The latest issue of Rue (an online shelter magazine) is charming me with two hundred and ninety-seven pages of gorgeous images accented with just the right amount of thoughtful text. A feature on Angela Stone’s Chicago home (page 277) is utter perfection. The aesthetic of the space is Farmhouse Modern; Adrienne Murrill described it with eloquence, “It’s the juxtaposition of storied, character-rich pieces with minimal urban elements.”

I love the idea of carefully curating each piece in your home.  As the feature in Rue boldly asked, “Why not bring a little more story and individuality into our homes? Why not know who made the dining table you share so many memories at or the bedside table you wake up next to?”

Ms. Stone is a curator for the Chicago-based design collaborative Hinge. “The goal is to give people an easy alternative to the mass-produced big box design stores that have become second nature to many people,” Angela said. “The Hinge aesthetic is very much centered on seeing the beauty in what is commonly discarded or overlooked.”

I fell in love with Hinge the moment I read this on the website:

“It is our need to connect that makes us tick and our innate desire to link our past to our present that makes us human. Hinge is a design community of local Chicago artists, furniture designers and antique dealers. We are inspired by our surroundings and the places life takes us. In each piece created our purpose is to tell the untold story.

At Hinge, we like our furniture with a little soul, from unadorned farmhouse antiques, to sleek vintage pieces and sustainable custom furniture.

Nothing about you echoes mass produced or generic. Why should your home?”

Now that you undoubtedly love Rue and Hinge – pay them a visit!

Live in Chicago? Visiting the windy city? Don’t miss a great list of Angela’s favorite local resources in Rue (page 291).

(Original story by Adrienne Murrill for Rue. Photography by Emily Johnston Anderson for Rue.)

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Welcome to the Post-Green Movement. Yes, I said Post-Green. Kelly LaPlante’s new publication, Standard, capitalizes on her mantra, “Green is a standard, not a style.” Ms. LaPlante’s premier issue boasts these words in her first editorial letter, “We don’t give brownie points for things that should be standard, here in the Post-Green Movement.”

In fact, the Standard soapbox has a little extra room on its platform – I know because my Extraseed ballet flats look beautiful firmly planted in the Post-Green Movement. We have standards, too, here at EcoSalon. And by standards, I don’t mean a basic, minimum quality of content. I do mean an esteemed and lofty bar that we aim to exceed daily. As editor of the Shelter section, I push to deliver content that is visually stunning and the epitome of great design; and just under the surface layer of gorgeous glamor is pure substance – material, production, process, application, installation, and a life cycle that exudes a healthy environment for humanity and tender loving care for our dear mother earth. I assure you, dear reader, the designs and products lingering on EcoSalon are green, so soak up the delight without choking on jargon. We argue (and demand) that great design is innately green, the environmental aspect is implied; you can simply assume it’s there (at least if you see it on EcoSalon).

You can imagine the (huge, gaping) smile that took root on my face when Standard debuted its glossy muse to the world last week. Kelly LaPlante (remember her insanely livable and lovely Los Angeles loft tour?) has painted her mantra beautifully throughout each “˜page’. This bright, shiny, and new online publication is brimming with style and aesthetics, synergized with subtle environmental awareness.

Perhaps the design industry should take a lesson or two from Ms. LaPlante and hold our brownie points a little tighter. You want environmental points? Then do something remarkable. Recycling is not remarkable. It’s respectable, expected, and essential.

Visit Standard. Go ahead. You will devour it (and you will definitely see a few of the most irresistible morsels on EcoSalon).

(All images from Standard).

The post Standards & Soapboxes appeared first on EcoSalon.

Each week here at EcoSalon, I beg my favorite bloggers and designers to hand select a beloved green product, whether it’s a finish, furnishing, or accessory. The end result? An endless anthology of aesthetically perfect products for your perusal.

This week, Celine Rogers of Pure Green is here to share her flawless taste. Her pick? The one and only Tolix A Chair. Celine is drawn to this lovely form of steel, finding its composition (entirely recyclable materials) and versatility endearing. Check out the Tolix website to find a distributor near you.

In addition to her flawless taste, Celine is a source of infinite wisdom and creativity neatly packaged into an online delight, Pure Green Living Magazine. Ninety pages of visual amusement that is inherently green. Does it get any better?! Oh, and (of course) you can find the Tolix A Chair gracing page fourteen.

After you devour the premier issue, mark your calendar for the next edition in early September – or subscribe and watch your inbox for a gorgeous delivery.

The post Handpicked: Pure Green appeared first on EcoSalon.