Kenneth Cobonpue's signature furniture designs are made with locally sourced natural and organic fibers. His Chiquita stool, made from rattan poles (rattan is a fast growing type of palm tree), is a wonderful convergence of form, function and fun. While the end of poles may not look like a comfortable place to sit, don't be deceived. Underneath the sticks is a layer of soft, bouncy foam......read more
Rio de Janeiro is famous for its beaches, its carnival celebrations, its rich musical traditions, and the massive Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks the whole city. For environmentalists, Rio is remembered as that hosted the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit, a landmark in global environmental awareness. When the coastal Brazilian city hosts the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, a gigantic......read more
Emeco (Electric Machine and Equipment Company) has been manufacturing chairs in Pennsylvania since 1944. The sustainability-minded company makes sturdy seating out of 80% recycled aluminum, with an estimated lifespan of 150 years and a lifetime guarantee. Now, in a collaboration with Coca-Cola, Emeco goes even greener with its most iconic design, diverting plastic pop bottles from Coke’s......read more
Yanko Design hips us to these fantastic lamps from designer Alex Kovatchev. Looking a lot like industrial-style modern lighting, Wash Lamps are actually made from a washing machine drum (the part you put your clothes in). The holes in the barrel that send water through the machine work to send light around the room. Pretty nifty!...read more
Hailing from a long line of architects and carpenters, Gesa Hansen raids the family archives to create her wonderful line of furniture inspired by mid-century modern Scandanavian design. Now based in Paris, Hansen sources sustainable oak from local forests to produce unique and beautiful pieces under The Hansen Family mark. The limited line includes a curvacious coffee table, a desk with colorful......read more
Sure, you could send that letter on blank paper, unadorned with any neat illustrations. But that would be rather boring, wouldn't it? Spruce up your paper creations with these fun stamps from Yellow Owl Workshop. Handmade in San Franscisco, the set of five natural rubber stamps is mounted on reclaimed maple and nicely presented in a 4 x 8" birch box (also reclaimed, of course). ...read more
These nature-inspired Di Corte wooden chairs offer a dose of the forest in your home. Designed by green furniture aficionados Andrea Magnani and Giovanni Delvecchio, the chairs feature raw bark details intermingling with finished wood. Manufactured in Italy by Resign. ...read more
The work of Singapore-based Guz Architects, who specialize in the design of tropical, eco-friendly buildings and homes, is informed by the firm's earth-focused philosophy. Fish House, designed last year for a seaside location in Singapore, is a nice expression of the company mission. With a fluid structure that creates plenty of open space, encouraging natural ventilation and offering views......read more
Earlier this week, The New York Times business section featured a story on Meyer Wells, a small Seattle company that makes high end, custom furniture from urban trees downed by development, disease or storms. Started four years ago, the company has succeeded in the face of a recessionary economy, with sales pushing $1 million. “I really believe a designer can make better choices, and that......read more
The talk of the town at Design September 2010 in Brussels is an exhibition of Kwangho Lee's work at next-gen retailer/gallery Hunting and Collecting. The show, which is to runs from September 10-30, presents an overview of the talented Korean artist-designer's work and an animated projection of his creative process. Born in Seoul in 1981, Kwango Lee grew up in the remote countryside......read more