Recycling as an Art Form in Sustainable Design

When it comes to sustainable design, we are always blown away by the inventive new ways product developers can turn old materials into something new.

Take for instance, the 111 Navy Chair by Emeco, that’s made of–you guessed it–111 recycled Coca-Cola bottles. The chair made its debut this week at the International Furniture Fair in Milan.The chairs will be available for purchase through Design Within Reach next month.

Or how about the headline-stealing wallpaper below, made from 100 percent recycled newspaper? Called Newsworthy by Weitzner, the wallpaper “upcycles” old newspapers, then handweaves the strips on a loom and paperbacks them to make them suitable for the wall.

And finally, also out of Milan comes the Tokujin Yoshioka’s Memory chair for furniture manufacturer Moroso. If you’re bored with its current reconfiguration, just readjust your position on the recycled aluminum chair for a new look and form!

That’s Hot: Outdoor Fabrics

Last week’s post about our Lake house, “Room with a View,” got us more than excited about the upcoming summer. Thankfully, House Beautiful comes to the rescue with a Top 10 list of outdoor fabrics to shield your hard-working outdoor (or indoor!) furniture from harsh weather, children, pets and guests alike.

Here are our favorites:

Hulai Batik in pink/orange, China Seas through Quadrille.212-753-2995.

Blue-and-white: Our favorite color combination, by none other than David Hicks. Shown in Navy. Through Dedar: 800-493-2209.

Love the coral of this gorgeous brocade! Shown in Mandarino. Nomi: 831-728-4335.

Longing for more? Check out 10 Fun Outdoor Fabrics.

Cottage Living

The April 2010 issue of At Home in Arkansas is devoted to “Cottage Style,” and Bear-Hill Interiors was pleased to have our work featured in an article titled “Cottage Light.” Hired to update the 1920’s cottage that Little Rock writer Lila Ashmore shares with her husband, now emptynesters, Bear-Hill set out to lighten and loosen up the space.

Writes Ashmore, “David and I had been living among a hodgepodge of furniture, with dark colors on the walls and a tinge of outdated Southwestern-style décor throughout. We desperately needed an overhaul, but couldn’t grasp what direction to take or what we desired as an end result. As an interior designer, Walsh had a special knack for tapping into my inner being and helped me find my personal style. Finally.”

Check out the rest of the article in the April issue, or by clicking here.

All photos are by Nancy Nolan.

(Side Note: This room made the editors of At Home in Arkansas‘ “Room of the Week” on their blog!)

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