Pure Green Living, Issue 2

Pure Green

Living eco living

Travel – Effortlessly Cool in Portland

magazine

with style

Cook a Fall Harvest Meal An

Interview

with

Hindsvik Vintage

Non-Toxic Paint Buyer’s Guide

Modern

ReclaimedHomes September/October 2010

New! Shop Online!

SustainEcoStore.com

build, decorate, live‌ green. sustainmuskoka.com

ecobilt

Exclusive Collection by Jonathan MacKay Available only at SustainEcoStore.com

modern. sustainable. smart. build green with Hufft.

Contents September / October Eco Style the recycled issue!

Eco Style… eco style, recycled wine accessories Recycled Chic… get a natural, cozy fall look Art Feature… Robert Mateo Diago Fall Feature… Welcome to Fall with PGL

p. 51

Design Classic… Hardoy Butterfly Chair Vintages… meet Hindsvik Vintage, cool industrial style!

Workplace… green profile: Jan DaCinta from Daisy Janie Eco Before & After… a dramatic hutch transformation with Kirsten of SimplyGrove Natural Home…a buyer’s guide to eco friendly paint

p. 11

Pure Green Homes 5th Street Revival… a restored Brooklyn Home Reclaimed Space… a London renovated row house Perfectly Reclaimed… a century home with character

p. 56

Contents July / August The Organic Kitchen Heirloom Tomatoes… Dark Autumn Salad White Turnip… a filling fall soup Golden Beets… roasted with horseradish Harvest Squash… with almonds, apple & maple Zucchinni Cake… with cinnamon candied ice cream

Pure Green Traveler Ace Hotel… in Portland Bardessono… in Napa Valley

The Last Word Live Green… with Piper from One Sydney Road

p. 36

Fall…

First I want to take a moment and thank our readers for making Issue One such a success.

Keep it coming! As I said previously, green living is our passion and sharing it with you is the ultimate pleasure! We hope to bring you quality issues year after year!

we want to hear from you!

Pure Green Living is interactive, and we want your feedback! Send letters to the editor, DIY ideas, photos of your latest before & after, or anything you think is cool to info@puregreenliving.com

Fall is quite literally my favourite time of year. I can wear my favourite sweaters, snuggle on the couch with a good cup of coffee and an even better book, or enjoy the late summer sunshine.

Walking through the woods with my husband Jonathan and our dog Rusty in tow, I’m always struck by the smell, the colours, the freshness.

Fall has such texture! It’s lovely. I am so proud to bring you this issue – in particular, my photo shoot with Erin of Ever Images and Annie, my horse, is a memory I will treasure for always! I’ll never forget the way my eyes welled up the first time I saw the shots…. I wanted to communicate with you the feeling Fall gives me – was I successful? You be the judge. I challenged myself for this shoot, and purchased nothing new! The story centers on old blankets & quilts, two of which belonged to my great-grandparents.

Jonathan’s mother lent us several century old, first edition books; the china glimpsed in the picnic scene also belonged to my greatgrandparents. The shoot is a real testament to how much you can do with what you have! You just have to re-imagine it!

I hope you enjoy the recycled, reclaimed theme of the issue!

Thank you for reading Pure Green Living.

Céline www.puregreenliving.com

We’re Growing!

Contributors Petra Boykoff A certified interior designer living in New York City and working on luxury hotel projects and residences all over the world.

Petra also writes Pretty Little Green Things, a blog dedicated to showing the beautiful side of green and the sustainable side of luxury.

More from Petra: www.prettylittlegreenthings.com

Erin Monett A photographer for ten years, Erin specializes in weddings, portraits, editorial & commercial work. Her work as appeared in several top publications.

More from Erin: www.everimages.ca

Thank You to all who offered to contribute. We hope to continuously add to our team. This issue we welcome Erin, Petra & Kirsten!

Kirsten Grove Kirsten has been an active Interior Decorator for 7 years. She also sells repurposed and restyled furniture and accessories at Brass Razoo in Nampa Idaho, and is the author of the popular blog Simply Grove Her favorite part of design is Prop Styling. Kirsten also has a hidden desire to design furniture and lamps. She resides outside of Boise Idaho with her husband and 2 children.

More from Kirsten: www.simplygrove.com

Jonathan MacKay A former restaurateur and avid outdoorsman, Jonathan owns & operates Sustain with his wife Celine. He is responsible for the delectable creations in the Organic Kitchen. www.sustainmuskoka.ca

Thank You… to everyone who took the time to write! We love hearing from you, and each and every one brought a smile to my face! Below are just a few of the wonderful letters we got last issue…keep ‘em coming!

Letters

To The Editor

Cambria Bold Just wanted to let you know that I saw the launch of your new online magazine Pure Green Living, and I think it's terrific. Always love to see another stylish green design focused publication out there! www.renest.com

Rikkianne Van Kirk I truly enjoyed reading the about us section! Such a wonderful message.

While flipping through and enjoying the magazine, your passion for green living was so apparent. It's light, calm, beautiful and refreshing. I could go on and on. I think most importantly, it is inviting. As a reader I stayed and read every single bit! www.chakrapennywhistle.com

Stephanie Jones How fabulous! I am so excited to have found your incredibly welldone, gorgeous 'zine...love it all, especially the mentions/features on Knack Studios, Amy butler, and Irene Suchoki… some of my favorites too. So excited about what you're doing. I am going to subscribe right now and wait for the next issue! www.mrsjonespaintedfinishes.com

Pure Green

Style

Pure Green brings you an edited choice of eco friendly style picks!

Recycled Chair Back Hangers: Abitudini for Resign Available at www.resign.it

Pure Green style

We Love‌ Junky Styling Wardrobe Surgery.

How many times have you discarded items that just don’t fit properly, are outdated or even worn out? Created by Annika Sanders and Kerry Seagers, Wardrobe Surgery, the ultimate in clothing recycling, recreates your unwanted clothing into a one-of-a-kind outfit, made just for you! How great is that!

12 Dray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery 91 Brick Lane London www.junkystyling.co.uk

Pure Green style

Recycled Wine Accessories Petra Boykoff, designer and writer behind the green design blog Pretty Little Green Things, brings you fall recycled style reminiscent of the loveliest bouquet… a robust glass of wine.

With fall almost upon us, I’ve been excited about a return to deeper and richer colors. Naturally that got me thinking about burgundy and thus wine! Reusing wine barrel staves, bottles or corks is an easy and beautiful way to create eco-friendly products. Plus I love the way that each product has a story to tell. So without further ado, here are my picks of chic reclaimed wine products for you.

Cork Mosaic Tile – Manufactured using recycled wine cork, these mosaic tiles are incredibly versatile and durable! Use them in an entranceway, backsplash, and even a shower.

What’s more, cork is like wood and can be stained to any colour. Create a statement by tinting random circles in an accent colour. Get recycled cork mosaic from habitusnyc.com or jelinek.com {Image Credit: Domino Magazine}

Recycled Wine Bottle Dish: Studio Tord Boontje and Emma Woffendon for Artechnica Inc. artecnicainc.com

Laurence Brabant’s ingenious recycled wine bottle utensils. laurence.brabant.free.fr

Recycled wine barrel stave folding chair.

Available at whitmcleod.com

Wine barrel stave iphone charger… notice the burgundy staining – it’s the real thing. swedish guy design on etsy.com

Image Left: Pendant light fixtures made from recycled wine spheres.

this….. or that!

Image Right: Chandelier made from recycled wine barrel stave.

Both available at wildflowerorganics. com

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct 2010} p.11

Style Update: Environment Furniture is now producing upholstered furniture. Best known for their furniture constructed of recycled wood, we love Environment’s modern rustic style.

A visit to one of their showroom’s is bound to be full of inspiration.

Pure Green style

This Fall, Introduce‌.

1.

One of our favourite finds this issue‌ This magnet board is made of recycled sheet metal; the design was laser cut, and the magnets fashioned from twigs. Available at MondeRuelle.com

2.

4.

3.

…Recycled

Recycled can be delicate OR rough, but natural elements & organic shapes ensure they work together.

These rustic, down to earth pieces will introduce an earthy feel in your home that’s great for Fall.

5.

6.

style

This rustic play on the design classic Barcelona Chair is well suited to a rustic, fall décor. The chair is made of FSC certified wood and covered with reclaimed coffee bags!

7.

Pure Green style 8.

10.

sources: 1. Recycled Fruit Crate Shelving: Mark & Sally Bailey

9.

2. Recycled Magnet Board available at monderuelle.com

11.

3. Vintage Style Light by KamplampCo: Available at etsy.com

These willow cube side tables are made from wood salvaged from the city of Toronto. When the city cuts trees, Urban Tree Salvage collects the wood & creates beautiful pieces like these.

4.Wire Hanger by Alexander Taylor: Available at thorstenvanelten.com 5. Recycled Wire Shelving: Available at vivaterra.com 6. Butaca Chair: Available at vivaterra.com 7. Watercolour Print by Groundwork: Available at etsy.com 8. Scrap Wood Stools: By Edward Moore Architect, Australia 9. Recycled Trolley Signs: Available at roomandboard.com 10. Recycled Beer Bottle Votive: Available at redefinehomestore.com

12.

11. Recycled Linen Clutch by IGrantEco: Available at etsy.com 12.Recycled Willow Cube Sidetables: Available at urbantreesalvage.com

Pure Green art & culture

Robert Diago’s home•less•bound•ness

Disposable Income “Three dollars is the approximate value of recycling these aluminum cans. Ever stop to think of the effort it takes to walk around town collecting these. Dumpster diving, pulling them from street gutters, lugging them around in a shopping cart or trying to balance hundreds and hundreds on a bicycle. 1000 cans to make 15 bucks. We just toss them, or put them in the recycling bin. How desperate would you have to be to collect 200 cans for three dollars?” -RDM

T

he initial spark for this exhibit came to Robert after attending a small photo exhibit. The artist’s work consisted of images of a homeless man he befriended. “I had a wonderful conversation with the artist. Not only talking about his process and the man in the images, but also about meditation, silence, connection and purpose - subjects that are a big part of my life.” home•less•bound•ness is not about the homeless themselves as much as it is about our thoughts and perceptions. I’ve mixed language and wordplay, objects and images with random and unlikely materials to spark conversations about homelessness, community, indifference and over-consumption.

Pure Green Living loves the recycled nature of the exhibit of course! Common materials used in uncommon ways.

See more and purchase Robert’s work at: www.rmateodiago.com

10% of sales from this exhibit will be donated to Soldier On; a non-profit organization dedicated to housing homeless veterans.

To see more, or to inquire about purchasing, visit: Kolok Gallery 228 Main Street, Suite 155 Williamstown, MA 01267 kolokgallery.com

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct. 2010} p.18

Vernacular: “Each of the styles was selected to reflect the word – as best as a hubcap can. “chip” looks like a poker chip. “cake” looks like a bunt cake. “cabbage” looks like it was modeled after a leafy cabbage. Each word on the hubcaps is another word for money. Some common slang like “dough” other less common like “cheese”. Here money also means trade. It conjures up an image of homeless people picking these hubcaps off the street, collecting them and carting them around to trade in at the nearest hubcap shack.Ever you stop to notice how many hubcaps are lying around the streets. Not discarded, but rather lost from right under you, quickly forgotten. Valuable in their own way, just not precious enough. Is that similar to attitudes toward the homeless?” -RDM

Salvation “What if sparing change, the simple act of kindness or generosity can change you? Change how you feel about yourself at the end of the day? At the end of a week? A year? A life?” -RMD

Indigent/Indifferent “The clipboard contains typical things owned by a homeless person. The mirror is intentionally positioned so that viewers see themselves in the piece. Are they the indigent? The indifferent? Or somewhere in between?” RMD

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct. 2010} p.20

Styling: Celine MacKay Photography: Erin Monett, Ever Images Photography

Fall...

is our favourite season. Snuggling into well-worn, favourite sweaters, crunching the leaves on early afternoon walks or curling up with a hot cup of coffee, wrapped in a quilt. Whatever your pleasure, Fall is enveloped in nostalgia‌ a feeling we wanted to recreate for you in the next few pages.

Featuring vintage blankets, an old friend Annie, and a new friend Erin – photographer and new member of the Pure Green Living team.

Welcome to Fall with Pure Green.

Quilts, like friends, are warm and comforting; and you can never acquire enough of either.

A Place to Sit‌ Handcrafted bench using recycled wood and steel, exclusive collection by EcoBilt Furniture.

Organic cotton blanket by Jenna Rose.

A Quiet Moment…

The vintage quilt featured in this image is from Celine’s great-grandparents – its tartan theme is timeless. The book is a first edition Robert Burns borrowed from an antique book collection. The plate is also vintage from Celine’s great-grandparents. We challenged ourselves for this shoot, in which nothing pictured was newly purchased. Celebrate what you have!

"For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.

For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad."

- Edwin Way Teale

Pure Green style Originally produced by Argentinean architect Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy in 1938, the

Design Classic!

Butterfly Chair, also sometimes known as the Hardoy and BKF Chairs, was first mass produced

by Alvar Aalto’s company Artek, and went on to become part of Knoll Design’s prestigious collection. However, after contentious legal issues, the chair was dropped from Knoll’s line.

However, it is estimated that 5 million chairs were produced in the fifties alone, so chances are somewhat good of finding a vintage original. We love the modern versatility of it – it gives a Earthy, organic feel to any space.

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct. 2010} p.32

Pure Green style

Read…

Emily Anderson, the celebrated creator of EcoChic Weddings is a well respected doyenne of upcycling, re-using and rethinking. Her latest book, Eco-Chic Home has sixty different diy projects for your home, each reusing different common household items, from shopping bags to CD cases.

Emily intentionally chose projects that are purposeful as opposed to just art. She wants you to see how it’s possible to have something that is welldesigned and eco-friendly.

Her goal was that you wouldn't know what the design was made out of right away.

Available from Emily’s etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ goodwithstyle

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct. 2010} p.34

Online‌

www.PureGreenDesign.blogspot.com

More Green Design

More Vintage Finds

More Travel Follow us on Twitter Join us of Facebook

Pure Green Vintage

vintages‌ with Hindsvik!

Pure Green Love Vintage!

photography: Hindsvik Vintage

Meet Daniel and Valeria of Hindsvik Vintage!

PGL:

How did Hindsvik get started?

Where did you interest in vintage begin?

HV: Since we can remember we've had an eye for vintage pieces and have always been on the hunt for antiques for our own home. Hindsvik started in 2009 when our obsession took over and became our day job.

PGL: Starting your own business can be daunting and scary! What was it like for you?

HV: We pretty much just jumped right into the water! We've learned a lot when we started and are still continuing to grow in many ways. It takes a lot to be a small business owner, you have to be everything at once.

“.

It takes a lot to be a small business owner, you have to be everything at once.

�

Pure Green Vintage PGL:

What's a day in the

life of a vintage curator like?

How do you continuously find pieces for your collection? (I am in love with your industrial style!)

HV: When we're not scouting antique shops for treasures, our day is spent getting back to emails, photographing items in the studio and finding new inspiration. We put a lot of thought into the vintage pieces we carry and often go on road trips to find new things or something unusual.

PGL: What goals do you have for yourselves and Hindsvik?

HV: To keep doing what we're doing, to continue blogging about our home, and to settle down and eventually give Hindsvik its own space.

PGL: You've made a commitment to the environment by choosing to collect and recycle vintage pieces. What does living green mean to you?

HV: Living green is important because we need to be able to sustain ourselves on the Earth. continued‌.

Pure Green Living {July/August 2010} p.38

“. Recycling in

any form extends the life of a resource”

Pure Green Vintage

Recycling in any form extends the life of a resource and buying vintage not only adds a coolness factor to your home, you're also helping the Earth and extending the history of an object.

PGL:

You work so hard, but everyone needs a break. What would your perfect lazy

Sunday be like?

HV: Our perfect lazy Sunday wouldn't be lazy at all! We'd likely to be outside hiking, swimming, biking or doing other hobbies like filming, photography, sewing, studying and reading.

PGL: What can we expect next from Hindsvik?

HV: Hindsvik is currently expanding on their furniture collection and will be adding a few new categories in the shop. You can expect to see more of our home progress (renovations, things we collect) documented on our blog! We've also got some big news to announce this Fall!

s

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct. 2010} p.40

Pure Green workplace

Pure Green Workplace is a showcase for people doing good green things for a living

Organically Modern Meet Jan from Daisy Janie Textiles

photography: Jan DiCintio

PGL: How did you get started in textile design?

DJ: The seeds were sewn for my foray into textile design in 2003. At that time, I had a business called Fresh Paint LLC, where my business partner & I painted wallpaper-like designs on walls and furniture for our clients. In our downtime, we painted designs on big swaths of white fabric, which we then sewed into one-of-a-kind handbags. They were gorgeous! Each time a new fabric was completed, we’d stand back and say, “How can we get this design printed onto real fabric?”

In 2005, when I founded Daisy Janie and struck out on my own with a line of fabric handbags, the notion of ‘fabric designing’ was still in the back of my mind (particularly because I wanted to differentiate my handbags). Seeking out options, I stumbled upon digital printing. I created a few handbag collections using my original fabrics, and as feedback & inquiries about my fabric grew, I dropped the handbags, began offering only my fabrics for sale and haven’t looked back since.

“

Living green to me means minimizing my footprint on the earth by not taking, using or consuming what I don’t need.

”

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct 2010} p.42

Pure Green workplace

PGL: Starting your own business can be daunting and scary! What was it like for you?

DJ: Prior to printing high-volume fabric collections, my initial business endeavors started small and were grown slowly but steadily: greater interest led to greater sales, which led to greater reinvestment back into my business. Taking my time allowed me to test the waters with my style, establish my brand and build my reputation.

Eventually, I outgrew my ‘starter’ business and knew I was going to have to make a major capital investment to take Daisy Janie to the next level. I researched for several months to hone in on all my organic fabric printing options. I then plugged my due diligence into cash flow projections to see what was viable based on market constraints. So, while writing a huge check for goods not yet produced was daunting and scary, I removed some of the stress of the inherent risk by approaching it very systematically. I looked before I leapt!

PGL: Where do you find inspiration?

What is your

creative process?

DJ: I am wildly inspired by textures, colors & patterns in nature and by styles & designs of eras gone-by. I’m also never at a loss for finding beauty & appreciating what’s in front of me, and consciously or not, all of these things find their way back into my work.

Left: Fabrics from Jan’s latest collection in action!

Below: A snapshot of Jan’s studio space, located in her century home. Jan has reused many vintage pieces in this space, including the desk visible here! As she puts it, she’s done her best with what she had on hand to create a cozy space in which she spends her day.

The scope and approach of my creative process differs depending upon what I know about the design ahead of time, which is usually very little! : ) Typically, though, it starts with an undefined creative spark that landed in my sketchbook, on my camera or on my screen via my bamboo tablet. I keep a library of ideas on my hard drive so I can pull together an assortment of elements at any given time. I play around a LOT with these pieces on my computer, and both singular motifs and complex patterns begin to emerge. Once I have solid direction, I create the repeat. It feels more like tweaking than designing a lot of time, but I think I’d get some funny looks if I said I was a fabric tweaker!

PGL:

What goals do you have for yourself and Daisy

Janie?

DJ: Short-term goals include offering greater breadth and depth to my collections through more designs and colorways per collection. Mid-term goals include establishing a core group of 1-color mod prints, offered in an array of basic hues;

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct 2010} p.44

Pure Green workplace

“

I am wildly inspired by textures, colors & patterns in nature, and by styles & designs of eras gone-by.

cont’d: these will be a stock item, and hue determinations will rotate by season or by popular demand. Long-term goals include licensing other designers’ work for organic fabric printing under the Daisy Janie label.

”

PGL: You've made a commitment to the environment by choosing to print organic textiles. What does living green mean to you?

DJ: Living green to me means minimizing my footprint on the earth by not taking, using or consuming what I don’t need; it means constant vigilance to see where & how I can make more eco-friendly choices; it means conviction to adjusting habits where possible to live more sustainably and in harmony with the earth’s natural resources.

PGL: You work so hard, but everyone needs a break.

What would your perfect lazy

Sunday be like?

DJ: The sun would definitely be shining! I’d go on an early-bird run with my husband while the neighborhood was quiet and sleepy. Afterward, we’d have some strong coffee, read the paper, hang out with our son and dogs, and talk about how to plan our unplanned day. We’d probably run errands before noon – something we like to do as a threesome because we always end up in belly laughter about something.

Then, we’d have lunch and hang-out in the backyard reading, playing cards or Horse. Maybe we’d take the dogs for a walk. Maybe make some meals ahead for the week. We’d have an early dinner, maybe watch a Netflix movie. Truly lazy stuff with my two favorite people, and I love every bit of it!

PGL:

What can we expect next from Daisy Janie?

DJ: My debut collection for wholesale ~ Geo Grand ~ was released this past July, and the yarn is being woven as I write this for my second collection: Shades of Grey.

This next group will be available in early Spring 2011. In October, I will be a first-time exhibitor at Quilt Market in Houston, which will be an exciting opportunity to showcase my fabrics to buyers across the country. I’ve also had a few interesting inquiries to license my surface designs for eco-friendly home goods ~ details to come!

s

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct 2010} p.46

organic recycled handmade

www.chakrapennywhistle.com

Pure Green before & after

Upcyle!

Before

Produced & Photographed by Kirsten Grove

The Back Story: Kirsten found the hutch hiding in a big furniture pile in the back of a thrift shop.

She had been thrifting all day and was beginning to get a little weary. As she was leaving she spotted this beauty! It needed a few structural repairs that her husband was able to complete. Afterward, primer and three coats of paint were applied, the newly painted knobs were added and the hutch is transformed from an outdated, heavy piece to a current and modern must-have.

Kirsten’s tips for second hand shopping: “Keep your eyes open for pieces that you normally wouldn't be interested in. Some of my most favorite pieces were not beauties at first.

Don't waste money – don’t buy something you think you might eventually use or work on, but the love is just not there. I have wasted much money in the past but now I am picky picky picky.”

Read more from Kirsten on her blog, www.simplygrove.com

Pure Green natural living

Fall for Paint

Refresh your home this Fall with our guide to eco friendly picks, and our favourite colour palettes this season. story: Celine MacKay

Taking on paint in the home is always a large undertaking. You have colour selections to make, supplies to buy, rooms to clear out, and the list goes on. We’re keeping it fun and interesting by helping you with colour selection too with on-trend shades that will update any room in an instant. This fall we’re seeing a movement back to earthy tones, but not in the traditional burnt-umber kind of way. This time, colours are softer, with green, gray and taupe undertones. The palettes are subtle and calming, with a true influence of colours found from nature – dark, moody blue-gray, green with a gray undertone, muddy creams, sandy browns, soft mauves….

The first step, though, is to decide which paint to choose. The market is abundant with ‘green’ paint, but buyer beware, all paint is not created equal. Our guide to green paint will help make your options a bit easier as you change your look this season.

Above: AFM Safecoat installation; photo courtesty of Mariko Reed.

The Three Green Factors

Indoor Air Quality The current buzzword in painting is zero-VOC (volitile organic compounds): contained in most standard household paints these are the fumes you smell when painting. VOC’s are incredibly harmful chemicals that have been found to cause headaches, allergic reactions, nausea, and even cancer. When selecting paint for your home, a no-VOC paint is a must to maintain a good level of indoor air quality. However, a no-VOC paint isn’t enough. What you’re really looking for is non-toxic. Here’s why: zero-VOC is a little misleading. The VOC’s in question are only those regulated by the government, which are ‘smog producing’, meaning they oxidize into the air in your home. This means that zero-VOC paints may still contain a whole host of chemicals that are harmful.

Read the label carefully; ask for MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets); ask questions. Your best bet is to go with a paint that is clearly labeled non-toxic.

Earth-Friendly Manufacturing Paint can be extremely harmful to the earth in both the manufacturing process and in disposal of waste. Good decisions in both selecting a truly green paint and properly disposing of it can make all the difference in the world.

Proper Disposal Disposing of paint and paint supplies properly can protect you, garbage collection workers, and the environment. Look into proper disposal depending on the type of paint you’ve used. But, as a general rule, don’t throw wet paint in the garbage or down the drain, which can harm the eco-system that surrounds you. Some helpful tips: Save all your old paint; most townships have a hazardous waste disposal center where you can take the paint. Even if you have non-toxic paint, old paint is often still useful, such as paint recycling programs. If your can is empty, leave the lid until all paint has completely dried, after which you can recycle the container in your blue-box.

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct. 2010} p.52

Paint & Decorating Mythic Paint Colour Theory: The palette at right is shown in (Left to Right): Rocky Mountain, Juleen & Safari Dress.

Smoky neutrals are on-trend right now. We’re seeing it in both wardrobe and interiors. Pair these colours with natural wood tones, such as barnboard and driftwood, natural materials like jute and wool, and accessorize with a mod, oversize floral print.

Why We Like Mythic: It contains zero VOC’s and has zero carcinogens. This is a premium quality paint with a fabulous color palette. Mythic is easy to work with, has very little odor, and decent coverage.

What to Watch for: Latex is less durable than traditional oil based stains, so if you are painting trim, windows & doors, cabinetry or furniture, you may want to top coat with a clear, non-toxic varnish, or, there are now natural oil based paints on the market. Our favourite is Safecoat Naturals in semi-gloss.

Where to Find it Mythic: check mythicpaint.com for dealers

AFM Safecoat Colour Theory: The above right palette is shown in Mythic’s Golden Goddess, Mirrored Willow & Avignon. Gold & Gray has always been a classic combination. Here the palette is softened a little and complimented with a soft white – the overall feel is classic, sophisticated and a little romantic.

We like a bold stripe in grey and white, or a modern geometric to finish it off.

Why We Like Safecoat: It has zero VOC’s and is simply one of the healthiest and safest brands available. Safecoat’s line of latex paints are unique – originally developed for those with chemical sensitivities, their paint is not only completely non-toxic, it cures to form a seal so that previously used coating cease to off-gas. Their Natural’s line is one of the only paints on the market using organic, plant based materials with the science of phytochemistry to create a coating that protects and beautifies your environment safely and naturally. Like the bark on a tree, the paint is a breathable layer, emitting no toxins and leaving no trace.

What to Watch for: Their regular latex paints are average in price, but expect to pay a little more for the Natural’s line, but we think your health is worth it!

Where to Find it: check afmsafecoat.com for dealers

Green Planet Paint Colour Theory: The palette at right is shown in Green Planet Paint’s Majesty, Eucalyptus & Reed.

While last season we saw Jewel tones everywhere, this season we’re seeing a pared back version.

Vivid hues are toned down and injected with gray and taupe. The result is dusty, softer colour palettes with an earthy undertone. Pair these hues with natural fabrics like linen and wool – get cozy for Fall!

Why We Like it: Green Planet Paint has made a strong commitment to the environment. Their paints use soy resin instead of the traditional, petroleum base and mineral based pigments. The paint is produced in a small, rural community in Arizona, providing much needed local jobs.

What to Watch for: The tinting system for these paints is a little different. Available in 48 shades, the cans are tinted with small pouches of mineral pigment which you add to the can.

Where to Find it: check greenplanetpaints.com for dealers

Pure Green Homes

Reclaimed Style

Next time you look around and feel limited by the space around you, think again! In fact, sometimes the challenge of creating a space within the confines of 4 existing walls forces creativity you didn’t know you had in you! If you need inspiration, look to this incredibly mod, 100 year old (if you can believe it) home, created by queen of green design, Jessica Helgerson. “The clients for this project were a young family with a very modern aesthetic. The trick was to take their hundred-year-old Northwest Portland house and make it feel fresh and current. The color palette is a gradation of whites and cool grays with a bright entry fading to a darker living room and a dramatically dark dining room and library. In the

th 5street revival

W

While Fitzhugh Karol, a sculptor, and partner Lindsay Caleo, a jewellery designer, have a stunning home, it wasn’t always that way. When they first saw their future home, which was built in the late 1890’s, it “had been vacant for a few years, there were remnants of a 1970’s renovation, the floors were rotted out and there was fire damage, but even with all that we walked in and knew we found it. It just felt right.” The flagship project of The Brooklyn Home Company, a real estate development company owned

by Lindsay’s brother Bill Caleo, for which the couple work as design consultants, they admit that the home was the biggest challenge they had ever embarked on. “Everything was new to us, but building the house was a great lesson on closing the gaps between designing something on paper and making it happen in the real world. We had a real budget, and a passion to see things materialize the way we envisioned them. There were many steps, many changes and lots of unforeseen challenges.

We think the most important part of the process wasn’t the physical progress it was learning how to work on a project of this scale successfully." One of PGL Mag’s favourite elements in the home is the abundance of recycled wood, which provides such great contrast against the white walls and décor. "Every piece of wood in our home was reclaimed or repurposed-from the floor boards to the furniture.

story: Celine MacKay photography: Emily Gilbert Photography

The careful balance of light, dark, old and new are what make this room really work. The coffee table echoes the curves in the antique armoir, and the colour grade from dark to light brings the eye upwards, visually expanding the room. Even the sofa’s angular lines are mirrored in the hanging light fixture.

Try it at Home: Jessica had mirrors laser cut to refract light and reflect snippets of images from around the room to add interest.

Pure Green Living {July/August 2010} p.58

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The 1920’s American Standard kitchen sink was salvaged from a house in Massachusetts. Reclaimed shelving in the kitchen was from a mill in the Finger Lakes area of NY.

Pure Green Living {July/August 2010} p.60

Above Left: The barn door to the bathroom was taken from the barn on the farm where Fitzhugh grew up.

Left: The four poster bed is a custom piece designed and created by Fitzhugh.

Pure Green homes

Fitzhugh & Lindsay’s Tips on Renovating: 1. Not all wood is meant to be “refinished”.

2. Use similar materials to those that were used when the house was built, but execute them in a new way.

3. Let it evolve but keep things consistent.

4. Be selective, if you don’t love it, or if your living with something that is not useful then get rid of it! www.thebrooklynhomecompany.com

Green is Modern‌

Reclaimed

Space

story: Celine MacKay, photos: Platform 5

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hen Patrick Michell, a principal architect at Platform 5 Architects in London, first came across this Mapledene Road residence, it had been stripped of all of its period features and left in a sorry state of decrepitude.

Never to back down on a challenge, the decision was made to purchase and renovate the home – however, the home’s location in a historical conservation area meant that renovations had be considered carefully to fit with both the home and the firm’s modern aesthetic. “Refurbishment was considered as a landscape of interventions and new components. The cellular ground floor was opened up and extended to the rear to allow the spaces to flow into each other and to the garden, whilst the existing layout to the groundfloor was largely retained. Each room maintains an individual character giving a varied experience as you move through the house.”

Get a worktop like this from Consentino Eco. At left: Ikea has chairs like this.

Pure Green homes Winner of NLA’s Don’t Move Improve Award, the home is a testament to what you can actually do with an existing footprint. In this case, the kitchen and patio were unified with a brick wall and concrete floor, both which are renewable resources and have great thermal mass properties for good insulation and efficiency. Everywhere you look in the home, traditional Victorian architecture is juxtaposed with modernity: the Oriel window jutting into the garden and the sleek, minimalist kitchen are just two examples. We love the reclaimed nature of the space – use of existing infrastructure is a great practice of sustainability. Also, with the gradual movement to small-space living, the details in this home make it feel grander and larger while maintaining a small footprint – proof that you don’t need big to live large.

Another attribute is the blending of inside and outside borders which also make the space feel larger, achieved with features such as the glass ceiling over the kitchen, allowing you to spy airplanes flying by or ‘Swifts’ darting about catching flies, and filling the space with light – all the while, the solar control glass help minimize heating and cooling!

Get this look: floorboards: elm, also available in reclaimed

Pure Green homes

www.platform5architect.com

Recycled with

Personality story: Celine MacKay

photography: Erin Monett

When Kareen Burns first moved in, the first night she wandered the house thinking, ‘what have I done?’

The century home had been on the market for nearly two years, yet Kareen had always been drawn to it – ‘it just felt like me’ she says, but the scope of the repairs the house needed felt like too much. However, her fortuitous real estate agent could see that an immediate spruce up was desperately needed, so as a realtor gift she donated her husband for a day. “The simple act of filling nail holes and taking down horrible, cheap light fixtures, and other things I just couldn’t stand made a big difference. All of a sudden I could see myself living here!” Having always lived in old homes, Kareen is drawn to their character and uniqueness, and so, over the next four years she has been fixing it up, one room at a time. She started with the kitchen – she hired Yule McGregor, a local builder who specializes in recycled design, because she was attracted to his reclaimed style and felt it would fit the house. The result in Kareen’s kitchen is a multi-functional space, that has an urban rustic flair to it.

Kareen’s open cabinetry is key to the design – ‘I can spend hours arranging things just so.

You have to be patient and compromise on nothing when making purchases, but I love that I can grab my dishes quickly and easily.’ Kareen is also a major proponent of keeping her refrigerator and other major appliances in a small, separate side room. It keeps the mess apart and keeps the space looking great, which is important in a small house. The rest of the home was retrofitted with reclaimed hemlock and pine flooring, which all trim detail in recycled wood as well. She refinished her bathroom fixtures rather than purchasing new, and painted with low VOC paints.

“I love Mason Jars… there’s just something so distinctly Canadian about them.”

Display Space: add visual interest and texture with open shelving. Kareen has placed hits of colour to brighten up the space and keep your eye moving in the otherwise linear space.

Below: Simple hardware ensures the feature is the beautiful, reclaimed wood.

Utilitarian Chic: Make a feature out of everyday items, such as these dishes, cutting board and corn broom.

Source a work top surface like this from Paperstone.com If you love the textured wall finish, check out AmericanClay.com Accessories from SustainEcoStore.com

Repurpose: the backsplash in Karinne’s kitchen are actually roofing tiles from an old barn. After a clean-up, their burnished patina is an instant focal point in the kitchen.

“I was so relieved when I discovered Wabi Sabi – it is exactly who I want to be, and it makes it ok that things look worn and scuffed.’ In fact, it only looks better. “I really hate that people feel they can’t express themselves when decorating because we are bound my what trends dictate – so what if you like plastic covered couches, or if you have pictures absolutely everywhere. There is no such thing as bad taste – only your taste.” That said, Kareen’s home is a work in progress, by her own description. She’s not sure if she’ll ever be done. But she loves that it is perfectly her.

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Karinne’s Tips on Editing: Sit on the floor and look at things from a new perspective. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll see and it really helps you notice the details.

Be patient. You cannot be in a rush, and you cannot compromise. You must wait for the perfect thing.

“There is no such thing as bad taste.

Don’t be afraid to be who you are.”

Above Right: Kareen placement of hall mirror on the landing gives a new perspective, and reimagines how we traditionally use mirrors.

Above: Light fixture from Propeller

The upstairs landing is a nod to Kareen’s playfulness, yet the light placement shows careful consideration.

“One of my first jobs was working in a clothing store – all the hangers had to be arranged just so… I’ve been like that ever since!”

Like the rest of Kareen’s home, her bedroom is a study in simplicity, but does not lack impact.

The floors in the upper level are reclaimed pine.

Try Safecoat’s Hush White for a look like this.

Pure Green

the organic kitchen

Fall Harvest As Fall settles in, make the most of your last harvest with these simple recipes. This theme was inspired by the raw, organic nature of these harvest vegetables. Literally, from ground to table.

Enjoy!

Black Heirloom Tomatoes photographed & produced by Celine & Jonathan MacKay

Pure Green organic kitchen Dark Organic Autumn Salad allow 15 minutes

ingredients: Black tomatoes (or heirloom) Purple Basil Red leaf Lettuce Green Onion Prosciutto Parmesan Raw Unfiltered Olive Oil Balsamic vinegar Fleur de Sel or Herbamare

method: Wash and half your tomatoes. Use lots. Wash and tear up your lettuce. Slice a couple of green onions and toss it all in a bowl. Slice strips of prosciutto as thinly as your knife will allow and add to the mix. Using a veggie peeler shave in several bits of parmesan. Finally, chop up a good handful of basil and toss on top. Drizzle with a good quality unfiltered olive oil which will have a nice nutty flavor. You could also add a little flax oil if you don’t have raw olive oil. On top of the oil drizzle a good quality aged balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with salt to taste. Toss it all up and savour the sweet black tomatoes and balsamic along with the bursts of salty prosciutto and parmesan.

Pure Green Living {Sept/October 2010} p.84

White Turnip photographed & produced by Celine & Jonathan MacKay

Pure Green organic kitchen Creamed Turnip & Potato Soup allow 60 minutes

ingredients: 1 Med. Turnip, peeled and cubed 1 Spanish Onion, Cut 4 Medium Potatoes, cubed 1 Tbsp Dried Parsley 6 cups of Chicken Broth Salt & Pepper to Taste 1 Bay Leaf 1 Tbsp of Butter Garnish: Aged White Cheddar, (Croutons; Optional)

method: Over medium heat, melt the butter. Add turnip, onion, salt and pepper to taste, and cook for approximately five minutes. Add potatoes, cubed, parsley, chicken or vegetable broth and one bay leaf. Simmer until the vegetable are soft. Using a hand blender, purĂŠe the mixture until smooth. Serve with croutons and shaved aged white cheddar.

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct 2010} p.86

Golden Beets photographed & produced by Celine & Jonathan MacKay

Pure Green organic kitchen Roasted Beets & Horseradish Cream Allow 1 Hour

ingredients: Mixed organic beets Fresh Sage(or thyme) Plain organic yogurt Organic sea salt Prepared horseradish (not the creamed stuff) Mustard powder Grapeseed oil

method Wash your beets well and trim the stem and root Don’t bother peeling them, it’s difficult and an utter waste of time - besides, the skin is good for you.

Cut them into bite size pieces and place in a roasting dish (try to keep them all the same size) – if you want to win points for presentation cut the yellow and candy-cane beets first so you don’t stain them red, but make sure you place the red ones in the bottom of the roasting pan.

Trim in a few leaves of sage using a pair of scissors. Drizzle conservatively with oil or if you have one, an oil mister is ideal for this. You can substitute thyme if you don’t have sage and you can also roast the beets plain, in which case you can omit the oil altogether. It’s really only necessary to help blend the flavours.

Fire it in the oven and bake for 45 minutes at 400 degrees.

Since you’re standing around waiting for your beets, you might as well make a kick-ass sauce for your beets. In a small bowl, combine ½ cup of yogurt, 2 heaping tablespoons of horseradish, 1/8 tsp. of mustard powder and 1/8 tsp. of salt. Give it a stir and giddy-up! You have a healthy version of creamy horseradish. For the record, I use an extra hot horseradish. You know what they say: “there’s no point having beets with a dead horseradish (or something like that)!

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct 2010} p.88

Harvest Squash

photographed & produced by Celine & Jonathan MacKay

Pure Green organic kitchen Apple Nut Squash allow 1 hour

ingredients: Acorn Squash Sliced almonds Apple Cinnamon Nutmeg Maple Syrup Butter

method Half squash and scoop out the guts. Take a thin slice off the bottom so that it sits upright.

Dice a tart apple (empire, mackintosh) and place pieces in the squash cavity. Sprinkle in a good smattering of almonds. Sprinkle cinnamon liberally and nutmeg conservatively. Pour a couple tablespoons of maple syrup and a plunk a table spoon of butter right on top.

Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. Uncover and brown it up for another five. Remove and serve whole or scoop out, blend in a food processor and serve. Don’t serve this to your kids – they might like it.

Roasted Root Veggies allow 45 min

ingredients: Sweet Potato , Parsnip, Carrot, Turnip, Celeriac, Thyme Marsala, Nutmeg, Organic sea salt, Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar

Slice a mix of any of the above veggies into French fry sized pieces (Julienne). Toss in a bowl and coat lightly with olive oil and some balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle the top liberally with thyme, salt and marsala, and a pinch of nutmeg.

Spread out on a baking sheet and bake at 400 for 45 minutes, turning once. Serve hot and crispy – no ketchup required!

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct 2010} p.90

Vanilla Ice Cream & Cinnamon Candy

photographed & produced by Celine & Jonathan MacKay

Pure Green organic kitchen Zucchini Cake with Cinnamon Candied Ice Cream cake time: 1 hour

ingredients: 2 c. flour 1tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp baking powder 3 tsp cinnamon 3 eggs ½ c grapeseed oil 1 ½ c. brown sugar(3/4c honey) 2 c grated zucchini 2tsp vanilla 1c raisins/dates

1c nuts

method: In a bowl, blend together the dry ingredients. Add oil, eggs, zucchini and vanilla. Feel free to omit the raisins and nuts if desired. Stir until blended. Pour into a 13x9x2” pan and bake at 350 degrees fareheit for 40 minutes. You can also bakes the zucchini cake in muffin tins.

Substitute the sugar for honey to make it healthier, and now you have a quick and delicious option for breakfast on the go during weekdays. Note: it will take only 20-25 minutes to cook in muffin tins, so keep a close watch.

Candied Ice Cream Candy Time: 5 minutes

ingredients: Honey

Organic Cane sugar

cinnamon

dark rum

natural vanilla bean ice cream

Continued on page 113…

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct 2010} p.92

Pure Green organic kitchen Living green is about making better choices. When shopping for food, avoid excessive packaging. Got a local farmer’s market?

Check it out. Need a few housewares? Pure Green Living brings a few functional items for the kitchen.

These fantastic glass drinking straws by Glass Dharma cut down on waste, and keep nasty plastics from leaching toxins into your drink! The straws come with a lifetime warranty and are dishwasher safe!

Produced with ultra fast growing Moso Bamboo, this bamboo charcoal from Ever Bamboo is an amazing, natural, biodegradable deodorizer! Place in the fridge or near the compost bin!

Jenna Rose’s new autumn tea towels are hand printed with eco friendly inks on natural linen. A perfect inexpensive way to spruce up your kitchen!

In the market for a new kitchen? Check out Viola Park, a division of Henry Built. The company uses awesome eco finishes such as Paperstone (recycled paper) countertops – their modular units allow you to customize to suit your space.

Pure Green

traveler

To travel is possibly one of the best ways to garner a true appreciation of the planet’s beauty and diversity, but it is also a very carbon intensive past-time. Pure Green Living is helping you out with that from dining in an organic restaurant to tucking into organic sheets.

Green Destinations

Location:

Portland, OR

Welcome to ACE hotel‌

Pure Green traveler

Effortlessly Cool…

Portland’s Ace Hotel is one of four in a small chain of super hip boutique hotels, although you’d never guess it was anything but a unique gem by the looks of it. It’s the type of place where you instantly feel like a local when you walk in. It’s a hangout spot with an industrial vintage vibe and tons of character to spare. It’s artful. It’s inspired. And best of all, it’s green.

The hotel founders, Alex Calderwood, Wade Weigel and Doug Herrick, have embraced the idea of reuse and recycle not only by salvaging much of their décor but also by transforming them into unique design features. Soviet-era turntables in the suites, a working antique photo booth in the lobby, Douglas fir wood from the original building and claw foot bathtubs and corner sinks from 1912 are just a few examples.

story: Petra Boykoff photography: Lauren Coleman & Jeremy Pelley

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct 2010} p.98

What hasn’t been repurposed has been sourced and produced locally. Large-scale murals grace the guestrooms, many of which were created by Portland artists. Pendleton Woolen Mills provided the branded wool blankets in the guestrooms. The vintage-style light fixtures in the hallways come from Schoolhouse Electric.

And any furniture that isn’t vintage was manufactured locally too.

I could go on, but I’ve already given you quite a list of the unique design features at the Ace Hotel. Maybe that’s what makes this hotel such a cool spot – it’s the type of place where you can and will discover something new every time you visit.

The hotel carefully sources non-toxic products such as paint from Yolo in order to maintain good air quality in all the rooms, ensuring a good night’s sleep.

All mattresses are organic, natural latex from Suite Sleep.

Organic

by Nature The hotel uses organic, natural cleaning products from Servello & Pearl, both locally produced. All barfridges are stocked with local, organic food & beverages.

“ We believe there is another essential aspect to the notion of sustainability: a sense of place.

You’ll know you’re here when you’re here.”

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct. 2010} p.102

Get the look of Ace Portland!

Concrete sink from GetReal Surfaces.com

Vintage wool army blankets

Parati Bed using reclaimed wood from environmentfurniture. com

The Re+ l.e.d. lamp, made of recycled plastic can be hung or left lying wherever!

Modern, urban cool design,

Leeding the Way:

Stay in eco-luxury at the Bardessono

Story: Petra Boykoff

Located in the heart of Napa Valley, California, lies Bardessono, a luxury hotel with 62 elegantly appointed guestrooms, a gourmet restaurant and full service spa. With on-site activities such as yoga classes and spa packages and easy access to nearby wine tours, there are plenty of reasons to make this resort your next vacation spot. But for me the real reason to visit is not for the luxury experience but for this hotel’s profound environmental initiatives.

Creation of developer Phil Sherburne and designed by Seattle based architect Ron Mitchell, Bardessono is one of only three hotels in the world to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s (LEED) Platinum certification. This is the highest standard set by the USGBC and an amazing achievement for the hotel. Here are a few details of how Phil, Ron and their team of local artisans and designers accomplished a truly incredible eco-friendly resort experience.

Green Card: An underground geothermal system heats and cools the guestrooms and spa, solar panels provide most of the hotel’s electricity, gray water is recycled for irrigation, lighting sensors turn lights off after guests leave their room and low flow plumbing fixtures are used throughout. However, the hotel’s interior leaves a definite impression, living proof that green can be luxe: Natural, recycled and low-VOC materials are the standard. The rich wood used all over the hotel was milled from salvaged trees found in the area and the stone was cut from blocks of an old wine cellar on the property. Plush organic bedding & terry from Coyuchi grace each guestroom. The environment has been considered even down to the organic and handmade bath products.

But perhaps the most amazing thing about Bardessono is not all of its many certifications or its amazing environmental platform. With green design so well integrated, you might not even know you’re staying at an environmentally friendly hotel, just an incredibly beautiful one.

Get the look of Bardessono Hotel: Coyuchi Organic Bedding: coyuchi.com

Get an eco luxe concrete bath: getrealsurfaces.com

Glass lamp with Cork Lightshade: vivaterra.com Clean burning, go anywhere bio fire: planika.com

Pure Green Living {Sept/Oct. 2010} p.112

Zucchini Cake with Cinnamon Candied Ice Cream… Cont.

In a frying pan pour in 4 TBSP. of honey, 2 TBSP. of sugar, ½ Tsp. of cinnamon (adjust to taste) and 2 oz. of rum. On medium heat bring mixture to a boil and stir constantly. Mixture will appear frothy – continue to stir until thick and mixture becomes stringy when you lift the spoon.

If you get ahead of yourself you can add more rum or a little water and re-reduce it.

Place a scoop of ice cream on top of the zucchini cake and spoon mixture slowly over over the ice cream. The mixture will harden into a candy shell on the ice cream. Watch your fillings!!

Leftovers: Add to your mixture a couple TBSP of butter of a few TBSP of condensed milk (or both if nobody is looking) and reduce until thick. Pour on a cookie sheet and let stand. You’ll have some yummy cinnamon toffee to rot your teeth just in time for Halloween!!

5th Street Revival… Continued.

There is something about the patina that reclaimed materials take on that new materials just can’t compete with."

Another favourite feature is the sculpture above the fireplace, a very unique piece, and created by Fitzhugh. "I made the sculpture out of wood that I collected from scrap wood found near my studio.

Our studio is in an old enormous factory building with lots of opportunities for good salvage. A year or so ago I was working on a series of sculptures like this for a show and we had still not found a piece of art for above the fireplace. With sculpture I really try and follow the joy of making something that feels just right to me and I think this piece achieved that." Finally, with a home that pays such respect to recycling materials and reusing sagely, we had to ask: What are you views on living green?" Here is what Fitzhugh and Lindsay said, and we couldn't agree more: "Living “green” has come a long way. More often than not choosing to reclaim or repurpose something ends up being a lot more interesting than if you bought it new. We tend to follow the rule of thumb that if they didn’t eat it or build with it a 100 years ago there is a good chance we shouldn’t either."

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Pure Green the last word

Piper, from One Sydney Road

“

I live in Cleveland, Ohio with my husband and 2 dogs and I’m in the midst of opening an online boutique, one sydney road, where my mission is to have fresh, beautiful items for your home that aren’t found in every store – mixed in with some cool vintage finds too. Starting online is my way of not only keeping costs down, but hopefully living more green. I adore the look of modern meets vintage – I think homes that combine these together create such cozy and stylish places to live – it makes it much more interesting.

Not to mention, who doesn’t love coming across the perfect “find”!

I think my main green living idea is just to try and live simply and within your means. My husband and I have always tried to only purchase things that we need or love – plus it keeps down on clutter! I remember reading somewhere that you should only surround yourself with things you love – and I’ve always thought that was such a great way to live.

No sense buying something just because it’s on sale – it should meet the “I love it” test! And I like to think that’s what my store is all about – making everyday feel a bit brighter. Sometimes living simply can be challenging but when you look at it as surrounding yourself with only the things you love – it seems much easier!

”

build, decorate, live‌ green Shop Online! SustainEcoStore.com

photo credit: Marc Loret

Pure Green Living magazine