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.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of a new art series at EcoSalon, The Heart of Art.

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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).

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

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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 favorite to tips@ecosalon.com.

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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?

The concept of undecorate just takes styling your home to a simpler level, without the pressure of perfection. It loosens you up a bit, asks you to sit back, relax and be yourself (which can be very refreshing).

Undecorate is here because our lives have called for it.

Now you just keep going.

I suggest you continue living, working, raising your children, dating, recycling, eating organic. Whatever you do, keep doing it, continuously. And enjoy your space. Look around you every day, notice what you chose, and be inspired.

Observe your life as it evolves and challenge yourself in all that you do. Don’t become complacent. Notice when things don’t matter to you anymore and as things change, allow your space to change as well.

Recycle, get rid of stuff, give it away. Keep undecorating continuously.

Then be grateful that you have the ability to break rules.

Images: nice*room, Avotakka, Sanctuary, interiors porn.

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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.

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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.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of a new art series at EcoSalon, The Heart of Art.

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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?

Random, that’s what. I encourage you to recognize how random it all is, that you can move stuff around, add something here or take it away from there. Everything changes all the time, and so can your decorating.

If you like the things you choose, it doesn’t matter if they match or clash; they will come together and mesh because they are saying something other than a famous designer’s name or recognizable label. They are saying something about you.

Nothing needs to be set in cement because, well, it isn’t. Except the roof over your head. The way you style your space can be interchangeable room by room, day by day.

Challenge yourself further by randomly selecting things and finding different places for them. See how well the switch acclimates to a new setting. The more random you are, the better you’ll express your space as your own, because you’ve given up trying to create a perfect place and accepted who you are and where you live, as it is. As random and changeable as ever.

Images: Trendey, From the Right Bank, nice*room, interiors porn, House Beautiful.

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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.

Via Sara Ost.

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

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

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about the undoing of decorating. Our piece last week showed us the ins and outs of this new un-style, of letting go of the status quo and allowing a space to be personal rather than perfect.

You can go to school and learn the basics, the 1-2-3s of any craft, but no teacher can transfer the instinctual ability to express style. It’s either in your DNA or not. By knowing yourself and what you like, that doesn’t seem so hard, does it?

Working outside the box, or without any box at all, is just a cliché way of saying go for it, express yourself, thoroughly, from start to finish. Forget who’s watching or judging. Make it real, authentic, all about you. How? By looking around and choosing what you like.

Many outside forces have contributed to this move toward a more personal and relaxed way of setting up a space. Financial issues have changed our attitudes about luxury – less has become more. And the internet has made it easier than ever to explore, resource and shop for just about anything.

However it happened, it’s here. And what a relief. A space doesn’t have to be fancy or filled with expensive items to be extraordinary. It doesn’t require top interior design firms or specialty stores to feel comfortable and lived in. All you need is you.

Inspiration is everywhere. The challenge is using it in combination with your own je ne sais quoi. Only you know what it is and it doesn’t even need a name. It comes naturally. It’s you.

Images: From the Right Bank, dwell studio, Atlanta Bartlett, Nate Berkus, avotakka.

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The evolution of windows toward sustainability.

It’s something you probably don’t think about very often – windows. They tell us a lot about a building, from its age and style to how energy efficient it is. An average home may lose 30% of its heat or air-conditioning energy through its windows, which is inexcusable considering how technology has improved since the first windows.

It wasn’t until the late 17th century that glass windows became common in homes. They were strategically placed and sized depending on geography and the sun (south-facing windows let in more light) to keep the home a comfortable temperature year round. Windows were small because glass was expensive and small meant less chance for heat to escape.

The current technology can be overwhelming and there are entire courses offered on the intricacies of the energy-efficient window. But suffice it to say that preventing air leakage, reducing condensation and increasing insulation are part of the package. Glass is stronger and thicker allowing for the use of larger slabs – entire walls can be windows. The Farnsworth House is a prime example.

Over time, windows have evolved from a mere hole in the wall to crucial components of a building’s energy efficiency rating. Here are a few of the ways that windows have changed for the better:

1. Stronger glass allows for larger windows. More natural sunlight helps regulate a building’s temperature, as in the new Virgin America’s new eco-luxe terminal at SFO.

2. Sealed window frames prevent condensation and air leakage.

3. Non-toxic gases (i.e. argon) used as filler between pieces of glass prevent loss of hot or cold air.

4. Double or triple glaze windows (storm windows) drastically improve insulation and temperature regulation.

5. Low-e glass coatings let in just the right amount of sun – because in warm climates we want the sunlight but not the heat, while in colder areas we welcome the sun’s heat and want to capture and keep it.

All of these factors improve the energy efficiency of our buildings and add credits toward LEED certification. And you thought windows were just for pretty views.

Image: dorena wm

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