Adopting a green lifestyle doesn’t mean living in a world of recycled ideas. Forget the nubby textures and pious pronouncements of our eco-ancestors. Today’s designers challenge you to reduce and reuse with newfound flair. The result is so eco-fabulous that your newfound green routine is sure to become a style obsession.
NEW LIFE
Icons from the past are reborn in the hands of furniture and textiles visionary Margaret Elman, who, in the spirit of reuse, swaths neglected French antiques in nature-inspired textiles of her own design. By creating each fabric design specifically for the piece on which it is used, Elman transforms each chaise, bergère, or bed frame into a one-of-a-kind art conversation piece. David & Edward: repurposed, water-gilt, French bergère chair in grass fabric (above), $7,000. www.chaircouture.com.
GREEN WITH ENVI
Ecologically responsible materials have come a long way from the drab neutrals and itchy textures of their first generation. Case in point: the Margo Sofa from Nathan Anthony Design’s Envi line. In addition to being swathed in some of the most luxurious textures around, Envi frames are made of sustainable, responsibly harvested hardwoods and use hemp and jute webbing instead of polyester. Pure rubber sap replaces polyurethane foam in the frame and cushions, and any Latex used is 100 percent biodegradable. $3,400. Available at Asylum, 844 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. 864-1171.SWEET DREAMS
Effortless design meets rustic purity in Environment Furniture’s Beam Bed. The unadorned wood (recycled, responsibly harvested Brazilian peroba and mahogany) reflects the company’s commitment to leaving both the smallest environmental footprint and the biggest design impression possible. The rosy tint of the peroba wood captures the spirit of the derelict Brazilian barns and abandoned dwellings from which it was salvaged, and the environmental responsibility of giving a second life to what came before is ecologically priceless. $3,995 (queen size). Interior Illusions, 830 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. 325-0300.IN THE BAG
The eco-friendly accessory bar rose a couple notches the day handbag impresario Nazly Villamizar and the greenies at Ecoist partnered to create a line of hip biodegradable handbags. The collection, made of jute, a natural fiber sustainably grown in Colombia, turns heads with its vibrant, vegetable-dyed hues and tagua-seed zipper slides and also biodegrades if ever relegated to a landfill. Is it any wonder that the good folks at Ecoist also plant a tree for every bag sold? $198. www.ecoist.com.REDUCE, REUSE, RECARPET
Anso Urban Action carpeting by Shaw is tough enough to withstand muddy paws and the occasional cabernet spill and also carries the honorable mantle of being both recycled and recyclable. Thanks to its state-of-the-art recycling facility, Shaw turns carpet like Anso nylon into new carpet, diverting as much as 100 million pounds of carpet from landfills each year. Price varies by style and design. Available at D&D Carpet Mill Outlet, 68956 Perez Road, Cathedral City. 202-6800.HIGH TECH/LOW IMPACT
Say goodbye to the days when high tech meant low responsibility. Sony Ericsson’s W800i phone (with built-in camera and MP3 player) earns bragging rights for offering products free of brominated flame retardants, lead, PVC, and chromium. You can chat all day without exposing your skin to toxic chemicals common in yesterday’s phones. When it’s time to upgrade, earn more green points by bringing your old phone to any authorized AT&T retailer for recycling. $499. AT&T Mobility, 72286 Highway 111, Palm Desert. 776-4949.POWER TOOL
Create your own mobile power station with Noon Solar’s Logan messenger bag. Rugged and smart in chrome-free, vegetable-tanned, biodegradable leather, this over-the-shoulder tote incorporates a flexible 9.5 x 8.75-inch solar panel that captures enough light to fully charge both your iPod and cell phone. Three interior zipper pockets (one dedicated to the unit’s lithium-ion rechargeable storage battery and your thirsty electronics) provide enough space for everything from legal briefs to shopping lists, and the shibori-dyed hemp/cotton lining proves that sometimes beauty lurks under even the most rugged exterior. $452-$476. www.noonsolar.com.ALL CHOKED UP
Handmade from recycled materials by artisans in Haiti, Stray Dog Designs’ Artichoke Lamp sheds light on the fact that green design can take any form under the sun. The sea blue hue lights up interiors with its kicky oddity, and the designers’ choice to use paints low in volatile organic compounds earns it extra points for being both eco-conscious and eclectically chic. $595. www.straydogdesigns.com.
