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Category Archives: eco living
Lighting design uncorked
In the 1970’s – 80’s we used to see cork products everywhere – in wine bottles, coasters, hanging off hats, and even used as flooring. After a lull of sorts for two decades, we are now enjoying its’ resurgence in a range of new applications – including lighting design. In particular, we covet this very cool Float Light by the young, internationally acclaimed British designer Benjamin Hubert.
The Float Light
Hand turned, these Portuguese agglomerate cork lamps are made from waste product derived from wine stopper manufacture. Being made from a natural material, they are also biodegradable and are fire resistant too. We think these lights would look great suspended above a kitchen bench, or hung as a trio (three different sizes available) in a cozy reading corner. The Float lights are available internationally or if in Australia, you can purchase them from Great Dane Furniture.
TOP 3 Eco Design articles of 2011
It has been a top year here at State of Green. We have very much enjoyed sharing with you all some fantastic sustainable and eco design finds from Australia and its surrounds. As the year comes to a close, we thought we would share with you the TOP 3 “Most Read” articles this year – Read on to see what floated your boat in 2011!
No.1: Grown from the ground up - The Ajiro Velomobile
Local Industrial design student Alexander Vittouris wowed us all with his design of the Bamboo Velomobile. Grown over a skeletal structure, the natural energy of the fast growing bamboo plant forms its shape, and challenges the very basis of future product design. Read more about the Ajiro Velomobile here.
No. 2: Cardboard Furniture by KARTON
Flat pack cardboard furniture by KARTON clearly struck a chord! Offering an economical but ever so stylish solution to many of our furnishing needs, it has so many practical applications – student desks, guest bedroom beds, first share house – and so portable and biodegradable too! Read more about KARTON here.
No. 3: The Worlds greenest restaurant? - The Greenhouse Restaurant, Sydney
Joost Bakker has the greenest of thumbs, and the opening of the pop-up Greenhouse Restaurant in Sydney created quite a buzz about town. Drawing on the talents of various local talent, the restaurant attracted worldwide attention as it showcased how “green” design can be funky, edgy, functional and oh so very cool. Read more about GREENHOUSE here.
Wishing you all the most marvellous 2012 – If you have any suggestions for what you would like to see on State of Green throughout the year, please get in touch!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
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Australian made sustainable design on show at Pure Pod’s Pop Up Shop
For those of you living in Northern New South Wales, you are in for a treat! Leading Australian eco fashion brand Pure Pod have just opened a “Pop-Up” concept store in Lennox Head bringing to you not only their beautiful classic fashion range, but also a collection of other quality Australian eco brands – Perfect timing for picking up a bevy of sustainable design treats!
Inside PurePod's Pop Up store in Lennox Head, NSW. Image: PurePod
Kelli Donovan and Sean Watson are the designers behind Pure Pod, who have already made their mark in the eco fashion industry both at home and internationally – not bad for a brand that is just four years old! Their Australian made garments made from bamboo, organic cotton, pure merino wool, hemp, soy, silk and linen have been exhibited at the Paris Eco Fashion Week, been listed as a finalist in the FGI Sustainable Business awards (twice) and were selected by the Australian Government to take part in the “G’Day USA” annual Trade mission in New York earlier this year.
Classic Sustainable fashion by Pure Pod Image: PurePod
The PurePod pop-up shop presents a marvellous opportunity to support local Australian businesses who are really doing their bit to produce well made products, that tread lightly on the environment. Other brands on show include ONE Organic Kids Clothing, Bird Textiles, Namaste Natural Bath/Beauty products, Wheel of Life Ceramics, Dark Horse Jewellery & Anne Leon Natural Dyed Silks – something for kids, mum, dad, Grandma, Grandpa and friends!
Treats in store ... Image: Pure Pod
Don’t despair if you can’t make it to the pop-up shop in person – Pure Pod is also online, so your new Xmas outfit could be on its way to your letterbox sooner than you think (pssst – they have free shipping until Xmas eve!).
17th Nov – 5th Feb, 2012
68 Ballina Street
Lennox Head
NSW Australia
Posted in Eco Events, eco living, gifts, sustainable fashion
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Not just a pretty face–the sustainable timber Grandeliers have a story to tell
How many pieces of furniture/furnishings in your home have a story behind their very being? Did your chair once belong to grandma, or did a dear friend lovingly craft a table for you? When you purchase furniture from a store, do you know what inspired the designer – was it pure commercialism or did a depth of thought and emotion inspire its’ design? Knowing the story behind a product you introduce into your home, attracts a special warmth and meaning to the piece, and today Tasmanian designer Loz Abberton does just that. Visually, her new range of sustainable timber Grandelier lights under the Who Did That label are spectacular. But it is the story Loz shares with us, regailing the inspiration behind their design, that draws out their true beauty.
The Genie 1 & 2
Essentially, Loz says this range draws on her rural background, environmental conscience and long conversations with her dad who stills lives on the land. The first of the new range is the Genie 1 Bump and Genie 2 Bump, which feature smooth organic curves and draws on modernist styling. Hung as a pair they add a highly styled touch to the room. But the story behind their design goes alot deeper;
“My dad is still on the land and a handy water diviner – which sounds like dark arts, but works for him. We talk alot about elements affecting fresh water and arable land (plus my shoe collection). Currently, top of our dance card is dry land salinity and its management in particular. About 2.5 million hectares of land is affected by salinity and there’s industrial-strength landcare needed. The website that gives a good heads-up is saltland genie. Adding some magic to reality, I created the genies -their sultry curves calling on those great water storage trees, the baobabs”.
The Hoop
The spherical curves of The Hoop is quite mesmerising and evokes a sense of calm. The beauty of this piece was recently recognised at Workshopped Sydney 2011 , where it was selected to be part of an exhibition showcasing new and emerging Australian design. The tale behind the Hoop’s design is as compelling as the Genie. Loz says,
“The Hoop was created with a tree’s growth rings in mind – the impact that external forces like drought, fire & lightning have on these annual markers and the cellular chaos that results…a tree producing more than one growth ring in a year. So the hoop records the resolute symmetry of growth and the bedlam nature can bring thru an interference pattern of superimposed ‘rings’.
Both the Hoop and Genie are available in locally sourced and accredited Tasmanian Oak and Blackwood. And now for our exciting news – At State of Green we have received this new range in our online store! Do you have the perfect spot to hang one?
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Jardan’s Annual Sale is sure to send a few hearts fluttering!
STOP PRESS! Xmas may be coming a little early this year for those in the market for a quality sustainably built piece of furniture. If you are in Melbourne, come Saturday morning you may want to get on your bike (literally or figuratively), and head on over to Mt Waverley to score a stunning new piece of furniture for your home at the annual JARDAN factory sale.
We have swooned over Jardan’s range before, and if the moons align we may just be joining the throng and lining up outside Saturday morning with you – rain, hail or shine! Goodluck!
WHAT: JARDAN SALE
WHERE: 66 Ricketts Rd, Mount Waverly
WHEN: 9.30AM-4.30PM: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October
2011
Posted in eco living, sustainable furniture, Uncategorized
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Brett Coelho makes light work of old street signs.
Are you after a statement piece for your home or office that will stop people in their tracks? Melbourne based artist Brett Coelho has managed to do just that, with his hand folded lights and bowls made from old street signs.
Speed Lights
As was their original purpose, Brett Coelho’s sign based creations are real eye catchers. The bright yellows and reds will add a vibrant dash of colour to any room. The letters and numbers which adorn the petal like shades, will also have your visitors peering just that little bit closer to identify their original form (Can you identify the light shades above? If not, check out the bowls below!).
Speed Bowls
The “Speed” range is the latest in a fascinating gallery of designs created by Brett over the past ten years made largely from found objects. Brett says his work “ is about celebrating the ordinary, finding beauty in the most unlikely of places“. And he has done just that. Fine work.
Images courtesy of Brett Coelho
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KeepCup release a new bold range of reusable coffee cups
Just when you thought Keep Cup reusable coffee cups couldn’t get any cooler, they have gone and released their new Summer/Winter 2012 Rocker Series featuring some very hot new colours!
The bold and edgy range carries through all the impressive attributes for which KeepCup has won a long list of awards – they fit under barista espresso machines, their thermal properties keep your drink hot for 20-30 minutes longer than a regular disposable cup, they fit into most car and bike cup holders, are BPA free AND designed and made in Australia.
For the big coffee drinker - 454ml KeepCup will keep them going!
The OTHER good news is that Keep Cup has now also introduced the babycino cup, which makes perfect sense – Bubs can now share in babycino’s whilst on a stroll in the pram, and the small sized cups are perfect for pre-schoolers to sip on milkshakes and hot choccies!
Very Cute babycino cups!
We are excited to announce State of Green has just received an order of the new Rocker colours and babycino cups hot off the production line - To be the first of your friends to score your very own Rocker series reusable coffee cup or babycino cup, pop on over to our store and we will get it to you toute suite!
Images courtesy of KeepCup.
Posted in eco baby + child, eco brands, eco living
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Bruce Springsteen provides inspiration for this year’s Fringe Furniture Festival 2011
If you were asked to design a piece of furniture using Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 hit Dancing in the Dark as inspiration, what springs to mind straight away? I personally can’t get a young Courtenay Cox dancing in the crowd and being pulled up on stage by the Boss out of my head. Thankfully our local artists and designers dug a lot deeper when presented with this challenge, and came up with an eclectic, inspiring and innovative furniture range that can currently be viewed at Melbourne’s premier independent arts event – the 27th Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Fringe Furniture Exhibition space
Creative Producer of Melbourne Fringe Festival, Neal Harvey explains “Dancing in the Dark” is a song “about frustration. About wanting something, but not knowing what that something is…. Bruce suggests you dance in the dark. It’s a small solution to a big problem – Each piece is a tiny dance step that leads us towards a smarter, greener, healthier, more sustainable and beautiful future”.
Lighting Design AND Best Fringe Furniture Design winner – Spring Collection III by Sally Hill
Sally Mill made her mark at Fringe Furniture scooping two awards for her artistic lighting made from bedsprings – Best Lighting AND Best Design Addressing the 2011 Fringe Furniture Theme Award.
Award for Sustainable and Waste-Wise Design – AIR by dale Hardiman & Andre Hnatojko
RMIT Furniture design students Dale Hardiman and Andre Hnatojko collaborated to design the AIR light made from inflated PVC and wire – winning the Award for Sustainable and Waste-Wise Design.
Emerging Designer Award – Tri by Elizabteh Bowtell
RMIT student Elizabeth Bowtell, may be one to keep an eye on, taking out the Emerging Designer Award for her angled “Tri” bench made from sustainable bamboo and stainless steel.
Many more cutting edge designs are on display at the Fringe Furniture exhibit, which continues to run to 8 October 2011.
Fringe Furniture
Dancing in the Dark: Small Solutions to Big Problems
Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
22 September – 8 October, Thursday – Sunday 11:00am – 5:00pm
Posted in eco awards, eco living, sustainable furniture
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The Australian Timber Design Awards 2011 presents an impressive lineup
Be still my heart! Have you had a look at the entrants in this year’s Australian Timber Design Awards? Now in their 12th year, this annual competition encourages builders, designers, architects and engineers to showcase their outstanding uses of timber in both residential and commercial applications. To say the gallery is impressive is an understatement – it is jaw dropping viewing.
There is something about timber in architectural applications that makes me go weak at the knees. It evokes a sense of warmth, calm, relaxation and tactile beauty all in one. Mix in some natural stonework and I’m in heaven.
The range of entries in this year’s Timber Awards covers a wide range of applications. Equestrian Centres, concert halls, and outhouses (above) are just some of the entrants, amongst some spectacular residential houses, libraries, bars, spa retreats, retail shops and more!
You can vote for your favourite design in the People’s Choice Award – With just under 100 different designs submitted, you are SURE to find one that resonates with your sense of style. Now before you click on over, get yourself a cuppa and sit in a comfortable chair, as you’re going to be there for a while …….
Photographs Courtesy of Australian Timber Design Awards 2011.
Posted in eco awards, eco living, sustainable architecture
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Hanging mobiles not just for kids!
Have you ever considered hanging a mobile in a room OTHER than a kids room? If not, think twice. There are some great artistic designs around that provide a bright / interesting focal point to the room in which they are hung – be it a study nook, hallway or even your loungeroom. Their gentle twist and turns is quite mesmerising and relaxing too!
Harmony Wings, Bird Trio & Polka Dot Sea Sponge will brighten up any room
From top to bottom, the mobiles above are the colourful Harmony Wings sustainable timber mobile, the Bamboo Bird Trio Mobile, and the Polka Dot Sea Sponge. The latter was designed exclusively for State of Green by talented local designer Nina Still. It reminds us of swimming amongst the brightly coloured fish on the Great Barrier Reef. Which is your favourite?
Posted in eco design, eco living
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