Eco of snow and wild things

I found a new favorite: Laura Spector Rustic Designs.

This table is the perfect combination of earthiness and minimalism, as is the lamp below.

Some of her creations are a bit "Where the Wild Things Are" a movie I adored...haunting and so emotional, phew. I bought the sound track just so I could mope around the house and pretend I was a misunderstood wild boy instead of a misunderstood blogger!

I'd love her railings in a guest house or beach house...where they would magically never be dusty.

dreamy, and a bit Goldsworthy, yes?

I love this little Montessori plant maker from For SMALL HANDS. It's precious. No glue, no tape, no muss, no fuss! Just stips of paper and this handy little device and voila! I may get it for all the Wild things on my christmas list, including myself!

Just thought I'd include this wild house we built a few years ago in Norwood. (Cue the brown landscapes from the movie the fall and spring can be a bit dry) Winter snow brings a magical touch does it not? It's all solar! Traditional, yet green, love it!

Get your Design chops:Green carpeting

Design Chops people, not lamb chops! sheesh!


I've been doing a little research on wool carpeting...it's so soft, so luxe, so GREEN! It can be pricey but it's hard to ruin...it's an investment. Sure there are nylon facsimiles but real wool will make your other samples look and feel baaaaaaad. Bad pun, sorry.
The only drawbacks apparently are that Dyson vacuums are NOT reccomended...they cause fuzzing. The suction and wheels are too intense...oh and it can create a little static in dry climates. But, hey, if your bare feet are in heaven , who cares about your hair-do, right? I guess you can only answer this for yourself. BAAAAAAAAAAd hair day? Again, sorry.
This shot from Woolshire, shows the more traditional side of wool carpeting, but I have to grin when I see the bedding they chose to spotlight here. I spec'd this about 5 years ago to go in a really traditional bedroom. I still kind of like the teal and brown combo. I used a suede Ralph Lauren paint in the same teal for the bottom of the wainscoting, and put a more gloden hue on the top...dark brown trim, a wrought iorn head board...I'll see if If can dig up a pic...


ahhhh New Zealand.


Love these from Modern Rugs...100% wool darling! They even have sales!

Triple green! Eco+2 shades of in the wool...sweet.

This could go Asian, modern, transitional, mountain, contemporary...

Remind anyone of Rothko?

What a moody landscape, no?

Futuristic? We think the kids are doing some wacky texting these days...perhaps these are an indication of the future heiroglyphics we'll find on our phone screens...It's an abbrivated novel actually, the climax is shocking, no?

From
Green Flooring Solutions:

When wool carpet is installed in a home, it works
to improve air quality by absorbing common contaminants, such as formaldehyde (a
common pollutant emitted by building materials), nitrogen dioxide and sulfur
dioxide, by binding the gases irreversibly in its structure. It also creates a
more balanced environment by absorbing vapor from the air in humid conditions
and then releasing it when the atmosphere becomes dry.

Wow! I thought it was just renewable/sustainable and natural. Mint jelly washes out in a snap too!

Dining in DC...stumbled upon this little delight

We ate outside on the patio in the still spring night air...it was divine. Especially since we left Colorado in a tiny, little blizzard this morning.

KRAMERBOOKS & AFTERWORDS CAFE

Let me just tempt you with these little beauties...

jumbo lump crab cake over sliced California avocado & seasonal tomato w/fresh asparagus red onion, seasonal greens drizzled w/evoo & balsamic reduction

½ New England lobster stuffed w/jumbo lump crabmeat brushed w/sweet butter & fired under the broiler/puréed butternut squash & Café mac & cheese corn & Lima bean succotash; grilled fresh asparagus

A book store and a great cafe with outdoor seating...how can you go wrong?

It's like a good friends waiting for us to arrive, every morsel beloved and remembered...

mmmm-delish.

Spring Green in DC

We loved Sweetgreen-

loved it! The Green concept wasn't just for show. Wind power, compostable packaging, bring back a bowl idea, bamboo seating, sustainable mission... The best part, though, was the wildflower lined menus that will sprout if you plant them!



We had their yogurt for dessert after going to Afterwords. I swear to you it was THE BEST frozen yogurt I have ever tasted...ever. It was tart and creamy, must have been those delicious little active live cultures. The toppings were perfect. 3 of any thing: fresh berries, nuts, choco chips, coconut, agave syrup, etc. I bought an extra serving, one with blueberries, mango and nuts for breakfast tomorrow. We have a cute little fridge/freezer in our room. I thought this was a brilliant idea...funny, I didn't get any other takers. Just you wait, they'll all want a bite tomorrow. It will be my AM case of brain freeze that will lure them in.

Design Note: The first thing that pops out when you walk into Sweetgreen is the color on the walls. The inexperienced home remodler type might be tempted to match this shade and paint his/her walls in the same paint color. DO NOT DO THIS! I beg you.

The reason the green works so well in this space is:

1. There is actually more white than green

2. The ceilings are huge and light is fantastic

3 The graphic wallpaper pattern eats up a lot of the impact of the color green

4. The wood tone balances the colors and the gaphic print.

If you love this green, accent with it. Use it for that one, two punch not coating your whole room. If you insist on painting all your walls this color, and you are not completely knocked over by the hypnotic, kryptonite like power of the paint, make sure that your wall art or furniture is large and can absorb some of the impact.

It has forces of good when used sparingly...pure evil when abused.

You have been warned. Enough said.

Final note: Our hotel has a great organic line of soaps and other body products. Love the look of the hole in the soap.

Hi and Lo! Always big fun!

I gave my husband the quiz and he failed! If you saw these pieces- I don't think you'd know which was high and which was low! I'm not picking on VIVAVI! I love their philosophy and designs. I also know not everyone can afford them. It is possible to have champagne on a beer budget! INDEED!
above: HIGH! Over 13K!

Surprisingly LOW! Under 3k! If you have "children with fur" or allow food anywhere near this sofa you need not consider either one of these pristine beauties.

High! Over 2k

Can you imagine the marks this would make on sweaty thighs? This might require a clothing non-optional clause.

LOW! This is under $650!

It actually looks comfortable too.

Function over form-no. Form and function, no?

High! Over 1K

LOW! This is under $300!

GREEN TOO! Both bamboo!

Yes sir, Big Sur...grass is good!

I saw a house I completely fell in love with this weekend. I was watching a bit on water view homes on HGTV when this jewel popped on the screen. I had to towel off the drool. I wish I could find more pictures of the interiors. They were paired down, simple, clean, and pure. The Big Sur vista was the highlight and the drama.
One night! That's all I want, just one night in that beautiful abode.

The roof was insulated with natural grasses...they looked a little better in this NY TIMES article and photo than they did in their brown stage on the second to last photo. The entire house is literally hidden from view above! Love that. Just you and the ocean below, just you and the wild frontier...and gorgeous modern, but low-key finishes inside....ahhhh.

All the stones were chosen locally to fit the small of your back, the nape of your neck...the contours of your reclining form. The only thing missing is my giant tome of Kerouac's classics on the side of the hot tub.

I would turn into a stark raving mad recluse if I owned this property...and I mean that in a good way.

This is an example of good non-obstructive, Green design.
Obviously it's winter time, the grasses have gone a little dry but come springtime, the HILLS WILL SING! ...Probably.

And now time for something completely different....

This is an example of TERRIBLE Eye-gouging, hippie dippy, too much time on your hands to conjure acid -trip, wacked out green design. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS ON YOUR HOME!