What: Luna Knob (pictured with Metro Privacy Set)

Where: Boston Decorative Hardware – prices vary from $98 – $984 depending on style and finish.

Why We Love It: Ever since we discovered Rocky Mountain Hardware, we have been obsessed with the Luna knob. Such a simple design and about time our old doorknobs got an upgrade. Paired with the Metro Collection Privacy setting this is perfect for the modern home. They come in all sorts of styles so you can customize the knob with the hardware that fits your style. And the variety of finishes range from a dark patina to a rust orange patina.

Rocky Mountain Hardware is a family owned and operated business committed to developing sustainable business practices by continuing to improve their products, facilities and processes and reducing their impact on the environment. All of their products are made in Idaho and contain a minimum of 90% recycled material. They also qualify towards LEED certified credits.

doorknobs

What: Vanmoof No. 3

Where: econscious market – $600 with $24 donated to the charity of your choice.

Why We Love It: This slick bike by Areaware & Vammoof would be the answer to one of our biggest frustrastions – losing our bike lights (literally just replaced my front light for the second time and the rear light for the third, and thinking I’ll give up on it all together before I buy a fourth!) some to the universe and others, unfortunately, to ‘sticky fingers’…. The Vanmoof Bike has a solar powered LED light system built right into the frame which can be charged by sunlight or for cloudier climes, with a micro USB cable used with phone. How cool is that???

Designers and brothers, Taco and Ties Carlier, designed this bike ‘urban-proof,’ designed to withstand weather, daily-use, potholes and to withstand the occasional attempt at vandalism. The result is this single gear low-maintenance coaster bike (it’s only got one gear) with a rust-proof aluminum frame and thick wide tires that can handle the cities toughest weather and roughest potholes. It’s rugged but light so it won’t weigh you down. Function aside, it’s got a great streamlined look with a sleek silver frame so you’ll look good while cruising past bumper to bumper traffic. And protective wheel flaps and chain covers ensure you’ll look clean too!

The Vanmoof No. 5 comes with a high quality X-plus cylinder chain lock from ABUS integrated into the frame, just pull it out and lock it up. And coming in October, a Vanmoof bike designed specifically for ladies. The Vanmoof No. 6.

When you purchase items from the ECOnscious Market, they will donate a portion of the sale to your choice of 34 different charities including The Nature Conservancy, The Jane Goodall Institute and The Hunger Project. For each item they list the cost of the item and next to that the dollar amount of each purchase that will be donated to charity. In this case of the $600 purchase price, $24 will be donated to share. It’s a great way to shop with a conscience.

What: Ana Peep-Toe Shootie

Where: Amazon.com – $145 in inky blue or in tan at Piperlime

Why We Love It: Yes, we’ll admit we were at first skeptical about peep-toe booties, wondering when they’d be appropriate, but now we wonder how anyone could live without a pair of blue (or tan) suede ‘shooties’… Turns out they are incredibly versatile. Pair with jeans, leggings, trousers and go with or without stockings in just about any season (rain and snow are admittedly tough). The soft pleats of the 100% chrome free suede lend a sophisticated edge.

And you don’t have to worry about wrestling to get your feet in, the side zipper allows for easy slip-on and the extra room in the footbed makes them quite comfortable for wider feet. A biodegradable latex foam comfort system adds cush and the recycled cork non-slip outsole keeps feet secure. The generous 2.5″ inch heel is made of sustainable bamboo and it’s all held together with water soluble glues and cements for a more eco-friendly alternative.

Naya, a member of the Brown Shoe Company which also owns Dr. Scholls, Buster Brown, and Via Spiga, is committed to using natural and eco-friendly materials whenever possible to create a collection of shoes that look good, feel good and are better for the planet than traditionally manufactured shoes. They use vegetable-tanned leathers, natural or recycled content fabrics, water-based cements, footbeds containing natural cork and outsoles containing natural. Even their packaging is eco-conscious with boxes composed of 80% recycled paper pulp, soy-based inks and water-based glue and reusable shoe bags and shoe forms made with recycled PET.

NAYA

What: Organic Cotton Horton Lovie Blankee

Where: Amazon.com – $14.49

Why We Love It: Two of our favorite things have come together is this new collection of MiYim’s simply organic lovie blankees and plush toys featuring beloved Dr. Suess characters like the Cat in the Hat, Horton and The Lorax. The oh so snuggly Lovie Blankies are sure to be a favorite with your little ones and likely will go with them to ‘all the places they will go.’

Parents will take comfort in knowing that their child’s security blanket is made from natural cotton that is unprocessed, untreated, and unbleached and colored with miYim’s PureWaterWashTM process using only plants and minerals. Safe for your little one to chew and snuggle and better for the environment too. The Lorax would certainly approve!

organic toys

What: Tube Cabinet Pulls & Rail Cabinet Pulls

Where: Boston Decorative Hardware – Tube $80 for 6″ handle, sizes range up to 18″; Rail $41-$250 depending on size. Or call for a local retailer near you.

Why We Love It: Recently, we were on a mission to find eco-friendly hardware for a kitchen renovation and had a hard time finding a ‘green’ option. Luckily we stumbled upon Rocky Mountain Hardware at GreenBuild. They’ve got an immense collection of bronze hardware from faucets to house numbers (love these!) to latches to cabinet hardware to door hardware. Their designs have an old world charm with a modern sophistication. Great for a kitchen or bath or home that skirts the old and new.

We were amazed at the variety of finishes that can be achieve in bronze; white bronze, silicon bronze, medium patinas, brushed patinas… And all of their products contain a minimum of 90% recycled material.

Rocky Mountain Hardware is a family owned and operated business committed to developing sustainable business practices by continuing to improve their products, facilities and processes and reducing their impact on the environment. All of their products are made in Idaho.

Who:

What: Wall Flowers

Where: Lorna Syson – £100 – £3999, in a variety of colors & sizes.

Why We Love It: These ‘Wall Flowers’ by textile artist Lorna Syson are anything but. We fell in love with the rich colors, the vibrancy and complete originality of these sculptural wall hangings. They truly are stunning.

Made of 100% wool, sued and silk, the textiles are screen printed or digitally printed with patterns designed by Lorna or in solid colors.  The petals are then laser cut and meticulously hand woven to create the 3-D form. One piece can take up to a week to create.

At ICFF, Lorna mentioned that her goal was to source an entirely sustainable collection by 2015. She has far surpassed that target date and will be presenting a completely ‘ec0-friendly’ collection at 100% Design in London this September – can’t wait!

For a taste of Lorna’s stunning collection with a smaller sticker price, check out her collection of accessories and pillows – the pillows are filled with 100% recycled wool that’s naturally resistant to dust mites, so is great for people with allergies.

wall textiles

Who:

What: MCS Organic T-shirt

Where: Rapanui – £24.95 (approx. $37USD), in blue or charcoal

Why We Love It: We were psyched to learn about Rapanui, an eco-surf wear company founded in 2008 by brothers Rob and Martin Drake-Knight.  We love their graphic designs, like this MCS t-shirt with a collection of marine animals swimming in unison to create silhouettes of sharks; we love that 50% of the proceeds of the sale of this t-shirt is donated to the Marine Conservation Society; but most of all we applaud the brothers for their transparency and for the role models they have become in transforming the clothing industry and the way that consumers think about clothing.

The brothers are true advocates for change in the clothing industry by adopting a more sustainable, socially and environmentally responsible business model. Each garment has a  traceability record where consumers can follow the entire lifecycle of their garment from the fields to the factory to the shelves.  So you can see that the MCS t-shirt, for example, is made of organic cotton grown on a plantation in India that is then transported by camel to a nearby Fair Wear Foundation audited, wind powered factory where it is made into jersey fabric and embroidered and then trucked off to the U.K. where it is printed with water-based inks and hand-finished.  It’s so rare, and yet so important, to see and understand the road that our clothing travels.

Who:

What: Matt and Nat Yacht Studded Envelope Bag

Where: Eco-Tobi – $205 $153, in black or bone

Why We Love It: We’ve held out long enough on the heavy metal/zipper trend, but after seeing this Matt and Nat bag we are ready to throw in the towel. The studded bag has all the features we’ve be looking for. It’s got the slim profile of a clutch with the volume of a satchel and plenty of pockets for stowing those must-haves. It’s incredibly versatile -  it comes with a long detachable chain link shoulder strap for hands-free ease,  a shorter strap for a more tucked tote and you could go without a strap and you’ve got an oversized clutch. And of course, this bag comes complete with the vegan and style factor we’ve come to expect from Matt and Nat.

It’s made of vegan ‘leather’ (a.k.a. polyurethane) with a 100% recycled faux suede lining (made from 13 recycled plastic bottles) and antique brass hardware. The lining on the black bag is aqua and pink on the bone colored bag.
Some of our other Matt and Nat studded obsessions: Laroux Mini Stud Crossbody | Scrilla Studded Shopper | Varela Studded Messenger

Who:

What: Ball Ceiling Fan

Where: Y-Lighting- $540 $288

Why We Love It: This minimalist design captures the modern industrial aesthetic without feeling cold. We first saw it a few years ago and just loved how it looked – when it’s running it looks like a floating orb -  such a simple design, it begs the question why are there so many ugly, fussy fans out there when they can look this good? (We  just saw one that somehow had a glove, a ball and a home plate, seriously.)

Design and function were of equal importance when creating the Modern Fan line. A streamlined design meant easier installation, a more efficient and quieter motor and a bigger breeze. Anyone who has wrestled with installing a ceiling mounted fan will appreciate the ease of installation.  Running a fan in the hot summer months can reduce your energy bill even if you have A/C, you’ll be able to keep the A/C thermostat an average of 8 degrees lower if you keep your fan running which could reduce your energy bill by up to 40%. They also help circulate air in the winter sending hot air trapped near the ceiling down to where you need it. These fans are also compatible with compact fluorescents (CFLs) to further reduce energy consumption.

Take a look at the ball fan in the home of Dixie Chick Emily Robinson.

Available in aluminum, white or with maple blades and can be hung with or without a light. Also available in other sizes/heights: Ball Hugger Ceiling Fan | Cirrus Ceiling Fan | Cirrus Hugger Ceiling Fan | Stratos Ceiling Fan

Who:

What: Porthole Mirror Collection

Where: VivaTerra – $369 (set of 5)

Why We Love It: Such an eye catching focal point for any room whether grouped together or separately. Love the way that the beautiful grain of the woods is left exposed so you can see all the whirls and color variations of the wood. The mirrors are crafted from naturally aged sustainable sheesham wood, a fast growing hardwood grown on plantations in India.

As with all of the products that VivaTerra features, these were selected because of the eco-friendly and people friendly sensitivities. Supporting sustainable business practices.

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