The Heart of Art: CastAways

SeriesExquisite silks frozen in time.

As part of her series, CastAways, artist Nicole Dextras placed these orange silk fabrics out in the ice cold landscape. Once frozen, they resemble natural life forms, reminiscent of women wearing long, flowing gowns. The beauty of this ephemeral art form lies in its brevity and the mystery it leaves behind once it melts and disappears.

Lustables: Weave Credenza

A luscious, woven wood masterpiece made of FSC certified scraps.

The Weave Credenza from Structured Green would make a stylish statement in any room. Made entirely of FSC certified wood, the decorative door fronts of this gorgeous piece are made from leftover fragments of wood woven together. It’s worthy of lots of lust as well as an all out splurge ($3495 – $3995).

Lustables: Contemporary Clay Tiles

A modern mix of recycled clay tiles.

Fireclay Tile has come up with these six new patterns for its Debris Series made from recycled clay tiles. Already available in 112 colors and a plethora of patterns, this group throws a new mix of cool contemporary into the collection. The tiles are comprised of over 60% recycled materials and qualify for LEED points.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your

Undecorate, Naturally: Part Three

Un-styling your space by just being yourself, continuously.

I’m certain we covered close to everything there is to know about the art of undecorating in parts one and two, and it’s almost time to call it a wrap. You know the rules because there aren’t any, other than trusting your instincts.

And if your instincts tell you to hire a professional designer, then by all means, do it. But why not give undecorating a try?

Lustables: Echeveria Wreath

A luscious wreath of rosette succulents.

The Echeveria Wreath ($98-108) from VivaTerra is a sculptural blend of the flower shaped Echeveria plant, the most attractive of all the succulents due to its subtle coloring and textural quality. The various hues of pale green and red make it an ideal adornment to your home all year round.

Look for Lustables daily at EcoSalon. 100% gorgeous green finds, and never sponsored. Submit your favorite to tips@ecosalon.com.

The Heart of Art: Dead Star

SeriesA mound of dead batteries is reborn as a colorful sea creature.

A battery powers everything from appliances to watches to your car, and when it’s out of juice, well, that’s the end of it. Nowhere else to go but the landfill.

Artist Michel de Broin had another idea. He gathered hundreds of old batteries before they landed at the recycle facility and made his Dead Star, a colorful creation that seems to come alive, again.

Undecorate, Naturally: Part Two

Un-styling your space by just being yourself, randomly.

In Undecorate, Naturally: Part One, we established that the new way to decorate begins and ends with trusting your instincts, choosing what you like and just going for it. There are no wrong answers. The best way forward is straight through your doubts or fears, to the colors, patterns and pieces that express you.

Nothing is holding you back. If there are no rules, what’s next?

Lustables: Kaktus Stool

An architecturally stunning stool that stands in as a basket.

“Beautifully delicate in appearance, unfathomably strong in construction,” the Kaktus Stool ($250) from Artecnica is pretty much perfect. Use it as a stool, of course, or turn it upside down and it becomes a basket. Made from recycled aluminum, designer and Artecnica co-founder, Enrico Bressan, spent three years creating it.

The Kaktus Stool is currently in production and will be available in June at Artecnica.