Lori Dennis Design Group

I was recently nudged by Lori Dennis to check out her work...I'm glad she did! Her work is beautiful and 'glamouously green' as she puts it. I can believe it. Her designs make you look twice, and are living proof that being green doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style. Her firm, Dennis Design Group, has been designing environmentally conscious and LEED Certified spaces since 1998, and over the years has received many awards of recognition, including the nation's most green and modern design from ASID. After visiting her website I was more than happy to post photos...but it was her bathrooms that really spoke to me. I love bathrooms and kitchens as people tend to be a little more adventurous with the details, so they are often dynamic spaces. These are no exception. Keep posted for more.

{i love, i repeat, love, concrete trough sinks like this; the vibe of this design really works for me.}

{more concrete goodness}

{this counter looks like a product we have at Sustain, called IceStone, which is made with recycled glass and concrete - it's a real showstopper}

{very organic; the wood in the vanity is lovely}

{i'm a long time fan of mosaic tile, and penny rounds like this add a fresh spin on them}

{natural and light filled}

Eco Style - Beautiful Things

I must be attracting beautiful things to myself right now...for some reason today I kept coming across little things that were so beautiful! I think part of the reason was that I was browsing issues of Antler, which I absolutely love. I saved a few of my finds for later, but for some reason I'm finding myself attracted to unique jewellery lately...I've been dabbling with making some of my own right now, maybe that's why. I'm feeling my style changing a little right now...I'm calling it Granola Eco Girl meet Glamourai! Whatever, I just thought I'd share these finds with you. Also, these girls are uber talented, young, inspired women. Amazing. I chose to feature these as both creators make use of vintage materials, which they craft into current, modern pieces.

{this first collage is from Abigail Percy. I really love how her pieces are displayed on vintage letterpress letters}

{this second set is from Laura Lombardi. I'm not normally into gold, but I love those rough cut gold crystals}

Carrie Wins the Prize!

Congratulations Carrie - using random. org, I entered numbers 1-16 (I was one of the comments, so that doesn't count), and lucky number 2 was chosen. Please email me {puregreendesign[at]gmail.com} with your contact details and I will ship you your prize!

*You have 5 days to contact me, after which I will pick another name.

Please keep posted for an interview with Tira, CEO of LUVU, and all sorts of application tips on mineral make-up.

I hope you enjoy your gift!

As a little gift for everyone else, i've had this photo kicking around in my 'like it' photo file forever, and I'd thought today i'd share it! it's kind of strange, i don't think i would ever design something like this for myself, but i like it anyway. i think its the relaxed boho feel, the mix n' match chairs, the fantastic icebox, and the bleached floorboards. i dunno. hope you like.

source unknown, sorry; i really need to improve my archiving skills!

The Green Traveller - WhitePod, Switzerland

Doesn't this look like a futuristic scene from a retro James Bond movie or something? It's actually an ultimately eco friendly ski resort, called WhitePod, situated in the Swiss Alps. Amazing! I decided for the next little while to try and feature eco ski destinations on the Green Traveller, since its just that time of year. I'm also wishing I could be on a ski trip, and I guess I feel inspired. If you're new to the Green Traveller, basically, I decided Friday's are a good day to let yourself imagine someplace you might rather be, and eco-tourism just doesn't get enough attention, hence the Green Traveller.

The concept of WhitePod is very unique - it is a picture of rugged luxury, designed to enhance your experience in nature while fostering a greater appreciation for the environment. In fact, the resort is the 2005 recipient of the World Prize for Sustainable Tourism. While there is a main lodge, with a restaurant and spa, the main focus is the pods, carefully designed to blend with the surroundings; the resort is also careful to reduce waste, minimize water and energy consumption and favour the use of renewable energy. You literally reach the resort using a ski lift - the resort revolutionizes ski-in ski-out access and the quintessential alpine ski experience. Reviewed by pretty much everybody, and with a flawless report card, this place is definitely on my list of places I'm going to someday go, but maybe a little later, as its $500 / night.

{the view is hardly worth mentioning...}

{wouldn't be a swiss ski trip without this...}

{WhitePod in the summer}

New Design from Jessica Helgerson

Any of you that have been reading PGD for a while know how much I love Jessica Helgerson. By far my favourite green designer. This newest project, another Portland FourSquare reno, doesn't fail to impress. I love the richly hued wood floor, paired with the light & airy feel of the decor. What's Jessica saying about this one? While she keeps the environment in mind, her real focus to create the most perfect space possible for her clients, so it never needs redoing. {quoted from Design Sponge}. I'd take it! I haven't provided some good ole' eye candy in a while, so Enjoy!

{this pendant is from Niche Modern, which I've been admiring for a long time.}

{mmm...this is my favourite room...pretty perfect lookin' kitchen}

{I also love the rumpled look on the bed...I've noticed this look is pretty commonplace in Europe...I like it a lot better than the stuffily adorned beds we tend to favour here}

{jealous much?}

{I really like this bed too}

Thanks Jessica...Can't wait to see more.

A Fresh Face for 2010, Part 2 + GIVEAWAY!

First off, I must apologize for being tardy with part 2, I was expecting to have this to you by Sunday! So, I said I'd share what I've found with you... I'm sure by now you've heard about mineral make-up. Its been gaining popularity since the seventies, but growth has been slower here in Canada, so I'm fairly new to it. But I'm hooked. I must warn you though, not all mineral products are created equal. Before you buy, here are a few things to consider:

1. If it's pressed, don't buy it. There are chemicals in it to make it that way.

2. Always, always read the ingredients. Quo, a brand of mineral make-up, for example, has parabens in some of its products. Like I said yesterday, just because it says natural, don't necessarily believe it.

3. Take time to look into the brand of make-up you're interested in. The source of the minerals is important. If they were cheaply purchased, they may have come from a contaminated source. Also, processing of the minerals is important. You don't want all sorts of chemicals added during this process. Talking to the manufacturer is likely the only way to get this information.

4. Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, typical ingredients in mineral make-up, have been contended over the years. There is some concern that if the particles are too finely ground they are absorbed into your skin. There is also a good deal of contamination and poor quality minerals. Again, make sure you trust your brand. If these two ingredients are of very good quality and pure, they are actually beneficial, as they will protect your skin against the sun.

5. Lastly, price - mineral make-up ranges from under $10 to over $50. Make sure you really research the market well to find the best possible product for you, and find someone really knowledgeable to help you.

I've been really impressed with a particular brand - a small housebrand located here in Canada, called LUVU Beauty - so much research goes into finding the purest possible minerals. The products are affordable (Foundation $15), easy to use, very long-lasting, look amazing, and feel like naked skin. There is a full range of products, from foundations, powders, bronzers/blush, highlighters, concealers and more, plus a zillion amazing shades of eyeshadow. I originally bought some for my wedding this summer, but I liked it so much I brought it into my eco store, Sustain. Please know, however, that I'm bringing you this product as a result of tons of research, not because I happen to sell it. In fact, I've invited Tira Wootton, the CEO of LUVU, onto Pure Green to guest post about her make-up, bringing you all kinds of tips and tricks. Her debut will be an interview with me, telling you all about how she got started. In the meantime, one of my readers will get a lucky sneak peak into the wondrous world of LUVU Beauty by winning this GIVEAWAY! I'm giving one reader a trio of eyeshadow: a base, an accent and a highlighter to enjoy. To enter: simply leave a comment and the winner will be picked at random. Giveaway open until Sunday, January 10th, and is open only to residents of Canada or U.S. Below is a sample of what you'll be receiving. Also, if you're interested in learning more about LUVU or would like to purchase, email me and I'll consult with you to help you pick the perfect products and I'll also give Pure Green readers 10% off. I'll look forward to hearing from you!

A Fresh Face for 2010

Ever wonder what's in your makeup? No? Well you should. No joke. This is serious. For years I've been using a very expensive cosmetic that I had to special order. I trusted them. And then I looked into what was in it, and I was shocked. After digging a little deeper, it turns out that cosmetics is a whole realm of nastiness, and shockingly, people are oblivious, or they don't care. Here's a thought: anything you put on your skin is in your bloodstream in 30 seconds. Knowing that, can you really put just anything on your skin? Here's another one: the average person uses nine cosmetic/personal care products a day, averaging a daily load of 126 chemicals! With that in mind, I set about finding the purest, non-toxic cosmetic. I'll share the fruits of my labour with you, but first, I want to pass on a little of what I now know. And you should pass this along to every woman you know. In fact, writing this post gave me an idea - I'm going to start a buyer's guide on Pure Green, that covers everything and anything, from mattresses and jeans to make-up and cleaners. This is my first crack at it.

First - I'm going to teach you how to read labels. If it says Natural, Biodegradable, Organic or Non-Toxic, don't trust it right away. There are very few rules in the cosmetics industry (in Canada and the U.S. anyway) that govern these terms - a product need have only ONE natural or organic ingredient to be allowed to use the label. In fact, almost 90% of cosmetics are synthetic (and thus harmful), and in the FDA's entire 67 year history, they have only banned 9, I repeat, 9, personal care product ingredients. And don't you believe that chemicals in small doses are ok. Those small doses will accumulate over time and eventually cause problems. Always check for ingredients. If they aren't listed, assume they have something to hide and pass.

Second, while there are many, here is a list of the top 12 dangerous, most commonly used ingredients. These are found in everything from soap, lotions, shampoos and hair products, perfumes, make-up, baby products and more.

1. Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Paraben - used as a preservative; mimics estrogen (screws with women's bodies and feminizes male bodies....yikes!); carcinogenic.
2. Propylene Glycol - a cosmetic format of a product found in anti-freeze, brake, transmission and hydraulic fluid; works as a humectant that helps keep moisture in the skin or product (common in lotions, mascaras and deordorant/anti-perspirant; can cause liver/kidney damage.
3. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate - acts as a foaming agent; the potential side-effects are too many to list.
4. Diathanolamine (DEA) - used as an emulsifier (lotions); while this product alone is not a carcinogen, it reacts with nitrates to form very toxic nitrocamines. Best to avoid.
5. Isopropyl Alcohol - petroleum derived; found in lotions and aftershave in particular; causes headache, nausea and more; destroys intestinal flora.
6. Pthalates - most often used as synthetic fragrances; endocrine disrupter; banned in EU.
7. Lead Acetate - reproductive and developmental toxin; found in hair dye, which is why you shouldn't dye your hair while pregnant. I know this is a tough one, but try going natural (I have been for 3 years and I love it), and try a natural hair rinse instead.
8. Tuolene - usually found in nail polish; reproductive and developmental toxin.
9. Petroleum Distillates - carcinogen; found in perfumes, mascara, lipstick and lip balm. Stay away.

10. Petrolatum (mineral oil jelly) - clogs sking from taking in oxygen; I spotted this in my Carmex, but its commonly found in lip balm.

11. Synthetic Fragrances - most often listed as 'fragrance'; wide range of potential side-effects.

12. Talc - lung irritant; carcinogenic.

I know this is scary, but I challenge you to read the labels in your bathroom and see what you find. It's important. To help prove my point, I looked up the top five best selling cosmetic companies (I chose to compare foundation since it goes all over your face) on Skin Deep, a website database by the Environmental Working Group that researches the ingredients in cosmetics. It ranks products on a scale of one to ten based on toxicity. (Please note, these stats must be taken with a grain of salt, because the companies don't divulge all ingredients, and this is taken from only one source - its still useful to know, and legit.)

1.Maybelline Classic Foundation - 8 of 10

2. Mary Kay Dual Coverage - 8 of 10

3. Estee Lauder Polished Performance - 9 of 10

4. L'Oreal Age Perfect - 7 of 10

5. CoverGirl Fresh Complexion - 8 of 10.

Check out the website to see what your favourite product ranks.

Now that I've scared you, I'm going to provide a solution! Check back tomorrow for part 2, in which I divulge my favourite, non-toxic cosmetic, and perhaps score a give-away! In the meantime, I've prepared a handy-dandy buyer's guide short format for your wallet or purse. *I have a longer version of the information provided, along with more available, prepared by Tira Wooton. Email me if you'd like a copy. I hope I didn't scare you too badly, but sometimes you just need your cage rattled! Here's to a healthier body and planet!

Click here to download yours.

I was struck by something the other day....I stopped to get take-out, and I noticed a recycled symbol on the container. Not really unusual.....but...I started to look around, and found that same little unassuming symbol all around me. I realized, in that simple moment, how far we've actually come, and although I don't want to make light of how far we must still go, I want to take a moment on Pure Green and celebrate that change. Its too easy to feel overwhelmed by negativity and despair - surrounded by seemingly insurmountable issues like climate change, drought, food shortages et cetera, I feel the good things tend to slip away, especially in light of the recently past summit at Copenhagen, which seemed a quagmire of indecision led by dispassionate, uncommitted leaders. However, even with such things in mind, by writing on Pure Green I do my best to point out that the smallest action, when repeated by many, goes very far. Let's not forget that. I don't expect change to happen overnight, but I hope I can inspire you to keep putting one foot in front of the other, one small thing at a time. And don't forget to take time to be grateful, every day, for the richness in your life.

As you read this, think back over the year and you'll see that things are slowly getting moving. Being green is moving from a fad to a way of life. Our children won't recycle out of duty, they'll do it because they won't know of an alternative. Innovation will lead us, and I will live to drive a solar powered car. Celebrate yourself and the changes you've already made, even if the gesture is small, like not forgetting your re-usable bags or remembering your reusable water bottle. Take a moment, open your eyes and appreciate the changes that you see, from the recycled content symbols all around you, or the sea of green and blue boxes down your street on "garbage day", to the abundance of organic produce in your local supermarket, to the number of bicycles in front of your office building, to the solar panels on your neighbours house, or to the fairtrade, certified biodynamic cuppa joe you're enjoying while you're reading this final post of 2009 on Pure Green. I'll be back in 2010 - Happy New Years and thanks to all of you for making my world a little bit better in 2009. If any of you have anything to add, please leave a comment and do so!

May 2010 be a good one, and thanks for reading Pure Green.

Celine

{maybe you've seen this before, but I thought I'd show you this dress, designed by Danish design group Diffus. the dress is made with hundreds of tiny LED lights that glow in the presence of CO2. While the streets of New York aren't packed with them, I think it shows a collective change in consciousness that's now aware of the challenges we face. a keychain or bag version would be sweet.}

What I Got for Christmas...

You have no idea....I've been admiring and pining for card catalogs for soooo long! Many trips into antique stores, just to see if they have one. I love books, I love carefully considered vintage modern...I've often imagined how perfect one would look in my own home. So...you can't imagine my surprise when, for Christmas I unwrapped a single, lonely, beautiful drawer, along with the recipe for the 'perfect man' (lol!) written on a recipe card. I jumped with excitement, afraid to suspect that perhaps this drawer had brothers and sisters. Lo and behold, it does.....! I have my own library catalogue!!! No more pining.....no more wishing.....now I just have to figure out what to do with it! I never really gave it serious thought, because until now it was simply a fantasy! And so, with the task of putting it to good use, I looked up a few photos to see if I felt inspired. Here are my favourites....

{Carefully staged and pretty....from Poetic Home}


{utilitarian - see below. this lovely specimen has been used to categorize and organize odds and ends. Away with you, junk drawer! The owner of this piece has everything from tape, ribbon and batteries in hers (see below), carefully arranged, lovingly labelled, safely stowed. Definitely a possibility for mine, however the romantic in me thinks perhaps not. We'll see. from Small Notebook}

{serenely beautiful...this photo kind of reminds me of my house, so finding a home for the catalogue in the dining room might be a possibility. I don't have much space though...although organizing napkins, accessories, candles and tealights and so on might be nice...right now they're all in a mess. p.s. this photo is from Emily Anderson's home, which I really love. Her love for vintage makes it a light shade of green...so perhaps you'll see more soon. from Design Sponge}

{wacky and wonderful...this funtion wouldn't work in my house I don't think. I just liked how bohemian the arrangement is. A type of organized chaos. source unknown - its been kicking around my 'like it' folder too long. sorry.}

So, what do you think? If any of you have any ideas, or if you're lucky enough to have one too and would like to share, please do! Leave a comment or email your photos to

puregreendesign{at}gmail.com

I hope you had a Merry One!

Last Minute Holiday Goodies (DIY)

Looking for an eco friendly decor idea? How about these....I made them for my store. How to: make a cone out of heavy paper...wrap natural twine (hemp pictured here) and use a non-toxic, water based glue to adhere it as you go along. The result is deliciously rustic and organic.

this is a smaller one in progress.

Second, how 'bout a well wishing place holder? Fold an origami crane (a symbol of peace) and slip a card in its wing as a place holder. Scroll down for instructions on how to fold them. Save them and re-use them year after year.