Times have changed and bar stools are the new dining room chair.

Let’s face it, times have changed and that includes where we sit to eat our meals. Formal dining rooms are out and bar stools or counter stools are in. Many people are choosing to live in more urban and denser settings, where space is at a premium and the formal dining is just not practical. That’s not to mention that dining has become more relaxed — with the focus on the food more than the formality.

If you have a smaller home, you may just have a counter end that’s a natural fit for some bar stools. Or you may have a space for a table, in which case consider a high table at which you can place bar stools. It’s a much more informal way to not only eat your morning oatmeal but also to entertain. In addition, bar stools can be a handy space saving device. Some styles can stack, but most at least are easy enough to tuck under to create more space.

And the bar stools of today are not like the bar stools of days past–like from a 1985 wood-paneled basement. Nowadays, style choices run the gamut from mid-century modern to Scandinavian modern and everything in between. Of course, if you find yourself nostalgic for those mid-1980s bar stools, we are sure that you can find them at a flea market!

9 Stools to Deck Out Your Space

1. Langley Street Wright Modern Stool via AllModern

Show off your modern style with a row of these steel and wood swivel bar stools.

2. Vintage French Schoolhouse Stool via Chairish

Add these vintage French schoolhouse stools to your craft space, dining table, or bar for some retro style. Bonus points because they are stackable!

3. Wood Pallet Stool via Palletso

This stool is made from recycled wood from pallets. It’s eco-friendly, rustic, handmade, and sturdier than mass-produced options.

4. Recycled Wood Stool via At West End

Here’s another eco-friendly option. The rich honey-colored stain softens the industrial design of this rustic stool.  It’s made from recycled wood and features an adjustable seat for added functionality!

5. Cliff Counter Stool via Loll Designs

These stools are made from 100% recycled plastics and can work for both inside and outside! They are also available in eleven different colorways.

6. Reclaimed Industrial Stool via barnxo

These modern stools feature black metal frames and reclaimed barn wood for the seats.The wood top is reclaimed, old Growth Douglas Fir that was salvaged from a building that was more than  170-years-old, giving the wood beautiful character.

7. Pipe Industrial Stool via Hisbrand

Another industrial option, these stools are made from steel pipes and feature a thick durable wood top has been finished without harmful chemicals.

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Whether it’s an intimate dinner party, a casual meal with the family, or an outdoor get together, we have your eco-friendly dinnerware covered.

Never fret over harming the environment or your body with your dishes again thanks to this selection of eco-friendly tableware. The last thing you want is a bunch of chemicals leaching into your food – totally yuck – so read on to get the dish on the dishes you should be using now.

Ocean Seaglass Dinnerware

Modern, elegant, and simply stunning, this matte glass dinnerware from Viva Terra is perfect for a special gathering or for everyday use. Each piece is made in the USA from recycled glass with a finish that resists fingerprints and smudges.

Unique and beautifully shaped, this eco-friendly dinnerware is also safe for both the microwave and dishwasher. Mix and match dishes in an array of sophisticated colors to match your personal style and taste.

Recycled Glassworks Dinnerware

This contemporary glass dinnerware is special, not only because of its appearance, but also because of the material from which it is crafted. Handmade in San Francisco, California, these plates, bowls, and platters are made from reclaimed window glass.

The owner and artist, Lauren Becker, says that she chooses window glass, also known as plate glass, because it is less likely to be recycled and more likely to go straight to the landfill because it doesn’t have a standardized expansion coefficient, unlike bottles and jars. These sturdy dishes are great for everyday use and can even be washed in the dishwasher.

Bamboo Fiber Dinnerware

Lime and turquoise dinnerware is a great way to brighten up every table. Offered by Viva Terra, these dishes are made from quickly renewable and abundant bamboo fiber. The eco-friendly plates and bowls are strong enough to withstand everyday use and would look beautiful outdoors on the patio paired with the festive and colorful recycled glass margarita collection for a relaxing evening meal.

Moso Bamboo Dinnerware

Another bright and cheerful choice, this bamboo dinnerware from Zak Designs has simple, functional appeal, is made from 75 percent bamboo and is 100 percent biodegradable. These dishes, serving pieces, and mixing bowls are also BPA free which is definitely a plus.

Zak Designs bamboo dinnerware comes in a gazillion beautiful colors and could easily be mixed and matched for a customized collection. Use these at the dinner table, the picnic table, as fruit bowls, or anywhere you’d like to add a pop of color.

Bamboo Disposable Dinnerware

Minimalistic, chic, and eco-friendly, the stunning biodegradable dinnerware from Wasara is elegant enough for a wedding, cocktail party or corporate event, yet equally as fine for everyday use.

Inspired by Japanese aesthetics and values, this tableware creates the perfect, neutral backdrop to showcase your food and drinks – and they fit perfectly in hand, thanks to the ergonomic shapes designed by Japanese craftsmen.

Wasara uses bamboo and bagasse pulp poured into a pulp mold that is then dehydrated under heat and pressure in a press machine, without the need for starch or glue.

Fallen Leaf Disposable Dinnerware

Stylish, biodegradable, and compostable, this earthy dinnerware is crafted from just two simple ingredients: fallen palm leaves and water. According to VerTerra’s website, these dishes will also enhance plant growth by over 15 percent when added to soil during the composting process.

Durable and versatile, these can be placed in the microwave and dishwasher, and can withstand hot foods, liquid, and oils. Use these at your next picnic, barbeque, or even an outdoor wedding.

Sugarcane Disposable Dinnerware

The most laid back of the bunch, this biodegradable dinnerware would be great at a camping trip, in the RV, or even kept in the pantry for use on those nights when you just don’t feel like doing the dishes. Snag these 100 percent plant based plates, bowls, cutlery, and cups from Repurpose and you’ll be able to dine with a clear conscience thanks to the strict standards going into the manufacturing process.

Sugarcane fiber products, used to make the company’s product, are BPI certified compostable and made from 100 percent reclaimed and renewable material. They’re chlorine free, BPA free, use 3-4 times less carbon dioxide, and stick with soy based inks. The eco-friendly dinnerware is strong, cut resistant, leak resistant, and even available at your local grocery store – everything you could want from compostable and disposable dishes.

Now that you’ve feasted your eyes on these eco-friendly dishes, you’re one step closer to safe and sustainable satiety. What did you think of our list? Are you concerned about what might be lurking in your current dinnerware? Let us know your thoughts on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Dinner Plates via Shutterstock

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Go beyond falafel and hummus, indulge in the bustling conscious culture of Tel Aviv.

Before arriving to Tel Aviv, all my research concerning eating vegan or vegetarian pointed to one conclusion: falafel and hummus. Tel Aviv isn’t particularly known for its cuisine and has adopted its culinary creations from the Mediterranean coast and Arab neighbors. I figured if what I ordered wasn’t something involving fried chickpeas or tahini then the only other option would be lamb. When I arrived, however, I was impressed to see that there indeed existed a growing buzz for plant-based eating and an enthusiastic culture to support it. Yes, there was a lot of falafel and hummus involved, mostly because Israelis do a fantastic job at them, but there were also so many other opportunities to enjoy the local culture in a sustainable and healthy way.

The star of Tel Aviv’s health food joints is decidedly the Taste of Life, located on Ben Zehuda Street. Since 1984, the restaurant has gone beyond kosher laws and has successfully worked under a vegan, organic and raw banner. Dishes are made in-house and include tofu quiches, mock-meat, veggie burgers, tofu teriyaki, Schwarma, stir fry, grains, vegetable casseroles, soy ice-cream as well as a selection of salads and juices. The restaurant also hosts cooking classes and offers catering services.

Start the day out with a hearty Israeli breakfast that will satisfy both the vegan and non-vegan palette. Orna & Ella is a well-established fixture that has become a symbol of Tel Aviv and Shenkin Street. Starting off as a coffee shop 14 years ago, today Orna & Ella feeds diners on a balcony in the back and three small separate rooms and is famous for its yam patties, which are served with a creamy chives dip. In addition to its meat pie and chicken liver dishes, there are salads, homemade pastas and morning pastries. Get the best of both worlds and indulge in a truly Tel Aviv experience at this humble local mainstay.

On Yehuda Halevi Street you’ll find a health enthusiast’s true oasis. Aba Gil is a vegan, organic, low-fat, gluten and soy-free restaurant. The menu is stocked with typical dishes characteristic to the city’s tastes, such as hummus and falafel, in addition to others with stand-outs such as sweet potato, beans, quinoa, brown rice, vegetables, sprouts, and beets.

If you are in the mood for a burger, but want to keep things light, go to Buddha Burgers on Ibn Gavirol for a vegan, and Israeli, take on an American classic. The restaurant preps all the burgers itself and also serves vegan milkshakes to complete the experience. In a show of its good nature, Buddha Burgers offers animal rights activists a special discount.

Venture to southern Tel Aviv for a Southeast Asian experience. Indian restaurant 24 Rupee is nestled between unlikely neighbors – warehouses and motorbike shops – but is itself a charming, authentic Indian food restaurant with colorful walls and a cozy atmosphere that is introduced at first step, when patrons are asked to remove their shoes. Indian music complements the meal and during the summer, the rooftop is open for diners to enjoy their food in fresh air. As another reprieve from Israeli cuisine, try your hand at chopstick skills at Onami on HaArba. While the restaurant is not exclusively vegan or vegetarian, like any Japanese sushi restaurant, there are plenty of vegan options, such as stir-fried tofu and green vegetables. Let the server know your vegetarian or vegan preferences before ordering-

If moving to Tel Aviv or planning on a longer visit, it may interest you to join the Bar-Kayma, a cooperative vegan restaurant and bar that doubles as a community center. Owned by its customers and employees, Bar-Kayma offers members wholesale prices on its products and services, allows members to take part in all community decisions, provides lectures, performances and movies every evening, and serves fresh vegan food. It costs 1,000 Shekels, or just under $275, to join. For non-members, the cooperative is still open and the food and drinks are still competitively low.

Photo Credit: Aylin Erman

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An eco-friendly alternative for your picnic needs.

Peeved at the thought of filling a landfill with plastic picnicware? Fear no more. Aspenware, Inc., a Lumby, British Columbia-based company, produces a line of all natural, ergonomically-designed, compostable wooden forks, soup spoons, knives and spoons designed to take the sting out of “disposable.”

The lightweight, yet strong utensils are manufactured from fast-growing but “short-lived” trees harvested near the end of their lifespan. The packaging, produced from 100 percent plant and wood fiber, is also compostable. After your next barbecue or birthday party, just throw the used utensils on the compost pile and smile. Cleanup is done.

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

Image: Aspenware

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You corner a tight table for one – for you and who else? Your loyal laptop or other wireless device, of course.

If you haven’t noticed, the Neoprene sleeve is emerging as the new evening bag for an increasing number of singles. Yep, the gadget that has evolved into a fifth limb is perhaps the most accessible date we can score for Saturday night drinks,  Sunday brunch and midweek caffeine rushes in makeshift offices. “Busy? “No, baby, you can turn me on anytime. Just say the password! Yahoo!”

While the debate rages over whether restaurants should ban or restrict WiFi users, the public display of affliction is everywhere, from chichi downtown bistros in Dallas (a Lemon Drop for you, a refresh button for your Pro) to buzzing coffee bars in Seattle where users can catch up while sipping a skinny something.

Call it a cult phenomenon of a society that has never been more disconnected emotionally. Not long ago, we relied on that soiled paperback in the shoulder bag or crumpled newspaper rolled up in the back pocket to join us at our tables. Nobody threatened to take those away unlike the current climate of cafes taking WiFi off their menus, as noted in the Los Angeles Times.

Is it rude to be glued to the screen and to occupy tables once your meal is through? Well, as far as conducting our business in public, we can agree a gal with her Macbook is much less a social pariah than, say, a dude in a neighboring booth carrying on a painfully audible, one-way, cell phone conversation. “Oh, yeah, for sure, she stood me up, and like, I’m so hella horny!”

Accepting we are often lost without our laptops to lean on when going solo on the town – it is good to know about happening nodes to hang with our gadgets – apart from the typical coffee house in the hood.

Here are some savvy suggestions:

The Summit, 780 Valencia Street, San Francisco

Showcasing the play of sweet and savory pulled off by noted pastry chefs (such as Gabriel Mitchell known as the “sugar pimp”), this art space in the Mission also attracts like minded connoisseurs who also devour displays of applied arts of industrial, graphic and textile design. “Oy, me and my laptop are getting so cultured!”

Oddfellows Cafe and Bar, 1525 10th Street, Seattle

A hippified 1908 dining hall, this fave watering hole where cocktails come in Grandma’s glassware and where mac and cheese and pork nuggets pass for gourmet is familiar MacBook territory day and night. Hey, it’s Seattle. Enough said.

Intellegtsia Cafe, 1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd.,Venice Beach

Okay, so it does classify as a coffee bar, but this one features few tables but ample open space with stadium concrete steps and cushions to sit on with your device and sip possibly the best cappuccino or coffee-by-the-cup in L.A. (purchased directly from growers), along with tasty croissants and other treats. Described as a cross between a chemistry lab and a high tech Italian cafe, you will enjoy the personalized one-on-one barista service prior to connecting.

Camera Cafe, 44 Museum Street, London

No honey, but in need of a honey latte on a blustery day; then take your laptop to this WiFi friendly and highly quirky cafe in the Bloomsbury area. It serves a variety of cakes, sandwiches and snacks, and plays French music to tourists and regulars. Unlike the typical coffee house, the front room features a shop packed with second-hand cameras lovingly restored. Inside the cafe, photos hung at funky angles cover the walls, adding a bit of Parisian eccentricity to the scene.

Marvelous Market, 1511 Connecticut Ave., Washington DC

Included in a blog on one of the safest places in Washington for meeting other geeks, this epicurean haunt open breakfast through dinner serves up the range from potent coffee and teas to exotic imported cheeses, salamis and olives. You will even find tempting Passover brownies, as depicted by one loyal taker. There are a variety of locations in the nation’s capital, but Dupont Circle seems to attract more of the laptop hounds. “Computer use is part of our business,” one of the managers tells me. “We are just happy to offer a nice place to sit and unwind or do what you need to do.”

Images: Serious Eats, The SummitSF, Tomatogeezer, Intelligentisa, Another Photograph, Wiredwitch

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Looking for an unusual wedding banquet? I may have found the answer for you- Marije Vogelzang and her food laboratory.

While contemplating the greater joys of food, I remembered hearing Marije Vogelzang speak at the annual PopTech conference last year. This amazing designer has created her own genre for food as art: Eating Design. After studying product design and worried about the wasteful use of materials, this Dutch designer turned to food. Viewing food as already perfectly designed by nature, she began focusing on creating unique and meaningful eating experiences.

Vogelzang’s edible art projects take on many forms, including installations, performance, and event catering. In every case, she explores cultural preconceptions of food, and attempts to change prior experiences or associations with what’s being eaten. At one catering venue for a large holiday dinner party, the designer took the tablecloth and hung the sides up instead of down, creating slits so diners were encompassed in this tent-like construction, transforming the relationship of the eaters to one another and to their food.

Color often becomes a prominent focus in Vogelzang’s work. In a project working with kids and their food perceptions, she arranged a series of healthy snacks according to color, and each color was associated with a feeling or meaning, such as red=energy or yellow=friends. Children then chose their snacks based on a desire for “happiness” or “energy” as opposed to the food itself, thereby removing their previous hesitancy or negativity toward healthy foods.

Other works include spoons made of sugar that melt into your coffee, candy “guns” that are meant to raise awareness that sugar is bad for you, and garden cress grown on clothing that can be used to garnish cocktails.

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The surf’s up as June gloom melts into July fry in Laguna Beach – the wet and rocky Orange County artist colony and funky-swank seaside town. Natural food stands hearkening the 70s granola-happy daze, surf shops and funky mid-fashion boutiques still abound here, setting it apart from the polished corporate chains of neighboring Newport Beach and the vintage frozen banana stands of Balboa Island.

Here are a few tips for a tide and true Laguna getaway:

Where to stay: A good choice is the Pacific Edge Hotel because of the diverse lodging opportunities, from one-bedroom ocean view apartments with full kitchens to beachfront kings with connecting rooms for family and friends. “The people who have been coming here for 30 years always book the junior suites,” shares Carlos, the front desk clerk, who accommodates guests with requests throughout their stays from sending a toaster or microwave to the room or additional yellow Adirondack chairs for the expansive decks.

The food at the property’s Beach House restaurant is very good although a bit pricey, yet upon check-in you’ll receive an Edge Card for discounts at the restaurant as well as local businesses partnering with the hotel. You also get complimentary access to the Laguna Health Club and are invited to join a Code Pink Bootcamp for early morning workouts on the beach. You can score rooms for as low as $169 a night with these perks, and save money by eating many of your meals on your deck. I highly recommend heading to the nearby Orange Inn for morning coffee, muffins and egg sandwiches and to The Stand where people line up for the best smoothies around. Pacific Edge is dog friendly, but the beach is only open to Fido before 8am and after 6pm.

Fun out of the sun: July 5 marks the opening of the Laguna Art Festival’s famed Pageant of the Masters, and the Sawdust Art Festival features booths displaying the crafts, gems and hemp fashions of local artisans. You can walk from the hotel to just about everywhere in good shoes, and there is a free bus service from North to South Laguna. Not to be missed: The new ENC (Environmental Nature Center) a living classroom in Newport offering hands-on interpretive nature program built around the ecology and history of California and its biodiversity. Locals, like Kristen and Tony Petros helped raise money for magnificent LEED platinum modern structure (a former trailer) and park-like grounds now visited by local schools and tourists alike to get closer to butterflies, reptiles, gurgling streams and even a life-size replica of a Coast Live oak tree.

Fun in the Sun: In terms of bumming it, you can buy a good boogie board for $40 (fins are useful too), take a surf lesson (the hotel offers packages) or simply beach yourself on a white chaise under an umbrella and listen to the surf pound while you finish that summer read. Dunk in the pool or hot tub or treat yourself to a healthy pedicure at Queen Nails (OPI Mod About You is the flavor of the month here) or shop second hand at Trash Pretty down the road. You will find life truly is a beach, at least till you are back to work in the fog on Monday.

Image: Kevin Zollman

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As we head into summer, you’ve got clambakes, grilled mahi-mahi, and all sorts of other seafood delectables to look forward to. The next time you’ve got a taste for fish, I suggest consulting the free iPhone app Seafood Watch to make sure you’re making responsible dining choices.

The app features a couple of different ways to access the information in its database. If your heart is set on eating a particular kind of fish, you can search it by name and get its status since Seafood Watch lets you know if you’re making a good buying decision and wave you off eating fish that’s overfished or high in toxins.

If you’re open to what types of fish to buy at the store or at a restaurant, check out the apps regional guide that leads you to the most responsibly acquired fish in your area. Got a hankering for sushi? Seafood Watch’s sushi guide lists fish by Japanese and common market name.

Thoughtfully put together by Monterey Bay (CA) Aquarium, Seafood Watch is updated regularly and plans are in the works for new features to be added. Don’t have an iPhone? No sweat. You can access the app’s mobile site, from any cell phone with an Internet connection. And for access to the same information offline, download any of the eight free PDF files that tickle your fancy.

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You may be a slave to the stove but you can also be a steward of the planet with new earth-friendly cookware developed by Ecolution.

Day in, day out, we use the stove – and of course, our cookware – to heat our meals and cook our snacks. But a revolutionary company called Ecolution has put green where we are not used to seeing it: in pots, pans and skillets. It has developed a Hydrolon non-stick surface which is made using a water-based process unlike traditional Teflon, which, according to Ecolution, uses harsh solvents to create a non-stick surface. The company claims the Ecolution surface is therefore safer for healthy, earth-friendly cooking and eating.

In fact, Ecolution has put an environmental mindfulness into what is often a routine chore. Let’s face it, we’ve all watched and waited for a pot to boil while letting our mind wander aimlessly, but Ecolution’s emphasis on the environment reminds us to consider that the earth is inhabited by an extended family of cooks, all sharing this great round green (and blue) earth.

The cookware, ranging from saucepans to griddles, are available at retailers like Amazon or Bed Bath & Beyond and suggested retail prices range from $31.99 for a 14-inch fry pan to an 8-piece green-colored (and green-minded) cookware set for $69.99. As part of its mission to promote eco-friendly cooking, the company has suggested some interesting ways to reuse or recycle your old pots, such as using them for camping, for your kids’ play kitchen or as planters. The Ecolution website provides a zip code-based search to find local charities where you can donate your old cookware or a place where the old pots can be recycled.

So vegans, meat-eaters and macrobiotics unite and cook green!

Editor’s note: Article by Anne Driscoll. Originally published by our friends at Tonic.com. Tonic is a digital media company and news source dedicated to promoting the good that happens each day around the world. Tonic tells the stories of people and organizations who are working to make a difference, by inspiring good in themselves and others. Be sure to visit them and say hi, and follow Tonic on Twitter, too!

Image: ginnerobot

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Taking an active interest in protecting the environment and appreciating the aesthetic value of its sweeping beauty go hand in hand. So, it’s easy to see why so many of us green gals like to adorn our homes with spectacular scenes from nature. Here’s the catch: many of these patterns are way too busy (or dare I say tacky) for our elegant taste.

Amenity Home designers Nicole Chiala and Kristina de Corpo hit the mark with their simple silhouette bedding. Ever since, their hand-drawn prints have been in high demand, so they created a line of matching throw pillows and wall hangings. Then, came an array of chic totes and zipper bags. And, now, your dining room can share the same eco sophistication with their recently launched table linen collection. (Available at Amenity Home for $25- $99.)

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