CasaSugar

Casa Verde: Creative Coffins

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:30:37 -0700

I hate to be macabre, and I know the last thing on your mind this summer is where you'll be laying "when I lay me down to sleep" for good. But for those of you who want to be green-to-the-grave, I thought I'd let you know that there's an environmentally-friendly coffin alternative out there for you. Creative Coffins are made from cartonboard produced from unbleached pulp. The cartonboard is made from at least 60 percent recycled paper and uses wood pulp from sustainable forests, too. Beyond that, the coffins are available in an array of patterns and themes such as flags, nature, pastimes (guitar), or sports, and can be made-to-order. If you're a traditionalist, you can still go au naturale with light wood, dark wood, marble, or granite printed coffins. I personally think it's pretty darn tacky to go with a slot machine-printed coffin, but I guess for the right person it could add a bit of humor to a very sad event. What will they think of next?

Casa Verde: From Bottle to Building

CasaSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:00:08 -0700

I like my Sancerre, my Sauvignon Blanc, and my Beaujolais Nouveau, and I have been known to drink wine from a box. Heck, I'll try any kind of wine you pour. When all of these bottles are finished, and I toss them into my recycling bin, their corks don't land in the trash; I've been saving my corks for a few months now to make a wine cork mirror. But if cork décor isn't your style, you can still recycle natural cork, thanks to ReCork America.ReCork America takes already used and overstock corks from the wine business, and then recycles them into flooring tiles, insulation, and other products. There are several locations in California and the Pacific Northwest that are collecting used cork in their day-to-day business operations, and hopefully in the future there will be locations for public collection. Do you know of any cork collection programs in your neighborhood?
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Casa Quickie: Eco-Color Theory

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:00:09 -0700

Ever remember burning your bare feet on a black top in the Summer as a kid? The black color of the paved surface absorbs the light particles that it hits, exciting the pavement's particles, making the black surface warmer because its particles are moving faster. Contrarily, white surfaces reflect light, so they are cooler. So for those of you living in a warm climate, think about painting your home light colors, which will absorb less light, meaning less need for turning on that a/c. And, those of you living in a cold climate should think about painting your home darker colors, which will absorb the light, meaning less need for turning on your heater! Maybe Orlando Bloom should consider repainting his black house, and I should alter my poll to read "Chicken or the Egg or the Climate"?
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Casa Verde: Reform Teocha Table

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:30:00 -0700

Midcentury furniture designers were right on with their tiered-end tables; two planes are better than one. Or, so says the product description for the Reform Teocha Table ($710). Don't get me wrong, I agree that dual surfaces do double duty, but I'm more concerned with the table's sustainable design. Made of solid bamboo, treated with an environmentally-friendly, water-based walnut stain, and coated with a low VOC clear finish, Teocha is all kinds of eco. Oh! And did I mention that it's flipping gorgeous!? Look at those legs! I wouldn't mind setting my alarm clock down on this beauty — even if that means I have to use it.

Casa Quickie: Leftovers

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:00:53 -0700

Hand-me-downs. Cold pizza for lunch. Last night's lasagna for breakfast. Defrosted wedding cake on your one-year anniversary. What's not to love about leftovers? And, as much as they can satisfy cravings, they will also satisfy plants! If you have houseplants, whenever possible give them a good pour of water that is left over from drinking and cooking. Obviously, you don't want to over water your plants (black thumb!); so, if it's not yet time to use that leftover water, why not store it in a jar rather than pour it down the drain? Repurposing and conserving water is certainly eco. And even better - the nutrients left over from boiling or steaming veggies will provide an added vitamin boost to your plants. What's not to love?
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Win an Eco-Chic Painting Makeover!

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:16:16 -0700

I've been pushing low-VOC paint for a while now, but I know that painting in general takes a lot of time and energy. Who needs the hassle, right? If you've been too busy or uninspired to try low-VOC paints in your home, then I'm here to help - with a lot of help from CertaPro.

To wind up this month's theme of Eco Chic, CertaPro is giving away its services to provide paint for one room in your home (an approximate $1000 value). All of the materials and labor will be included in this prize. All you have to do is pick out the room color! CertaPro will do everything from provide the paint to move the furniture to follow up after the job is complete.

If you're interested in winning an eco chic painting makeover for one room of your home, just take our quiz! To enter, you must log in and take the quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by completing the quiz once you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member and log in before you take the quiz. If you're not already a member, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Contest ends Monday, July 7, at noon (PDT), and is only open to US readers. Click here for Official Rules.

To find out more about CertaPro's green business practices, read more.

CertaPro uses low VOC paint which prevents smog, and air pollutants in the ozone, and Zero VOC paints are now available for residential projects. CertaPro will only use solvent primers when necessary. When using solvents, which can cause health problems, they use low odor products. CertaPro does careful calculations to buy exact amount of paint needed. This reduces excess paint. The leftover paint is labeled for future touch-ups, used in future projects, or donated to charity. In addition, CertaPro uses quality paints that eliminate the need for multiple coats and repainting.

To find out even more about CertaPro’s commitment to eco-friendly techniques, check out Thinking Green.

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Casa Interview: Michelle Adams of Rubie Green

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:00:50 -0700

I recently told you about Michelle Adam's online shop Rubie Green, which sells classical upholstery prints available in eco-friendly fabrics. All of Rubie Green's upholstery fabrics are made of 100 percent certified organic cotton and produce minimal factory waste. Michelle was kind enough to answer some organic textiles and decorating questions for us. You can see her first answer here.

CasaSugar: How can people who are new to decorating with eco-friendly fabrics start adapting them into their home's decor?

Michelle: Many people like the idea of using eco-friendly fabrics in their home, but find that it feels like a daunting task to find the right look, feel, price point etc. I'd recommend deciding on what sort of texture you're after and experimenting from there. If you like the look and feel of linen, give hemp a try as it has a very similar hand and weight, or even tussah silk and organic linens. If you're more of a cotton person, try organic cotton! Most companies are happy to provide small swatches for matching purposes, so you can get a sense of what you're buying before you make the big purchase.

Photos courtesy Patrick Cline

Casa Quickie: Porcelain Por Favor

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:00:27 -0700

Whenever possible, you should try to create a home (and office) that is "free of tree." Considering that most of you use cloth napkins and towels, you're probably well on your way. But, when it comes to giving yourself reminders, and jotting down notes, I'm going to venture to guess that many of you probably still use paper (Post-Its, notepads, journals, etc.). If it didn't scream "college dorm room," I'd suggest using a dry-erase board instead, but unfortunately the memories of freshman year run thick wherever dry-erase boards hang. So, consider cruising over to your cupboard, or stopping by your local thrift store, and picking up a porcelain plate. You can jot notes and lists down on plain ol' porcelain just as well as you can with a tree-killing notepad, using a dry-erase marker of course. And, at the end of the day, when you've checked A through Z off your laundry list, you can wipe off those letters with your handmade cloth napkin.
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Casa Verde: Listed Green

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:45:51 -0700

Interested in buying a green home? Then try searching through Listed Green, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) exclusively for green, energy-efficient, sustainable homes and housing developments for sale worldwide. Committed to reducing global warming by promoting sustainable, energy-efficient, healthy-building design, the service helps to elevate the market value of new green homes and eco-friendly residential developments. Like a traditional MLS, Listed Green accommodates sellers of all types, averaging over 20,000 visitors per month, but each listing is personally reviewed before it is listed to ascertain that it is actually green, energy efficient and/or sustainable; this prevents a sort of real estate greenwashing. The process also holds bigger homes to higher standards, requiring that they have an "extensive" list of green components, such as solar power, solar-thermal hot water, water-saving devices throughout, recycled materials, and LEED certification. It also offers a platform for green builders and developers to advertise their current or up-and-coming green, energy-efficient, sustainable housing projects to like-minded buyers, and helps to educate potential home buyers about the importance of and technicalities surrounding living green. If you're on the house hunt, consider one of these green listings, or at least educate yourself about them. If not, Listed Green has a new website called Listed Green Getaways, featuring green, eco-friendly resorts and spas worldwide; go green on your next vacation!

Casa Interview: Michelle Adams of Rubie Green

CasaSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:00:23 -0700

I recently told you about Michelle Adam's eco chic online shop Rubie Green, which sells classical upholstery prints available in eco-friendly fabrics. All of Rubie Green's upholstery fabrics are made of 100% certified organic cotton. Michelle was kind enough to answer some organic textiles and decorating questions for us. Here's my first question for her.

CasaSugar: What are your tips for mixing modern and classical furnishings and fabrics?

Michelle: When it comes to decorating, I've always believed that if you fill your home with things that you truly love, they will always go together regardless of the style. I especially love mixing vintage and modern furnishings with classic textile prints. Take for instance a modern looking Saarinen white dining table and imagine it paired with vintage Louis XVI side chairs, upholstered in a classic floral print. So many eras and styles are mixed, yet the look comes together seamlessly and feels fresh and stylized without looking like you're trying too hard. In my own home I've upholstered a traditional bamboo chair with a classic zebra print for a look that's eclectic, modern, and a bit unexpected. Never be afraid to mix and match styles and finishes, and always buy only what you truly love.

Thanks Michelle! To see an example of how Michelle adapted this idea in her own home, read more.

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