Make your bed. Lounge in it.

We’re still thrilled that our Shelter section is being sponsored this month by VivaTerra (uh hum, contest!), not only because of their 100% certified commitment to eco-friendliness, but also because it gives us an excuse to mentally assemble the boudoir of our dreams. A dream that can now be fully realized due, in no small part, to a certain bed and bath event going on right now.

Ah, to bed down in one of these three beds, made six ways.

The Mosaic Bed (pictured above)

About as rustic as you can get. Made from reclaimed barn wood composed to look like a Mondrian painting. It’s finished in an eco-friendly matte lacquer to prevent chipping. The look is vintage and handsome, but can be fully femmed up with the following pairings.

There are two patterns in this Bedding Bundle, in blue. We see a visual rhapsody of textures with subtly striped pillowcases and a floral print sheet, plus solid knit throw.

Or,

Embrace your quirkier side by coupling the complexity of a mosaic pattern with a colorful, vibrant Velvet Patchwork Quilt made from totally touchable and exotic Indian textiles.

Tree of Life Bed

A bed frame, made from sculpted and recycled iron, that recalls this leafy love nest readers responded so well to last spring. Also hand welded and bent, the result is inspired and lyrical, like the film of the same name.

Pair with…

Down-filled, linen Papillon pillows accented with sprightly iridescent butterflies.

And,

Tuck-Me-In-Bedding, organic cotton shams and duvet cover with three-dimensional pin-tuck detailing in a fluffy cloud motif.

Or,

The Ghanaian Duvet Set made using a batik-like process. These wax print cotton duvets are from an arts-based women’s cooperative in Ghana. Revenues garnered from the purchase of one of these goes to medication, testing and education for HIV/ AIDS.

The Vintage Fir Bed

A staggering amount of municipal waste comes from wood construction and demolition, in fact, an estimated 25% according to the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Instead of being trashed in landfills, those hardwoods could be used to make furniture, like this American-made vintage Douglas Fir Bed made from reclaimed wood.

The Papillon pillows work well against the minimalist backdrop of the Vintage Fir, which could really be dressed up in one of two ways.

Keep it textured but neutral with this Bedding Bundle in sandy tones. Like the blue paired with the Mosaic Bed above, this bundle also features stripe and floral patterns.

Or,

Offset the unobtrusiveness of the frame with an opulent Raw Silk Coverlet and Shams in eggplant, persimmon and taupe.

Purely for the purposes of getting in character, i.e., full-on uninterrupted languishing about said fantasy bedroom, pair any combination of the above with:

This ultralight and cheerful Geisha Flower Silk Robe, perfect for recording your memoirs barefoot or in these…

Fez slippers, made from soft naturally tanned leather.

Lap it up. You’re now a lady who lounges.

The post Sweet Dreams With VivaTerra appeared first on EcoSalon.

Got kids? Great, you’ll love this. If not, well…think of it as fantasy baseball for the home.

It all starts innocently enough. You see a wallpaper you like and think, geez, that’s really cute. Next thing you know you’re staking out Pottery Barn Kids, elbowing your romantic partner to get on with it already, and fretting over the goings on of your fallopian tubes.

This ain’t fantasy baseball, girls. Tread carefully on this post, because today we’re delving into kid land. We started responsibly by finding some baby-aware, eco-conscious essentials. And then went for the pretty. Don’t freak out. Creating a dream room for the kid you now have or eventually will is fun, like procreation should be. Another thing you need to keep in mind is that just because you have kids, doesn’t mean your home decor has to look any less cool.

New York-based Aimée Wilder is very particular when it comes to her wallpaper. It’s always cool, for a start. Each roll is created with sustainability in mind. Each pattern is hand silk screened on clay-coated paper. Left over inks are salvaged and reused. The paper itself is manufactured with responsibly-sourced chlorine free fiber.

VOC-free paint is a little more expensive, but that’s because it doesn’t come with all the formaldehyde, benzene, and perchloroethylene attached like the other stuff does. Mythic Paint is a trusted brand, which comes in colors like the lavender “Lav it Up” and soothing blue “Come Fly With Me”.

Young immune systems are fragile and they need to be treated accordingly with hypoallergenic clothes, blankets, and toys. Sheepskin rugs keep babies warm and toasty during cold months, and cool in warm months. Plus they don’t attract dust, dirt or other allergens. When the would-be kid’s not using it, snag it yourself for a spot of meditation. It’s the preferred rug of Kundalini yogis.

Now for the rooms we fantasize over just for the heck of it.

All right, so we’ve shown you ours. Now it’s time to tweet us your possibly, maybe, way down the line fantasy kids rooms.

Images: msscott218; Family Living via Aimée Wilder; Mythic Paint; Nature Baby; Mommy Goes Green; Pinterest via Inhabitots; Crafty Cake; Our Wee One via The Marion House Book

The post In the Event of Breeding, Fantasy Décor for Your Future Kid appeared first on EcoSalon.

No matter how cozy and inviting the rest of your bedding is, you won’t get a good night’s sleep unless you’re resting your head on a comfortable pillow. There are all kinds out there to choose from, so let’s take a look at the options so you can find the best cradle for your noggin.

Foam – Memory-foam pillows are a pretty cool concept. They mold to your head and momentarily retain their shape when you move around, so you kind of feel like you’re sleeping on a custom-made headrest. On the other hand, they don’t have the immediate pliability of down or cotton-filled pillows, so if you squirm around in your sleep, they might drive you up the wall. Foam pillows are typically made of synthetic filling and give off a chemical smell that some people find irritating. Shop around to find ones that are made of natural, plant-based ingredients like soy, latex or rubber.

Down – From an allergen standpoint, goose down is your best option if you’re looking for a feather-filled pillow to snooze on. They’ll set you back a lot more than pillows filled with chicken or turkey feathers, but are also less likely to cause an allergic reaction to those with sensitivities.

Kapok – This tree-based fiber fill is reminiscent of down, but without the potential allergy problems associated with animal feathers. Kapok is harvested in rainforests, so if you go this route, make sure you’re buying from a company that’s committed to environmental responsibility.

Organic cotton – Cotton pillows are comfy, firm, and can withstand nightly use for a long time without needing to be replaced. Available in a wide price range, you should be able to find a good chemical-free, organic style to fit your budget without sacrificing your commitment to live responsibly.

Buckwheat – Made from buckwheat hulls leftover from the milling process, this is the perfect choice if you’re always flipping your pillow back and forth looking for the cool spot. Beware, though, all those hulls rattling around next to your ear all night are kinda noisy. Millet hull pillows offer the same benefits as buckwheat but don’t sound like a thousand Mexican jumping beans moving around under your head. Or, if you can’t bear to part with buckwheat, get a thick pillowcase to muffle the sound a bit.

Hemp – If you want to catch 420 winks on a hemp pillow, look for 100 percent hemp fill, not just a standard pillow with a hemp cover. The weight of your head will tamp down the filling over time so this is the way to go if you like a slim, flat pillow over a cushier alternative.

Wool – Most wool-stuffed pillows are made from sheeps’ wool, but alpaca wool is becoming a hot trend as well. Alpaca wool is more breathable that it’s sheepy counterpart, and therefore cooler to rest on during a hot summer night. It’s also softer and won’t mat as easily as sheeps’ wool, so give an alpaca-stuffed pillow a second look if you like wool filler but have had issues with it in the past.

Image: quinn.anya

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