In creating our own traditions, it’s nice to find alternative symbols that speak to who we are, Jewish or Christian, pagan or devout decorator. Here are a few unique items I came across that allow you to  responsibly spruce up your own winter wonderland.

I love these hemp holiday stockings from Amenity in earthy shades of brown, green and silver. Who says red and green rule in December? The organic company also offers beautiful hemp ornaments of balls and birds, and an inventive hemp tree skirt (below).

Recycled soda cans, wire, and beads let Ruldolph lead the way in these fetching handcrafted reindeer from the free trade company, Serrv.

Angels can appear from the sky or from old scrap, as proven by the Tin Can Angels ($29/set of 4) from our green sponsor Viva Terra. Or great the season with a Noel sign from twigs ($69) and an organic pussy willow wreath ($52 to $62). All of these offer fresh takes on old symbols.

Modern and green, these recycled menorahs are sculptural and made of glass from the past, $180 at Vertige Glass.

Eco Artware decks the halls with recycled glass balls ($36); reused record label tree trinkets ($18/set of 3); and an Ever-Green Aluminum wreath forged from traffic signs ($100-$140).

.

The post Evergreen Seasonal Symbols appeared first on EcoSalon.

The latest diffuser craze has everyone smelling up their spaces, but anyone with a sensitive snout best beware. There’s nothing worse than being welcomed into a room by a thick wave of fragrance that fires up your nostrils and hurts your throat.

That’s why I love lemongrass. It’s subtle, not too potent – just natural, refreshing and clean. Lemongrass won’t send you running for cover like Grandma’s perfume; it actually relaxes you after a long day.

I found this Lemongrass Bath Set at VivaTerra and couldn’t resist getting one for myself along with a few of my friends. The perfect holiday gift – and it’s on sale! The set includes an 8oz. Room Diffuser ($33) and a 3″ D x 3.75″ H Soy Candle ($24).

The post Spread Some Lemongrass Love appeared first on EcoSalon.

A crackling fire might be a symbol of domestic warmth and bliss but the pollutants can be so bad for your lungs, some states forbid building open masonry fireplaces in new homes and home remodels.

Northern California homeowners like me, with existing brick fireplaces, can’t use them any old time we want any longer. The Bay Area Quality Management District has established a Spare the Air Program, making it illegal to burn wood on winter days when air pollution exceeds national standards.

Instead of fighting the tide, perhaps it’s time we learn to live without fires or investigate affordable green alternatives that provide ambience without  a carcinogen danger. Here are a few hot ones:

I’ve written before about the Ecosmart┞¢ Fire from Australia. It is fueled by denatured ethanol (a renewable energy source) so it burns cleanly and requires no installation of a utility connection for fuel supply. Housed in a metal stainless steel chamber, they can be wall mounted or free standing for two-way pleasure (below), and the Zeta  design at the top of page. They are distributed wordwide, starting at around $1600.

Gel fireplaces, such as the wall-mounted metal designs by Southern Enterprices Inc. ($200), burn grain-alcohol gel (about two to three hours per can). They emit no fumes or smoke, only small amounts of carbon dioxide. These, too, come in many designs, including indoor-outdoor personal fireplaces, like the Pagoda by Jensen. All of them are available at Cailbex.
 
 

I’m not a fan of woodstoves (most of them are so ugly), but the EPA certified that pellet burning models do pollute less. The Englander designs such as this one (below) runs $1589 at Home Depot and boasts new technology, such as stainless steel tubes and a ceramic fireboard to produce a clean, hot burn that lasts for hours.

The post Light My Cool Green Fire appeared first on EcoSalon.

Okay, Listen up Daddy-O’s. Raise your coconut shells if you’ve grooved on the following: The Tonga Room at the San Francisco Fairmont and its sporadic fake rainshowers; The Audio-Aniamatronic Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland; And any of the surviving Trader Vic’s Restaurant (Beverly Hills, Vegas, Emeryville).

If your hand is up, then it wasn’t the grub (rarely is) but the kitschy props (nets, fish, spears, bamboo, totems) that floated your Bahama Mamas. Let’s face it, jungle fever has a place in design, as resurrected in the new decor book, Tiki Modern, by Sven Kirsten.

First of all, you must click on the book at the Taschen publishing site because it pulses to the crazy-like sounds of the Sixties tiki pop beat, complete with exotic bird sounds. You’ll be swaying and snapping your fingers as you preview pages reflecting primitivism in the modern world, from the animal print revival to the shack-like backyard bar.

The author, a music video director and tiki artifact excavator, hunted down props for his productions and emerged as the country’s reigning tiki style expert. One of his unearthed treasures, the two-story high fireplace (below) at the Kahiki Restaurant in Columbus, Ohio in 1961.

Kirsten illustrates how the retro craze (who could forget the bar and bongo lounges in the Gidget movies?) has caught the wave in current trends of mid-century modernism and the opening of tiki-style bars from the beaches of Waikiki to Tokyo.

Mural of Vintage Tiki Iconography

Witco Studio Wooden Tiki Artifacts

It’s also great fun to hop on the jungle cruise tour of the real McCoys, like Hugh Hefner’s Chicago Playboy Pool and Elvis Presley’s Jungle Room assembled by the house of Witco (above) . If you’re like me, this imagery will not just wax nostalgic but have you craving something tall and cool to wet your whistle.  For inspiration, check out  Tiki Drinks  by Adam Rocke. Like Tiki Modern, it packs a punch, and then some.

The post Tiki Modern: Carrying a Torch for Polynesian Panache appeared first on EcoSalon.

Yesterday proved it: there’s just no denying I’m a type A. I was about to pump gas into my car (legal in the state of Massachusetts) so one hand was tied up; my cell phone rang (other hand now working) so I proceeded to choose my low-grade fuel by kneeing the machine. It worked swimmingly, and I happily multitasked while the 23-degree Boston wind whipped around me.

My point is that my list of personal favorites includes all things efficient, and preferably green. So you can imagine the joy I found when I learned about MyPunchbowl.com, the uber-efficient, hip and stylish way to organize, plan, and send out upscale paperless invitations and e-cards for free via email, Facebook and Twitter. There’s also an e-store to purchase party supplies online by genre, such as that perfect Christmas ornament, Hanukkah candles, New Year’s hats and horns or a mini goalpost for that Super Bowl bash.

If you can think past the thaw, there are even paper jalapeno peppers for Cinco de Mayo. Did I mention free party planning ideas and recipes? If guests are planning to come to your soiree from out of town, there’s a travel center to streamline the best, most efficient way to get there. Photo sharing and message boards keep the after party going for as long as you’d like. I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot. If only I had another arm.

Image: pasotraspaso

The post Party Planning with a Punch appeared first on EcoSalon.

There’s nothing warmer than a Tuscan farmhouse patina on cottage or even apartment walls, something faux finishers have long tried to reproduce.

But conventional methods of sponging on toxic decorative paints will soon reside in the history books along with the old Medici clan of Florence. Earthy plaster is the way to go greener for adding texture and rich color to interior surfaces. A great choice for this approach are the products produced at American Clay.

The New Mexico company’s natural earth plasters use natural clays, recycled and reclaimed aggregates, and stunning natural pigments in all three of their finishes: Loma┞¢, Porcelina┞¢ and Marittimo┞¢. Unlike some stuccos and harsh paints, these plasters are non-dusting, mold and face resistant, repairable and moisture controlling.

In addition to the standard line, you can special order Natural Depths, a line of seven rich colors that will also reproduce the feel of Old World marble, suede and terrazzo. The company’s packaging is recyclable, as well.

Among American Clay’s biggest fans is the eco-plaster company, Get Green, Get Plastered owned by Bay Area painter Dana Cummings. He says over the past few years he has switched to greener products on the market and that’s when he found American Clay. “There is so much warmth and a certain quality about having Earth on your walls – it really does connect you to nature,” he says. I love the name of this company, which features a green martini glass icon on the logo. Yeah, let’s get green and plastered, Dana!

Cummings also uses green glazes and eco paints like Yolo Colorhouse and Green Planet Paints to help accentuate the beauty of his plastered walls.

If you’re interested in trying to learn how to apply plaster on your own, check out the American Clay hands-on workshops at the company’s site. You can also read about Carlie’s eco-take on American Clay – and clay walls – by clicking here.

The post Getting Plastered: a Greener Way to Finishing Walls appeared first on EcoSalon.

Some of the pieces are hauntingly beautiful. Some a bit otherworldly. Either way, the green concept of Britain’s Ghost Furniture is one I feel that more retailers should possess: Help Europe’s sweet vintage furniture come out of hiding.

After 30 years in the ad biz, Di Overton and Harvey Roll moved to the country (Northumberland) and set up shop, using artisans to create specialist paint effects to infuse new life into old relics unearthed from Paris and elsewhere. The company invites collectors to consign their treasures, offering to give them “the Ghost treatment.”

Each piece, such as the lamp, candelabra and tea assortment below, arrives with a tale of its history and Certificate of Authenticity. Ghost will ship its spirited goods to you. The accessories, which are fairly reasonable, are easier to ship to the U.S. than the furniture and right cheaper too, mates.

Have a look at the site and you will be delighted with the eco-chic retro revival. It’s flea market gone fabulous!

Blushing Butterfly Lamp      Green Tea         Candelabra Blanc

Shown at top: the artsy conversation piece “Dinner for One“

The post The Eco-Friendly Ghost appeared first on EcoSalon.

Sometimes development is necessary; increasingly, we’re seeing sustainable examples. Yet at in some unfortunate cases, it’s controversial to say the least. We’ve all seen bulldozers lay waste to once pristine wooded areas in our countries and communities. The latest “People vs. Developers” case is centered on the ancient Angel Oak of John’s Island, South Carolina. The Angel Oak is the oldest living tree east of the Rockies – it is over 1,500 years old. It is truly a sight to behold.

Granted, no one wants to cut down the Angel Oak itself, but in order to make room for the multi-story apartment buildings and 80,000 square feet of retail space, most of the forest around the Angel Oak will have to be destroyed. This forest – filled with other trees that are ancient – is a protected wetland essential for maintaining the local hydrological cycle. Ecosystems are delicate and losing another green space in this day and age is a cause for deeper examination.

Opponents of the building project are suggesting reclaiming old, rundown buildings and turning them into apartments instead, and sparing one of the last, sacred green spaces we’ve got left.

If you’re moved to get involved, sign the online petition and help save the beautiful forest surrounding Angel Oak.

The post Save the Angel Oak! appeared first on EcoSalon.

I like the intricate stems on these recycled glass pumpkins from The Pacific Northwest Shop ($72).  As you can see, the colors of the glass really vary depending on the source of the recycling.

The three below are pumpkins of kitris reycled glass handmade in Canada from Olive Barn. They come in small and large sizes ($49 to $109). All of the glass pumpkins can be safely shipped to you and it’s a good idea to put some tape on the bottom to safely secure them to the surface of your table.

The post Recycled Glass Pumpkins: Color-Rich Halloween Treats to Sweeten Your Entryway appeared first on EcoSalon.

ADHD – it’s alarmingly common these days. But what’s the real problem? Are we just diagnosing better, or is there something missing in the environment? A study by the University of Illinois has shown that a simple 20-minute walk in nature greatly improves the ability to concentrate in children diagnosed with ADHD. Those same children taken for 20-minute walks around their neighborhood or through an urban area did not reap the same benefits. A dose of nature is key.

This is not the first time I’ve seen this hypothesis presented. The researchers don’t know exactly why, but a little intuition will tell you that natural, green spaces are calming and soothing to the soul. The researchers at U of Illinois noted that everyone could use time in nature. “The evidence suggests that natural settings can benefit everyone, even children (and adults) who have not been diagnosed with ADHD.” I sincerely hope this inspires more schools to incorporate nature walks and other outdoors activities into their educational programs. It would be a great help to teachers, too.

Image: riot jane

The post Kids with ADHD Do Better with a Dose of Nature appeared first on EcoSalon.