediately. Aside from having architectural details that are the cat’s meow, Caboodle’s are also made in the good old United States from 40% post-consumer recycled cardboard.
READ MORE AT INHABITOTS >
January 28, 2010
Growing and sharing greenery has never been easier or more fun! This OSUSOWAKE (which means sharing in Japanese) planter uses a new lightweight material called Puffcal to grow plants. Once the seedlings sprout, you can cut up and divide the material to distribute to friends and family. It’s a piece of cake, and it looks like one too!
Thanks for the tip kenma!
January 28, 2010
Talk about turning trash into treasure! Designer Tara St. James’ gorgeous zipper jewelry is an understated and elegant way to show people that you support recycling resources at hand to make new treasures. We’re tickled pink to be giving away this beautiful necklace and cuff set from her collection, so enter to win this lovely set made from remnant zippers today!
ENTER TO WIN AT ECOUTERRE >
January 27, 2010
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What if manufacturers could poll their consumers before making a product to see if people would want to buy it? It would cut down on surplus supply and the energy and materials needed to produce and ship it. That’s what one company, Fashion4Home.com, thinks, and they’ve implemented just such a voting system on their new website which launched today! We asked Fashion4Home’s co-founder and managing director, Just Beyer, about how the company is building eco-consciousness and waste reduction right into its supply chain and got some pics of their gorgeous and modern bamboo furniture line.
READ MORE >
January 27, 2010
Don’t forget to enter this week’s Inhabitots giveaway to win an exclusive gift pack of yummy smelling Mama K’s Aromatic Play Clay for your tot! Worth $105, this awesome clay kit is kid-safe, 100% natural, gluten free, and biodegradable. Plus it’s the perfect, low-tech way to keep your kid occupied in a creative way that helps develop their tactile skills.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE >
January 27, 2010
This just in - world-renowned super designer Philippe Starck has just revealed two highly-anticipated wind turbine designs for home use! Dubbed “Revolutionair,” the sleek turbines were officially debuted after a lengthy 2 years of research and work. We brought you news of the quadrangular turbine when it was first revealed, and we were pleasantly surprised to see a brand new, never before seen helix-shaped version of the Revolutionair unveiled by Starck today.
January 25, 2010
Photo by span112
As if H&M wasn’t already having a hell of a time trying to do some ’splaining after their clothing-trashing fiasco, now they’re catching even more heat. According to the German edition of the Financial Times, the ubiquitous Swedish fashion retailer and several other well-known European brands including C&A and Tchibo, have been committing organic cotton fraud – selling clothes labeled “certified-organic cotton” even though they may actually be tainted with genetically modified cotton from India. So if you were thinking about lifting your boycott against H&M and shopping there again anytime soon, you might want to think again…
READ MORE AT ECOUTERRE >
January 24, 2010
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What if we could combine turbines with tourism – turbism? Tourbines? That’s what one design firm, On Office, wants to do on Norway’s coast. Their brainchild, called Turbine City, houses a posh hotel, swanky spa and culturally-stimulating museum right inside the base of a towering wind turbine!
READ MORE >
January 22, 2010
Is it possible for a business to go green and make green at the same time? Ray Anderson, founder of global carpeting company Interface and some say the grandfather of corporate sustainability, thinks so and reveals exactly how he did it in his new book Confessions of a Radical Industrialist. Want to know more about this fascinating new book? Read the review by our editor Haily Zaki here >.
