Friday, January 29, 2010

Happy birthday!

SF Green Labs is now one year old. Thanks to everyone who has helped by reading, sending it tips, and especially to the designers who created all the fabulous, inspiring, and wonderful eco-goodness that has graced our pages. Now we're off to eat some organic chocolate cake and make a wish on our soy candles.

We'll be back at it with new posts next week.

Cheers!
Katie and Tricia

Images from Flickr member StOrmz. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Etsy-licious: short circuit

There are a lot of people out there making recycled circuit board coasters and clipboards, which are usually just boards cut to shape. Then there's Debby Arem, who brings an artist's eye and discipline to the design of housewares, office supplies, and jewelry. Her work is in museum shops and galleries all over the world, but she's not too fancy to have an Etsy storefront, too. Some of the pieces are so well thought out that you hardly notice the circuit boards. I especially love her lamps and switchplate covers.
But by far, my favorite piece in her shop is this ornate recycled cigar box. Just lovely.
Images from Debby Arem Designs.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Robert The: Bookworks

Conceptual eye candy: Artist Robert The makes art and objects from vintage books.
I love the broom! You can see more great photos in his online portfolio.

Images from Robert The. Thanks to NotCot for the tip.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Sans Parapluie Wardrobes

One way to spruce up that curb find or second-hand furniture find is with a fresh coat of paint. If that’s too dull for your tastes, you can always do something more like this:

Sans Parapluie (aka Lucas Rise) out of Buenos Aires features elaborate paint designs on salvaged armoires. It may not be for everyone, but it’s pretty amazing.

Images from Sans Parapluie. Thanks to Re-Nest for the tip.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Vintage glass insulator pendants

Following up on our seltzer bottle lights, these are made of vintage glass insulators.

2013 update: Napa Style is out of stock, but you can get them from the manufacturer at RailroadWare.

Images from Napa Style. Thanks to Remodelista for the tip.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Pendants made from vintage seltzer bottles


Everyone is making cool lights from salvage things these days. These gorgeous pendant lights are made of vintage seltzer bottles. On sale at Sundance.


Images from Sundance.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Rope is where it's at

No need for glue or screws. Rope is where it's at.
"Aïssa Logerot took into account packaging, transportation, storage, mounting, dismantling, and of course, mantling."
More photos at Yanko Design.

Images from Yanko Design.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Yummy! Felt and steel ribbon stool


Steel and felt concept stool by designer Nathalie Nahas. Does the form look familiar?
Felt meets ribbon candy. Delicious!

Images from Nathalie Nahas (and Oh! Nuts). Thanks to NotCot.

Monday, January 11, 2010

If the Man in Black were a designer....

...he might have put this in his pad.

In the words of the immortal J. Cash

I fell into a burning ring of fire.
I went down, down, down,
And the flames went higher.

And it burns, burns, burns--

The ring of fire...

The ring of fire...


ROLL FIRE is a bio-ethanol fireplace, and yes, it really rolls. Made of powder-coated steel, ceramic, and glass. It's German and expensive and, well, just
über
.

Images from Conmoto. Thanks to NotCot for the tip.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Taggers' (de)light, round 2



Remember the spray can lamps we covered before? Here's another take on those, as pendant lights. From Slovenia's Zek crew.

Images from Zek. Thanks to Apartment Therapy for the tip.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Recently extinct wooden toys

From the artist: "Handcrafted wooden toys of recently extinct animals. I selected these four creatures for their beautiful shapes and patterns. Choosing an anthropomorphic approach, I designed them with simplified, humanistic shapes and statures. Once unfolded, the packaging becomes an information graphic about the animal inside. These toys are meant to incite wonder and interest in creatures that existed only a short while ago."

Images from Josh Finkle. Thanks to NotCot for the tip.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Design*Sponge sneak peek: Thomas Wold

Our latest design crush offered up his home for a sneak peek on Design*Sponge. Some of our favorite pieces ended up in his house.

Images from Design*Sponge.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Everything in its place

We're going to kick off the new year with a little inspirational eye candy--Lovely bits of retro this and that, put together brilliantly by artist Michael Johansson. This guy has a knack (OCD talent?) for making things fit just-so. I'd love a tour of the studio where these things come together.
My favorite is this one, with 5 solid forms, each the same size, and each comprised of smaller and smaller boxes.

Images from Michael Johansson. Thanks to Design*Sponge for the tip.