One collection we have found offers Type II 54” wide wallcovering that is washable, scrubbable, and breathable. They use water-based inks that contain no heavy metals, the colors and textures are both rich and vibrant, and the papers themselves are interesting combinations of cellulose, natural fibers, and recycled materials.

There are grasscloths made from honeysuckle vines, natural corks in random blocks colored with metallics from mica on cellulose backing. There are sisal coverings from recycled sisal carpets, an organics line made from green tea, coffee, or mugwort. There are lines made from hemp cloth in combination with cottons, rayon, viscose, cellulose, and plant skins.

The inks used in green wallcoverings are water-based, containing no heavy metals such as chromium, mercury, lead or cadmium. There are no VOC’s and consequently no harmful off-gassing. Many are breathable, which aids in reducing mold and mildew on the wall, an excellent solution for areas of high humidity or for people with allergies and chemical sensitivity.

We are always looking for unique bamboo applications, and tambour is just that.

Tambour is a flat paneling material made of kiln-dried strips of bamboo that are laminated to a thin jute or cotton cloth backing. It is sold in 4’ x 8’ sheets that bend and are flexible. It is 3/16” thick, but gives the appearance of solid wood when glued down. There are two color choices: natural (green aging to a honey color within a years’ time) and amber.

It is available in three finishes: raw, unfinished and pre-finished, which comes with a urethane finish. Both the unfinished and pre-finished have been stripped of their bark. All have the distinctive bamboo nodes or knuckles that mark growth.

Energy systems run lights, water, heating and appliances. The material we use to create those parts also affect the amount of energy required to run the system. Solar panels, tubes and skylights end up saving energy and money down the road. Water purification systems save water and money in water purchase. Insulation and updated technologies improve the heating efficiency of the home which in turn saves money. Innovative new system designs are enhancing the look of the home while improving costs.

The flooring material we select should be chosen not only because it looks good and wears well but because it retains heat better than other materials, or is made from a recycled material. Cork holds more heat than tile. Tile can be made of recycled material. Bamboo is a renewable resource. Thinking of the flooring as part of the whole system can again save money, improve performance, and environmental impact.

Sustainable design and building means looking at projects as whole systems of design, landscape, building orientation, and materials that interrelate. The materials we choose, how they are produced, how we get them to the site, what we do with the waste– these decisions all impact our network of relationships.

Buy recycled. Buy natural. Use less toxic material. Think of each piece as a part of the whole–in design, look, performance, and environmental impact. It matters to all us.

Internationally, there has been a demand to develop standards for emission testing on all paints, stains and sealants that emit toxic chemicals and fumes into the atmosphere.

Manufacturers of coatings in Europe now have to decrease volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 70% during manufacture and use. Adverse reactions and damaging side effects are now more regularly noted by both residents in newly painted homes and the painters painting them. Many of the chemical cocktails we have created to finish our buildings are now known to cause serious physical and neurological damage, not to mention the reports of increased immun-system disorders.

Here in the U.S. we are also reformulating and redesigning healthier solutions. If you want to add accents of color to a room, minimize dust on a rough surface, or seal a wood floor from dirt or moisture, there are options to conventional treatments:

• Paints, stains and sealant with formaldehyde, ammonia and benzine removed
• Natural wax finishes and natural oils from wood resin to treat wooden floors and minimize electrostatic charge
• Weather-resistant finishes from tree resins, sodium carbonate and wood ash for outside protective use and to reduce fungal and insect infestation
• Whitewash for plaster that also kills bacteria
• Natural-based paints derived from plants, trees, resins, and waxes to reduce allergic reactions
• Soy-based gels that “eat” the paint off a surface to remove it without using toxic chemicals

We can make surfaces beautiful without sacrificing performance and care or hurting ourselves in the process.

We breathe into and surround ourselves with the bedding frame, mattress, bedding, and pillows. The more natural the materials we use; cottons, wools, linens, natural latex, the healthier the space. Unfortunately, we also inhale whatever finishes, solvents, sealants, preservatives, or treatments have been applied to the materials.

For example, 98% of most of the wool allergies people suffer from usually have more to do with the chemicals that are used to treat the wool than with the wool itself.

It is possible to create a “breathing” bed system of natural and organic materials that is designed much like the human body with a vertebral spine, muscle, and skin. Using Merino wool shorn from living sheep as the bedding material of choice, the Samina bed creates a sleep system that naturally wicks away moisture and humidity from the body, removing toxins and salts from the skin, and inhibiting dust mites.

The natural latex foam core is derived from the purest milk of the Brazilian rubber tree for better elasticity, or “muscular” structure, and the ashwood slatted mattress frame contours to the body to provide better alignment and counter pressure to the natural S-curve of the spine. This bedding system is intrinsically temperature controlled year-round and has stood the test of time since Roman days.

It makes sense to put a little extra care and attention into the place that impacts our health and well-being so much of the time.

In Mexico colorful tinware is made from old cans and hubcaps. In Morocco steel-rimmed tires are fashioned into elegant water urns. Stripped out multicolored telephone cable wire is woven into baskets in South Africa. In Columbia craftsmen weave recycled plastic into baskets in a traditional style, while in Indonesia these same plastics are used to create children’s furniture.

We have a long history of recycling materials in the U.S. as well. Decades ago a practical and instructive practice was to paste newsprint on walls for wallpaper. Children learned to read as a new decorative style was introduced. Today contemporary designers coat floor surfaces in newsprint with clear varnish to complement an industrial style. Recycled glass is appearing in architectural tile and custom slabs for table and countertops. Teak and barnboards are salvaged from buildings and deconstruction sites to be used again in furniture and flooring. Yogurt and milk containers are becoming counters, industrial woodwaste pulp is transformed into floor tiles in a variety of colors. Salvaged doors, shutters, windows, architectural metalwork and trim become focal points for new construction projects even though it their second time around.

Landfills are filling up, toxic runoff from construction and landscape practice is running into the oceans, and incinerators are spewing noxious gasses. While recycling materials for re-use in our homes and workspaces is not a new phenomenon, it is definitely more popular as we recognize the crucial need to be more environmentally responsible. It is necessary, creative, economical, and smart to choose to re-use.

Recycled content ceramic tiles are an underutilized yet cost effective alternative for installations. Their high density and durability increase thermal storage capacity in flooring and structural applications inside and out. High density limits moisture absorption and creates a temperature-resistant surface ideal for both wet and dry surfaces. In addition, recycled- content tiles are also good for passive solar design in climates such as ours, with warm days and cool nights.

For the chemically sensitive, ceramic tile grouted with cementitious mortar offers an inert surface that conforms to ecological standards. Mortars, grout, and adhesives are available for tile installation that are low -VOC without petroleum or plastic additives.

Several companies now make ceramic based tile of 70% waste glass collected from light bulb manufacture and from recycled automobile and airplane windshields removed in routine airplane maintenance. The glass is ground down and mixed with ceramic base and new pigment to create designer line tiles that perform much like a mid-grade Italian porcelain tile. These tiles can be utilized to create and match traditional designs and patterns found in many older homes throughout our area.

Recycled teak is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use in hot and cold climates.

Antique pieces remain from the legacies of the Dutch Colonial erqa, Javanese Sultan’s fine arts, villager folk art, Chinese coastal traders and primitive furniture.

Reproduction pieces are fashioned from salvaged planks by master Indonesian craftsmen to suit market taste.

You know it when you see it- just the right color for the wall, the right texture or finish for the surface. But with paint and surface coatings it’s also important to know what’s in them. That “freshly painted smell” often indicates more than just a new hint of color in the room.

In the U.S. we use more than a billion gallons of paint in a year, not to mention sealants, stains, and clear finishes. Many coatings contain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that, while enhancing performance or surface durability, also cause pollution and health problems. Approximately 60% of the air we breathe in any given space is actually the off-gassing from surfaces in the room. It makes sense to make those surfaces as healthy and environmentally safe as possible.

Advancements in chemistry today allow for better performance and health value in finishes and coatings. More durable finishes are available with fewer toxic solvents in them; water-based varnishes for hardwood and bamboo floors, clear sealants for sealing in VOC’s from existing materials, zero and low VOC paints. Commercial paints are now available that are formaldehyde, ammonia, and benzene-free, good news for the homeowner and painter alike. Organic alternatives to petrochemical paints are also available that have less harmful impact upon the environment and human health in use and disposal.

The indoor environment is now considered ten times more polluted than the outdoor environment -not good for those of us spending most of our day indoors. The effects on us can be both subtle and dramatic, from simple allergic reactions to neurological damage and chronic illness. Paint may seem like a small thing in the scheme of large renovation and building projects, but its impact is huge. Make small changes for a big difference.

Seagrass is one of the smoothest of the available fibers and considered the most stain resistant. Consequently it will not take dye and is available only in neutral colors with accents of other fibers in dyed colors. Jute, on the other hand, is softer and can be dyed with many natural pigments, but cannot withstand a high degree of wear. Sisal, which has been traditionally used in the production of rope and twine and comes from the leaves of the agave plant, rates between the other two for durability and is dyed in a variety of shades and patterns.

Natural fiber coverings are not as resilient as synthetic fiber carpet, but using an underlay improves their performance. Because they are from plant fiber, natural floor coverings are susceptible to mold or rot when used in extremely damp or humid areas such as bathrooms or kitchens. Flat weave mats of raffia, banana fiber or abaca are now designed to withstand more traffic, and some mats, such as seagrass are considered anti-static. Bright sunshine will cause some fading over time. For regular maintenance it is best to vacuum or brush the natural floor coverings, not wash or shampoo them. In all, they are an ecologically sound solution for complementing many looks and styles.

Many people consider it to be one of the “greenest” flooring products available. The essential ingredients are:

• linseed oil that naturally off-gasses to create a surface barrier that prevents bacteria from growing
• cork powder harvested from the outer bark of cork trees grown in Portugal, Spain, India, or other arid climates. The cork is primarily scrap from other manufacturing processes, so it can be considered both renewable and recycled
• wood powder salvaged from sawdust, again a recycled product
• organic and non-toxic pigments to give color and pattern
• limestone as a filler and color agent
• natural jute fiber in an unrefined form that is used to create a stable sheet backing

When compared to other flooring materials, linoleum’s versatility in design and performance make it a natural choice. Where vinyls may have a five-year life cycle based on replacement demand, natural linoleum can last more than 20 years. Its manufacture process extends the color and pattern throughout the material, so that if it does get cut or nicked the same color shows through from below. Its sophisticated color palattes and patterns are designed to support the overall room design, not detract from it.

The combination of health benefits, natural ingredients, and a long life cycle, make linoleum a smart, beautiful and responsible surface solution.

Featured are exclusive floor tapestries inspired by designs from the royal harem Topkapi Palace of Istanbul. This is the first time they have been translated as kilim tapestries since the 1400’s. In keeping with the notion of using natural or sustainable flooring materials, these kilims are a beautiful solution to traditional area rugs.

There are only two places in the United States to view these floor tapestries – Palm Beach and Santa Barbara. Each is handwoven of 100% sheep’s wool and cashmere, dyed with organic vegetable dyes that are non-toxic and colorfast. It takes approximately six months to weave one of these tapestries and another month to wash and prepare for sale.

Custom-designed commission pieces are also available.

These exclusive floor tapestries are only made with excellent grade non-toxic wool that is double-knotted for superior strength. This practice maintains a regular and consistent field. They are the highest source of pride for the Turkish women who weave them.

Cork is not a new finish material -its cultivation is an ancient tradition that has prevailed more than three thousand years because of its care, concern and harmony with nature. The raw cork material is obtained from the bark of the tree in a process called “unmasking”. The tree itself is never cut down and the bark regenerates itself after a few years. 100% of the harvested material is utilized; there is no residue or harmful byproduct going to the landfill. It can’t get more ecologically sound than that.

Cork is uses on floors, walls, ceilings and furniture for quiet, warmth and comfort. It has about 200 million air-entrapped cells per cubic inch that provide outstanding acoustic insulation, with an R value of 3.125. This same density also creates a low level of thermal conductivity, making cork floors comfortable in both hot or cold weather, as well as good controllers of humidity or moisture absorption.

In today’s market, cork is offered in sheets, rolls, tiles, or “floating floor” planks that easily assemble in tongue-and-groove configurations. It is a practical solution for any room that needs a sound barrier; studios, libraries, children’s rooms, or as a warmer more cushioned surface to stand on, as in a kitchen or bath.

So … it is natural and ecological, hygienic and easy to maintain, gives acoustic and thermal insulation, is comfortable to walk on, attractive in its variety of patterns, easy to install, and a very durable and proven building material. Cork appears to be a natural choice.

The baskets in this collection are inspired not only by the work of African indigenous peoples, but by people throughout the planet who live in simple harmony with an awareness of the earth. The materials in these pieces begin as natural leaf sheaths, flower stalks, leaves, and seed pods and are now recycled into these vessels.

Christine says “I strive to take beautiful elements of nature and put them into a context where people will take the time to appreciate their perfection.”.

These pieces are coiled, hand-built or plaited from pine needles, date palm fruit stalks, jacaranda seed pods and leaf sheaths, broom corn, yucca and natural gourds. Christine hopes this work serves to honor the cycles of life and inspire with the elegance of the natural world.

Many of the materials Christine uses are seen in other fiber art pieces throughout the show. Bamboo shows up in baskets, matting, and textile trim. Palm and grass fibers are worn in costume and used as basket structure or mat fiber. The look and finishes vary widely despite the material being the same. This is particularly apparent in Christine’s work.

In both our home and work environments we can take “waste” from one use or application and turn it into raw materials for another.

Recycled coke and beer bottle glass become high-end terrazzo counters or specialty surfaces. Plastic bottles transform into “smart” techno fabric for upholstery and curtains. They look like standard materials yet wear and perform better than many available fabrics. Used car and truck tires become recycled rubber flooring for gyms and playgrounds. Plastic bottle caps convert to ergonomically designed chairs for a home or office. Yogurt containers and pizza boxes become recycled materials for countertops and tabletops in offices, computer stations, or kitchens. Residue glass from light bulb manufacture and airplane windshields turn into glass tile for floors, walls, pools, patios, and fountains. Waste hulls from plants, seeds, and nuts are now made into composite paneling and flooring for home and work interiors. Reclaimed wood from torn-down barns or public buildings such as skating rinks become “new” old wooden floors in homes and offices. Materials and fixtures salvaged from old building sites can add charm and history to a new structure while helping to reduce the amount of deconstruction waste.

So check that trash again. There’s gold in there.

Textiles in Africa have a wide range of uses –– to provide shelter, protection, royal decoration, homage to deities, decoration in shrines, backdrops for ceremonies, transformation in performance. Colors and patterns carry meaning, stories are woven into fabrics of tradition, cultural change appears in the evolution of materials and style of dress. Imported fabrics are often dismantled and recycled into new creative visions.

In all there is a fabulous collection of both contemporary and antique textiles from various parts of Africa –– Asante Kente cloth, Nigerian ceremonial wraps, Kuba cloth, Mali mudcloth, king’s robes, Adinkra cloth, batik, wax-resist, barkcloth, Asafo military company flags.

An on-going market features several well-known African artists in appliqué and wax resist, trade beads, books, house posts, baskets, and ready-to-wear fabrics.

A percentage of the exhibition proceeds go to KIND, an African organization that provides vocational training and empowerment for women and children in West Africa.