apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We can't believe someone didn't think of this sooner! Dutch Boy (paint magnate) has teamed with Arm & Hammer (deodorizing extraordinaire) to come up with Refresh, a wall paint that actually absorbs odors.

Jump down to see how it works or, better yet, to give your personal review...

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Name: Jessica, AT Editor
Location: Tobacco Caye, Belize
Link: Tobacco Caye Lodge
Description:I just returned from a week on Tobacco Caye, Belize. Life on this tiny island, located just south of Belize City, is uncomplicated. It's not the place to visit if you're looking to be pampered with spa treatments and five-star restaurants. But, if you're looking to return to a life before cell phones not to mention some of greatest snorkeling/diving, this might be your place.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

It took three planes, one taxi, and a very long ride in a speedboat to prove to us that the language of DIY is international.

Jump down to see where we found this homemade hammock and how we think it's made...

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

We like this moving blanket from The Container Store for a few simple reasons: it's not expensive and it's made of recycled materials.

Jump down to discover its mystery material and its small price tag...

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Here's a good (and green) idea. The under layer of Huffco Entrance Mats is recycled rubber from old tires bound for US landfills. The non-skid, dirt-trapping top layer is made from 100% walnut shells.

We love the inventiveness of the gritty nut surface but, this being an outdoor product, we're left with one question...

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Imagine washing your laundry without soap. Banishing environmentally damaging detergents is exactly what Ecozone hopes to accomplish with their Ecoballs.

All you do is put three Ecoballs in with your wash and your clothes come clean. They're re-usable for about 1,000 loads. Skeptical? Read a review after the jump...

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

After a lot of vacuum research, we finally made the big purchase. Of course, we thought about the Dyson first but it's just not in our budget.

Benefiting from a sale at Sears, we narrowed it down to two nearly-identical Kenmore models. Jump down to see the major difference and our begrudging but ethically-sound choice...

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Green, all around!

These purdy birdies are for sale at Branch in the standard Christmas colors: two shades of green, white, and red. They may not be as whimsical as the handmade felt birds Heather posted about yesterday but they are made from "eco-certified felted wool" so even the red and white ones are green.

In fact, because they're so simple, they could make an easy (no-needle-required) DIY...

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Glitzy and green!

Straw Sticks & Bricks offers a variety of wall treatments, including these 100% recycled aluminum tiles. Alumillenium Tile is available in 2x2" or 4x4" and in three different finishes: brushed, vibrated, and sandblasted.

At about $30 per square foot, the tiles aren't what we'd call cheap. Yet they're certainly flashy (in a subdued way) and remind us of a school of fish swimming across the wall.

If metal isn't your thing, jump down to see some of SS&B's green wall alternatives.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Does recycled automatically mean green? The N+ew Stool handcrafted by designer Rodrigo Alonso (and available at Uncrate) is made from recycled computer parts, resin, and melted aluminum. N+ew stands for "No More Electronic Waste" but is this stool really wasting any less?

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Are we ready for pee power?

NoPoPo Batteries are powered by squirting liquid into the cell. It seems they can run on nearly any type of liquid (beer, juice, saliva, etc.) but, incredibly, urine made the list too.

They can last (turned on) for 20 hours at a time and have a shelf-life (turned off) of about 10 years, which is much longer than standard batteries.

NoPoPo stands for "non-pollution power" and the batteries back that up by containing no harmful chemicals, such as mercury or lead.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

We saw 3-Form last week in Jessica Lagrange's Dream Home kitchen. Now, we notice that it's also part of the Whole Foods pledge to save our planet.

"Green Mission" refers to the environmentally-aware task force created within Whole Foods to keep them running green. This grocery store is leading the way by conserving water, using wind power, and seeking out sustainable or recycled building materials, including 3-Form recycled resin countertops.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Duh.

In our post about art classes the other day, we mentioned the figure studies meet-up at the local TOJO Gallery. If only we had dug a little deeper, we would have discovered that Trevor O'Neil, the owner of said gallery, is not only facilitating art but he's also making it. Turns out he's a pretty great furniture designer!

Luckily, Trevor's friend Kevin had his back and wrote in to tell us this:

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Back to School! Time to stock up on the essentials.

We found a fun new, green alternative to your regular old graphite stick. Smencils are #2 pencils (important, we know) that are made from rolled up newspapers. The other novelty about these notebook companions is that they smell...nice.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago