Category Weekly Columns
The Heart of Art: CastAways
Exquisite silks frozen in time As part of her series, CastAways, artist Nicole Dextras placed these orange silk fabrics out in the ice cold landscape. Once frozen, they resemble natural life forms, reminiscent of women wearing long, flowing gowns. The beauty of this ephemeral art form lies in its brevity and the mystery it leaves […]
Lustables: Weave Credenza
A luscious, woven wood masterpiece made of FSC certified scraps. The Weave Credenza from Structured Green would make a stylish statement in any room. Made entirely of FSC certified wood, the decorative door fronts of this gorgeous piece are made from leftover fragments of wood woven together. It’s worthy of lots of lust as well […]
Lustables: Contemporary Clay Tiles
A modern mix of recycled clay tiles. Fireclay Tile has come up with these six new patterns for its Debris Series made from recycled clay tiles. Already available in 112 colors and a plethora of patterns, this group throws a new mix of cool contemporary into the collection. The tiles are comprised of over 60% […]
Undecorate, Naturally: Part Three
Un-styling your space by just being yourself, continuously. I’m certain we covered close to everything there is to know about the art of undecorating in parts one and two, and it’s almost time to call it a wrap. You know the rules because there aren’t any, other than trusting your instincts. And if your instincts […]
Lustables: Echeveria Wreath
A luscious wreath of rosette succulents. The Echeveria Wreath ($98-108) from VivaTerra is a sculptural blend of the flower shaped Echeveria plant, the most attractive of all the succulents due to its subtle coloring and textural quality. The various hues of pale green and red make it an ideal adornment to your home all year […]
The Heart of Art: Dead Star
A mound of dead batteries is reborn as a colorful sea creature. A battery powers everything from appliances to watches to your car, and when it’s out of juice, well, that’s the end of it. Nowhere else to go but the landfill. Artist Michel de Broin had another idea. He gathered hundreds of old batteries […]
Undecorate, Naturally: Part Two
Un-styling your space by just being yourself, randomly. In Undecorate, Naturally: Part One, we established that the new way to decorate begins and ends with trusting your instincts, choosing what you like and just going for it. There are no wrong answers. The best way forward is straight through your doubts or fears, to the […]
Lustables: Kaktus Stool
An architecturally stunning stool that stands in as a basket. “Beautifully delicate in appearance, unfathomably strong in construction,” the Kaktus Stool ($250) from Artecnica is pretty much perfect. Use it as a stool, of course, or turn it upside down and it becomes a basket. Made from recycled aluminum, designer and Artecnica co-founder, Enrico Bressan, […]
Undecorate, Naturally: Part One
Un-styling your space by just being yourself, naturally. Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about the undoing of decorating. Our piece last week showed us the ins and outs of this new un-style, of letting go of the status quo and allowing a space to be personal rather than perfect. You can go to […]
Lustables: Stripe Paper Bowls
Nothing says sustainable like 100% recycled paper bowls. Serve up something delicious in one of these stylish striped bowls designed by Takumi Shimamura for CUIORA. Available in small ($94) and large ($170), and in a variety of luscious colors, the Stripe bowl is hand-made from 100% recycled paper bands. Find them at Gretel. Look for […]
The Heart of Art: Story Vases
These glass bead vases have an important story to tell. Story Vases are the brainchild of Front, a Swedish design firm made up of three enterprising women who approach their projects with the goal of exploring and exposing more about the process of design. In this case, Front partnered with the Siyazama Project, a collective […]
Lustables: Haskell Outdoor Furniture
Get ready for summer with sustainable outdoor furniture. The Haskell outdoor furniture collection is the perfect blend of modern luxury and simple, fun in the sun. It includes a chair (image above), chaise lounge, occasional table, side table and sultan riser. Prices range from around $1,000 to $2,500 per piece. Not inexpensive, but the company […]
The Heart of Art: Things of This Nature
Intricate watercolor paintings – small in size, big in imagination. These tiny, detailed paintings by artist Wendy Davenport Whatley, invite us into an extraordinary and fanciful version of nature. At first glance, the drawings come across as scientific and literal, but most of the lively, green and growing things in Whatley’s watercolors are figments of […]
Lustables: Not Your Neighbor’s Pet Bed
Designer pet beds stuffed with discarded, recycled plastic bottles. Pets don’t demand much in the way of decor. It’s we, the pet owners, who yearn for stylish and hip in our home, which isn’t easy with furry animals roaming around. But decor and pets just got easier with P.L.A.Y. (Pet Lifestyle and You) Pet Beds. […]
The Heart of Art: Formerly Forever Diamond
A sculptural, formerly forever diamond crafted from salvaged wood. Artist Ron van der Ende’s extraordinary depiction of the diamond given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton in 1969 is oddly apropos considering Taylor’s recent passing. Taylor was inarguably the epitome of “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” In 2009, van der Ende used reclaimed timber […]
The Heart of Art: Fateful Fingerprint
Luxurious silk and sharp acacia thorns as a human fingerprint. Another EcoSalon favorite at Art Basel Miami Beach in December was Italian artist Giuseppe Penone. From afar (image above), his untitled piece on display at the show looks like a blown up image of a human fingerprint. Upon closer inspection (image below), we find thorns […]
Lustables: Heath House Numbers
Ceramics celebrating the unique number fonts of two Modernist masters. Heath Ceramics and type foundry House Industries have joined forces and created these stunning clay tiles ($45 each), in honor of the design genius and number fonts of Neutra (as in, Richard) and Eames (as in, Charles and Ray). Announce your house address with the […]
Lustables: Casanova Sofa
Be wooed by the smooth moves of the Kelly sofa. At first sight, I fell for the Kelly sofa ($2,972 as shown above) and its subtle, svelte curves. Not voluptuous nor androgynous; just the perfect fit for any space. The yellow print upholstery adds a playful beat, but even in a solid hue the Kelly […]
The Heart of Art: Open Space
The sea as “boundless liquid energy” caught frame by frame. The ocean will support, calm and cleanse; it can also crush, destroy and drown. Keegan Gibbs attempts to capture this complexity in his grainy, moving photographs of the sea. A surfer and photographer, Gibbs has a deep reverence for the ocean and its “boundless liquid […]
The Heart of Art: Garden of Eden
It’s what happens when lush plants become wall decor. EcoSalon was at the most recent Art Basel Miami Beach, and caught a glimpse of Doug Aitken’s Sex. A terrarium bursting with exotic flora representing a veritable Garden of Eden, this piece leaves plenty to the imagination. Just don’t tell that to Adam and Eve. Editor’s […]
Lustables: Romantic Ceramic
Have a Heart. Send a Love Letter. Whisper sweet nothings to that special someone (yes, that includes yourself) with the Love is Blind ceramic vase ($87) from Fluke. Created by Canadian artist Jessica Lertvilai, its surface is covered in a relief pattern of a love letter transcribed into Braille. Isn’t that romantic? Editor’s note: We […]
Style Clash: Bohemian Eclectic Meets Globally Eccentric
What happens when one style meets another? Is it catastrophe waiting to happen or is there hope for harmony? That’s why we created Style Clash. Some design styles are more flexible; others force us to stretch outside our comfort zone. Each week we will offer tips for mixing competing styles successfully. What do we mean […]
Style Clash: Streamlined Sleek Meets Wintry Wonderland
What happens when one style meets another? Is it catastrophe waiting to happen or is there hope for harmony? That’s why we created Style Clash. Some design styles are more flexible; others force us to stretch outside our comfort zone. Each week we will offer tips for mixing competing styles successfully. What do we mean […]
Style Clash: Raw and Rustic Meets Smoothly Serene
What happens when one style meets another? Is it catastrophe waiting to happen or is there hope for harmony? That’s why we created Style Clash. Some design styles are more flexible; others force us to stretch outside our comfort zone. Each week we will offer tips for mixing competing styles successfully. What do we mean […]
Style Clash: Purely Classical Meets Glitzy Glam
What happens when one style meets another? Is it catastrophe waiting to happen or is there hope for harmony? That’s why we created Style Clash. Some design styles are more flexible; others force us to stretch outside our comfort zone. Each week we will offer tips for mixing competing styles successfully. What do we mean […]
Style Clash: Country Comfort Meets Simple Scandinavian
What happens when one style meets another? Is it catastrophe waiting to happen or is there hope for harmony? That’s why we created Style Clash. Some design styles are more flexible; others force us to stretch outside our comfort zone. Each week we will offer tips for mixing competing styles successfully. What do we mean […]
Style Clash: Functional Finesse Meets Dark and Dramatic
What happens when one style meets another? Is it catastrophe waiting to happen or is there hope for harmony? That’s why we created Style Clash. Some design styles are more flexible; others force us to stretch outside our comfort zone. Each week we will offer tips for mixing competing styles successfully. What do we mean […]
Style Clash: Old World Meets Sleek and Chic
Style. It’s that ‘je ne sais quoi’ about someone or some place. You can’t put your finger on it, but you like it. Or you don’t. It’s personal and evolves with time and maturity. And then it might change, again. Style is expressed through fashion, music, decor, tattoos. Our style communicates who we are, what […]
