Electric Love @ Grain

Today my inbox featured another daily dose of awesome from the folks at Fab*. They highlighted a design studio called Grain out of the Pacific Northwest, with pretty robust sustainability credentials and some charming designs. The prices are pretty high, but there are some nice details here, from the wool felt and bamboo backing on their Bound mirrors to the sweet matchbox packaging for their Electric Love rings.

Now, if you want to make your own reclaimed wire ring, there's a great how-to @ Ecouterre.

Update 8/11: I just saw the rings on sale @ the SFMOMA gift shop. The packaging is just as cute in person!

*If you don't know about Fab, it's worth checking out. Flash sales like all the others (Gilt, etc.), but with a lovely high-design angle, and extremely well curated. You can Google "Fab" and go directly there, or you can click on this link. Full disclosure, if you click on my link, I get some kind of referral bonus. 

Images from Grain.

Bamboo iPhone Case

While the world is jumping on the iPhone/iPad bandwagon, I’m still sticking to my Luddite tendencies and basic flip phone (which, as my husband complains is usually at the bottom of my bag with a dead battery). However, I can’t help but drool a little over all the wonderful design that’s happening in the Apple adjacent spaces. I’m madly in love with these stylish bamboo cases from Grove Made. They have some stunning ones ready to go, or you can upload your own artwork for a custom number.

The cases are made in the USA, and they have an oh-so-clever strategy to use the offcuts to make the packaging, which has an extended life as a mini photo frame.

Packaging becomes photo frame

Images from Grove Made. Via Dwell.

Good as Gold

SF-based furniture designer Dylan Gold soft-sells his green credentials, and his website doesn’t even have the ubiquitous “our corporate sustainability mission” section. His work speaks for itself, featuring fast-growing bamboo in the Twisted console/bookcase (above) and industrial off-cuts in the Wasted line of tables (below).

Lovely things, with a restrained aesthetic tempered by a few quirky details to keep things from becoming too serious. Check out his full portfolio here.

Images from Dylan Gold. Thanks to Dwell for the tip.

Bamboo Barn

Usually we don't post about eco-architecture, as there are tons of other web sites and publications filled with the latest LEED-certifiable technology and how, if you have a zillion dollars, you can use cradle-to-cradle materials in your eco-manse. However, this seemed different. The materials used are modest, and most are locally sourced. The structures are part of a utiliarian set-up, designed as a place to store, fuel, and maintain agricultural equipment, with seasonal capacity for storing hay and grain. The open-air design provides ventilation to help dry bales of hay. All the bamboo is locally sourced, and the big surprise is that this isn't somewhere in Asia, but on the Mason Lane Farm in Kentucky. That's right, this is hand-tied, Kentucky-grown bamboo. My grandparents' farm didn't look like this. Then again, they weren't trying for a LEED gold certification.The second structure on site features panels of corrugated metal, which are typical of rural farm structures. The design details here are minimal, but effective. You can read more about it and see a full slideshow on Archinect. It's a great write-up, with lots of details on construction, materials, and the design philosophy.

Images from Archinect. Thanks to Inhabitat for the tip (Note: Inhabitat cites this as a North Carolina project, but it's actually in Kentucky. For our west-coast readers, there's probably not much difference ;-). However, I spent my summers visiting my grandparents at their Carolina farm, and I couldn't let the error go uncorrected.)

Resources: Ponoko

Laser-cut lamps

Ponoko is basically a mash-up of a high-end laser-cutting service and an Etsy-like online marketplace.

Why do you care?
Tricia, they have 9 delicious colors of wool felt, including fuchsia!
Everyone else? It's a great way for the masses to access reasonably priced laser cutting services, or for a graphic designer to turn lovely 2D concepts into real 3D object.

Adorable rings

Why is it green?
It's not necessarily green, but there are some nice eco-materials (felt, bamboo) in addition to the usual delicious candy-colored acrylic sheets. A well designed laser-cut product also allows for a very efficient use of materials and less waste (note the coiled coasters that get two coasters from each round disk). The most interesting green opportunities lie in the micro-manufacturing angle, with the "factory" located near the designer or the consumer and the designs created on demand.

Cherry wood and bamboo coasters

What if I can't use CAD?
Check out their newest service, PhotoMake. This allows you to upload a hand-drawn sketch. You still have to be computer literate, but it's easier than learning CAD. Imagine taking some inspired doodle created in your notebook margins and turning it into something physical.

The downside to all this goodness?
I offer up a caution from my student days: Access to a laser CAMM can make a designer lazy. Just because you can build it out of flat laser-cut pieces doesn't mean that you should.

Bottom line, if you're quick with CAD and already have a laser-cutter in your shop (or on your speed dial), this might not be for you. But if you want to make some simple prototypes or sell your work, this could be a good venue. Either way, it's a really interesting idea, and the storefront is a great way to connect designers and potential customers.

I'd love to see them expand their selection of materials to include more recycled ones.

So, has anyone used Ponoko? If Tricia or I do a test drive of the service, we'll post a follow-up.

Images from Ponoko (designers listed below)
Lamp by Li-RongLiao
Rings by Isette
Coasters by DEFPOTEC and Tee

Inspiration: Bamboo lighting

February is lighting month here at SF Green Labs, and one of our goals is to highlight local Bay Area artisans. The folks at Branch have exquisite taste, and they are featuring these stunning pendants by Schmitt Design. These lights are designed to warm the traditionally cool glow from a CFL. They are handmade of bamboo veneer, right here in SF.

Available at Branch. Priced from $248, CFL bulb included!

Image from Branch