If you're a renter or a homeowner who's on a tight budget, you're probably not going to take on a full kitchen renovation any time soon, but you may want to make some small upgrades. Inexpensive projects—like changing fixtures or making over your kitchen cabinets—can make a huge difference in the way you feel about your home.
Despite its not-so-green car culture, Los Angeles is a hub for innovative retailers who are improving the eco-conscious options available to consumers. Apartment Therapy has profiled a few of the city's independent green retailers, from a unique paint store that specializes in non-toxic finishes to a showroom for modern clay-fired ceramics made in Southern California.
Guide To: FSC-certified, non-toxic, and salvaged kitchen cabinetry
Marketplace Link: Green materials
If you're undertaking a green kitchen renovation, there are a few things to keep an eye out for as you shop for cabinets. If air quality is important to you, look for formaldehyde-free glues and non-toxic finishes. If you're interested in reducing waste, try salvage shops. Here are a few of our go-to sources.
Guide To: Filtration pitchers, taps, under-sink tanks, and countertop filters
Marketplace Link: Water Devices
Water quality varies depending on where you live, so it makes sense that the type of filter you'd use would vary according to your personal needs. This guide offers some brief tips (and links) for information on choosing a water filter, as well as specifics on where to buy one.
Guide To: Low-flow equipment, energy & water-saving devices, water filters
Marketplace Link: Green Stores
According to the EPA, 36 states are expecting water shortages within the next three years. Three-fourths of urban demand on the water supply is residential, so it's important for homeowners and renters to do what they can to save water. If you're shopping for a low-flow toilet, faucet aerator, or efficient showerhead, here are a few places to look.
Dishes are one of those things you can always find for pennies at the thrift store. Cheap and ubiquitous, they have a lot of potential for DIY projects.
Guide To: Energy-efficient devices, appliances, and building suppliers
Marketplace Link: Green Stores
Whether you're renovating, upgrading an appliance, or just shopping for lighting, energy efficiency is an important consideration. Products and materials that save energy decrease your personal carbon emissions and lower your electric bill at the same time! Some products (like solar panels) require a larger up-front investment but others (like home energy monitors or window insulation) cost less than fifty bucks.
Guide To: Stores that specialize in repurposing and restyling old furniture
Marketplace Link: Green Stores
Some people have a knack for breathing new life into old things. Fortunately for us, many of them have opened stores, making their Frankenstein-like creations available to anyone who wants them. The shopowners featured here are clever people who've inspired us with their good ideas for transforming furniture.
Over coffee yesterday, we picked up a free copy of Mindful Metropolis and were happy to see an article about small space living that included Apartment Therapy. (Thanks, MM!) Writer Christine Escobar says, "The site profiles tiny apartments and condos, some as small as 175 square feet." She also refers to other resources for people who want to live with less…
Guide To: Architectural Salvage Shops for Green Renovations and DIY Projects
Marketplace Link: Salvage Shops
A little while ago, Julia posted Green Architect's guide to the best salvage shops across the country. Today, we thought we'd add to the list with our own recommendations and reviews of salvage shops, some of which offer online shopping.
We often hear people complain that they're no good at thrift store shopping—they have an aversion to dirt, no patience, or just bad luck. The truth is that anyone can be a good thrifter if they keep an open mind. It's as simple as recognizing when an object needs a good cleaning, a coat of paint, or even just a new context. Here are a few common items to keep an eye out for the next time you're at the thrift store.
Guide To: Green fabrics by the yard for DIY projects, all available online
Marketplace Link: Green fabric & textile stores
It seems to us that it's getting easier to find green fabrics for DIY projects. A few cornerstone companies have set up shop in the US, selling organic, non-VOC, and often locally manufactured textiles. Depending on the type of project you're undertaking, there's probably a green shop that sells what you need.
We been on the lookout for an old card catalog or apothecary cabinet in our price range, since these multi-purpose pieces are so useful. They make great organizers, tables, and shelves.
>> Green Stores on Marketplace
As we expand our reach to cover shops and services in design-minded cities across the U.S., we're on the lookout for great examples of small, independent green businesses. We've gathered together 10 (from California to Texas to North Carolina) but we need your help to build up a national green shopping guide—add your favorite green boutiques in the comments.
We all know that re-used furniture is a simple way to green your home, but it takes a little bit of imagination to figure out how and where to make the most of an old industrial cabinet or a collection of vintage suitcases. We searched our guide to antique and thrift shops for furniture and accessories that could make a bedroom more functional and stylish, and we've offered some tips on possible ways to use them.
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