Homes - Oregon Coast House

I've been saving this one for a while - it's so beautiful my desire to live here is almost painful. I'm sure you'll agree! It's one of the latest projects by Portland design firm Jessica Helgerson Design, one of our all-time favourite sustainable design firms. Their designs leave no fraction of doubt that green design can be incredibly stylish. Their ethos and aesthetic fit perfectly with Pure Green Mag's style and value. We've got our eye's peeled for future projects by this firm — maybe someday we'll travel to Portland and meet Jessica and the team. I think a feature in a future issue would be well received! You?

 This project was handled by JHID designer Jesse Moyer. Here's more on the project:

"The house is divided into three levels, each with its own common living space as well as adjacent bedrooms. We wanted to give each level a special feeling of its own. . .
The upper level is light and elegant with a 16-foot-long sofa that curves gracefully on thin walnut legs, a handcrafted walnut lamp that curves to match the sofa, and a chandelier that reflects the ocean in hundreds of slightly irregular hand-blown glass drops.
The mid level is comfortable and warm with colorful rugs and cozy wing back chairs upholstered in linen. The game table is Jesse Moyer’s design and we had vintage chairs upholstered to match it.
The lower level is playful and casual with a big sectional clad in reclaimed barn wood and a boat transformed into a day bed that hangs from the ceiling. The home theater has inviting velvet chairs, funny Mexican movie posters and pillows made from vintage silk scarves.
With the a very few exceptions nearly all the furniture is either of our design, and built here in Portland, or vintage."

Inspired Living - Busy Bee Candle Co.

We have fun news!!! Erin Monett, PGM's Photographer has launched a great little side biz called Busy Bee Candle Co.  More than just a candle - they are molded inside perfect vintage mason jars and are right up our alley. Supporting and growing the beekeeping industry is paramount to helping keep bee populations healthy and plentiful. We rely on those little insects more than you realize. (For a quick update on the health of the bee population check out our latest issue - see Eco-Logical by Dr. Charles Nock on p. 102-103). Here's a little more about what Busy Bee is all about:

"Caledon, Ontario honeybees are busy collecting nectar from approximately two million flowers to make one pound of our beeswax, and we are busy creating more candles for you to enjoy!
All natural beeswax is a renewable resource and burns clean. When you burn your Busy Bee Candle Co candle it emits negative ions. These ions act as a “cleanser” for the surrounding air because toxins, such as dust, pollen, germs and mildew, are positive ions. When the two meet the air is purified.
Unlike soy and paraffin waxes, beeswax is used in its original state. There is no bleaching or hydrogenating. Beeswax is the purest and most natural of all waxes (including vegetable waxes such as soy) with the least processing and no additives.
Beeswax is non-allergenic and is best for those with allergies or sensitivities to scents.
Busy Bee Candle Co. is bee friendly and we support the beekeeping industry."

Visit Erin's Etsy shop to get your own!!

{eco} style: Glowb

A few weeks ago I posted about Victoria Hamberger's stunning home in Switzerland.  One element of her home that really stood out for me were the fantastic rugs peppered through out.  I mentioned that Victoria is also the entrepreneur behind Glowb, a rug company that makes modern and stylishly appointed rugs, including the lovelies shown here in Victoria's home.  The rugs are handmade in India using natural materials and ethical practices.  In fact, Glowb states that part of their mandate is to help contribute to an improved quality of life for it's employees, including investing in schools and education. I thought I'd take a peek and see what other goodies were available, and I wasn't disappointed, so I thought I'd share! The rugs shown here are all from her Geometric collection.  I couldn't resist the fantastic on-trend colour blocking with it's mod appeal.

{eco} style: tinted mint

I'm off to the One of a Kind show in Toronto today!  Yippee!  I look forward to it every year, and I'm going to look for new fodder to share with you in the next issue of Pure Green Mag.  In the meantime, I came across another lovely emag today {more on that later}, and in it was an ad for The Tinted Mint, a virtual mecca for eco friendly crafty ladies!  I have always admired japanese masking tape, pretty stickers and so on, and now, I can have them, eco style!  It's a must see.  Go. Now!

New!!! Shop Online!

Hello Everyone!  I have really exciting news!  Besides working busily away on issue 2 of Pure Green Living Magazine, I've also been working on creating an online shop for my business, an eco living and building store called Sustain.  I'm not quite done, but just about!  So, as such, I wanted to offer you, the people who kindly set aside part of each day and spend it with me, here on Pure Green, first dibs!  And, I'm offering 15% off to the first 10 visitors who see something they like! 

Eco living and design is truly my passion... Pure Green is where I share it... I expand on it in Pure Green Living, the Magazine, and Sustain is where I make it accessible!  I absolutely love what I do, and I want to share it with you.  I've created a little selection of some of my favourite items below... if you feel inspired, pop on by!  I'd love to hear what you think of the site and design, by the way... send me a note with your thoughts. 

Thank You for reading Pure Green and for helping to make it special!

1. Night Owl Café Apron

2. Peace Girl Lunch Tote

3. Natural Creme Perfume

4. Bambu Cork Salad Bowl

5. Organic Handprinted Blanket

6. Handmade Mum's Sun Hat in Charcoal

7. Mineral Eyeshadow in Nocturnelle

Enter coupon code puregreen at checkout to get 15% off!

{eco} style: ExtraSeed

 

Gee, life is so much fun, especially when your inbox is full of lovely surprises!  I got an email over the weekend from Zerihun of ExtraSeed, a newly opened Etsy shop that makes adorable flats made with recycled rubber soles, and scraps of leather/fabric recycled from the garment industry.  They are adorable!  Visit her Etsy shop and have a gander!