The-Lefthander

So, we've been all chewing over President Obama's new Oval Office decor. It has been received with an overwhelming ... eh... and that's on the positive side. Some people, perhaps unwilling to publicly criticize Michael Smith, rumored to be the designer, have supported the decor as at least being satisfying to Mr. Obama. Because after all, the client is always right, right? Personally, I think the designer's job is to bring to the client more than he or she thought was possible. But it must be acknowledged that whether it was Mr. Smith or someone else who did the design, it couldn't be easy to design by committee. Some wonder why we should care, it's his office after all. And to that, I say, no, it's not. The White House isn't known as "The People's House" for nothing. The Oval Office is meant for ceremonial purposes and should reflect the national and international importance of that room. Of course, the President should feel comfortable in the space, but he does have a private office as well. This is his public office and "We The People" are the owners of the space. All our Presidents are temporary inhabitants, there because a majority of those who voted gave them the permission to move in. And so I think it's entirely appropriate that we all weigh in on how we're represented to the world. And, it got me wondering, how does The Oval stack up to other heads of state around the world? (In all honesty, I thought this would be an easy post but it turned out to be more time consuming than expecting. So I've only pulled pics of the French Presidents Office and the UK's Prime Minister's office.)

US: The White House (recap)




France: The Élysée Palace

President Nicolas Sarkozy's office, open for tours during a Heritage Day celebration.
via Travels with Terry
via Global Dashboard
via Daylife
Like The White House, The Élysée Palace (finished in 1722) consists of private living space as well as offices and formal public spaces. However, French Presidents seem to have made individual choices as to whether to live there. Mitterand preferred his own home on the Left Bank, Chirac did live in the Palace and Sarkozy apparently prefers to live at Carla Bruni's home in Paris (according to Wikipedia).
United Kingdon: 10 Downing Street
via Conservative Party on FlickrPM David Cameron and his wife Samantha welcome their new daughter Florence home to the iconic front door at 10 Downing, today! (via The Conservative Party on Flickr)

Former PM Gordon Brown with some Americansvia The Independant
Current Prime Minister David Cameron (r) in his office
10 Downing Street was once a private residence and is a fairly congested section of London. The famous black door entrance is relatively unassuming as compared to The White House or The Élysée Palace. The rear of the building is much bigger looking and is the true entrance.  The Prime Minister's and their families do live in the building, which Margaret Thatcher referred to as "living above the shop".
I think the differing design styles of the three spaces is pretty obvious and expected. All showcase their own countries decorative arts and architecture. France is bolded and gilded to the extreme, England is classic and conservative; and the US is certainly classic, but still a bit of a mish-mosh. One thing I've realized that our Oval could use - large and bold artwork, or groupings of smaller pieces. The small scale of the artwork on the Oval's walls just seems skimpy compared to the sumptuous detailing of France, or ancestral portraiture of England.
Don't forget, I'm running a poll about who's Oval Office (from FDR to BHO), so cast your vote if you haven't already done so. You may be surprised by who's winning! And, since we've all been saying what we would want to have seen in the Oval's design, I'm challenging those interested to come up with a design board of what they would do. Let's put our design chops where our mouth's are. Entries accepted between now and September 30th. I'll post all and offer a prize (TBD).

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Materials: Pink Malm, Spray paint primer, Interior Latex Olympic Paint in White Mood, Spray Paint in Seaside Green, Brushes, Stencil, Tape

Description: My daughter has had this dresser for a few years, and as she got older and her favorite color went from pink to green, I thought it was only fitting that the Malm followed suit.

I sprayed the whole thing with primer, twice. Rolled on three coats of the Olympic paint to the main part of the dresser. Taped off the side edges of the drawers so that I could spray paint the Seaside Green to the tops of them. Once they were dry, I lined the drawers up and started stenciling using a foam roller brush and the same Olympic color that I used on the dresser. Viola.

See more of Angela's Malm dresser.

~ Angela

If you’re in the market for a bit of Structure to your surroundings, I suggest you mark your calendar for September 23 -26, when designer Arik Levy shows his new Structure Collection at 100% Design London. Levy—born in Tel Aviv but residing in Paris now for 20+ years—gained a following sometime back as a “thinking designer.” Given the evidence of past work like Planika’s Fire Line and Living Divani’s Hoop Sofa, the reputation must be owed to the synthesis of functionality and aesthetic innovation, though it could just as well be attributed to his knack for philosophizing. Some of his pithier quotes include “Design is an uncontrolled muscle”; “the world is about people, not tables and chairs”; and, my favorite, when asked if he had any interesting projects on the horizon, “I only do interesting projects.”

Structure Collection. Designed by Arik Levy for Inbani.

Inbani? It’s pragmatic in a way that most bath collections are not; it expertly toes the divide between a classical and contemporary look; and it’s aesthetically unified without becoming blasé. The collection includes vanities, basins, taps, cabinetry, and mirrors, and each and every one of these elements complements the other. The individual items function as a whole to create the kind of, well, structure that makes a space work. Inbani articulates two prime objectives for the collection: 1. blur the line between interior and exterior; and 2. give the furnishings an “elevated” presence. The key feature that helps Structure accomplish both is the integration between structure and storage: “the storage elements are enclosed in structures that collectively form hosting spaces for towels and other items, creating a generous appearance of the entire piece and giving a high profile to the cabinet.”

The short way of saying is that nothing is wasted—no faux-fronts or bulky understructures, just light, clean design that holds so much more than one would ever imagine. Materials for Structure include chrome metal in white or glossy lacquer; water-resistant MDF; progressive metal locking drawers; and high-gloss sinks in synthetic resin.

Luca Gnizio is an industrial designer from Milan who firmly believes that the life of discarded products can be further extended by transforming them into beautiful and useful articles.

Luca’s BOOKFOR Armchair is constructed entirely from recycled materials including iron bars recovered from reinforced concrete, rubber tips from old walking sticks, and clothing, plastic material and paper remnants.

Photos by Serena Riccardi.

© 2010 Design Milk | Posted by Jaime in Home Furnishings | Permalink | No comments | Tweet This | Share on Facebook

i’m so happy to end the week with an update from my park slope neighbor, wayne pate. wayne re-designed his website and is now selling a beautiful selection of home goods along with his sweet prints. if you’re looking for something special for someone, or just want to perk up your own space, click here to check it out!

we’ll be taking monday off for the holiday, so i’ll see you all on tuesday with new homes, movie-style, biz ladies advice, a new city guide and much more. have a wonderful holiday! xo, grace

*ps: speaking of park slope, ac and i are looking to finally move out out current apt into a new space. if anyone has a real estate agent in park slope or wiliamsburg that they love, i’d be so appreciative for any tips! thanks!

• must-read posts of the week: sneak peek best of: dining rooms (round tables), best of play rooms, outstanding in the field
• new city guide: wellington, new zealand guide, new haven guide
• biz ladies: promoting your business (tastefully) online
• living in: butch cassidy and the sundance kid
• sneak peeks: joel holland, jen + omar of these are things
• diy projects: jaime’s freshly picked floral accessories, brenna’s secret storage books, framed display box
• before & afters: iris’s credenza + michael’s dresser, courtney’s chairs + hampton’s dresser, lisa’s chair + calli’s dresser
• under $100: nightstands
• before and after basics:  stencil tricks
• simply color: suzie mckig
• summer florals: wearing white one last time (white arrangement how-to)
• in the kitchen with: ming thompson’s fig layer cake recipe (mmm…)
• behind the bar: with barbara merrit’s champagne cocktail recipe!
• small measures with ashley: 7 tips for greening your bedroom
• misc.: dalton ghetti, the exquisite book, morning birds, dedo faux-fur message board, secondome, beautiful paper-cut cards from coral & tusk

A4estudio present us with this masterpiece of concrete, glass and aluminum located in Mendoza, Argentina. The low profile home shows a combination of materials that ties to the landscape. Boulders and stone walls seems to emerge and meet the cantilevered concrete structure and the middle outdoor space, acting more like an industrial atrium and bringing sun and green to the inside through the glass panels and doors. The interior is fresh and pristine where furniture seems playful and at ease instead of rigid and subject to a grid. The mosaic pool is a nice touch and the entertainment wall with a bunch of speakers makes it seem like you’re at a concert.

Architects: A4estudio — Leonardo Codina & Juan Manuel Filice
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Area: 5,812 square feet
Materials: Glass, aluminum, steel and concrete
Photos: A4estudio

[via Plataforma Arquitectura]

© 2010 Design Milk | Posted by Joel in Architecture | Permalink | No comments | Tweet This | Share on Facebook

Terence Conran of The Conran Shop has chosen 54 key pieces of furniture of the 20th century to be part of the Conran Classics Collection. The Conran Classics will be on display in an exhibition at The Conran Shop Chelsea and The Conran Shop, Marylebone from September 10, 2010 – November 1, 2010. In celebration of the new collection and exhibition, members of the Conran family including Terence Conran, Sophie Conran, and Jasper Conran have been captured with their favorite piece of furniture by renowned photographer Julian Broad for the accompanying Conran Classic catalog.

The top 10 design classics from the 20th century chosen by The Conran family are:

1. Eames Lounger and Ottoman (Charles and Ray Eames) chosen by Victoria Conran
2. Supporto Office Chair (Fred Scott) chosen by Sophie Conran (pictured in top photo on right)
3. Karuselli Chair and Ottoman (Yrjo Kukkapuro) chosen by Terence Conran (pictured in top photo on left)
4. Bookworm Bookcase and Bookends (Ron Arad) chosen by Tom Conran (pictured above on left)
5. Eiffel DSR Chair (Charles and Ray Eames) chosen by Ned Conran
6. ESU Storage Unit (Charles and Ray Eames) chosen by Toby Gallagher
7. Floor Lamp (Mario Fortuny) chosen by Hattie Gallagher (pictured above on right)
8. Egg Chair and Footstool (Arne Jacobson) chosen by Max Gallagher
9. Oval Table and 6 Tulip Chairs (Eero Saarinen) chosen by Jasper Conran (pictured below)
10. ES104 Lobby Chair (Charles and Ray Eames) chosen by Sebastian Conran

What would be in your top 10?

© 2010 Design Milk | Posted by Jaime in Art, Home Furnishings | Permalink | No comments | Tweet This | Share on Facebook

I am so excited to unveil this month’s Behind the Bar column!  Ever since my sister, Jillian, first introduced it to me, I have long admired the Portland, Maine store “chelliswilson.“  When I was finally able to visit the shop last November I was absolutely blown away, not only by the stop-in-your-tracks gorgeous shop but also by the oh-so-sweet owner, Barbara Merritt.  She brims with knowledge and has stocked her store with the most unique, beautiful and thoughtful creations.  It is a small, intimate store that packs a large punch!  I could have poked around, admiring each and every item for hours.  Every corner has a delightful surprise and just when you thought you had seen it all, you will find something else to lust after.  If HORNE were ever to have a physical incarnation, “chelliswilson.” would definitely be one of the places I would reference for inspiration.

When I approached Barbara for the Behind the Bar column I just knew she would add her own very special twist.  Today were are featuring a simply elegant drink accompanied by a wonderful story behind its creation.  Have a great weekend and we hope you enjoy Barbara’s Champagne cocktail, “The Marriage of True Minds.” [Alissa + Ryan]

P.S. Make sure to check out Barbara’s Blog – it is full of droolworthy inspiration!

CLICK HERE for the full drink recipe (and more photos) after the jump!

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We don’t know if you ever imagined how an IT Entrepreneur’s Home would look like, which is why we decided to give you a glimpse of a futuristic project, to say the least. Villa F is located in Vienna, Austria and was designed by the architects over at Najjar & Najjar. A real fan of Mac computer designs and Lamborginis, the owner wanted a place where he could live and work and that would reflect his passions. Moreover, he made sure his crib housed the latest trends in home technologies. Plasma TVs jumping out of seemingly common furniture, a large aquarium with computer generated graphics, LED lighting and sound systems turned on and off with the help of a mouse click- everything in this futuristic place is digitally maneuvered. We are really curious to find out what you think about this house, because from where we are standing, it doesn’t look to homey. It would also be fun to know if you think this place is suited for the personality of someone working in IT.

Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

While at the NYIGF I stopped by AIAIAI’s booth to tell them how much I loved their headphones and t-shirt. I got a chance to test out the new TMA-1 headphones. A-MA-ZING. They fit over my ears like a glove and instantly the entire world melted away. I could feel the music throughout my entire body. Isn’t that exactly what you desire from headphones?

The TMA-1 are a DJ-style headphones much different from AIAIAI’s previous headphones — they are more utilitarian; the focus on this style was function. The TMA-1 was tested by some of the world’s most respected DJs: 27 leading names such as Tiga, James Murphy (one of my personal faves), A-Trak, Flying Lotus, Seth Troxler, Matthew Dear and Hot Chip, whose feedback helped shape the performance. Designed by Danish design firm KiBiSi and further developed in cooperation with Tartelet Records, Mannhandle and Thank You For Clapping, this new audio experience is one worth having.

© 2010 Design Milk | Posted by Jaime in Style & Fashion, Technology | Permalink | 2 comments | Tweet This | Share on Facebook

You may not instantly recognize this beautiful pastry work, as you are all used to seeing Ming Thompson’s culinary skills baked into the form of a cupcake.  But this week, Ming, of Ming Makes Cupcakes, has taken a break from the cupcake to give us our first ever layer cake on the column!  And though she made it earlier in the summer, we saved it up until September in honor of the best figs of the year (but don’t worry, you don’t need fresh figs to do this!).  Personally, I happen to prefer making layer cakes to cupcakes because it’s a lot less work!  But never fear, for the die hard cupcake lovers Ming has also included instructions on how to make this beautiful cake (which is a pistachio olive oil cake with fig compote filling and cream cheese frosting) into one of her great filled cupcakes.  -Kristina

About Ming: Ming Thompson was born and raised in Southwest Virginia.  She grew up in the kitchen of her parents’ restaurant, Cuz’s Uptown Barbeque.  She graduated from Yale and recently earned her Masters in Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design.  She currently works as an exhibition curator and designer, and runs a small stationery business.

CLICK HERE for the full recipe after the jump!

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Every so often I get the desire to act like a kid again. We sit and stand and walk, but how rare is it to see an ‘adult’ skipping, doing handstands or attempting multiple somersaults in the grass? I mean come one, have we become the boring adults during dinner conversations that we used to wish only upon our worst enemies from recess? Thankfully, the worry need not consume you. Fredericia came to Salone earlier this year, and within their “Danish Design Love” exhibition was a hanging coat rack they call Hook Me Up by FurnID that will knock your tube socks off (before you gingerly hook them up, of course).

Hook Me Up. Designed by FurnID for Fredericia.

Delete any fragments of a jaded nature you’ve accepted into your adult life and take a moment to look at the Hook Me Up as if all you have to do is fly a kite tomorrow afternoon and go skinny dipping at midnight. It provokes a feeling of liberation with the repetitive pieces configured from the top down. Additionally, the hook system provides you with plentiful color and veneer options, thanks to the trio of designers - Morten Kjær Stovegaard, Sara Vinther Martinsen and Bo Strange - from Denmark. Since 2006 their Danish design studio has reveled in imagination, creating furniture and industrial design pieces. All the while, FurnID keeps a level head, weighing out long-lasting functional elements with inventive form, labeling the feeling you get from their items “inviting”, according to their bio on Fredericia’s website.

The pieces of Hook Me Up are put together like a linear puzzle, opening up on each side to offer a hook for your scarves, sweaters, jackets, etc. Visually, it’s very much like the Barrel O’Monkeys game that my grandmother still keeps in her drawer for ‘us kids’ to take out and play at Christmas after all of these years.

Neverming the desire to be efficient and tactful, take your time to play with the idea of a hanging coat rack and use its wavy spine to express yourself by draping whatever you please.

Shoppers eager to nab discounted furniture at cut-rate prices may soon be able to bypass Craigslist and head straight to the mother ship of cheap home furnishings: IKEA. A few days ago on August 28, the Swedish furniture company started selling second-hand Ikea products online in Sweden and they intend to extend this idea to other foreign outlets. Here is what Peter Agnefäll, CEO of IKEA Sweden told the daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter about this innitiative : “It is about taking an environmental responsibility for how our products are used in the longer term and making it easier for our customers to do their part for their responsibility towards the environment.” We can say that this is a nice step toward sustainability, but in the same time we’re wondering about the quality of the pieces that will be sold. Finally would you buy second-hand furniture from IKEA ? And what do you think about this idea ? – Via - Time

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Designer Roberto Paoli professes an interest in the “lightness” of objects. The declaration takes me back to college English, when I first discovered the great writer Italo Calvino (a compatriot of Paoli’s) who talked about striving for the very same: “my working method has more often than not involved the subtraction of weight. I have tried to remove weight, sometimes from people, sometimes from heavenly bodies, sometimes from cities; above all I have tried to remove weight from the structure of stories and from language.” Calvino’s take is more of an ineffable concept than Paoli’s, but the comparison is apt, especially given the compelling aesthetic of Paoli’s Nixon Bed for Sphaus. A study in stripping away superfluity, Nixon is comprised of naught but 16mm tubing and upholstered wood.

Nixon Bed. Designed by Roberto Paoli for Sphaus.

The dominant impression of the piece is what Paoli describes as “suspended” lightness—referencing the visual impression that the stripped-down piece leaves on viewers. Nixon’s adherence to the bare essentials gives one the sense that the bed is not so much a traditional box spring, mattress, and frame (in fact, it’s certainly not), but rather an idea that captures the pure essence of “bedness.” Nixon is thus a furnishing we can feel better about—it seems less oppressive in terms of its materiality, space requirements, and sense impression.

Nixon has functional merits as well. Devoid of a bulky two-piece mattress, a heavy frame, and a weighty internal structure, it is easy to move and easy to incorporate into existing schemes. The subtle embossed zig-zag in contrasting thread on the headboard is its only bit of flair, and this slight embellishment only adds to its lightness, to the sense that sleeping on it would be akin to suspension in mid-air.

Via DesignMilk.

As we begin the Labor Day weekend, I am prone to ponder the moratorium on “wearing white” after Labor Day.  I am a relatively newly relocated East Coast-er and I am just beginning to grow accustomed to the change of seasons and all that implies.  The transition from summer to fall brings subtle shifts in weather, emotions, expectations and perhaps most importantly – fashion and design :)  I will pack away my favorite white pants (that have the perfect hint of stretch) and nautical themed tops, but I will keep the memory of my first swim in the Atlantic and first Yankees game (Yay?  Boo?) close to the surface.

Here, one final ode to summer. A last celebration of white in all its glory, as expressed through flowers.  With the assistance of the sensational photographer Jennifer Davis, I treated these soft, white arrangements like little supermodels and set them about to strut their stuff on a blazing, hot day in a city park.  Farewell, summer. -Sarah

CLICK HERE for more images and Sarah’s how-to for creating this arrangement after the jump!

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Dedo is a furry message board by Gonçalo Campos on which you can draw your message or a picture by simply dragging your finger in the opposite direction of the (artificial) fur growth. Doubling as a decorative piece, Dedo offers a fun new way to communicate in an artistic way.

Dedo is available for purchase from Gonçalo Campos’ website or from Arcademi.

© 2010 Design Milk | Posted by Jaime in Home Furnishings | Permalink | No comments | Tweet This | Share on Facebook

Are you perhaps dreaming of a house made of hemp? I never had until earlier today—constraining my visions of domestic bliss to homes made of straw bales or even timber with straw/clay infill—then I happened upon this: “The house you don’t need to render, plaster, paint or insulate. The house with the building material that you can grow on one hectare (2.5 acres) of land. The same building material you can process yourself with standard machinery available at your hardware store. The house whose walls lock away over 110 kg (240 lb) of carbon per cubic metre.” And, I might add, the house that all the huffing and puffing of the big bad wolf will fail to budge, such is the strength of Hemcrete, a substance that’s the vegetable equivalent of the fruits of the labor of Klara Marosszeky of Australia’s Northern Rivers Hemp, Inc.

Cottage in Australia made from Hemcrete.

The new building material represents a revolution in hemp building, since it incorporates the entire hemp stalk via rendering and mixing with lime plaster. The method avoids the costly and energy intensive process known as decortication, meaning, effectively, that you can grow your own house on your very own land. Since hemp cultivation is—ahem—frowned upon in the U.S., the prospects for widespread use of the material state-side might seem dim. Yet Asheville, North Carolina’s Push Design somehow managed to source the stuff and build a 3400 sq. ft. house for two prominent Asheville residents (former mayor Russ Martin and his wife Karen Korp).

House in Asheville, North Carolina made from Hemcrete.

Interior of Hemcrete house in Asheville, North Carolina.

Forming the Hemcrete walls.

Designer Klara Marosszeky, of Northern Rivers Hemp, Inc., standing next to Hemcrete.

Hemcrete is somewhat similar to non-load-bearing straw bale construction. The house is conventional stud framing with Hemcrete infill. Once studs are up, builders erect forms and fill them with the newly-mixed substance, which then hardens to provide a breathable, sound-proof, and energy-efficient insulation. The substance effectively functions as the building’s skin as well, requiring for finishing only an interior and exterior application of stucco. Use of Hemcrete thus saves time and money because it’s faster than traditional construction and requires fewer materials: say goodbye to plywood sheathing, odious fiberglass insulation, troublesome vapor barriers, and—most especially—crumbly drywall. Nor do you need to paint a Hemcrete wall since lime stucco can be tinted before application.

Anthony Brenner and David Mosrie of Asheville’s Push Builders are especially optimistic about the domestic use of Hemcrete. According to Brenner, the material “offers incredible benefits to the homeowner and environment alike… a ‘carbon negative’ breathable wall system that is both energy efficient and produces indoor air quality beyond any other building system available today.”

Via TreeHugger.

If you didn’t already know it, I spent a lot of time watching HGTV’s Design Star show this year. Emily Henderson, 30, a prop stylist originally from Portland, OR, is the season five champion, and she writes a cute blog called The Brass Petal. Her style is quirky, eclectic, and while it leans more toward bohemian chic than it does modern, I think she is refreshing, down-to-earth and speaks my language.

As much as I would love to love fine art, I’m secretly much more interested in commercial art. The fact that you have to sell something while being creative should be some sort of artistic buzz-kill. So when it’s done well, I think it can be even more masterful, more provocative than fine art. Oh, and it can pay your rent, and that never hurt anybody.

1. The Roland Bello/Robyn Glaser team
This is the duo (Roland shoots, Robyn styles) that was behind the Anthropologie catalog for years, the new re-designed West Elm catalog and a trillion Gourmet and Domino editorials that are ridiculously awesome and make me want to cut someone. They set trends in the commercial photography world that filters down into the interior design world very quickly. They create worlds where beautiful people do weird things so naturally, and so provocatively that you can’t help but project yourself into the world. I doth obsess.

2. This photo
This picture had me at ball-fringe. I don’t know who took it, who styled it or what country or year its from. Its weird and unexpected and — AH — I just want to be there. And who, for the love of god, owns of the outfit hanging on the wall? Who???? My secret lover, perhaps? Who plays me love songs on one of his three guitars, as we sit in the parlor swinging in my wicker chair, whilst running my fingers through his leather fringed pants… I dream of this space, and I kinda think it changed my life when I saw it.

3. Photographer Mikkel Vang and this spread from Vogue Living
I love the masculinity in such a “decorated” space. The strange timelessness of the space is intoxicating. It begs the question: What did you win those trophies for, huh? And what exactly are you typing on the typewriter? Have you no laptop? Did it break? Don’t you have Apple care?

4. Prop stylist Christine Rudolph
I mean, I can just stare and stare at these photographs for hours, a la double rainbow, WHAT DO THEY MEAN??? And my god, that black horse lamp is large and makes me feel funny.

I long to be as cool as Christine.

5. Prop Stylist Cindy DiPrima
Granted I worked for Cindy for years and I’m a bit biased, but I think these still life shots are some of the most beautiful ever styled. I want to look like how these photos smell. It tells a story that is at once kinda creepy and totally romantic, and plays with more than just our visual sense (these were shot by Kana Okada, and I love her too).

© 2010 Design Milk | Posted by Jaime in Home Furnishings, Interior Design | Permalink | 3 comments | Tweet This | Share on Facebook

*Image from All About You.

Growing up, my mom was continually redecorating our surroundings. Although we moved rather frequently, once we were situated somewhere, it wouldn’t be long before my older brother and I would come home from school only to hear mom’s inevitable “What if we moved the couch to the other wall and put the love seat over here?” I picked up the rearranging fever from her, continually tweaking and curating my bedroom as I grew. My redecorating M.O. always followed the same course: I’d take any and all decorative items and put them on my bed; after careful scrutiny, I’d redistribute them in new locations, deciding along the way that some just didn’t make the cut with my current aesthetic preferences. Even now, as an adult, I can’t tell you how many times in my dreams I revisit the bedroom I kept from ages 10-14, switching out the Holly Hobby bedspread for something with a deep, rich, geometric pattern and replacing the “New Kids On the Block” posters with a gorgeous mirror or whimsical wire sculpture.

When the seasons change, I get the redecorating itch, big time. If you get it too, a great place to begin is in the bedroom. Today’s “Small Measures” then focuses on ways to stylishly green-up and remodel the place in which we all spend about a 1/3rd of our lives. If you want a new look, but can’t shell out the cash to build the walk-in of your dreams (or you’re a renter and that’s just totally not even an option), consider these chic environmentally-friendly means of tricking out your current digs in a more favorable (green) light.

*Image from Re-Nest.

1) VOC-free paints- Whether it’s an entire room you wish to renew or simply one wall, a fresh coat of paint can transform a weary room in hours. Paints free of Volatile Organic Compounds (organic compounds with gases that can prove harmful to the environment and humans over time) are quite easy to come by these days, and at great prices. When we were setting up Nugget’s nursery last month, we scored a gallon of mossy green “Globe Artichoke” by Olympic Paints at our local big box retailer. It’s amazing, having painted more rooms than I care to remember, how conspicuously absent of smell V.O.C.-free paints are. Re-Nest has a fantastic round-up of V.O.C.-free and non-toxic paints here.

*Image from Go Natural Baby.

2) Eco Linens-Fresh sheets, comforters, quilts, and duvet covers can instantly transform the look and feel of your bedroom. A number of suppliers carry luxurious, silky smooth organic cotton and all-natural offerings. I’m a big fan of bamboo linens. Bamboo contains a high degree of inherent antibacterial and antifungal properties. As such, they’re able to repel insects (including fleas and bedbugs), germs, and even bacteria (research conducted in China showed bamboo sheet’s ability to repel the Staphylococcus aureous bacteria, responsible for most staph infections, even after a 24-hour exposure period!).

3) Natural Materials Mattress-While one of the more expensive means of redecorating and greening your bedroom, an all-natural mattress might be your best long-term investment, at least as far as your health is concerned. Conventional mattresses are chock full of synthetic materials, including dyes, formaldehyde, fire retardants, and chemicals used in resisting stain and water damage. These chemicals all give off gases that have both known and unknown long-term effects on human health. Mattresses made of wool, organic cotton, and latex are all available and are known for both their comfort and durability. We’re picking up organic mattresses both for our wee one’s Moses basket rocker (where he’ll spend the first few months of his life beside our bed) as well as for his crib, as the developing respiratory and neurological systems of babies are especially vulnerable to the effects of off-gasing chemicals.

CLICK HERE for the rest of Ashley’s post after the jump!

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when i’m out shopping i have a hard time resisting a beautiful cut-paper card. if the color beneath the cut-out is just right, i’m basically already pulling out my purse to see how many i can fit inside. so when i saw these simple but sweet cards from stephanie at coral & tusk i was sold. the grey lock and peachy orange fox are right up my current color alley so i think i may have to splurge on a few of these. stephanie also makes adorable “embroidered paintings” that are as soft and sweet looking as the animals she depicts. if you have a little one on the way, these would be perfect for a nursery. click here to check out (and shop) stephanie’s full collection online.