"A BiOH Event: Celebrating Sustainable Soy Style"

Could this soybean field offer a responsible choice for you? ~ BiOH

When it comes to sustainability: choice + innovation + education are key. Recently, BiOH: A Cargill Innovation, put together an amazing event to celebrate sustainability and help educate consumers in making a greener choice with "Experience Soy Style: Be in the KnOH!”

Room & Board: a modern furnishings retailer in Edina, Minnesota, hosted the BiOH event which takes consumers on a journey of sustainable education and demonstrates how soybeans can actually reduce the consumption of petroleum and how even the smallest sustainable choice can add up to a larger environmental impact.

[ What You Need to KnOH: About Soy]

{ pure. natural. soy }

"Foam cushioning made with BiOH polyols is comparable to existing foam used by the home furnishings and automotive industries while leaving a smaller environmental footprint. Products that incorporate BiOH polyols offer a responsible choice for consumers and businesses that are increasingly interested in sustainability."

Through years of BiOH polyols research, Cargill has developed a more environmentally friendly ingredient (polyols) extracted from pure soybeans, which replaces a portion of the standard petroleum-based materials used in foam by today's furniture manufacturers. Sustainability isn't just about living a green lifestyle, it's really about choice and now when you choose to purchase a product made with BiOH polyols, you have that choice.

[ The Beauty of Greener Choices ]

"With the trend in eco-friendly products gathering steam, leading manufacturers and retailers are looking for solutions. Cargill's BiOH polyols offer a more responsible choice when it comes to raw materials."

From SoyBean to Sofa + From Ultra Modern to Urban Organic: the beauty of a greener choice fits in with any lifestyle of decor. All photos above from Room & Board: visit their website + locations for modern furniture + wares and to learn more about their sustainable practices. Currently, Room & Board uses soy-based foam in all of their upholstery collections.

A Consumer's Guide to Green:

First, consumers need to understand what classifies a product as green or sustainable in order to make an informed choice. Next, you can vote for a more sustainable option by asking retailers in the home furnishings industry, "In your upholstery selections, do you offer BiOH polyols soy foam vs. standard 100% petroleum based cushion cores?"

[ Experience Soy Style: Be in the KnOH! ]

The multi-layered "Experience Soy Style: Be in the KnOH!” event encourages engagement within four different areas of exhibits: Soybean Growth on Farms, How Foam is Manufactured, Furniture Craftsmanship History, and Sustainability.

[ The BiOH Event ~ Supporting Education + Giving Back ]

BiOH not only supports sustainable practices, they Give back! Shown above, three students from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD): Nick Kriegler, Stephanie Polus, and Ruth Sauvageau designed the exhibits for the event which not only told the BiOH Story, but also represented the Room & Board brand of modern living. Big bonus, they received $5000 cash prize from BiOH. It feels Good to Be Green!

[ The BiOH Event ~ Education + Demonstration ]

Yes, a modern-recycled-art-sculpture shown in a whole new light. The "Milk Jug Exhibit" highlights not only the Recycle + Reuse mantra, it represents a visual display of the petroleum that can be saved when consumers choose furniture made in part with BiOH polyols. Specifically, the milk gallons shown = the amount of petroleum saved with the purchase of about 700 sofas using Foam, made in part with BiOH polyols instead of completely petroleum-based foam.

Foam Demonstration: Guests were able to test foam properties by conducting a “ball rebound” test on three different types of foam.

[ The BiOH Event ~ Nature + Farming ]

"The hard work and dedication of many generations of family farms is where the story of these new discoveries begins."

Life on the Farm and the mulit-generational journey of these soybean farmers play an important role in the "BiOH Soy Story: From Soybean to Sofa." Within the exhibit, banners hung from the rafters outlying the history of soy farms and videos splashed vintage images across the walls.

The [ 20% Soy Factor ]

The "20% Sofa" represents how 20% of the furniture foam can be made with soy-based materials rather than petroleum. Every step we take toward choosing a more sustainable option can make a difference in the road to green. Yes, 20% adds up, and it adds up quick.

Recently, Jessica Koster, marketing manager for Cargill's BiOH polyols, was interviewed on NPR during the event. She discusses the technology and applications of using BiOH polyols to replace portions of the standard petroleum based foam products within numerous industries such as: furniture, mattresses and automobile seats. Most importantly, Cargill's soy is the most broadly used by the top foam manufacturers, including 8 of the top 10. To Listen to the full interview, go to: www.minnesota.publicradio.org

[ The BiOH Event ~ Demonstration + Interaction ]

"Write the one thing you want to knOH about Sustainability."

Guests were encourage to express their "green" questions to the BiOH team by painting on the famous "Barrel Sofa" crafted out of oil barrels. "Soy foam is not any more biodegradable than traditional foam," says BiOH Polyols Marketing Manager Jessica Koster, "but for every 1 million pounds of soy-based polyols used to make foam, over 92,000 gallons of petroleum are saved."

[ BiOH Event ~ Furniture Craftsmanship History]

Sustainable furniture manufacturers and Design + Build companies are leading the way in innovative green decor. Everyday, new designs emerge with FSC certified woods, alternative soy foams and 100% pure organic fabrics. With new technologies and sustainable resources, such as BiOH polyols, the home fashion trends are becoming greener as more furniture manufacturers, raw material sourcing and designers are moving in the sustainable direction. It's only going to get greener!

Young ones ~ Going Green! The BiOH Event also hosted numerous activities with soy foam blocks, eco-friendly stickers and temporary tattoos.

[ BiOH Events + Celebrating "Soy Style" ]

To learn more about BiOH Sustainable Events, please visit ~ The BiOH Experience: Ways to make a positive impact in your world at www.experiencebioh.com. Additionally, the marketing department at BiOH will help you create your own personalized in store "Soy Style" event and you can increase awareness of sustainable furnishings, BiOH polyols, and offer your customers a "greener" choice.

[ My Take on Green ]

"While living in a world of consumerism, it’s impossible to live a true green life, but each step we take toward sustainability makes a difference. It's about balance." ~ S.R.

Urban Glam + The Beauty of Shine

For the urban girl who dreams of white beaches and strives to create an urban oasis in the heart of the big city, comes the Beauty of Shine Home. Soft washes of weathered wood, mixed with white lacquer hand-made accents, create a dichotomy of modern glam + coastline rustic. {photo above: with bold modern lines, the Brussels Dining Table is shown in Cerused White oak.}

{ the pure beauty of white lacquer }

A change of lifestyle: move from a coastline beach bungalow to an ultra modern glam loft just by changing your choice of finish. For the laid back attitude of a west coast dweller, choose an oak wash finish for that subtle hint of casual rustic. For the east coast city dweller, don't be afraid to glam it up with modern white lacquer. {photo *1: Brussels Dining Table. photo *2: Essex Dining Table. Both available in white lacquer or cerused white oak. See website for additional lacquer colors www.shineeveryday.com}

The Casablanca Chest offers modern versatility and strong solid forms. Go bold and choose the 60"Long 6 Drawer chest for an ultimate anchor piece for any size room. Or choose the smaller Casablanca 3-Drawer Chest finished in washed oak for an urban glam feel with a touch of beach.

Fresh + flirty. white glossy. tufted vinyl.

Yes, the coolest modern glam round ottoman I've ever seen. Perfect for the urban girl who likes to live a little on the edge. Besides, nothing should be off limits when it comes to home fashion. The Manhattan 42" Round Ottoman, with a fabulous nautical silver nail-head design, was inspired by product designer Susan Ortiz's recent summer sailing trip through the Greek Isles.

With traditional lines and a modern twist, comes an ultra posh wing-back shown in Alligator Croc Vinyl in Pure White with glam nail-head trim ~ pure fabulous. The Master's Wing Chair is available in a variety of fabrics, including COM, and is adored with cast aluminum polished chrome legs.

For the ultra modern glam lifestyle, choose this art inspired sculptural chair. The Lucerne Small Accent chair comes in glossy white lacquer over hand carved wood and is the perfect addition to any art lover's modern loft. Design Inspiration: wanting to reinvent and push the envelope, combined with a love of free form natural wood carved pieces and organic sculptural shapes, Susan used her background in film/photography/sculpture to create an avant-garde museum piece.

{ eclectic global accents for the urban glam world traveler }

Susan Ortiz, co-owner and Designer of Shine Home, discovered a group of global artisans in Nigeria during her recent Summer Travels. After falling in love with the indigenous people of Yoruba and admiring their passion for hand-made artistry, she created the "Yoruba Tribe Originals Collection." This collection reflects the pure beauty of white and the organic nature of hand-made.

"I have always been drawn to capturing the essence of physical beauty." ~ Susan Ortiz

About Shine Home:
With a globally eclectic design sense, mixed with an artist background, Susan Hornbeck-Ortiz creates one of the most fashion forward lifestyle lines in the furniture and interior design industry. This world traveled, mulit-faceted artist, with a Masters in Fine Arts in Sculpture & Installation Art from UCLA, takes freedom in form and is not afraid to design avant-garde case pieces and upholstery outside the norm of today's traditional furniture manufacturers. Shine Home has been featured in numerous design publications such as, Metropolitan Home, O at Home, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and more. You can also find the Shine Home Collection in the fabulous "S Bar" in LA designed by Phillipe Starck...amazing!

To learn more about Susan and The Beauty of Shine Home, please visit her website at www.shineeveryday.com. Click on the following link to view the urban glam goodness of the new Shine Home Fall 2009 Collection. Also, make sure to come join the fabulous design + decor conversations with Susan on Twitter at @shineeveryday.

Organic Couture ~ when Urban Organic goes Glam!

{organic couture lifestyle photo: log bench by chista ~ Vogue Italia September, 08}

Organic Glam: the beauty and dichotomy of Haute Nature + Organic Couture. And yes, free-form slabs of unfinished wood is ~ sexy. This nature inspired Urban Lifestyle of Modern Decor offers the ultimate in Eco-Luxury by combining the strength of rustic design with the beauty of feminine form. Deep earthy tones and heavy scale are balanced beautifully with metallic legs + plexi-glass bases. Everyone needs to covet at least one showpiece of Organic Art: a perfect addition to any urban dweller, or art lover's ~ open space.

CHISTA ~ knows Urban Organic Glam. Founded in 1990, this design company "explores the roots of primitivism" and creates some of the most impressive primitive-modern forms on the planet. {the goods: *1. Meteor Coffee Table at 55" wide demands attention and is sculptured by nature in pure Teak Root, also available in glam bronze or glam aluminum. *2. "Suar" Free-Form Dining Table}.

To find more beauty in organic art, visit "The Forms" at www.chista.net

The sexy side of organic comes with metallic legs + glossy finishes. The Cast Slab Dining Table from blankblank exemplifies the Organic Couture Lifestyle. Designed by Rob Zinn, the solid cast bronze legs, combined with a salvaged wood slab top, offers a fabulous balance of Eco-Luxury. What makes it green? "The wood is selected from sources of diseased or storm-felled trees and the fabrication is closely overseen to capture a unique spirit in each piece which comes Signed and dated." Make sure to visit this design + build company: they have one of the most eclectic product assortments on the market.

One of the leaders in the Urban Organic Lifestyle is Hudson Furniture Inc. Designed by Barlas Baylar, this collection of live edge case goods + glam lighting is the perfect accessory for the Organic Couture Lifestyle. {the organic goods above: new glam: Squares Base Dining Table with Claro Walnut top and glam bronze square base}.

Want to make a Glam-Grand statement ~ look at the Acacia Table with a Solid Acacia Slab Top + a Super-Glam Polished I-Base by Hudson Furniture.

"Sexy Plexy" with a Solid Walnut Top by Hudson.

Of course, as you may already know, I must include: "My favorite Organic Glam Dining Table ~ ever." ~ The Knight Base Table with handmade cast bronze base and claro walnut top by Hudson. Want more fabulous Urban Organic + Urban Glam finds, check out the "Urban Organic Lifestyle."

The Urban Organic LifeStyle

{beauty in decay: lifestyle photo above by james merrell}

Living the “Urban Organic Lifestyle” is more than just purchasing Eco-friendly home furnishings and organic bedding, it’s about a passion for healthy living, a giving back philosophy and that feel-good-green-karma that comes with making a more natural choice. Coming up in this Eco-Decor Issue: Eco-Earthy Beds from VivaTerra + Heavenly Organic Cisco Brothers Accents & Introducing Bio-degradable Looolo Textiles: a win-win-win of green goodness.

{...Oh for the love of a Gustavian Bed made with re-claimed wood}

What makes us green? Reclaimed Douglas Fir Construction + Wood from Razed buildings, and finished with water-based Stains & Hard-oil Wax ~ both Eco-friendly. Organic + Rustic beauty can be found at ~ VivaTerra. For the perfect Eco-Sleep Sanctuary, my pick is The Gustavian Vintage Bed, and why is it so Eco-Fabulous...

"About 250 years ago, Sweden's King Gustav visited France and returned with a passion for ornate French neoclassical design. Swedish woodworkers tossed out the frou-frou but wisely kept the striking and unusual arched, scalloped furniture silhouettes. Our reclaimed Douglas fir Gustavian Headboard honors the character of the rare first-growth fir used in its construction. Up to a century old, the rich hue, deep patina and tight grain of the wood-from razed buildings-simply cannot be duplicated in new timber." ~ VivaTerra Design Team

The Dinora Sofa by Cisco Brothers, when customizing with Inside Green™ technology, is true sustainable style. Made with FSC Certified Wood, 100% pure rubber latex for cushions and padding, jute and latex webbing for support, and certified wool and organic cotton.

Add { pure organic } + { true biodegradable } accent pillows from looolo textiles.

Found on one of my favorite design blogs, Design*Sponge, this organic textile line ~ rocks! Looolo Textiles: not just organic, we are talking ~ Biodegradable! Every pillow and blanket is made by hand machine knit and {not that you would want to}, you can throw them in your composter at the end of their useful life and they will biodegrade within one year. With a true passion for organic and sustainability, you need to know looolo:

"We spent over 2 years searching the globe to find certified organic materials to use in the LoooLo Textiles line of interior furnishings. Our full product line of products is made using Climatex Lifecycle yarns and felt from Switzerland (free of toxic chemicals and hazardous by-products), organic cotton and Kapok, a fibre from the Rainforest in Malaysia." ~ looolo design team

For natural + handmade textiles, visit Melborne-based designer Melanie Hayes at Memi Designs. She understands the beauty & love of organic homewares and draws her inspiration from the natural world by using natural materials of cotton & linens. Added bonus Feel-Good-Green: "We print and manufacture all products locally to ensure quality standards are maintained, and also through a commitment to ethical production."

{Note: Also see below ~ The Urban Natural LifeStyle + Eco-Sleep Sanctuary with Natura Organic Bedding}

The Urban Natural LifeStyle + The Eco-Sleep Sanctuary with Natura

{ Just Be Natural: The Beauty of Natura }

Organic, Green, Eco-Friendly: it all comes down to natural living and what better place to start than creating an Eco-Sleep Sanctuary with one of the most innovative, pioneers in organic and latex mattresses: Natura: where nature meets nurture.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" ~ Ghandi.

Who is Natura?

This is not a mattress company ~ it's a Lifestyle Company. They climb rocks. They love their pets and love challenges. They are a family owned company who know the importance of relationships and they give back to the greater good. They play fair and surround themselves with a knowledgeable support team and they constantly evolve ~ all to make our lives better by giving us the beauty of a pure & natural, restorative sleep.

How they cultivate a healthier Body, Soul and World:

"While other manufacturers' products may help you get a good night's sleep, Natura takes things one step further. We breathe life into sleep with products that take you to a place beyond the daily grind. Our products help you reach the deep stage of sleep where the body is properly repaired so that you can experience a clearer mind, greater energy, a more radiant appearance, and a positive attitude to help you succeed throughout the day."

The Definition of Green?

Today, consumers need to understand the "Shades of Green" in terms of organic goods and sustainability in order to make informed choices before purchasing home interior goods and bedding. So with the Eco-movement craze, I asked Julia Rosien, the Communications Director for Natura, "What does it really mean to be Green?"

"Natura has been taking eco-responsibility for 15 years. We’re a family-owned business focused on sleep systems with environmental integrity. Not only do we promote green, natural and organic philosophies, we live them. While manufacturing seems to have made a mass exodus overseas, Natura stands firm in the belief that you can’t beat the quality of North American made goods."

Natura’s Organic Collection:
"Is processed in accordance with the highest standards, working in harmony with nature - not against it. Made from high quality resources that are both renewable and recyclable, our organic line is produced with careful consideration to animal welfare and environmental sustainability. For every 4 lbs. of organically grown wool used by Natura, one acre of land is saved from pesticides and toxins".

{ Natura Wool }

Be Organic. Be Natural. Be Smart.

While I'm not really sure what Natura Smart Wool is ~ I only know it does crazy-good things for you while you sleep. The Beauty and Technology of Natura Wool: balances body temperature for personalized comfort, steadies the heart rate which leads to a reduction in tossing & turning, eliminates moisture build up by wicking away excess humidity, and it's Hypoallergenic: naturally deters allergens & bacterial growth. One more good thing about wool, it's antimicrobial, which means dust mites and bed bugs are naturally repelled and cannot survive.

My Bed: Pure + Natural with the All Natural Comforter with Natura Wool and the fabulous & fluffy Wool Mattress Pad with a 100% pure wool surface. It's like I sleep in this wool envelope of pure organic goodness and yes, I toss less, sleep more soundly, and I just feel better.

{ for the love of the perfect pillow }

My pick for the pure + natural lifestyle: the Dream Mate with organic cotton cover, organic Natura Grow Wool lining and resilient Talalay Latex. "Yes, I've never loved a pillow before...until now." ~S.R.

Natura Gives Back

"We've committed to healthy people and a healthy planet, creating products with more health benefits than any other brand in our industry. We believe we have a responsibility to our employees, our suppliers and our customers ~ as well as to the greater good of our planet. We are happy to donate 10% of our profits to many exciting projects and organizations that have a positive social and environmental impact." ~ The Natura Family.

The Natura Natural Sleep Solutions:

Come live the true Urban Natural Lifestyle, find your Perfect + Pure Sleep Sanctuary, and learn how to "Sleep Well for Life" at Natura World. Other Natura Sleep Solutions include: Natura Organic Collection, Naturlatex All Latex, Natura Pedic Memory Foam, Naturaflex Adjustable Sleep System, Natura PSI Air Sleep Systems, Natura Dual Slat System, and Baby Natura + Natura Kidz.

Note: to learn more about Natura, the company + their products, you can also visit their blog at www.naturaworld.com/blog and check out "Re. Groove. N.8" at www.naturaworld.com and learn how you can share your own Natura story.

The { Home Couture Collection } with European Eclectic + Pure Vintage

{lifestyle photo: tim walker photography}

European Eclectic with a touch of Pure Vintage: the beauty of pure white with a soft touch of modern. There's something magical + dreamy about white European Vintage pieces mixed with modern upholstery and avant-garde design. For this issue of "Home Couture," expect whimsy and flirtatious interiors mixed with a soft side of bohemian white and accessorized with azure blue.

Whimsical ~ chairs that flirt with your guests. *peacock blue: by fabulous jimmie martin. *snow white: by crazy cool design house josh & louis.

European Eclectic is an attitude ~ not a location. It's a true passion for Home Couture and fabulous interiors with a gift of mix-n-match. For the true-blooded urban dweller, choose modern-tufting in white leather with touches of polished nickel and add avant-garde handcrafted twig furniture in pure white for the perfect Modern-Vintage Lifestyle.

{the white goods: *1. sofa: designed by the fabulous jonathan Adler. *2. racine console: handmade in france by thomas boog ~ both available at www.piecesinc.com}.

{white baroque carved bed in distressed white by jimmie martin}

The Beauty of Baroque: nothing says Home Couture like a dreamy carved, showcase of a bed. Add touches of urban glam with 18th century French Rococo carved mirrors and azure blue + pure white chandeliers. {the goods: *1. mirror from oly; *2./.3 chandeliers: both from jayson home & garden}.

Bohemian Chic + The Vanity Fair Vintage LifeStyle

Mystery + Beauty surround the Bohemian Chic Lifestyle. Don't be afraid to express your soft romantic side and create beauty in home decor. Whether it be a city loft by the river or a downtown brownstone, we all need a little { pretty } in our hectic urban lives. So, if you love culture + fashion + design, come embrace a little bit of the sweet "Vanity Fair Vintage" lifestyle.

Lounge Elegantly. The Glamour of a vintage settee or boudoir lounge is a must have for the Vanity Fair Lifestyle. Choose muted hues & graceful curves to express the softer side of bohemian life. Like this Spencer Chaise from Jayson Home & Garden upholstered in creme linen and burlap with a dusty light burnt oak finish.

A little Bohemian: A little Green.

"Little Uma" {picture directly above} is a carved french 19th century Rococo-style settee with it's original turquoise patina. What makes her special and why I love the design house of Chair Couture, is their philosophy & passion to recycle French antiques and reupholster in bold modern or vintage flavored fabrics. What you get is a fabulous reinterpretation of bohemian whimsy + high fashion urban glam.

For the love of vanity fair ~ comes Marianne. This fabulous French country bed, Circa 1930, comes with it's original gray-green patina + upholstered in one-of-a-kind "dandelion field" fabric.

About Margaret:
The fabulous designer behind Chair Couture, "Margaret Elman indulges in the ultimate recycling program by finding one-of-a-kind French and Italian antique chairs and beds, then reupholstering them in eye-popping prints." {the goods: *top picture ~chip: carved French settee, circa 1920 with original gilt patina + covered in a bold, stripe velvet by Designer's Guild through Osborne & Little}. All images courtesy of Chair Couture.

Be Eclectic with fresh + flirty chairs. From French inspired petite frames or feminine cowhide chic, grab those unique finds from your local boutique retailer and bring it back home. {left chair: from jayson home & garden}.

Accent bohemian style with rustic antlers + vintage lighting ~ Nothing's off limits. The Vanity of Case: mix it up with antique chests or reproductions and don't be afraid of a little glamour with chrome or metallic finishes. The Whitman Chest of Drawers, perfect for the bohemian traveler, comes with steel drawer front panels and urban cool leather pulls {the accent goods: all above from my favorite boutique retailer in Chicago ~ Jayson Home & Garden}.

The Bohemian Chic lifestyle: a life of { beauty + culture } never comes easy.

For the more laid back vintage girl with an edge who likes large scale basic, check out the styling of this urban cool, over-sized, custom upholstery line from the UK sofa.com.

the {pure modern} lifestyle

"Douglas House" by Richard Meier & Partners Architects LLP

The Pure Modern Lifestyle begins with the long drive home and ends with the serenity of a hillside oasis. Open space + pure white define the laid-back lifestyle of "Less is the New More." There is something to be said for the absence of rich color or bold prints and in today's overly connected Blackberry world, who isn't on the search for the simple pure beauty of ~ white. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy a few moments of pure bliss + pure modern home interiors.

The Darker Side of Pure...

Pure modern functionality from Erba Italia offers simple forms to compliment any open space or modern dwelling. One of the modern masters, Giovanni Erba, who has been on the cutting edge of modern design in Italy since 1954, makes it hard not to envy the pure lifestyle. The Pure Vanity Collection is available in numerous configurations and my choice of covers ~ pure white leather. For more modern wares, check out www.erbaitalia.it.

[carbon chair by design house ~ m o o o i]

The lighter side of pure...

There's something about pure white goods ~ case goods. Whether it be white lacquer or a soft matte finish, be eclectic and intersperse white wares with other shades of dark to create beautiful contrast and dichotomy to any modern pad. [lifestyle photo above: a pure vintage-modern foyer to die for via one of my favorite design blogs on the planet: coco + kelly]

[fabulous kate blee pure white wall installation].


[ultra pure ~ "human design" chair by varier furniture ].

[alba sideboard by pinch design, "draws its inspiration from mid-century relief plasterwork to create a sculptural, calm and intriguing piece."

Shown above, the Wave Sideboard by Pinch Design, is crafted in an innovation wave pattern and comes with fabulous stainless steel legs. This collaborative team of husband and wife, Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon, bring a unique perspective and crisp, clean designs to the world of modern + urban decor.

For more pure modern and urban cool wares, you need to pay Pinch a visit at www.pinchdesign.com.

modern minimal - [ the need for space ]

-- sometimes beauty lives within the walls of pure white rooms.

Modern Minimal brings the calm of clean lines and leaves open space for peace. When it comes to the modern decor lifestyle, there definitely is a place for well defined edges + precise forms. Using hand-skills based manufacturing, the Matthew Hilton Collection is far from mass produced and is only crafted in relatively small quantities using innovative techniques and materials. With his design process so precise and his inspirations so diverse -- from architecture to art to utilitarian wares -- this line is a must see for any modern decor enthusiast.

[the goods: 1 & 2.> tapas dining chair, solid wood or beech plywood w/veneer. 3.> colombo dining chair, solid wood: american black walnut or white oak. 4.> I-beam side table 5.> light extending table, engineered solid wood: american black walnut or white oak. note: click on image to see beauty in the need for space]

...The design process is part of the evolution of any object through history ~ MH

Matthew Hilton knows Modern Minimal. After graduating with a degree in Furniture Design from Kingston Polytechnic in 1979 he started to design + build a range of objects using low-tech casting techniques. Check out his design process + some of the inspiration behind his cutting edge forms at www.matthewhilton.com

Urban Organic: The Beauty of Live Edge Design

Live Edge: the freedom in organic form by Urban Hardwoods. Each piece uniquely hand-crafted and selected from salvaged trees by design + build artisans, who for the love of their craft, create one-of-a-kind, feel-good, organic decor.

Urban Hardwoods: the Seattle Guardians of Green Decor. This creative and innovative design company is now considered one of the leaders in the "Re-discovered Wood Movement," and was judged to be one of the Top Ten Green Building Products by Sustainable Industries for 2008. The company's philosophy, based on "creative thinking with environmental modernism," results in true organic, sustainable craftsmanship.

"We know where the tree grew. We take responsibility for its second life and are proud of our work." ~ Design Team at Urban Hardwoods.

The Alternative: wood captured + caged.

Do you know the Chain of Custody of your Home Decor wood products?

What it really means to be salvaged and why I love this sustainable furniture manufacturer, is their creative approach and principles when it comes to sourcing salvaged woods. The Urban Hardwoods Chain of Custody: from a neighbor's yard to our Seattle Showroom, we handle every aspect of the process: saw milling, stacking, kiln drying, furniture design, and construction is all done under one roof.



"Made in Seattle from trees that would have been discarded, each piece is unique. The color and figure of the wood, the touch of the craftsman's hand, the shape and size can never be duplicated". ~ UH


The Goods + The Woods: made from an eclectic mix of salvaged massive slabs of pacific madrone, sycamore, walnut, elm, and other trees that have spent their lifetimes in Seattle. For over ten years, Urban Hardwoods has been rescuing trees lost to disease, each slab comes with a unique story to tell.

"With every piece we craft, we respect the natural character and imperfections of the tree we use. We let the natural shapes, holes, curves and “live edges” of the tree remain".

The Little Story of the Oldest Elm Tree in West Seattle: by Urban Hardwoods

During the summer of 2006 one of the oldest Elm trees in West Seattle died. Urban Hardwoods was there to save her for a second life. The dining room is waiting for a table from the tree that grew less than 20 feet away. Had Urban Hardwoods not been involved, this Elm would have met the same fate too many historic trees in Seattle endure ~ the landfill. Instead, thoughtfully milled and carefully stacked in our 'green room,' the 130-year-old Elm dried slowly and naturally for two more years.

For more organic goodness + sustainable designs, stop by the Urban Hardwoods Seattle or San Francisco Showrooms or check out more urban cool salvaged finds at www.urbanhardwoods.com.

Gothic Grunge - the furniture your mother warned you about.

~ Grunge: the dark side of bohemian life.

When it comes to street fashion of home decor ~ Love Anna James.

For the true urban lifestyle, you can't forego ~ Grunge: the dark side of bohemian life. From London street fashion to Romeo + Juliet, Anna James receives her inspiration from the graffiti found on the archway entrance of Juliet's home in Verona, Italy. Working out of a studio in South East London, she transforms 20th century antiques into art-filled, one-of-a-kind, hand-painted ~ treasures.

Like the Verona Boudoir Chest, each piece is fully restored and etched with random declarations of love + other unrequited scribblings from around the world. Like her art, Anna remains a mystery, but her urban inspired graffiti paints a picture of a true avant-garde furniture + decor designer.

{other must sees from ~ love anna james: granny takes a trip, love lights + planet queen. for purchases + commissions, contact anna at the "love me" section of www.loveannajames.com. top lifestyle photos: via casasugar.com}

Bohemian Chic with a Touch of Gothic Grunge ~ From the Streets of London

Living in London ~ home decor fashion takes on the grunge goodness of chic design and avant-garde textiles. Let your inner bohemian free to re-cover existing frames with artist canvas and express an eclectic nature of decor by painting your own designs, or purchase custom hand-painted chairs & settees. Either way, you bring new life to any city dweller's loft or London pad.

Don't be afraid ~ spice things up with fabulous color splashes of bold M&M greens to silk-glam-pinks, or express the darker side of bohemian life, with Gothic birds and black-&-white graffiti designs. {lifestyle photo: via coco+kelly at flickr}.

über glam chairs: from pink-satin cat-woman to pink flamingos + from dog-split chair-pairs to "God Save The Queen" black-gothic, this line is a must see journey into the...

[ bohemian mind + creative genius ] of mr. jimmie martin.

This luxury brand of home decor + custom design house Jimmie Martin, Ltd, brings "an eclectic showcase of one-off pieces of furniture combining the decadent and quirky with the nostalgic and urban."

The classic style chairs + settees are hand painted and can be commissioned after your own design & color scheme. Feel Good Green: they are happy to "revive" an existing piece of old furniture. Other Options: custom upholstered new frames are available in a variety of finishes, including glam silver leaf or gold leaf. Creative Minds: the back seat rests are upholstered in artist canvas, which they hand paint to bring you a one of a kind piece of bohemian chic art.

Go Bold ~ Go Gothic: Black Bird is a collaboration piece with jewelry designer Hannah Martin + Jimmie Martin hand-painted art work upholstered with feathers.

The "Darker Side of Bohemian Chic" starts with black painted case pieces adorned with haunted chandeliers, barbed-wire, gold-leaf beds, and French ornate, white painted, boudoir armories with splashes of grunge graffiti.

Who is Jimmie?

Across Europe and now here in the states, what more could you want in home fashion than UK designer ~ Jimmie Martin. Working with private, commercial and high profile clients, he has definitely made a name for himself in couture home goods.

"There is a rare consistency of sophisticated pieces combined with a sexy, modern design element." ~ about Jimmie Martin Designs.

For more bohemian finds + fabulous urban decor, pay JM a visit at www.jimmiemartin.co.uk. {note: a big shout out + thanks to sarah from LILLUXE ~ one of my fabulous readers + fellow bloggers who introduced me to jimmie}.