Tips for an Eco Mother's Day from Green Style Guru Danny Seo

Danny Seo: he’s been called the Martha Stewart of green, an environmental pioneer and the "eco living consultant to the stars". By embracing style as part of the green lifestyle rather than eschewing it, Danny’s approach, dubbed Simply Green, has become a runaway hit with everyone from celebrities to stylish homeowners to savvy shoppers looking to make greener choices.
With Mother’s Day coming up, we asked Danny for some green gift recommendations.
EcoSalon: Danny, what’s on your list for Mother’s Day?
Danny Seo: This Mother’s Day, I’ve decided to give my mother the ultimate in eco-luxury: a brand new bedroom set.
(Danny has recently partnered with two major companies – J.C. Penney and Simmons – as a green living consultant on a variety of products and practices. With Simmons, he’s partnered to create the Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo mattress.)
EcoSalon: The gift of a green night’s sleep – lucky mom! What’s special about this new mattress?
Danny Seo: First, it’s one of the most comfortable and healthy sleep systems available today – I’m really proud to have my name on it. And what makes it green is a special blend of natural latex tapped from the rubber tree (so it’s renewable!) that’s also inherently dust-mite, mold and mildew resistant. That makes it a healthy mattress to sleep on. There are also many other eco features, including a soy-base foam (for added comfort), sustainably harvested wood for the framing, and Simmons’ 20-year limited warranty. (The mattress is available at J.C. Penney stores and online for $1599 for a queen size mattress. More information can also be found at Natural Care Bed.)
EcoSalon: A new mattress wouldn’t be complete without new bedding. What finishing touches are you inspired by right now?
Danny Seo: To dress up the bed, I’m thinking green, of course. I am in love with colorful bamboo sheets and I think a full set in soothing blue will go nicely with the mattress. On top, all-organic cotton Acadia organic cotton quilt will keep my Mom cozy, too. Maybe I’ll throw in a bamboo fiber throw blanket as well!

EcoSalon: If the investment in a whole bedroom set isn’t an option, what other stylish green gifts would you recommend for Mother’s Day?
Danny Seo: I suggest these capiz shell lanterns. Buy two medium ($19.99 each) and one large lantern ($24.99) and fill them with clean-burning beeswax pillar candles. They look amazing lined up on a dining room table.

Or try for recycled glass vases; they are nice and chunky and can be used to display flowers or serve yummy sangria. Either gift idea would be lovely this Mother’s Day. Over at VivaTerra, I have been slightly obsessed with the Gustavian bed.

For now, it’s on my short list of “must have” beds for my new home. Maybe I’ll put it in the guest room so my mother can sleep on that when she visits!
Thanks, Danny, for sharing your green Mother’s Day gift ideas here at EcoSalon.
You can follow Danny’s latest projects at the official Danny Seo site and get more tips at his blog, Daily Danny. For more Mother’s Day gift ideas, check out VivaTerra’s special promotion.
Images: courtesy Danny Seo and VivaTerra















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April 29th, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Hmmm…. with all the poverty around the world, is it necessary to get a new bedroom set every year? Remember, it would take numerous Earth’s to support the American lifestyle for everyone.
Not to be critical, but I guess I kind of am. I just can’t justify wanton consumerism, when a huge majority of people in the world are sleeping on mats on the ground, or shoddy little mattresses.
How about hugs, kisses, phone calls, and a walk in the park for Mother’s Day? The best things that money can’t buy.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Sarah, thank you for bringing this up and for sharing your thoughts
. I don’t think this post promotes wanton consumerism, or buying a new bed set annually, but to your point, I could have conveyed this more explicitly by explaining the context of “if an investment … is not an option” for what was meant by it – whether for budget reasons or because there is no need to buy a new mattress, there are other environmentally-friendly options like the capiz candle holders.
Fortunately, Danny’s green philosophy is based heavily on reinventing, reusing and recrafting – you won’t find a bigger fan of creatively making your own gifts, scouring the flea markets, or DIY green projects than Danny. That said, the majority of individuals are just now learning about greener living, and Danny’s work in bringing eco-friendly and eco-friendlier choices to mainstream retailers is a major step in the right direction for Americans. What’s unfortunate is that we’ve – on the whole – been so slow to go green. That’s changing, though!
May 4th, 2009 at 3:57 PM
talk about green mattresses, if you live anywhere near SF, CA, check out this store in Burlingame; Naturally Orgamic Sleep. He carries the Natura line of mattresses, pillows etc. (organic – very green) and he also makes his own – yes – and the price is much less than most of the more famous brands. You simply test out the floor models and answer a few questions, they do the rest, putting together a wonderful mattress. Natural Latex and a custom topper (covered with smart wool) which is naturally fire retardant & wicks away moisture during the night.
March 3rd, 2011 at 2:06 AM
Really its good for us
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