Here's what Re-Nest readers were reading this week:
• Look! A Shipping Pallet Daybed
• How To: Hand Wash Dishes To Conserve Water
• Green Style: Courtyard House by Studio Junction
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It took seven years, but Lawrence Scarpa and Angela Brooks, a husband-and-wife architect team in Santa Monica, finally succeeded in "creating a solar-powered house that meets their high design ...
Materials: LEDs, Copper, Circuit Boards
Price Point: $6,000
"The Constellation chandelier blooms with excitement. Like a bouquet of many tiny flowers, its lights settle across space like a st...
We don't even have a dog, but we can still appreciate what a good idea the Molly Mutt Dog Duvet is. We've seen how dirty dog beds get, so a dog bed cover (er, duvet) that can be removed and washed is ...
When I heard one of my favorite eateries had just been named one of the top ten best new restaurants in America by Bon Appétit, I can't say I was surprised. They turn out some of the best farm-to-tab...
To be honest, the only things we’ve ever thought banana peels were good for were to fill the compost and to make people fall. Then we came across these genius ways to reuse the slippery guys…
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Materials: Painted Medex, FSC-Certified Cherry, Maple, Walnut and White Oak
Price Point: Painted: $70/unit; Cherry, Maple, Oak: $135/unit; Walnut: $170/unit
"Say Hello to a versatile modular s...
This is a beautiful small dwelling located in a private garden in Muster among the trees. The tree house has everything you need to relax: a large terrace, white-glazed ash furniture and beauti...
If you liked our post on how to make a one-pot herb garden, you are going to love this article on container gardening in Mother Earth News......
Even those of us who take our food really seriously were pretty impacted by Food, Inc. when we saw it in theaters (minus the popcorn) earlier this summer. And it's nice to know that the film continues...
Q: I have a question regarding ironing boards. It's a simple one, with (I think) a complicated answer. My board is stuck in the 'up' position. How do I un-stick it? I have looked long and hard, and fa...
Ever played Where's Waldo? As your eye adjusts, suddenly, from a crowded drawing, Waldo emerges, clear and distinct and you can never not see him again. In a similar manner, Found by Spanish d...
We have been composting kitchen scraps and garden clippings for awhile now, but Planet Green's recent list of "75 Things You Can Compost, But Thought You Couldn't," opened our eyes to a whole new worl...
Since we wrote this post last week on building a cob house for $3000, we've had cob on our mind. Here's another resource that is all about cob education ......
As the air develops a bit of a chill in the evenings, our thoughts turn to warming and softening our living space. Rugs are an excellent way to help transform your home from season to season, but s...
With our own daughter's first birthday rapidly approaching, this article really resonated with us. Is there a graceful way to inform people about the possible toxins in toys today?
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Cardboard boxes are corrugated for strength. So goes it for corrugated sheet metal. And plastic. On top of that, these materials are readily available, efficient, and economical, too. Some desi...
Todd Selby has photographed some amazing homes. This backyard belongs to Jean and Sam in Brooklyn. We think lots of vintage mismatched chairs (plenty of seating!) and a curving wood overhang under...
One of the very best things about worm composting is that it doesn't need to take up much room. It's the perfect way for an apartment gardener to make some rich nutrients for their plants. But the bin...
We had bought this year's Handmade In Melbourne a few weeks ago but only just had the chance to sit down and read it. Packed with over 200 bios of Melbourne’s most creative people, it was fantastic ...
Add this one to the list of positive design gossip we've been hearing about the H Street corridor in N.E., this home is definitely buzz-worthy. Once a delivery stable, now a family home decked o...
We've been on a bit of a blanket kick lately (anyone else anxious for fall?). This ottoman was made from this Hudson Bay wool blanket from L.L.Bean, and we love the concept: reupholster an old...
Driving on Florida's Turnpike might be getting a bit more green thanks to a proposal to replace existing service plazas with "green" replacements. How can a service stop be green? Check it out after...
In a town about 70 miles north of Houston, Dan Phillips and his company Phoenix Commotion have built 14 low-income homes built (essentially) out of trash: roofs made out of license plates, ceil...
I grew up with parents who thought it was "fun" to go to antique stores any time we went out of town. My brother and sister and I groaned when we'd pass by signs for antique malls and thrift stores as...
Q: I would like to go greener with some of the cleaning products I use, but I still have a whole arsenal of regular products sitting around. How can I get rid of them safely without creating a bunch o...
Room dividers have a place even in a small home. They can break up a space into manageable rooms, make a not-so-private area private or add sculptural interest. We love this circle wall by Ben...
Today we're in Boston looking for green building materials, household items, and secondhand furniture. Here are a few things we found:
• Bamboo flooring
• A 5-watt solar panel
• A vent...
When Karen told us about her home's feature in Charleston Mag, we swooned, but not just for the usual reasons. Her home is a 1,600 sq.ft. masterpiece brimming with color, order, and a strong sen...
Just came across this Shopping Bag Lampshade over at Natural Home magazine. If you like it, you can make it. Instructions below the jump.
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A friend in Des Moines recently shared with me his enviable commute to work. He bikes daily, and often chooses this scenic route over a more direct path...
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Materials: Dupioni silk and organic cotton
Price Point: $600 (crib quilt) to $3200 (queen-sized quilt)
"Soft-Maps are handmade quilted maps of cities, neighborhoods and parks that represent so...
There's something to be said about having a place to hang your belongings at the end of the day. For us, a picked up and tidy apartment before bedtime always helps ensure smooth sailing for the...
Ah, yes. This open air living room at the Le Sirenuse hotel in Italy has us feeling relaxed just looking at it. The view, the ivy, the total tranquility...
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If you're into crafting and/or are an Etsy stalker, then Craftgawker.com is right up your alley. Craftgawker is a gallery where artists and craftsman can showcase their art, crafting, and phot...
The art of repairing things is one that we just aren't very versed in—we're trying to learn, but it's taking some time. Luckily, we're still convinced that the art itself is making a comeback. W...
It may still be summer but recent slight drop in temperature has me wondering if we are due for an early fall and I'm already fantasizing about chilly nights in front of the firewood. I actually don't...
We love the rustic simplicity of Kindling’s picture holders. In white or au naturale, we’d love a few of these display our business cards, photos, art…...
Three Potato Four was started by husband and wife team Janet Morales and Stu Eli who "both grew up collecting things," and started Three Potato Four because of their love of collections. It's one o...
We've posted on creating your own rain barrel before, but here's another great detailed how-to for the budget conscious that can be done for about $25 ...
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If you're tired of your grass front lawn, but not quite ready to replace it with a productive vegetable garden, you might consider moss instead. We used moss in our own front yard, and it is growin...
It may be 90 degrees where we are, but happening upon these recycled wool blankets made us pine for cooler temps. Following up on the recycled cashmere blankets we wrote about yesterday, these gorg...
Q: Help! I bought a beautiful antique french walnut armoire on Craigslist, but it's infested with powderpost beetles! I've worked so hard to have my apartment be "green" (e.g. good indoor air quality...
Walk into any vintage clothing store and you see gloves — thin white kid gloves, crochet gloves, gloves with buttons at the wrist or lace — left over from a time when people wore gloves ...
Today in Los Angeles we're looking for green building materials, household items, and secondhand furniture. Here are a few things we found:
• An 8x10 all-wool Flokati rug
• A Kenmore HE fr...
If you’re into the latest innovations in green building design, you must check out this local non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging more sustainable design and building practices…
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This weekend, while randomly checking out a pretty unbelievable open house in Oakland's Dogtown District, we saw the most beautiful countertop material. The realtor was kind enough to tell us the name...
A good portion of the country has some truly amazing weather right now, most of which is perfect for hanging out in a hammock, reading a good book, or catching some shut eye. Learn how to make one, ...
We don't have many bowls or dishes with lids, so we end up using a lot of plastic wrap when putting dough away to rest, or refrigerating a big bowl of leftovers. Here's one alternative to plastic wrap...
Materials: Reclaimed wood, waterbased non-VOC Bioshield stain draped with organic cotton gauze.
Price Point: $1,200 - $4,600
"The follow up design to our “Pure White Four Poster Bed”. A ro...
To kick off September's Artwork, Crafts, and Collections theme, we thought we'd share with you the work of Franziska Wodicka, who makes both ready and custom-made furniture from old drawers and...
When we wrote about this recycled cashmere blanket last year, we noted that the $285 price point was too steep for us. But we still loved the patchwork design and bright colors, so we're very glad t...
When we hear the words "rammed earth," our minds immediately conjure up images of hobbit-like houses carved out of hillsides. However, that is definitely not the case with Tom Ward and Katherine Reey'...
It seems life around the house is a constant balancing act between deciding to limit how much comes into the house (in addition to thinning out what's here) and deciding on a piece of furniture that c...
David Trautrimas’ photography focuses on visionary and futuristic cityscapes, but can you guess what the images are actually comprised of? Answer after the jump!...
Exclusive Clip from "No Impact Man" via Oscilloscope Laboratories from Cambria Bold on Vimeo.
He's coming for you: No Impact Man Colin Beavan has a new book that hits shelves today, and a documentary...
Originally envisioned as a simple tool shed, this garden structured evolved to become an 8' x 12' studio retreat for the builder's mother, complete with books, a TV and a stereo......
As of today, the European Union has imposed restrictions on the sale of incandescent bulbs across Europe in its effort to lead the fight against global warming. Stores across Europe will no longer b...
Recently, consumer-level solar energy for the home has been gaining more steam. In Austin, folks are moving beyond public solar art and are harnessing the sun's energy for their homes. If you're hopin...
Q: My in-laws are remodeling their kitchen. The remodel includes staining cabinets, painting walls, adding new lighting, new countertops, and fixtures. All of this will involve creating dust and addin...
It seems like most everyone we know has a dishwasher, supposedly the optimal way to get your dishes their cleanest and save water. We don't have one, so we wanted to find out what tweaks we could m...
Today in New York we're looking for green building materials, household items, and secondhand furniture. Here's some of what found:
• Birdcage cabinet knobs
• Steel table legs
• An an...
I feel like I am being endlessly surprised by my garden this summer. Sometimes it just blows my mind that, yes, you put a seed into the ground, and it grows. Into something you can eat. Wait, how did ...
Welcome to September! We know many of you are fervent DIY'ers, crafters, sewers, and creative reusers. This month is for you! If you've got a great collection or craft to share, some hot tips, or...
We've seen plenty of shipping pallet furniture before (we've even seen a shipping pallet daybed before), but this one's a little different. And we're inspired......
It was only a matter of time before an eco plumbing association cropped up and that time is now. Within the past year 3,000 plumbers have become certified under the auspices of GreenPlumbers USA......
Materials: Reclaimed wood, steel, clay, and a jade plant
Price Point: $450
"My husband and I have a studio in an old dye factory in North Philadelphia, where we make furniture and design objec...
Oh, how we wish we'd known about Snappis years ago when we first started cloth diapering. We opted for flat diapers because they're much less expensive than those with fancy built-in fasteners, but th...
This beautiful warehouse-turned-home in Toronto was designed by Studio Junction for a family of four. Without a front or backyard, the home is designed around a series of interior courtyards: ...
If you haven't fully given up your clothes dryer yet in favor of a clothesline, there is one small (OK, really small) thing you can do to make your laundry routine a little less wasteful. Give up the ...
A year ago we moved across the country, an endeavor that required A LOT of bubble wrap. We kept it and used it recently for a smaller move within the same city, but now we’re done moving for awhile ...
We’ve been trying to cook more at home. It’s seems to be better for the environment and our belly. But what’s the best and most efficient cooking method – the conventional oven or the microw...
This is a great idea: San Francisco designer Jen Pearson takes reclaimed medical serum bottles, etches them on the bottom to create a striking surface, and creates cool glass matchstick boxes ...
Yet another use for hemp! Hempcrete, a bio-composite building material made by Tradical — containing little more than hemp, lime and water — is carbon negative, completely recyclabl...
BIC pens aren't something we see repurposed very often (besides the Bic Cutlery), but this ball point pen turned vase is rather impressive...
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Whether you're starting an indoor bin, vermicomposting, or utilizing some outside space for a full-fledged compost pile, it's important to add dry things like newspaper. Want to save a step in the com...
Q: We live with pets... and we're allergic to them! It's an interesting dilemma because having a healthy home is so important to us; we use zero-VOC paint; we take our shoes off when we walk through t...
Though it's made for some beautiful sunsets, the fires that have been raging in Los Angeles have had a definite effect on the air quality. Many of us have been sticking close to home. The air qual...
Today in Chicago we're looking for green building materials, household items, and secondhand furniture. Here's some of what found:
• Bamboo flooring
• A new energy-efficient window
• ...
When Sara and I ate at Chez Panisse (in the cafe) two years ago, they brought sparking water to the table. Rather than serve it in glass bottles (i.e. Pellegrino) that would instantly become waste,...
An interesting article in the New York Times this morning focuses on how some buildings that have earned LEED certification aren't living up to their green promises. The problem, apparently, is a disc...
What have you done today to make the world a better place? Such a heavy question to ask a young child -- yet it's something so many of us have to begin asking ourselves, and our entire family, more o...
New York is like one big take-a-penny, leave-a-penny. If you’re moving or it’s simply not worth selling on Criagslist, just leave it on the curb and poof! You’re slightly used trashcan is...
Plants are one of the most multi-purpose things we can bring into our homes. They improve our air quality, bring color and life to a space, and sometimes even provide us with food or flowers. T...
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