apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Creative lighting is a fun way to dress up a home and set a tone. We found this 100% wool capsule pendant lamp at Branch ("Sustainable Design for Living"), and loved the idea. Designed in 2004 by Jaime Salm and Katherine Wise and manufactured by Mio, this two-toned "capsule" is meant to both direct light and diffuse it. We'd love to see the results in person. At 12" tall (8" diameter), a cluster of three like the ones pictured here could offer a really unique lighting solution.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

An outlet for "industrial, commercial and medical objects and furniture re-designed and re-purposed for the modern home, office and studio," Fusion Furniture shows off some creatively and thoughtfully re-purposed objects ready to live in a modern home. The offerings are limited, but with standouts like the B52 stainless steel bar and the mint green D68 aluminum fold desk (first two pictured above), the few options are unique in their style and re-usefulness.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Holiday wrapping = crazy amounts of waste. The best alternatives are "wrapping" in reusable containers, bags and boxes (each of those serving as a second gift). And then there's sustainable paper. Hemp wrap by Paporganics offers a holiday line including paper, tags, and ribbon:

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Recycled and so good-looking, these containers by Ilkka Suppanen are made from recycled fiber. We spotted them in Chicago Home's Nov/Dec '07 issue - excited not only by the shape, pattern and colors, but also by the words "birch plywood" and "synthetic felt." Yet another bonus: the containers' lids double as trays.

Available in two sizes with big price tags for $195 and $270. You can find them locally at The Sweden Shop (3304 W. Foster Ave.), across the street from Tre Kronor restaurant (YUM).

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Bamboo = Antibacterial bedding. We've been reading about bamboo sheets (and blankets and quilts), but have never slept on them. This set from Target is actually made with 60% cotton and 40% bamboo - used because of its natural antibacterial/antifungal properties (sans pesticides). There are also 100% bamboo bedding products out there, and a whole lot of conversation...see AT:NY's Bamboozled post. What does AT:Green Home think?

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Front-load washers have long been used in commercial laundry centers and for large volumes of wash. As the front-loaders make their way into homes, the word is that the benefits are far reaching: they hold more, require less water and therefore less heating.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

We've heard references to rugs that feel like sweaters under your toes...a great marketing tool or an enthusiastic owner singing the praises of a favorite new rug.

But we just learned that there are actually rugs made from old sweaters; and they are called none other than sweater rugs.

A Massachusetts-based textile designer has been creating these for 15 years from reclaimed sweaters.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Not the most designy bathroom product out there, but definitely one that will cut down on your use-and-toss impact on the world. To avoid the endless shower curtain liner cycle, one option rests in this hemp shower curtain from local company Bean Products. From the site:

Hand-crafted here in the USA of extremely strong, durable and beautiful Romanian hemp fabric. The curtain will stop water from spraying outside your shower without a plastic liner. This keeps unnatural plastics out of our landfills...

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

We need to get our home recycling system under control. Thinking about adding built-in units for more storage and recycling organization, we're also considering that maybe a home recycling system is our best bet. The hold-up? One more thing to take up precious floor space. Nonetheless, this Ecopod caught our attention with its seamless design and these attributes:

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Even if you rent instead of own, an understanding of long-term savings on green household choices can help you better select your next rental property (or encourage your current landlord to make some beneficial changes).

To owners out there who may want to make green changes in their living but think it's all just costly confusion: take note of Green and Save's master ROI table.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

This Kartono designed Magno wood radio has amazing style. We spotted it featured in last week's Time Out and did a little web browsing to find out more. A highlight earlier in the summer on Treehugger paved the way for a whole host of other mentions including Slippery Brick electronics site and Retro to Go. Made by hand from reclaimed java ebony, mahogany, and pine sourced from Indonesian villages, this radio is as eco as it is electro.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

A little eco-glamour from Maya Romanoff: the Abacadazzle wallpaper. Made from the abaca plant and woven with metallic thread, this wall covering is hearty, rich in texture, and...dazzling. Available in 18 color combos such as Cosmic Goldenrod, Taupe, Charcoal, and Bananarama Bark, all shown above.

Part of the Galactic series of colors (and a different weave than the Cosmics) shown below:

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Minneapolis-based Thymes creates all natural products for the body and the home including deliciously scented and comforting ingredients such as parsley, coriander, ginger, saffron, mint and mandarin to name a few. Their cleaning products for the home come in four distinct types: Apricot Quince, Kumquat Lime, Lavender Bergamot, and Mandarin Coriander and include dishwashing liquid and all-purpose cleaner (along with corresponding hand wash, hand lotion, hand cream and candles, if you want the works).

posted originally from: AT:Chicago

Made from post-consumer chopsticks, this series of lamps invites inquisitive eyes and the potential for a DIY project. The stained wood chopsticks (in either a natural or a darker wood color) are combined in a variety of repetitive patterns, creating warm lighting. Pictured left, the Fei style, for $42.

The chopsticks table lamps come in 9 styles, shown below, and run between $42 and $46 each.

posted originally from: AT:Chicago