vintages: inspiration

 

I felt inspired by this image by Dutch photographer Marjon Hoogervorst and thought you might too.  I always feel inspired by the uncommon and liberated used of materials, such as the vintage test tube rack pictured so artfully here.

Whoa!  PGD is getting racy!  Seriously, I was thinking about this week's eco style post and realized that underwear isn't something we often think about, but when you do, you realize that you are wearing chemically laden clothing against the most sensitive parts of your body, day in, day out.  The last time I replenished my supply I was really surprised at the lack of choice...what about cotton, hemp, bamboo?  Why must we settle for poly blends?  So, as much for myself as anything, I set about finding an eco solution to share with you.  Here are my favourites!  Pact, featured above and below, are an interesting outfit out of the states.  If comfort is where you're at, this is the choice for you.  With a decent selection, the site is very upfront about the process behind their undies (be sure to check out the ingredients!), and they have 3 styles to choose from.  The best part?  Each version of their skivvies goes towards a cause - the company will donate 10% on your behalf.  The ones featured above, Oceana, are dedicated to ocean conservation, while the ones below, GreenBelt, are dedicated to the green belt movement in Kenya started by Wangari Maathai (an extremely motivation woman and Nobel Peace Prize winner).

If you're in the market for something a little sexier, check out Eco Boudoir.  Most notable? The company, based out of the UK, produces great looking collections, and they are very involved in educating consumers about cotton production, and specifically the kind of nasties you might we sporting each and every day.  Be sure to visit More Than Pretty Knickers to find out more!

The Green Traveller: The Pulitzer in Paris!

Right! So, I had promised you Paris 3 weeks ago.  What took me so long?  I scoured and I pored endlessly over the internet, struggling to find the perfect place.  Sure, there are many lovely places to stay in Paris, but I was looking for...je ne sais quoi...the perfect blend of old world and new, modern and vintage, luxury and sustainability, and of course, design!  I'm telling you, it took me forever to find what I was looking for.  However, I'm pleased, after all this time, to bring you The Pulitzer.  What made me choose?  Well, Paris, in my mind as I've never been there, alas, is not a place to stay in a big box hotel.  The city exudes charm and character, so I knew that I must find something small.  The Pulitzer offers 29 standard rooms in the 9th district, the historic Opera district; many a great boulangerie and shops nearby.  Situated in a remodeled historic building, you can be assured that nothing was torn down to house The Pulitzer.  The perfect blend of cosmopolitan charm, industrial ruggedness, old world luxe and perhaps even the touch of the mysterious goth the city is famous for, the hotel is sure to satisfy even the toughest eye.  With a heavy dose of recycled and vintage industrial elements, it's sustainable too.  However, whether the hotel's daily practices are eco as well remains to be seen.  I'll keep you posted.  None the less, I would definitely stay here.

{notice the vintage elements absolutely everywhere?}

{it may be hard to see, but the bathrooms all boast concrete tubs and sinks}

{eco} design: Camilla Molders

Isn't this bamboo kitchen great?  So much of sustainable interior design seems to be modern...often stark and hard, which I can most definitely appreciate as I often like modern myself, but  I was craving a dose of colour this week, helped out by Jelena from yesterday. I was thrilled to come across a completely new face, Camilla Molders Design, from Melbourne, Australia.  I don't know about you, but I seem to drool readily over Aussie design, and Camilla is no disappointment!  Her philosophy is to green it when you can, which, as materials become more available, is hopefully more and more.  I'll have to stay tuned for more from Camilla.  Her colourful yet clean approach is lovely, and better yet, eco.

vintages: Poppyseed Living

Last week I promised that I would introduce Jelena, the creator and curator behind Poppyseed Living.  I met Jelena while exhibiting at the Green Living Show...her booth was near mine, and I spent my spare moments (few and far between I might add, which is a good thing!!!) admiring her colourful furniture from afar.  Well, after a few days we said hello, and I must say I'm thrilled to share her lovely pieces with you!  Jelena gathers vintage furniture from around Toronto, carefully selected for their originality, and gives them the TLC they deserve - resurrecting them into something that could easily grace your hallway to drop your keys, your living room to rest your favourite book, or your bedroom to house your favourite sweater.  Wherever you choose, it will add just right, quirky personlity.  Visit her etsy shop to view her full collection, just be sure to say Pure Green sent ya!

{eco} style: riding pretty

New mission: ride to work every morning, smelling the roses, admiring the scenery, waving hello, saving the planet & making it greener....on one of these.   Fancy new rides from Electra...my new crush.

{the cruiser in olive}

{townie, in vanilla}

{the bike are designed the let you sit upright, looking pretty, feeling comfortable.  yes, you can actually ride in a skirt!}

{the new alexander girard design: la fonda del sol}

{just because....!}

The Organic Kitchen - Herriott Grace

Welcome to this week's installment of the organic kitchen.  Unfortunately I don't have a delectable recipe for you, although, I know, it's been several weeks.  I've been so busy that my meals have been kind of impromptu, and when Jonathan and I manage to whip up something good lookin' I always seem to be minus the camera!  Sorry.  However, stay tuned, I've got a great lineup over the next little while: greek stew called Steffatto, homegrown, organic mint tea & salt crusted, lemon roast chicken.  Mouth watering yet?  In the mean time, I came across this lovely company via Oh Joy! one of my favourite blogs and I just had to write about them.  Herriott Grace is a small company located in Canada (!!) that manufactures the most adorable kitchen accessories.  They have such a  lovely story: a father and daughter create lovely things by hand, using 100% salvaged wood, that you will keep in your family for years to come.  A useful keepsake that will surely hold a special place in your heart and in your kitchen.  So, stroll over and pay them a visit, I'm sure the Nigella in your family will adore it.  Unfortunately, they are all sold out right now, but be sure to plan ahead and reserve one for a birthday a few months down the road.

{perfect for a little baked something}

{in our kitchen, a mortar and pestle are indispensable.  how else to coax such flavour from your fresh grown herbs?}

{a salt bowl, for finishing}

{eco} design: solares

Have I mentioned how much I love discovering new green architects, designers, creators, and just all around eco enthusiasts?  As I mentioned yesterday, I spent last weekend exhibiting at the Green Living Show in Toronto.  Sustain's first trade show was a roaring success...exceeding expectations on all fronts.  So energizing to be in a humongous room full of people passionate about preserving this place we call home!  A friend told me prior to the show that perhaps one of the best opportunities at trade shows is to meet others in your industry - she couldn't have been more right, especially in the green industry in Ontario, where we are spread few and far between (but growing all the time!).  One of those was Solares Design Build Inc. and Christine and Tomislav, the two behind the green architectural firm based in Ontario.  The show was a flurry of activity, so there wasn't much time to chat, but I did take the time to check out their website...and found this!  Enjoy!

 

"The reinforced concrete structure was built using Durisol blocks. The floors are concrete and act as a thermal mass, absorbing and releasing heat to regulate temperature swings. The house stays cool in the summer eliminating the need for air-conditioning. Three inches of polyurethane foam sprayed on the outside of the structure insulates and acts as a total air barrier."

"The windows and doors are low-e, triple-glazed units with insulated fiberglass frames. The walls and roof are clad with galvalume steel that reflects unwanted solar heat gain and provides a durable, low-maintenance shell. A ground source heat pump is used to drive the in-floor heating system. Domestic hot water needs are supplemented by roof-mounted solar panels."

{i love the horizontal wood everywhere.  creates great interest, and a raw organic feel.}

{i also love the contrast in the kitchen between all the hard surfaces and the warm wood cabinets.  modern and rustic...such a great blend and definitely my modus operandi.}