the green home center

i finally got a chance to visit the green home center on polk street and am so glad i did! this is a very inspiring place for me because ever since i did a school project on designing a green design center i've been dreaming about being able to own one. it was fabulous to see one up and running and doing really well. the green home center is a co-op of many different green-oriented businesses from contractors & interior designers to home-related products & other services. there are cabinet makers, upholstery & rug makers, solar engineers, tile & countertop farbicators, flooring manufacturers, led lighting, and so much more. really if you're at all interested in anything sustainable for your home or office you must stop in and check them out. what's more, the people working there are extremely knowledgeable and helpful ~ not pretentious in the least, which is a relief after spending so much time at the sf design center where i'm perpetually unimpressed with the sales people's attitudes. but that is a tangent not worth digging in to.... anyway, i'm just on the cusp of starting my own green design business {admitting it here is kind of intimidating, but i'll just take the leap and say it anyway!} and spending time at the green home center was thoroughly uplifting and encouraging. i hope you'll stop in and visit them soon too. if you do please tell them studio wellspring sent you and then let me know what you think!

get in line

{the stripe dining table from 3 square design ~ clean lines hold down a vibrant stripe in a white lacquer inlay, and your choice of walnut, cherry, or maple. found at architonic}

{light and pretty, the sanur table lamp from fusion z with hand-blown glass accents and walnut trim is shown with the multitonal striped shade. found at stone gate designs}

{the stacked 5-ball lamp from cbk home ~ its stem resembling a turned post, glimmers with a polished-silver finish and vertically striped jewel-embroidered shade}

{glass tiles with stripe patterns inside ~ artfully created by the u.k. team at smashing time design, mike phipps and sarah holliday}


{malachite and chunki munki rugs from loophouse ~ incredibly tactile, extra thick pile, for that luxurious feeling underfoot}

{a plethora of vibrant black & white stripe motifs from missoni home}

{interesting furniture from interior crafts - here is their 0274-end table and 0276-cocktail table. glass appears to float in these studies of line and contrast, and comes with an optional stripe of silver leaf}

two lovely erthereal semi-transparent curtain patterns by kinnasand - a swedish textile company:

{tven}

{flirt}

brentano fabrics makes tons of pretty fabrics. here is their sheer stripe offerring:

{diaphanous ribbons ~ comes in 3 fairy tale color ways: aurora, snow white and cinderella}

wild side

i have this thing for animal print as a subtle accent, not as an overwhleming theme, in interiors. my collection of favorite products that correspond to this motif are the focus for this friday's submission.
{this room by edelman leathers shows off their cowhide "4-square cubes". available on stationary legs or a recessed swivel base. the design is classic, and with your choice of any of edelman's leathers you can customize them to fit in any environment. i must confess, i chose this photo for the brown & white fur-on, cowhide upholstery ~ ce magnifique!}

{just to show what extent edelman leather's skills can go to ~ a custom elevator for bmc software in houston texas is "upholstered" in their black & white fur-on cowhide. at this scale, it's more like an art installation}

{a fabulous company called extremis, who specializes in contemporary outdoor furniture & accessories, has a line called "dolly" using genuine sheepskin for unique purposes.

the dollypop: a sheepskin & neoprene bottle cover. for white wine & champagne only.

the picnik: made from a massive plate of aluminium, this table-&-seats-in-one behaves like a functional piece of art. its simplicity in design and its contemporary colors make it perfect for the urban 'bourgeois-bohemian'}

{the "icecube" is also brought to you by extremis ~ it's made from polyethylene, has an integrated 2-bulb light system, and has an optional seat in faux cowhide. great for indoor or outdoor use}

{madison leathers makes these interesting & sophisticated multi-hide rugs in their natural hair hides collection. expert hand sewing in italy adds a topstitched accent to the finished patchwork for floors—though i'm sure the pieces are equally at home on walls}

{popcow's lilac colored "super zebra" rug is dyed hair-on cowhide from argentina. silk-screening animal prints on specially tanned cow fur produces an unendangered species that is supple enough for upholstery}

{john boyd textiles, a british manufacturer, keeps alive the centuries-old tradition of weaving horsehair, using a process that dates back to 1837. the bench, wall covering panels, and decorative cubes shown above are all part of their product offerings}

{because it's friday, i couldn't resist a little fun in the posting.....wowbow's limited-edition "mija" bed. customized by leather designer bill amberg, the clear acrylic frame is partially wrapped in calfskin. when four-legged friends get dog-tired, they can snooze on a mattress covered in fuzzy sheepskin. oooo-la-la!}

soft under foot

if you rent & wonder what can be done to hide or enhance your floor; if you want something new & hip on your floor; if you wish your floors were more subtle & urban-contempo......this post is for you.

{the effervescent rug from top-floor in london ~ evoking stepping stones, the sculpted-pile rounds rise more than 1/2 inch above the dark background. trompe l'oeil color gradations in the wool further enhance the three-dimensional effect. the rugs, made in nepal, can be ordered in many lovely colors}

{apply "tractionback" to any milliken modular carpet, tamp it down, and ~ voilà ~ the carpet is installed. what's more, it can be easily pulled up again. the absence of messy adhesives eliminates one of the most serious environmental issues related to floor coverings: indoor air quality. the all-renewable, recyclable backing contributes to peace of mind for the eco-minded}


{bev hisey designs gorgeous stuff - this is one of my favorite patterns found there, "folk". the genius in it is this: the rug has matching floor pillows all intended to coordinate & create a cozy comfy space in any area of your home}

{these are but 3 examples of the incredible inventory created by chilewich - a new york based flooring company. they created the product "plynyl"..... plynyl = innovative vinyl floor coverings invented as alternatives to traditional flooring. available in w2w, tile and shag in a variety of patterns & shades}

{3 fun & cheery rugs - audrey rug by modern rugs, bubbly swirls rug by liora manne, and kiwi rug by geba rugs}