{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.

{green} traveller: Soho Beach House

Hello Friday!  The green traveller is back, giving you a little mini-holiday, a little boost, or a touch of inspiration.  This hotel has been in my file for a while now, and I cannot believe that I haven't shared it sooner.  I LOVE it!!!! So well done.  The Soho Beach House, located in Miami Beach, is housed on the historic site of the Sovereign Hotel.  Restored and resplendent, the hotel now exudes the most unusual vibe... part retro mod, part American midwest (check out the cowshed spa, you'll know what I mean), part Hollywood Glam.  The best part?  The entire thing is furnished with vintage pieces.  How wonderfully upcycled... This is of course why the hotel is so untraditional.  A refreshing change from the normal 'hotelier design'.  Sigh... I can nearly taste by beach side mojito.

xo

Happy Weekend  

A lunchtime terrace - love, repeat, love, the tiled floor.

The 'Cowshed' Spa

The barnboard is perfect, and hopefully, reclaimed.

The icing on the cake... the hotel's Cecconi's Italian restaurant is painfully elegant, retro, hollywood glam.  Yes please... I'll have whatever you're serving.

{eco} design: Zen & Serenity

Great new inspiration pics from one of my all time favourite eco designers, Jessica Helgerson.  

{vintages} Na Nin & Need Supply Co

Am loving this collaboration between clothing co Need Supply and vintage clothing co Na Nin.  Doesn't it just beg you to take a road trip, just the girls?  Bring the soda, the tunes, the maps, the adventure, the fun.

{eco} style: Scout & Catalogue

Hello! I'm back.  I wanted to thank Bess, my new friend and illustrator for Pure Green Magazine, for taking the Pure Green reins last week, I'm glad you got a chance to get to know her a little better!  I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things... I've had these images that I wanted to share from a favourite Toronto artisan of mine, Bre of Scout & Catalogue, lined up before I was blindsided into taking the week off.  There's nothing better than pretty accessories to make me {and you} feel a little better and start looking forwards to Spring! Bre is best known for her beautiful scarves, which she hand dyes.  I'm particularly keen on the lasso version... such a great way of tying up your scarf... but I'm loving the pastel versions of the leather pouches pictured below.  

{Guest Blogger} Weekend Recipe

Since I introduced myself as Pure Green Magazine's new illustrator, I thought it might be fun to include a little illustration on the blog today. A few weeks back, the Pure Green team had our first editorial meeting in Montreal. Michelle hosted us at her lovely home and I brought my favourite pie for dessert, Sweet Potato Pie. It's guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser, so if you're in the mood to make a super yummy dessert this weekend from a very healthy vegetable, give it a go! Be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it turned out.

Have a wonderful weekend!

- Bess -

{Guest Blogger} studiomama

I'm going to let these amazing pieces speak for themselves. But not before I tell you that you can actually download instructions on how to make these and many more items on the studiomama website.

Studiomama is based in London and owned by industrial designer Nina Tolstrup. The 'Pallet Project' was part of the London Design Festival and 100% Design shown at jeweller Jacqueline Rabun's studio in Belgravia.

Pallet Chair Lo
Pallet Chair Hi
Hanging Light
Floor Light
Pallet Chandelier

You know what I'll be doing this weekend, right? Rounding up every last pallet between here and Ottawa.

- Bess -

{Guest Blogger} There's No Place Like Here

If you read Pure Green Magazine, then I'm sure you are familiar with Daniel and Valeria from Hindsvik. Their home was featured in the November/December issue of Pure Green, pgs. 82-89. Etsy recently made a "There's No Place Like Here" video about them and their Scandinavian-inspired home. Filmed by Pascal Perich with music by Daniel Garbutt on his 1920's piano, this film is a beautiful look into the charming Port Colborne, Ontario, home of vintage online shop owners, Daniel and Valeria.



Here are a few of my favourite still from the film...







I often have dreams of doing exactly what Daniel and Valeria have done. Packing our bags and moving to a small town. I love the city, but as I get older (turning the big 3-0 in a matter of a few short weeks) the calm, quiet and natural setting (as well as much lower housing prices) call to me in my dreams.



I found this film very inspiring. It's great to see what a couple can do with their own hands. Although there are no "before" photos (you can find those on the Hindsvik blog under the renovations link), I'm pretty confident that my mind can adequately imagine the huge transformation that they've made since buying their house.

Thanks for sharing Hindsvik and Etsy!

- Bess -

(All images via Etsy "There's No Place Like Here" video)

{Guest Blogger} Outside In

Hello Pure Green Readers! It's Bess here, Pure Green Magazine's new illustrator and the designer behind the English Muffin Shop. Celine has invited me to do a few guest posts over here at Pure Green, and I couldn't be more delighted!

For today's post I thought I would share with you some little bits of the outdoors that my husband and I have used to decorate our home. Celine featured the Birch Bark Wall Art DIY that we made a couple of weeks ago. As I'm sure you've noticed, we love bringing the outside world in. Having bits of the forest inside feels really magical and especially cozy during the Winter months.



This is our tropical seed collection. My husband, Charles, brought back these little forest finds after his trips to both Australia and Panama. Of course these are only meant to be displayed in our home and would never make their way to the outside world, especially not a garden.

The three little 'mountains' above are actually spikes from the trunk of a tree.



This seed hangs off an Australian tree. Should one fall on your head while walking through the forest, I imagine it would hurt.





This little guy can be used to hang your clothes on the line to dry. A poor man's clothespin if you will.



We really treasure all the seeds in our collection. I remember visiting the home of one of Charles' past professors and being in awe of all the seeds and other forest artifacts he'd collected over his years in the field. We aspire to that great glass cabinet with hundreds of perfectly placed momentos from the forest.

I would love to hear if you collect tokens from the outdoors too? Mushrooms, flower pressings, leaves?
 

{escape} PG photographer at large

I thought you might enjoy a little snapshot of Erin {that's her above, the amazingly talented Pure Green photographer to whom I owe so much!} and her recent little vacay in Florida.  I fell in love with her shots and couldn't resist posting.  She shot them all with her iphone {!!} 

If you're interested in a little more eye candy visit Erin's site... www.everimages.ca

Loverly!!!