DAILY DANNY

Stringy Chairs

I was recently in Los Angeles for the Southern California Home & Garden show.    On my way to Anaheim, I spent the night in Beverly Hills at the Avalon Hotel.   It's a former retirement home-turned-boutique hotel that's been around for a few years.

As an editor with Country Home magazine, my aesthetic is normally drawn to a more comfortable and Americana style...not a modernist one.   But still, I can appreciate good design when I see it.

These chaise lounge chairs are simple aluminum frames with super-durable string just wrapped around and around the frame.    Quite comfortable, actually.   

But the flea market junkie inside of me wonders if I could make this.  Could I go find some old outdoor furniture, remove the plastic straps, strip the paint off to reveal the galvanized finish, and then wrap rope around and around to re-create this?

When I move to a new home with a big backyard, I'm going to give that idea a try.    It's either going to be spectacular or the biggest DIY disaster of my life.   

Flower Groupings

I have never been a fan of orchids.     Whenever I see them in a room or at the nursery, I always felt it looks too spare and simple.    Plump green leaves with a spray of white or purple flowers just dangling in the air.     I'd rather have a houseplant that was lush and full so that it made a statement.   

Then I saw this: a white orchid arrangement grouped together in a round, concrete bowl.

How amazing is this?    I went to the store to try to re-create this arrangement and needless to say all I'm going to show you now is the arrangement that I shot with my trusty digital camera.  Why?   Because orchids are expensive.       At $30 a piece I would need 6 or 7 plants, a bag of green moss and a large bowl to re-create this.   That's about $300.    

But if you have orchid plants scattered here and there throughout your house, consider this singular, bold orchid arrangement an idea.    And if you do it, shoot a pic and send it my way!

Eco Picnics: CBS THE EARLY SHOW

Tune in this Friday, August 31st to CBS The Early Show to learn how to throw an eco-friendly picnic, just in time for Labor Day.  This is part of my regular series "Going Green."

We'll cover everything from the outdoor furniture to the briquettes to the tabletop items you need to throw a stress-free and eco-friendly backyard fete.    Lots of ideas and items won't cost a lot either; we've really searched far and wide for the best of the best.    

Tune in this Friday, 7-9AM on CBS.

Microfiber Obsession

The other day, something occurred to me:  I haven't bought a roll of paper towels in a very, very long time.

In the past, I always bought 100% recycled paper towels from the health food store.    They were handy because you could just rip off a sheet and clean-up spills, shine-up a dirty window or---when the dishtowels were in the wash---dry off your hands.

But about a year ago, I discovered microfiber towels and didn't realize how obsessive I would become about using them.    They have totally replaced my need for paper towels.  Completely.

Microfiber towels are literally millions of microscopic fibers that grip onto dirt and bacteria.  They are extremely thirsty (translation: they soak up water) and they don't leave streak marks on virtually any surface.

I started using them around the house: wiping down the sink and surfaces in the bathroom...shining up the counter tops in the kitchen...removing scuff marks off the floor....cleaning furniture...wiping dust off the TV...basically, anything that needed to be cleaned got wiped with a microfiber.

Then I started taking them outside to wipe down windows, outdoor furniture, remove cobwebs from the corners of the home, cleaning the inside glass panes of outdoor light fixtures.

And when they got dirty, I just saved them all in a bucket and washed them together in the washing machine.   No drying needed; just wash and take out of the machine after a spin cycle.

I've used them for a year now and they look and work just as good as Day 1.  In fact, the more I use them, the better they seem to work.

Have any of you made the micro switch?

Do Just One Thing

In a few days, my new one-a-day calendar Do Just One Thing will hit bookstores.    I know, it's a bit early to start thinking 2008, but that's the way the calendar business works.

I thought I would share a sneak peek at the calendar with you.    There are 366 daily tips in the book that are truly easy, really green and seasonal in nature.   Instead of writing up a tip, like, "put solar panels on your house" it's more realistic on little things that you can do each morning or night as you tear off a page.  And just fyi: the calendar is made from recycled materials and the entire casing is returnable to the publisher for recycling.   

Tuesday

January

15

Winter Warm-Up Week: Make sure the damper on your fireplace is completely closed.  Keeping a damper open all winter long is like having a small window open. Brrrr! Not sure if it’s open or closed? Place a featherweight plastic bag (like a grocery store bag) in the fireplace; if it flutters, it’s probably open.     By keeping the damper closed, you’ll keep cold air from seeping in, saving you energy & money.   

Friday

March

14

Green Bathroom Week:   Speaking of toothbrushes, the next time you’re feeling under the weather, be sure to disinfect your toothbrush when you’re finally rebounding.    If you don’t, you risk re-infecting yourself simply by brushing your teeth!    To disinfect, place a wet toothbrush in the microwave for about a minute on high; it’ll radiate the germs away.   When in doubt, replace the brush with a new one (what an opportune time to give an eco-friendly Recycline brushes a try!).

Wednesday

July

16

If you can’t break your daily diet soda habit, skip the plastic bottles for aluminum cans.   It’s the greenest way to quench your thirst since aluminum is easily recyclable and can be recycled into brand new soda cans. Plastic bottles are recyclable, but are A: hard to recycle and B: can’t be recycled into new plastic bottles.   Fact: Nearly 50% of all soda cans are re-collected for recycling.    A good start, but we can do better!

Thursday

December

11

Small marks, scratches and scuffs on your wooden table, chair or dresser can be covered up with a trip to the pantry.   Simply rub a walnut into the scratch; the natural oils in the nut will conceal the scratch marks.   

Tuesday

December

30

The Day After Christmas Tips:    It’s easy to make a mini-version of the

Times Square

crystal ball for your own New Year’s Eve party!    Just bundle your holiday lights (about 4-6 strings of lights) into one giant ball, plug into an extension cord, and hang from the ceiling.    3!  2!  !! 

Bring Your Own Bag Test: Michael's

I've blogged before about bringing my own reusable bag to unconventional stores.      If you're like me, you bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store and if you live in a community like mine, the supermarkets are more than happy to let you use your own bags.

But what if you bring your bags to non-grocery stores?     In the past, I've written about bringing my own bags to Target, only to be met with confusion by some checkout clerks (they wondered where the price tag was) to totally being agreeable to putting my purchases into one bag.

So, I thought I'd continue the test.   This time, Michael's Arts and Crafts store.

I had to go to Michael's to buy some heavy and delicate crafting supplies: colorful bags of sand, jars of paint, brushes, some colorful beads, ribbon and wire.     I needed these things to make projects for my column in Country Home magazine and for some projects for Method Home.  When my basket was loaded up, it weighed approximately 20 pounds.      

Now, in a normal situation, Michael's would probably bag everything in about 5 or 6 bags.  The heavy bags of sand would get double-bagged---separately---and the more fragile items would also get bagged separately and whatever was left would get it's own bags.    So, I would walk out with lots of plastic bags from the store checkout counter to my car, which is only about 30 feet away.

The first mistake I made was that I put my reusable bag on the bottom of the basket, loaded up my purchases on top, and then proceeded to empty the basket onto the counter.   "No wait...I brought my own bag...don't start ringing up until I can actually get to my bag!"    

So, this teenage kid just stood there, watching me furiously unload the craft items (as if I am being timed or something) until I got to the tote.        Since the counter was now full of items to be paid for, I had no place to put the bag.   So, I stood there...holding it...so once each item was scanned, he could just toss it into the bag.

While this may not have gone as smoothly as planned, it did result into something surprising: everything fit into one tote bag.  Heavy items on the bottom, fragile items on top.       It was easier to carry just one tote bag than 6 little bags.

And the best part?    The response from the teenage checkout clerk: "I can't believe how much you can fit in just one bag." 

Some Questions Answered

I’ve been on the road for a good two weeks now producing photo shoots for Country Home magazine, speaking at some home & garden shows and filming segments for CBS The Early Show.   Today, however, I am home in Bucks County, PA and decided it would be a good time to answer questions left on this blog.   So, here we go:

1. From Ali:  “When you were on the CBS morning show yesterday, you mentioned solar panels specific for older homes or homes in picky developments that could be incorporated with the shingles.  Are those made by Sharp?”

Yes,  they are integrated panels that you screw directly into your roof, instead of having large panels jetting out.  You can learn more at http://solar.sharpusa.com/.

2. From Jorie:  “Patty has a great idea. If Method is really looking ways to improve their already good environmental record refills are the way to go. Danny, please spearhead the campaign!”

Method does have refill sets for lots of products, but it’s really in the hands of the retailers if they sell it in stores.     I’m totally on board with you about refills, but the reality is lots of stores don’t carry them because they don’t think the customers want them.    To have your local store carry them, fill out a comment card or tell the manager!   You can also pick them up at www.methodhome.com.

3. From DawnMarie:  “My husband and I do not wear shoes in the house.  The only thing I am not comfortable with is how to deal with that issue with guests.  I want my home to be warm and inviting and I do realize not everyone takes their shoes off.  Still trying to balance making guests comfortable and how I would like to conduct my home.”

In my book Simply Green Parties, we put together an eco-housewarming that involved guests leaving shoes at the door.  What I like to do is buy brand new socks---the really cozy, thick, comfy ones---and leave them in a basket by the door.  So if guests take off their shoes to reveal bare feet, they can cozy up with socks.    Let the guests keep the socks at the end of the party.

Solar Light Easy Fixes

Lots of us have discovered outdoor solar lighting and for good reason.   It's easy to find (lots of big stores carry it like JC Penney), affordable and it's convenient.  The lights use the power of the sun to charge a built-in rechargeable battery; at night, a photo sensor detects darkness and illuminates an LED bulb inside to glow, glow, glow.

But even though the LED bulbs are estimated to last around 11 years, you still need to do a little maintenance to make sure your solar lights perform as good as they did on the first day you put them out.

The easiest thing to do?   Grab the lights and wipe them down with a microfiber or terry towel.  Remove all the dust, pollen and cobwebs that have formed and especially wipe down the solar panels.    Dirty panels have a harder time charging up, so a little cleaning goes a long way for better light.

If the light itself isn't working at all at night, it might be time to replace the battery.  Look for new AA rechargeable batteries at your local electronics store and swap them out.     And be sure to recycle your old rechargeable batteries.   Visit www.rbrc.org to find locations near you (stores like Radio Shack and Best Buy will take them for free).

Recycled Tires

I've seen lots of products in the marketplace made from recycled tires.   And I'm glad.    There are million of tires being discarded every year and it's imperative we find solutions to recycle them.   I've read stories where tires get crushed and used in roadways.   Or they are shredded and made into doormats.    Some have even become mulch used in playgrounds as soft and rot-resistant surfaces.

All good ideas.

But I like seeing artisanal quality items that make use of unusual materials.    At the NY International Gift Fair, I saw these Israeli made recycled tire journals and wallets.     Nothing new in the design world...but I loved the cleanliness and simplicity of the design.     You can tell the design painstakingly went through discarded tires to find the most interesting markings and surfaces to work with.

I may have to get one of these wallets for myself.

Tea Time

OK, this idea is a little out there, but I think it's clever. 

Teacups and saucers glued (and we're talking GLUED here) to a piece of decorative wood.  In the center, dial hands tell the time.    What time is it?  Three-Thir-tea?   

ha ha.  I couldn't resist.

Recycled Glass Accessories

At the NY International Gift Fair last week, I spied a few eco-friendly items here and there and thought I'd share them with you.   First up: great recycled glass home accessories from Peddlers Design.   (They have a website, but it's password protected since they only sell wholesale...so I didn't link it).

Here's a lovely cloche being repurposed as an art piece with books stacked inside.    I could imagine a million things a giant cloche could cover.   For those of you who are wondering what a cloche is, it was designed to be used in the garden in early spring to keep tender plants warm in case of frost.      It's like a mini-greenhouse.    You could also put a potted orchid underneath inside the home, too.

Love these.   The wobbly, organic texture is really great and the greenish-tint of the recycled glass works perfectly with it all.   A+

How cool!  They look like vintage stage lights made into recycled glass organizers.   Here, it's hold all sorts of office supplies.  I can imagine leaving it outside and finding some bird building a nest right inside...

Pure Water 2 Go

 

Well, I blogged a bit back about ordering a refillable plastic water bottle that came with a screw-in filter.   You basically fill it up with tap water, screw on the filter/lid and squeeze out fresh tasting water.   A great idea for those on-the-go and especially handy at the gym.

I got my two bottles today and wanted to share how the process works.   First, you take the black filter and snap it into the cap, like this:

Then you up the bottle with tap water and squeeze out the water into the sink.  This flushes everything out to get it ready for personal use.    Fill it up with cold water and go.  It really is this simple.

The bottle says it's good for 200 refills, which saves me about $200 from buying bottled water at the gym.   And you can order filter refills through their website, so the bottle itself is reusable.   And recyclable if that day should ever come.

I keep one bottle filled and chilled in the fridge at all time.    Really, I couldn't be happier with this product.

Inside Out Books

I've been trying to think of unusual ways to display and organize books in my house.    I've taken the dust jackets off and organized them by color, so there are rows of black, white, red, navy and grey books across the shelves.

I've wrapped books in wax paper, so it creates a frosty sheen on the jacket.   This works great with my cookbooks, protecting them from spills and splatters as you cook.

So, here's another idea:  turn them so the pages face out and spines face in.     I spied this in a home design store and took a photo.   I thought it looked cool, but the inevitable question is this: how do you know which book is which?   

Mohawk Insider Info

As a magazine editor with Country Home magazine, I get invited to a lot of press-only events around the country.   I've already blogged about the Mohawk carpet event, but I was going through my digital camera and realized I also took shots of all the information signage at the event, too.   Thought you'd find it interesting.

Here's some info on Mohawk's EverStrand program, which makes them the #1 biggest recycler of plastic water and soda bottles in the country.   Their carpets are made from 100% post-consumer recycled PET plastic.    Pretty impressive.

This one is a bit more scientific, but Mohawk has partnered with Dupont to create SmartStrand, which is a blend of traditional nylon carpet (petro sourced) and renewable strands (from corn, sugar) which saves about 1 gallon of gas per 7 yards of carpet.

And who knew about tires?   They recycle 30 million pounds of tires a year to make door mats.    There are so many tired in the US that end up getting landfilled, that it's truly ridiculous.   This, my friends, is a very good thing.

Crate and Barrel Eco Sofa

In 2001, I published a book called CONSCIOUS STYLE HOME that was one of the first books on eco-friendly home design.   Back then, you couldn't really find upholstered green pieces of furniture; if you wanted some green, you had to do it yourself.

One of the tips in the book was that you could bring your own fabric to Crate and Barrel have them create custom slip covers or custom upholstery.     I brought a bolt of Polish hemp fabric and had some pieces made, at a great cost.

Fast forward seven years and lo and behold, Crate and Barrel is selling eco-friendly furniture.  It's right on the sales floor and can be yours if you're in the market for a new sofa.

Welcome to the eco-cottage, indeed.     I love the fact the cushions use soy-based foam, which is a renewable resource, instead of petroleum-based ones commonly found in sofas.    Now the big question is, why can't ALL their sofas just go green?   

Anaheim Bound...

If you're in the Los Angeles area, come see at the Southern California Home & Garden Show on August 18th and August 19th.

I'll be speaking on Saturday August 18th at 1pm and 5pm and then again on Sunday August 19th at 1pm and 3pm. 

Learn how to transform your home into a green and gorgeous living spaces, win fabulous prizes from Method cleaning products and ask me whatever green product/decorating/renovation questions you need answered.   

Hope to see ya there.

Animal Shoe-Ins

At the Chelsea Art Museum in New York City, there is an exhibit of animals made entirely from bits and pieces of shoes.   I thought the clever recycling was pure genius and took a few snapshots of these eco works of art to share with you.   

Above is a pack of "bees" flying about.   Don't you love how the shoe pads become wings?

Here's a funny looking parrot-type bird.    Look at the body of the bird; it's an actual sneaker turned upside down.

Scary!  Ha..not really.   But I love how the red lacing on the recycled black bits makes the "feathers" on this flying friend.

The simplest idea:  Take some metal piping and attach the soles of shoes to make leaves.   

And finally, the most amazing giraffe, ever.    It's all leathery bits and pieces from (you guessed it) shoes made into a giraffe. 

Corny Carpet

I'm starting to warm up to the idea of wall-to-wall carpeting.   I recently got a sneak peek at Mohawk's new SmartStrand carpet.      It's an environmentally-friendly revolution in the carpeting industry because it uses a mixture of regular nylon and renewable materials that creates a carpet that is stain-resistant, recyclable and incredibly durable and good-looking.

Unlike most 100% nylon carpets that are made from petrochemicals (a nonrenewable resource) and has that very shiny finish and not-so-soft feel, Mohawk's SmartStrand looks and feels better.     About 1/3 of the material is made from renewable resources from sugar and corn, which is then processed into fibers, mixed with nylon and made into this carpet.    It has a nice, rich feel.

You could spill red wine, mustard and other stain-causing foods on the carpet, forget about it, and clean it up weeks later.    Just wet it down, wipe it up.  It hits stores this Fall.   

You can also check out Mohawk's EverStrand carpet, which is made from 100% recycled plastic soda bottles.     All those bottles you put out for recycling might end up in their factory to be made into carpet; in fact, Mohawk is the country's largest recycler of plastic soda and water bottles.    It's all available in home improvement stores like Lowe's and The Home Depot.

I'm not a Plastic Bag: I'm Marc Jacobs!

I love the fact everybody is talking about reusable shopping bags when you go grocery shopping.

Recently, I went to my store and the I said to the checkout clerk, "I brought my own bags."  As she was ringing up my purchases and handed the bag to the bagboy teenager, she said, "hey, do you bring your own bags?" to him.   He said he tries and they both admitted to being a bit more mindful of reusing bags.   WHOA, I thought.   That never would've happened last year.

So, the hunt for cool and stylish tote bags continues.  Here are two great examples from American designer Marc Jacobs.    They are $12 and available in Marc Jacobs stores around the country: New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and San Francisco.      Room, sturdy and totally reusable.  Pick up a few (I'm partial to the London one) and always have a stash of stylish and practical bags to use.   

Sneak Peek: Ralph Lauren Goes Organic

I got a sneak peek this week at the Ralph Lauren Home corporate offices of their new eco-friendly, 100% organic bedding and towel set called LAUREN SPA. 

I took some snapshots, but haven't yet downloaded the images, so the polo symbol will have to (temporarialy) do for now.

What I can tell you is that the collection is fantastic!     The bedding collection comes in a variety of soothing colors like Sea Mist, Placid Sky, Tidal Pool, Lavender Sunset, Dune and White Orchid.    The plush, super soft towels also come in the same colors.

It hits stores this Fall and online at polo.com.     They aren't inexpensive, as it is Polo Ralph Lauren, their price points do hit at a luxury level, averaging about $80 for a queen flat sheet.    But if you're a savvy shopper who can figure out a white sale, online coupon codes or wait for the product to hit Ralph Lauren outlet stores, you should be able to score a deal on these great organic products...

Going Solar @ Home

Well, today was a horrific, rainy mess in New York City!   And what a day---overcast, dark and gloomy---to demonstrate and discuss outdoor solar lighting!   

For the latest and greatest in outdoor solar lighting, check out this online video at CBSNEWS.COM.     It features everything from choosing the right lanterns to spotlights to gadgets and even Japanese style shoji lanterns that all use solar technology to power up and light up the yard.

Trophy Antlers?

As I've been scouting homes and stores for Country Home magazine (this one is from Dan Marty designs in Los Angeles), I've seen a trend of vintage trophy antlers and stag heads grouped into collections as part of home design.      

That had me thinking: is it cruel to buy vintage pieces of, say, deer antlers/heads that were taxidermied 40 years ago?     I always find it surprising that so many people oppose hunting, but are okay with buying these if they are "old" enough.

In my house, I have wooden deer heads; it's carved wood and no animals were hurt.   But for $1, I bought some antlers mounted to a plaque that I hang outside.   Now I'm having second thoughts.

What age is OK to buy vintage pieces or is it OK at all?

I drink Bottled Water...

 

And it's green!

Lately, I've been having problems using my reusable Sigg water bottle at the gym.   When you're running, the last thing you want to do is stop, unscrew the cap, drink, screw the cap back on and then go back running.

So I found these portable water bottles with a built in feature.  It's from a company called Pure Water 2 Go.   For $12.95, you get a reusable plastic bottle with a carbon filter that screws right in.   Here's a bit of info from their website about the filter:

Used in the Sport Bottles, this carbon composite filter removes 90% of the chlorine & aids in the removal of Lead, Mercury, and Copper at a flow rate of 10ml/sec. It treats up to 80 gallons of water, approximately 3 months of use under normal conditions. There is no sport bottle filter available to the consumer that out-performs this filter. 

So, this one bottle replaces approximately 1000 plastic water bottles.   And, you can either A: replace the filter and reuse the bottle or B: put it out for recycling.       I bought two of these so I always have one filled and chilling in the fridge.   

Solar Week

I picked this up from a small shop near New Hope, PA recently.  It's a radiometer, a glass enclosed device that proved that solar energy could really work.   Basically, the black squares inside the vacuum-sealed device spin when the sun hits them.

So, speaking of solar energy, wanted to give you the heads up that this week on CBS The Early Show, I'll be sharing the latest and greatest in solar gadgets, powering devices and much more.

It all begins on TUESDAY, August 7th.   Learn about integrated solar modules for your roof.   Or a golf cart that's powered by the sun.   Even a jacket that has built in solar panels so it charges your Ipod as you walk to work.

Tune in and let me know what you think.    Let's hope it's a sunny week!

Vegetable Arrangements

What a simple and easy idea.  AND, you can raid the produce section of your grocery store to make them.

Fill a tall vase with water.    Poke in rhubarb stalks.    Twist.   Display.

When the arrangement gets a little funky, pour out the water and throw the rhubarb into the compost.

Wicker Lights

I recently attended an event in New York City to see a sneak preview what's coming coming from Ikea.

There was the typical offerings, but a few surprises mixed in.   As I looked around the loft, I saw these light fixtures all grouped together.     How nice, I thought.

When I spoke to the designer who created these lights, she explained they were made in Vietnam.    Normally, wicker reeds would be soaked in diesel (read: gasoline) to make them pliable enough to be woven into light fixtures like this.  But Ikea insisted they use palm oil instead, which was a much healthier and greener choice, especially for the workers.    Bonus points for that.

What I also liked was how dense the weaving was.    When I peaked inside, I realized you could easily use a compact fluorescent lightbulb to illuminate a room with these.  You'd get a nice crisp light and you'd never realize there was a CFL bulb inside.   

Coming soon to Ikea stores near you....

Wirey Firewood Basket

I've been trying to think of a good, durable solution for a firewood basket for my home.   Right now, I use a large wooden basket that I fill up with firewood in the winter that holds just enough for about a 1 hour burn.   So I have to run back outside in the wintery mess to get more firewood about every hour, on the hour then.

This basket here is something I spied and I loved the loose, organic flow of the mesy wire with the strong durable handles.    I'm thinking of making one myself by finding two long metal handles (or something that's connected so it creates a base for the basket) and then wrapping it all with chicken wire...just layers and layers...letting it be loose and free, but totally functional at the same time, too.

Okay, off I go to Lowe's.   Any good suggestions on a firewood carrier?

More Gramercy Park Hotel...Garden!

One of the prettiest spots in New York City, hands down.  The rooftop garden at the Gramercy Park Hotel makes me wish for a greenhouse or sunroom at my house.    I love the mixing and matching of weather-resistant furniture and mismatched tables.    A vintage metal chair that swings when you sit on it; comfy wicker furniture with equally comfy cushions.  And just lots of sun and rain-loving plants to surround you.

Next house, for sure... this goes into the idea journal...