DAILY DANNY

Architectural Salvage

 

One of the things that I love about New York City is that you can walk down the same street day in and day out and find something totally new and different each time.

Last weekend, I decided to stay in the city (hotel deals were insane) and explore museums, stores and try out new restaurants with friends.   On my way to ABC Carpet and Home to look at area rugs, there was a flatbed truck parked outside with an old man handing out fliers.   There was a store nearby called Olde Good Things and he brought a few old, good, things with him to show.

 

One thing I loved as this chainlink table.   It's like an optical illusion: how on earth are the chains staying upright and not collapsing into a pile?   They are all welded together, piece by piece.   I've always loved these tables after I spied one in the Interface Flor catalog a few months back.   If this is the kind of salvage stuff they have, I think it's worth a visit.

Bamboo Furniture

 

One of the perks of working with JCPenney as their Green Living Partner is that I get to see a sneak peek of things to come for sale at JCPenney.     A few months ago, I had a meeting in one of the product design rooms and kept looking at this outdoor furniture that was stacked up against a wall.   It totally distracted me for the whole meeting until I finally asked, "What is the deal with this bamboo furniture?"    I was told it was their new outdoor line that was coming out for Spring 2009 and, like anyone else, i would need to wait to buy it until then.

 

I have a bamboo grove that grows at my house and I always thought it would be nice to have outdoor furniture that matched that aesthetic.   But unlike real bamboo, this is cast metal to look like bamboo, which gives it durability and makes it totally weatherproof.   Real bamboo furniture would not last outdoors at all.    Above is a lounge chair that was just posted on  jcp.com.    I can already see it on the back patio for warmer weather months....

 

And two matching side chairs.    I wish I could post bigger pics, but these are the best that I have from the website.    For the price, you're getting something really unique, well made and really, truly gorgeous.   I'm placing my order now....

3 Form Recycling

 

A few weeks ago, I hosted a luncheon in New York for magazine editors to preview my new Wholearth Beauty and Bath line coming out this Spring.   The invitations for the luncheon were printed on an eco-resin embedded with real dried flowers.   The material is called 3-Form and it's a nice marriage between modern and organic.   My publicist for the beauty line had some leftover tiles and brought them with her when she came by to visit for the recent magazine photo shoot.  Left with the piles of tiles, I sat here in the craft room and thought up some uses for them.

 

First idea:   I glued four pieces together to make luminaries.  This was so easy: just use the hot glue gun to adhere all the sides together and use a little extra glue to reinforce the sides once everything cools down.    They look so cool.   When you place a candle inside, the whole thing glows and you can really see the embedded flowers.

 

After I made the luminaries, I still had more boards.   And guess what: they happen to be the EXACT size of the panels on the patio door.  So I stood there and just inserted them into the wooden slats and they looks like stained glass (but better!).

 

Here's a closer shot: you really can see the random flowers just floating in the eco resin.    I'm glad these 3 Form boards were dropped off at my house.  It really has added something modern and organic to my craft room.

Contest: Win a Citizen EcoDrive Watch

 

I've been a fan of Citizen Eco Drive watches for as long as I can remember.   It's one of those eco-friendly items that was really made to be more convenient for the consumer, and not so much to be greener to the environment.  But whatever the reason for making them, they are still a great green product that makes other watches look, well, antiquated!

I'm giving away one women's Riva Citizen Eco Drive watch to one lucky Daily Danny reader.   It has $395 retail value and features a stainless steel band, Japanese analog movement and shimmering diamonds around the face of the watch.   Is it just me or are these prizes getting better and better on this blog?

What makes it green?  It runs completely on light power and never, ever needs a battery.  

To Win:

Leave a comment and tell me "What eco tip do you do that helps save time, too?"   For me, I use the dishwasher at home (only when it's full) because it saves water and energy than washing by hand.  

Be sure to leave a way for me to email you in case you win.   The winner will be notified by DannyBlog@aol.com, so ignore any spammers out there.  

GOOD LUCK!

CONTEST IS CLOSED.  THANK YOU FOR ENTERING!   WINNER WILL BE NAMED MONDAY.

Rent a Crate

 

Okay, I tagged this one under "Travel" because I figure if you're moving to a new home, then you're traveling to get there.   I know...it's time to write some new tags for this blog so we don't have 10,000 posts under "Home Design" and ZERO posts under "FILM."   I'll get working on it.

Anyway, I have two pictures that have been living on my digital camera for months now, and I figure it's time to download them and free up some space.   It's from the Greenbuild Conference up in Boston I attended ages ago.    But it's a good one:  RentaCrate.      Instead of flimsy (and let's face it, expensive!) cardboard boxes to put all your belongings in, why not pack up your things in sturdy plastic crates that won't buckle under the weight of all your books.

 

You have a choice of doing the super industrial, heavy duty plastic crates or the less expensive plastic coated reusable cardboard boxes.     The overall message here is simple: you can rent them, use them and give them back when you're done.   You save money, save the hassle of finding boxes and save resources.   Nothing is worse than moving into a new home and either bundling stacks of boxes for the trash or finding a home for them in the basement (where they will never, ever probably be used again).

A+ to this business idea...

E-Cycling

 

Update:  It was painless to do this.  You basically go to the check out area and tell them what you have to recycle.   They look up the brand and type (HP and PRINTER) and scan a bar on a sheet of paper.  It cost me $10 to recycle the printer.   They are running a promotion right now that all Dell computers will be recycled free of charge, so it's worth asking when your type of computer/printer might be recycled.   I got $9 store credit for the ink cartridges, so it really just cost me $1 to recycle it.   Good deal!

I'm going to Staples today to recycle my collection of empty ink jet cartridges and this old HP inkjet printer.

I was going to put the printer up on FreeCycle to see if anyone needed it, but honestly, it would be a cruel joke to play on someone if I actually found a home for it.   This printer is what I call my "Office Space" printer....and I mean, as in the movie.    If you've ever seen that movie, you know one of the characters in the film has had it with the office fax machine and goes to it with a bat.   That's how I feel about this printer.  It jams.  It streaks.  It scans horribly and it always has "data lost" blinking on my computer screen whenever I tried to print.  Trust: it was time to recycle.

I've been bringing my inkjet cartridges to Staples for a while now, and I like the fact they give you $1 $3 in store credit for each one brought in.    But I've never actually brought in a small electronic for recycling yet.  I've read many times you can bring in your old computer, hard drive, and even keyboards and mice.... but I'm curious to see how easy and simple this will be.

I'll report back.

A Day at Home

 

On one of those rare days where I can work from home and sorta “take in” the house a bit, I like to redecorate and mix my to-do list with work things and home projects at the same time.   Today, I did a conference call about my Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo mattress line and then I followed it up by washing all the sheets on the beds and mixing and match new sheets.    Then I edited some copy for my new syndicated newspaper column “Do Just One Thing,” and then I grabbed the leftover stones, seaglass and pebbles from the Four Seasons luncheon last week and tossed it into a jar in my craft room (above).

 

After spending an hour working on a proposal and report, I grabbed the extension ladder and decided to  hang the collection of antlers I won at the Rago Arts auction two weeks ago.   Yes, I won.   I know I debated on this blog if I should buy them or not, but I decided a few things:  A: they are vintage and B: they went for a great price.  Here they are hanging 15’ feet up in the air.    Trust me: I installed these properly using a variety of art hanging tools.

 

And here’s the living room sans the vintage American flag that A BILLION people have told me was hung backwards.     It was an ordeal getting the ladder over there (I have really high ceilings) and bringing down the flag.    I rehung the flag in one of the guest rooms and---this time—it’s hung right.  

Okay, back to work!

 

Eco Finds at the Gift Fair

 

Twice a year in New York City, they have something called the NY International Gift Fair at the Javits Center.   It’s basically a mega, non-public event open to buyers and magazine editors to come see what’s new for Spring/Summer in the world of home design, gift giving, accents, stationary and much much more.    It’s the good, the bad, the interesting, and the outright genius all under one roof.

I grabbed my digital camera and went as a Better Homes and Gardens editor to see what was new, green and interesting.   

First up: This biodegradable rain poncho.    Genius.   How many times have you been at an event and bought one of those plastic rain ponchos to stay dry?   Why not get one instead that’s made from biodegradable, corn-based plastic instead?    This Brelli brand makes total sense.

 

My friends at Fire and Light (from Arcata, CA…which I learned is NOWHERE near San Francisco) had a new addition to their booth this year.   I loved this demonstration model showing the recycled, “melted” glass being poured into a mold.   Their colorful dishware is really remarkable.

 

Another shot of the Fire and Light bowls.    Love the color!

 

Biodegradable was everywhere.  This Umbra trash can is made from biodegradable materials.    I know there’s a debate if biodegradable plastic actually degrades in landfills or not.  My opinion (based on everything I’ve read) is that it won’t degrade.   But when given the choice of using virgin plastic or vegetable based plastic, I’d choose the renewable resource any day.   

 

More biodegradable plastic!  This time, in the form of bathroom products from Design ideas.

 

 A young British designer (so sorry, lost your card!) had these reusable water bottles on display for stores to order.   I loved the shiny, nickel finish.    I actually would’ve preferred them plain, personally… but this is still pretty nice.

 

A really adorable organic cotton shirt for a small child.  I love the camel print all over it.

 

And here’s a great necklace at a great price.  An artist takes reclaimed wood and uses lasers to make this intricate pendant.   And the best part?  It’s less than $20 to buy.   A piece of art that’s beautiful, green and affordable?  I call that a win-win-win.

Magazine Shoot

 

Last Friday, I had a photo shoot at my new house for Philadelphia Magazine.    I love Philadelphia Magazine because A: it’s a very well written and researched regional publication and B: I live in the Philly area!   So, it was an honor to have them come and shoot my home for their April issue.

In this first pic, I asked to take a picture of one of the staffer’s feet to show that I have a very strict “no shoes” policy in my house.   I’ve written that  80% of all the outside dirt, lead and pesticides are dragged in from shoes.    Why would you want 10 people walking all over your house with their shoes going room to room?   Thankfully, everyone obliged and agreed to go shoe-less all day.

 

In the living room, there was more equipment set-up to light rooms, block light and diffuse light.  It was all about lighting, lighting, lighting!       There were lots of plastic water bottles everywhere, which is such a strange sight to see.   I don’t drink from plastic bottles, but they keep becoming a mainstay at photo shoots.   I need to do something about that for future shoots!

 

Spring!   Even though it’s winter outside, this is for a Spring issue.  So, lovely flowers and greenery were brought in to warm up the home.    After we shot the living room, I set a nice fire in the fireplace to keep everyone nice and warm.  Once I put out the marshmallows and chocolate, people couldn’t stop roasting and eating…  S’mores!    At one point, I thought the stylist was going to have a nervous breakdown (she was standing in the snow holding bamboo branches from my yard...trying to make a shot facing outside look "green.").    I broke out a bottle of organic champagne to see if that would help...

 

And here’s the photographer and photo assistant shooting detail shots of my craft projects.   I think they took a shot of my “robot” cans that I made out of random stuff I had around the house.   I’ll guess we’ll have to wait till April to find out!

Wholearth Editor's Lunch

 

Last week, I hosted a luncheon along with my business partners, Boom LLC, at the famed Four Seasons Restaurant in New York City to celebrate the preview of new organic bath and beauty line.

How fitting it would be at a restaurant called the Four Seasons: a horrible winter storm had come thru New York the night before.   Thankfully, all of the magazine editors who rsvp’d showed up through the mucky mess.    It was also the morning that Domino magazine announced they would be folding, so naturally, we had two empty spots for the two Domino editors who clearly could not attend.    So sad….

 

As guests arrived, they checked in with the hard-working Think Public Relations staffers.   They do the media relations for the new products and handled the event so beautifully.   Our day-to-day publicist is Evelyn Rosario, who I must say worked extra hard leading up to the event and the results showed it!

 

The tablesetting featured a handwritten black rock with the guest’s name.   I’ve used this idea for a place marker for many years now and I still love how it looks, resting on top of the luncheon’s menu.  In front of each guest were “lab samples” of the product line, since finished and filled bottles weren’t ready to share quite yet (the line launched on Earth Day in April).

 

Here’s Art Degaetano, the founder of BOOM and my business partner in the venture.  He’s had a very long history of launching successful beauty and skin care lines throughout his career, which is why I agreed to work with him and his very talented staff.   Plus, he named his company after his late dog, Boomer.   How could you not work with him?

 

After Art introduced me, I spoke to the audience about my history as an environmental activist.  I also shared a funny story how I tried to open a Body Shop franchise when I was 13-years-old.

 

Here’s a nice shot of the display of products with blow-ups from the photo shoot we did at my house.   I can’t believe this day has arrived!

 

Here’s Dawn Guarriello from Boom with me going through each product one by one.  Dawn is truly an expert on formulations and was so instrumental in the creation of this line.   Here we are talking about the USDA certified organic body wash.

 

Here’s Dawn and Allison Barovick from Boom.   Missing is Rebecca Killian, who somehow keeps dodging my camera!     Rebecca and Allison also work on Wholearth (among a million other projects), but really helped to develop the overall design, packaging, positioning and creative concept behind the brand.

Look for the line in stores on Earth Day!   Hope you enjoyed this sneak peek.

 

 

Weekend Thinking

 

I'm sitting here in my craft room looking at this table full of Christmas bows.   These are Martha Stewart K-Mart holiday bows (the kind you peel and stick) that my local K-Mart store was giving away.   They had huge boxes of them with a sign reading 90% off.    So I bought 10 large bags and paid $4 thinking there could be some project you could do with these.   

Any thoughts?  

 

So, as I'm sitting here thinking... I just realized a flock of birds showed up to feed on some bird seed I put outside.    It's kinda peaceful and fun to see them.... when suddenly...

   

It's the attack of the bird seed eating squirrel.  Every day, he crawls up the window right in front of me and dine away....   So cute, but so ferocious!

Okay, back to the bows.   I don't normally stock up on "stuff" is see marked down to nothing for the sake of just buying it... but I felt compelled today...  

Eco Painting

 

Coming up in my column in Better Homes and Gardens magazine are some product finds that have come to market recently making home painting a little bit greener.

Now, we all know that it's easier than ever before to find low and even zero VOC paints in the marketplace.   One good paint I like is from Benjamin Moore and it's called Natura; it comes out this Spring and it's totally zero VOC and you can tint it a million different colors.  

But what about the actual painting supplies?    Tarps, rollers, trays, etc?      On a little trip to Lowe's last week, I found these items that I am recommending in my BHG column. 

First up, this eco paint tarp called Eco Drop.   It's designed to truly protect your floors and surfaces from drips and splatters, but it is totally biodegradable when you're done.   And it's just about $3 to purchase.

 

These paint trays are made from recycled cardboard with a very thin layer of plastic on top.   The plastic is there so the paint doesn't soak into the cardboard (which would make the tray useless).  One thing I do is that I also line the tray with aluminum foil to make it extra strong and to make cleanup easier.   Just lift the aluminum foil, rinse it off, and recycle.   Your tray should actually be in almost new shape and can be reused over and over.

 

These rollers are also at Lowe's and they made from recycled materials.    Rollers are really hard to reuse over and over.   You can scrape the paint off with a putty knife, rinse the roller and let it dry.  But if it's definitely past its prime, go for the recycled and toss if you need to.

Natural Arrangements

 

I recently hosted a luncheon at the Four Seasons in New York City to celebrate the launch of my Wholearth Beauty and Bath line.   I'll share pictures from the luncheon with you soon right here on the blog.

One thing I had so much fun doing was creating aromatherapy arrangements for the table centerpiece that didn't involve using any flowers at all. 

I just used an assortment of dried moss, red and white seaglass chunks, raw wood silhouettes (hearts, peace signs, leaves), Indonesian river rocks and a slice agate stone on the side.   All of them were sprayed with the fine fragrance from the Wholearth line (it's USDA certified organic!) and left to sit on the table and perfume the air gently.

 

The materials were so easy to find and inexpensive, which I think is key when doing a large event.   I'm thinking of doing a very large aromatherapy arrangement like this for the master bathroom of my house.    Might even make a nice gift! 

Stay tuned for more pics from the party...had a great time and I'm glad all the editors and store buyers had a chance to preview it.  Can't wait to share it with all of you!

Plastic Bag Rehab

 

The other day, I found this perfectly clean K-Mart shopping bag at my house (people from photo shoots leave stuff behind ALL the time)  and thought it would be a good opportunity to show my little trick on recycling a plastic bag into a fun little plastic flower.  All you need is a bag (check!), scissors and a piece of scotch tape.    That's it!

 

Star by crumpling up the bag into a long strip and folding it in half.  And again.  And once more.

 

Tie a piece of tape around the middle.  It'l look like a big bow tie.

 

Snip off the ends of each "bow tie", about 1" in from the ends.

 

Star snipping into the cut parts.  This gives the plastic bag flower some detail..

 

Now start to pull the bag apart by fluffing it on both ends.   I find if you just keep smushing it with your hands and seperate the layers, it's enough to get a great looking flower.

 

Voila!   Plastic flower.  It reminds me of a peony.   It's really easy to do and it can create fun, oversized flowers for a party or an arrangement in just seconds.  Have fun!

Trophy Holder

 

Winter weather can be a good thing for the budding cook, because there's something comforting about baking, sauteeing and cooking up something fresh and new in a warm kitchen.  When it's freezing cold outsidce, it's nice to be warmed up by a sizzling stovetop and oven.

As I'm cooking, I've been bringing in more utensils to help me at the stove.   I keep a long tray of commonly used herbs, spices and condiments by the stove for easy access.   And I just brought over this vintage trophy (or champagne chiller...probably a champagne bucket) to hold all the spatulas, wooden spoons and other essentials organized and accessible.

I'm tackling the organization of the kitchen right now and trying to figure out how to keep open cabinets neat, but realistic for everyday use.  I'll post some pics and ideas soon.

Buying at Auction

 

Twice a year, the Rago Arts "discovery" auction happens in Lambertville, NJ.   It's a fun auction that has a whole mix of artwork, pottery, furniture, rugs and jewelry.  What I love about the discovery auction (thank you Tom and Kay for introducing me!) is that you never know what's going to show and nothing has a reserve.   Yes, things could sell for just $1.

 

On the preview day, I snapped some shots of items I'll be bidding on.   As you can see, this post is coming the day AFTER the auction.   I guess the whole point is that I don't want competiton in the auction and I'm hoping to get some great deals.    Above is a lot of vintage photographs (signed by the artist) all beautifully framed that I'm coveting...

 

I'm on the fence about taxidermy/antlers.  I'm a vegetarian, but I love the look of these pieces and would love to hang a whole collection on my oversized fireplace.   Sitting..on...fence...

   

Here's a Harry Bertoia/knoll diamond chair with black wire frame.   I'm about to start decorating the guest cottage on my property, and I think this could work there.

 

I LOVED this oversized wicker basket, but unfortunately it was part of a lot of 6 difference pieces of furniture.    5 pieces, which I did not like or want.  So, it goes unbid.

 

Here's a vinage Norwegian black and white print that I think would look great in my house.  It comes all the way from a collector in Los Angeles....

 

So much artwork for sale.... I am always puzzled when people buy pre-framed artwork at stores like Ikea... when you can get original pieces at really great prices.

 

This oil painting is from Sergei Belik, a Ukranian painter.   I loved the colors and think it would look amazing in the foyer of my house.   My gut feeling is saying "buy it."  My taste unfortunately gravitates towards pieces that are destined for an auction war....

 

And in a box of unframed artwork, I found this gelatin print that spoke to me.  It's by Earlie Hudnall and was shot in 1991 and it's called "Girl with Flag."   Signed and dated.   Bidding!

Contest: Kohler Chocolates

 

Okay, file this one under "who knew?"   All throughout my house, I have Kohler faucets, sinks, dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads, cast iron tubs and much more I can't even remember all working beautifully and all using a sensible amount of water to get the job done.

But Kohler is more than just plumbing products; it's a lifestyle.

And case in point is a small (but growing) fan base for Kohler Chocolates.   Sweet treats made the old fashioned way in Kohler, Wisconsin.  All exquisitely packaged and amazingly delicious.   I had the chance to sample some recently and---not one who really like sweets---I had to be dragged away from the tray of chocolates.   That. Good.

So, I'm treating (3) Daily Danny blog readers to the ultimate Kohler Chocolates prize package.   They'll be shipped to you directly from Kohler, Wisconsin so you can enjoy the oh-so-goodness...

To enter, leave a comment why you deserve a sweet treat...  i'll pick 3 next Friday.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED.   I'LL ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS ON MONDAY.

National Retail Federation Speech

 

I recently gave a speech in New York City at the National Retail Federation conference at the Javits Center.   I was invited to speak about the future of green retail, what it means, the mistakes we've made and how to best "go green" authentically and succesfully.

Obviously, with the economy in the shape that it is in, retail has been suffering.   As JCPenney's Green Living Partner, my job with JCPenney is to help them create and identify environmentally-friendly products under our Simply Green designation campaign.   I've learned a lot in the last year of working with Penney's (and I'm proud to say I'll be working with JCPenney for many, many more years), and I wanted to share my insight and observations with the audience.

 

On the conference floor, there was a model green retail store that had this virtual reality green grocer.  You stood there and tried to answer the eco questions properly.   I have to admit, I didn't do too well....  but it was questions like "if you recycle a newspaper you reduce you carbon footprint by 1 pound, 2 pounds or 3 pounds."    I have no idea....

 

I loved this giant screen that projected images of nature with inspirational quotes.

 

Lots of sponsors were behind the Seeing Green pavillion.   Good to see some big names embracing green.

'

Another amazing panel...

 

I attended one of the workshops prior to my speech called E-Tailing for the Future (or something like that).   One slide I thought was interesting was that a recent survey showed what American consumers recognize and understand in terms of consumer designations.   Ranked #1 was the Good Housekeeping symbol...followed by the EPA Energy Star program.    I guess everyone reading this blog knows what Energy Star means...

 

And a final slide that customers are soooo interested in learning how to recycle their e-waste (like computers, cell phones, VCRS).  

I learned a lot.... and was happy to share some advice with others that day.

Rock Salt Tealights

 

Short and simple post today.

I went by the hardware store today to pick up a bag of the de-icing pellets to have on hand for the next ice/snow storm.   How naive of me: not a bag in sight.   Note to self: when the weatherman is calling for a major winter storm, don't wait until the last minute to get the winter supplies everybody else is going to be hoarding.

So, all that was left was the traditional rock salt bags, while plenty, happen to also be the cheapest de-icing solutions out there.  I know they wreck havoc on plants and gardens, but when push comes to shove, I have to make sure the people who work for me and visit me don't slip and slide all over the place.   So, I hauled a 50 pound bag to my car and headed home.

When I ripped open the bag and pour it into the galvanized bucket, I was noticing how beautiful the rock salt crystals were.  So pure, so gem-like, so organic...and now so pouring all over the driveway.

I scooped up the mess into a vintage pan I had on hand and thought it would be cool to tuck tealights into the dish.  When lit, the candles reflect off the salt and you get a great shimmery glow.   When the party is over, just use the salt to de-ice a slick sidewalk.

Floored by Rugs

 

I was recently down in Atlanta, GA for some meetings and stopped by the Rug Market to see the latest and greatest in area rugs coming out this year.   One showroom I spent some time in was Shaw Living, which is one of the largest manufacturers of area rugs in the country.

One rug that caught me eye was this psychadelic one called "Fling."   I think many of us are very safe when it comes to buying rugs, but it's really the more daring ones that end up being photographed in all those magazine spreads.  Have fun, I say. 

 

Another one I loved was this very textural rug that have giant, oversized roses on it.   It was super plush and so detailed, really showing what intricate and amazing rugs they can do on their looms.   All of Shaw's rugs are made in the USA, too...so it's nice to see that all the design, production and sales can all be done right here.

 

Here's a really fun rug.   It was actually designed to be used in a kid's room, but I could totally see it to warm up my craft room.   Why do all the kids get all the fun stuff?

 

On the hang tags, there's information about the style, sizes, etc about the rug.  But there's also information about the recyclability of the rugs.   The Shaw nylon rugs are 100% recyclable; they can be sent back to Shaw where they are shredded and respun back into virgin nylon string and respun into new rugs.   It's cradle-to-cradle, meaning it can be infinitely recycled forever and ever.

 

These rugs are reproductions of actual antiques found in New Mexico.   These are the types of rugs you buy in lots of different colors and shapes and layer all over the place in a cozy living room.   A little part of me is Bohemian, I suppose, and I think I may need to embrace that rather soon.

 

And here is a nice choice that I also think is a universal mainstream one, too.    It's from Tommy Bahama for Shaw and called the "Abstracted Leaf" rug.   Who knew Tommy Bahama made rugs?  Rugs that are 100% recyclable?

Congrats! Contest Winner

Congratulations to Brielle for winning the candle, Method microfiber towel and Stella McCartney Care hydrating mist!  Her New Year's resolution is:

"To become more organized. It would be better for my home business AND my family."

Check out her Etsy store!   Congrats Brielle on winning.

Check out Daily Danny on Friday for a brand new contest... something sweet, yummy and one of Oprah's favorites...

My New Bath and Beauty Line

 

Last week, we had a photo shoot at my house for my new organic bath and beauty line.   The line is called Wholearth and will be launching on Earth Day (April 22nd).  It's been a product line two years in the works with my partners at Boom, LLC and I'll post more about the line, it's ingredients, USDA certified organic fragrance, eco packaging and much more in the future.   But for now, in 10 degree weather, I thought I'd share some behind the scenes photos of the shoot.

Above is a collection shot under a vintage glass cloche.   The weather wood board behind it really helped the products "pop" in the photo.

 

Here, one of my favorite photographers Alexandra Rowley, is moving some props around to capture the right angle and light.  Alexandra's photo shooting style is very much in line with my aesthetic: soft, a little moody and very lifestyle.    The glass bottle on top of the driftwood is the new fragrance bottle.  So pretty.... but it's the closest shot I can share for now.

 

We had lots of vintage and eco friendly props called in for the shoot.  Here, I have the new top of the line LED light bulbs next to the old fashioned incandescent bulbs.    Our stylist even styled the light bulbs!

 

Here's one set-up that I killed as an idea almost immediately because it just didn't work.  But I loved how the bulbs came together to make a peace sign.   I kept the board and will use it somehow, somewhere in the future.

 

Speaking of our stylist, here's Kevin Hertzog waving in between making different sets for the shoot.  He was one busy guy.

 

One of my favorite shots was the LED lightbulbs lined up in a grid as a backdrop, with the beauty products set together upfront.  I called it my "future is green" shot because it was the future of lighting and the future of beauty!

 

Here's a table full of bowls, rocks, dishes, trays, and fabrics...all ready to go as potential surfaces for the shoot.  It was like having a store in my house.

 

And we set-up a wonderful, healthy lunch by my trusty catering guy Jamie Hollander in New Hope, PA.  I have this "eco" thing with Jamie that he knows is a must for me: all food must come on reusable trays and bowls, which I promptly return after the shoot.  All beverages in cans and bottles (which are recycled) and use as much organic as possible.  Here's a yummy vegetarian lunch waiting to be devoured.

 

Okay:  One peek.   Here's the amazing bamboo body scrub...  nested in fresh bamboo cut right from my own bamboo grove in the backyard.

Snow Falling on...Bamboo

 

Woke up and saw snow dusted on a field of bamboo in front of the house.    Just thought it was an odd juxtaposition of a warm-climate plant thriving in a winter environment.

Happy Saturday!

Wintery Living Room

 

I'm like a gypsy.    I move from one room to another working away to keep things different.   I love wireless internet access, because I don't have to be stuck in one room to get work done.   So, I decided to break free from my Dell Studio Hybrid desktop and bring my little Vaio over to the dining room.   Sitting here working on a speech, I loved how the living room looked in the winter light.    There's a dusting of snow on the ground right now, which reflects light right into the house.   It's a diffused light and---I don't know why---does somthing to lift my mood.

My living room has changed a bit.   The table behind the sofa is now a foyer table (used to be a desk) that holds my new terrarium and a large arrangement of tall, barren branches I clipped from a dead bamboo plant in the yard.    Having tall ceilings lets you create tall arrangements, and it only re-emphasizes the height of the room.

And then there's the vintage flag:  Many of you will comment that it's hung backwards.  Yes, it is.   But as one commenter once told me, "it's your flag, hang it however you want."   So, it stays.   Honestly, it's the easiest thing in the world for me to hop on up there and re-hang it (it's a production...), but I think when we shoot the house for some upcoming magazine photo shoots, I'll get around to doing it.

 

And sitting from the dining room table, I loved this "hallway" that was created in the large living space.   The two JCPenney club chairs create a nice board game area...the vintage military cot overflowing with blankets, pillows and throws...and the unbleached linen drapes softening the oversized windows.    From this view, I see a parade of wildlife all day long: herds of deer, hawks and a never-ending flock of wild birds pecking away at the bird feeders.

Agate Love

 

I don't collect things on the intention of starting a collection.   What I mean is that you'll never come over to my house and see a giant display of vintage toy cars in their original boxes in curio cabinets.   Nor will you find a room dedicated to anything about frogs.   I'm not a collector.   But I do find myself aquiring things to the point that I'm like "I have a lot of this..."

Case in point: Agate.    The gem-like, beautiful stone that comes in a myriad of colors.   Agates crystallize inside lava when gas bubbles fill with mineralized water and solidify into concentric circles in a wide variety of colors.   It's made by Mother Nature and it's like a beautiful piece of artwork you can live and use around the house.

Up above, I keep a stack of thesed sliced agates on the coffee table as coasters.   So, chilled drinks rest on top and look beautiful.

Over at the bar, I have a large Agate slab keeping a soy candle and some glasses in place.   It adds a little dimension, color and interest to an otherwise straightforward bar.

 

Over at the online site VivaTerra, they have this really handsome agate night light.   I have been eyeing this for a while now, but I decided to pass and get LED night lights for my house for energy saving reasons.  But still...this is quite the agate beauty.

 

And another agate product at Viva Terra, these chargers or platters.   I'm not sure I'd serve food on them (just imagine trying to scrub off debris in the sink...too much of a hassle), but I think they'd look great as a base for a centerpiece for a table.

I'm off to the flea market to meet up with my gemstone/rock guy.   I'm looking for the smaller rock style agate that are cracked open.  I think they'll look great in a bowl tossed with some organic fragrance....

Raw Wood

 

I just got a package in the mail from Lindahl Woodcrafts, an online seller of die-cut raw wood silhouettes.    I saw them featured on "The Martha Stewart Show," (yes, I admit watching!) when Martha was glittering a Noah's Ark tree.    Not wanting to glitter every animal on Noah's Ark, I was intrigued enough to track down their Ebay store to see what they had in stock.

For less than $10, I got stacks of these lovely raw wood die cuts in peace symbols, hearts, leaves and trees.   I bought them to use as centerpieces for an upcoming luncheon I'm hosting, but it got me thinking how beautiful untreated wood can be.

 

So, I threw some pebbles, moss and the wood die cuts into a tarnished bowl.   What I'm thinking is if you toss everything with fragrant essential oil, you have a different take on potpourri, sans the dried flowers.

 

And over at Michael's craft store, I saw this unfinished wood tissue box.   It looked Scandanavian to me, even though it was sold on the intent of painting or staining it.  I'm leaving it unfinished.   It just works in my bathroom.   I'm not a tissue person really, but I've had enough guests come over asking...that I'm putting this out for them.

 

And speaking of wood, just spied a peek at the wood pile in the backyard with the snowdusted Adirondack chairs.   So peaceful...

A Stella Steal: Stella McCartney Sample Sale

 

If you're in New York City and love designer Stella McCartney's eco-friendly, cruelty-free fashion, listen up.  She's having a 2-day sample sale and only people who are in the know, know it's happening.   So, I'm spilling the (organic) beans right here.

Just Jan 14 and Jan 15th:

Flatotel Hotel New York
135 W. 52nd Street
Between 6th and 7th Ave
Suite 5B

Up to 70% off handbags, coats, shoes, accessories, knits and much more....

Enjoy!

My Resolution: Keep it Clean

 

Last year, I started using an eco-friendly housekeeping service to keep my new home clean.  I moved from a small cottage that was about 1,000 square feet to a new home that was over 4,000 square feet with 20' ceilings.    I thought, "there is no way I can keep this clean myself."  So I had this great crew come in and help me scrub, scrub, scrub away.  Anyway...

This year, I have been struggling to come up with a New Year's resolution.   Originally, I thought I would resolve to double the amount of money I give to charity this year.  And then I thought, I should do that anyway, so let's pick something else.   And then I resolved to end the housekeeping service and keep the whole house clean myself.

As many of you loyal readers know, the signs were there.  I blogged about my obsessions with a steam mop.  I mean, who blogs about a mop?  But I love dragging it out and watching bursts of steam disinfect and clean my floors.  So easy and so satisfying.

And that's when I realized I find it therapeutic cleaning my own house: scrubbing the bathroom tubs with Method's Le Scrub, wiping the countertops with grapefruit spray and microfiber towels, and using the "animal" function on my Dyson to pick up dirt and crumbs on the floors.   When I found myself enjoying scrubbing a toilet, I wondered, "Am I alone?"

There's a stylist I worked with years ago who has started a cottage business about the zen of cleaning.  His name is Michael DeJong and he gives tips and advice on finding the joys and pleasure in keeping one's domain clean.     Check out his site at: http://www.zencleansing.com/.   He might be the closest to how I'm feeling lately...

That said, I don't LOVE cleaning.    But when I'm stressed out and running into a creative block when, say, writing a book or working on a story, I'll grab the vacuum and clean a room for a few minutes.   It de-stresses me and gets me re-thinking right away.

Am I alone here?   Or do you enjoy cleaning, too?

Goodbye, Country Home

 

For you diehard fans, this will not come as news, but for most of you, I am sad to report that Country Home magazine has folded.

This was the magazine where I was an editor for many years before I joined the staff at Better Homes and Gardens.  I enjoyed my time at Country Home so much and made so many friends, who have all been laid off in this awful economy.   I know the parent company of Meredith Corp didn't make this decision lightly and will give the editorial staff support and fair severence, but I still feel sad about the closing of the magazine.

 

One of my favorite projects I put in the magazine was this idea of taking an old book and making it into a functional clock.  It was part of my monthly column called "Fresh Thinking" where I gave an easy eco craft project, my favorite new products and a simple tip you could do to make a difference.     The styling and photography at the magazine were the best and it was so much fun working with everyone on shoots.

 

Here's another gorgeous eco craft project I had so much fun producing.    Take old chipped wine glasses, tumblers and creamers and make them into candles.   So easy and so nice!

 

On one fun shoot, I headed upstate in New York to the amazing gardens of master gardening guru Katherine Whiteside.   When doing photo shoots at people's homes, sometimes the unexpected "shot" comes out as the best one.  Here, we took Katherine's collection of dried ghourds from her garden and placed them on a sunny windowsill.

 

The rustic country kitchen shot is one of my favorites, because we didn't bring in a truckload of props, but used what was already there.  All the fresh, organic ingredients on the table came straight from the garden...and the hanging binoculars scream for some casual birdwatching.

 

And near my house in Pennsylvania, I had so much fun producing this shoot of stylist Lynn Butler's house.  This garden shot remains one of my favorites...all lit up with lanterns for a perfect summer dinner party.   It was easily one of the easiest and most fun shoots I did for the magazine.

 

And then out in Mill Valley, CA, I had the best time producing this shoot of Lily Kanter's gorgeous home.  This kitchen is my dream kitchen.   The beautiful redwoods outside the window are so amazing.

 

And I even got to do some daring styling for the magazine.   Here, I took books and flipped them inside out, so you saw the white pages as a cohesive color scheme.   The magazine took risks and the magazine always produced inspiring, gorgeous photos for our readers.

I'll miss Country Home...and I wish nothing but the best for my former colleagues.

Contest: 2009 Giveaway

 

Happy 2009!   I'm cleaning out my sample closet and thougth this would be a nice giveaway on the blog to one lucky reader to get their year started off just right.

Up for grabs: A Care by Stella McCartney Toning Floral Water spray, Crabtree and Evelyn "Hearth" candle (not soy...), and a Method microfiber glass cleaning cloth (to get your whole house shiny and clean).

I'll be choosing one random commenter to win all three items.

Deadline is Friday, January 16th. 

To enter: What's your new year's resolution?

Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.   I'll pick a winner this weekend!  Good luck!    Stay tuned for the next contest.   A hint: It's yummy.

Find: Fire and Light Dishes

 

Way back, when "going green" was becoming all the rage, one of the biggest complaints I heard from people is that eco friendly products lacked color.   Too beige.  Too crunchy.  Too boring.

But when it comes to what people really buy and really want (think clothes), people end up buying black, black, black.

One company that has been around for a long is called Fire and Light and they are based out in Arcata, CA.  They take old glass---I think it's everything from bottles to old car windshields---crush it, melt it, dye it and make handpressed tableware, accessories and decorative pieces.  

 

You can see the vibrant range of colors here..wonderful plums, citrus hues, and pinks....who would've thought it was recycled?  It looks so bright and nice!

But even though I love the bright color range, I've always said to them "what about doing black or gray dishes?"   I painted my house black...painted the walls gray...and I keep stacks of simple white dishes in open cabinets ready for parties.  

And here they are:  their twilight line of recycled glass dishes.   While the color isn't available on their website yet, you can request it and they'll make it for you.  Handmde in the USA and made from recycled materials...how can you beat that?

Cabinet Collections

 

Even though the majority of my new house is furnished and decorated (although, is it really ever "over?"), the one area that has been neglected has been the built-in bookcases in the living room.   Strangely enough, I actually started on the bookcases the first day I moved in, painting the inside of the cabinet black and polishing up the wood shelves.   And then I forgot all about it.

Over the holiday, I emptied all the prop closets and packed up a box of collected treasures from my cottage and brought them over to the main house.   And then I decided I would display flea market, antique and handmade finds together in the cabinets.  

 

I love this one a lot.   All the antique glass pieces, LED light bulbs (so futuristic) and a bowl of hand collected seaglass wired together.   The black paint makes the glass "pop" a bit.    I love how you can't tell which is a $100 antique piece and which is a twenty five cent junk store find here.... can you?

    

Here, I grouped all the "white" items together.   Looking at this photo makes me remember where I found everything and how I aquired it:  A vase as a gift from the Mayor of Teipei when I was there on a book tour...the marble pieces from a flea market sold to me by a retiring botanist...an antique vase I bought in South Korea as my one "splurge" I allow on my visits overseas...

 

This one is a lot of fun.   The peanut dish was a junk store find and I love it.   The mounted animal plaques hang inside the bookcase, which is kinda unexpected and fun.   And I love the glass paperweight---sorta tie-dye-y-----that I got when I went to Prague as a teenager. 

Thatched Fencing

 

When i bought my house, one of the things that needed to be done so I could move in was to pass "code" on the railings at the entryway.   To do it as minimally inexpensive as possible, we stuck to putting up some 2X4's and ugly orange plastic netting (now removed) in the front.   Cost, almost nothing...but it passed code.

But now I'm faced with what to do with the front of the house.  Originally, i was going to rip it all down and put up some Trex decking or tension wire fencing and do this whole modern/retro/cool look.   But as the weather went very cold very quickly, I've put this project on the back burner until the Spring.

 

And then I saw this!  Over at Terrain (see yesterday's post), they thatched the side of the railing with durable sticks and branches, all woven inside and out to create a really organic, but totally durable and safe fence.   I think I can replicate this at my entryway very easily and gather all the branches I need right from my own property.   And in the Springtime, I could plant some flowering vines that can grow throughout this to give a little life to the front of the house.    When it warms up, I'll give it a try.  If it doesn't work, no harm done...all I wasted was some time and nails.

 

Speaking of outdoors, these are the new metal birdfeeders I've hung up around the house.   One word: Squirrels.   I think within 20 minutes of hanging them up, I already had squirrels twisting and turning on branches to get to the bird feed.  Seriously... it was like they watched from up above and pounced.

Store Visit: Terrain

 

About a year or so ago, the folks behind Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters bought a nursery in Pennsylvania (called Styer's) and rebranded it Terrain.   It's been rumored in the retail industry that this store is a "test" of sorts for them to see if they can build a chain of gardening stores that celebrate the idea of living with plants and less about professional landscaping and gardening.   In other words: Anthropologie's version of a gardening store.   The other day, I decided to trek on over there and see what Terrain is all about and took a few pics to share with you.

 

Inside the greenouses, you can see Anthropologie's flair for visual displays everywhere, like this living archway leading into the greenhouse.   Everything is so artfully displayed and welcoming.

 

The outdoor cafe chairs use real tree stumps as table bases.   I love this idea.   When I had some old trees cut down in my backyard, I asked the tree guys to leave the stumps 36" off the ground.  I'm planning to make an outdoor table with the stumps and will gather chairs around it for summer entertaining.

 

It's holiday time, so outside the store, they had these boxwood hanging balls everywhere.  They also put chicken wire all over the sides of the building and poked different types of evergreen throughout to give the whole building a thatched look.

 

And inside Terrain, you can see the mix of gardening products with lifestyle products.  Beautiful lamps, bowls, cutting boards and pillows mixed with cloches, terra cotta pots and Spring bulbs.

I ended up buying materials to make a terrarium (see previous post) and a handful of galvanized bird feeders.    If you're in the Pennsylvania area, I'd recommend a visit on over there.  There's a cute cafe as well where you can sit and dine with the plants, too.

Terrariums

 

I spied this amazing terrarium at a store called Terrain in Pennsylvania.   Terrain is a new concept store by the people behind Anthropologie, with a focus more on gardening, household plants and all the lovely accessories that go along with raising and growing plants at home.   So, instead of a ho hum gardening center, they actually are trying to make it look lush, fun and engaging.   If you're an Anthropologie fan, then come back Monday for a full report (and pics!) about Terrain.

But first up: Terrariums.

I travel all the time for work, so I find myself constantly nursing back houseplants back to life when I return.  Only in the summer months do I get a break: I put all the plants outside on the back patio and let Mother Nature water and care for them.   I have seen the deadest of plants spring back to life in the summer months.   Trust Mother Nature.

     

Terrariums are pretty fool proof because it's a self enclosed structure that stays moist and keeps the plants alive for days (if not weeks) without watering.  Think of it like a mini greenhouse or biosphere for plants.

I've seens lots of terrariums in those typical globe-like structures, but I've been looking to do one in a bit more interesting way.    Sure, the top terrarium is gorgeous...but it's also probably $1000 to purchase and enormously heavy to carry.  

So, I like the smaller version that's now living in my craft room.    The galvinized sides and glass windows really make it pretty and I like having something live in my office.  

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Here's to a greener and brighter 2009!

I'm throwing a New Year's party at the new home tonight and will take pictures of the dining table, appetizers, drinks, decorations and much more to share.

Enjoy the evening and have fun!

-Danny Seo

Bowery Basement

 

Okay, looks spooky and Halloween-ish, but I promise you it's not.  

I stayed at one of my favorite hotels in NYC recently---The Bowery Hotel---and decided to get a quick workout in the new hotel gym they just created.  Down a long corridor, I just loved how they tiled the whole thing in brown and green ceramic tile in a very intricate pattern.   It didn't feel closed in at all...but "age" appropriate for the hotel.

 

The large factory windows in the gym had a small garden of bamboo plants right in between the windows and brick wall of the neighboring building.    I am thinking of converting the open garage at my house into an enclosed gym by installing factory style windows, hand stamped concrete floors with radiant heating and floor to ceiling glass windows in the back overlooking the ravine.   Maybe a small (controlled) grove of bamboo would be nice, too.

 

And an overall look at the gym.     The large vintage Oriental rug added a sense of warmth to the room.   I don't think a home gym needs to be clinical, cold or ultra modern.   Vintage mirrors, tarnished silver trays and an old rug can warm up the space with super modern equipment.

Natural Care at Bed Bath and Beyond

 

Well, it's pretty exciting and fun to announce that my Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo line of green mattresses are now available in New York City at Bed, Bath and Beyond.    It's actually the only Bed, Bath and Beyond in the country to sell mattresses and it's the only NYC store to carry the Natural Care line.   

I stopped by the store recently to say hello to the sales associates and thought I'd share some pics.   Up above are the two models of Natural Care---plush and firm---on the sales floor.

 

It's a little surreal to see my picture making a bed in a store selling beds.   I remember this photo shoot we did down in Georgia at one of the most beautiful places I've ever been called Serenbe.   It's so interesting to see ideas go for concept, to photo shoot, to headboard in store.  

 

Also at Bed Bath and Beyond, they had a whole "Green" section selling eco food and cleaning products, too.   Look at this row of green cleaners!    I see lots of Method products here:  The dryer sheets, shower spray, all purpose wipes, laundry detergent, wood cleaner, Go Naked dish soap...goes on and on...

 

And a reusable tote bag with the name of the eco market:  Verdi.    Green!  

 

And a look outside of the "store within a store" at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Spending time in this store makes me wonder when the NYC store for JCPenney will be ready and open.  I can't wait for that to happen in 2009.   It'll be a really exciting day!

Feed Bag Pillows

 

A few months ago, I spent a week putting together samples of different vintage fabrics, swatches and antiques as "inspiration" for an upcoming home collection I'm designing.  More on the home collection later...

One shop in Pennsylvania I love to visit is an old general store where you can still find vintage feed bags for sale for about $1 a piece.   I decided to buy a whole stack and have some pillows made, where they shuffled back and forth between meetings as an "idea" for a product line.    But now that the inspiration stage is over, I decided to pull them out of the prop closet and decorate with them.

I absolutely love the Morton's salt bag pillow up top.   It's so soft and worn and the pillow insert inside makes it all cushy and great to curl up with.

 

And I took a larger feed bag and just used the very graphic rooster part to make a smaller throw pillow.   I love the extra wide edging on it...gives it a clean, handmade touch that somehow works.

I have lots more feedbag pillows left in "case" form in need of inserts.   I could go nuts and just have a million of these pillows around the house, but I think for now, these two will do.    Maybe I'll give some away on the blog down the road... could be fun!

Merry Christmas!

 

Here's an adorable photo of my niece in front of a gingerbread house at the Ritz Carlton outside Washington, DC.    Merry Christmas!    Hope you're having a relaxing, wonderful and joyous day.   Remember to save all the gift boxes and recycle the gift wrap!  

Here's to a greener, brighter and better 2009.

-Danny Seo

Brown Paper Packages

 

Two years ago, I wrote a book on eco-friendly gift wrapping called "Simply Green Giving." You can actually find copies of it at Pottery Barn stores right now (and probably at half off post Christmas!) to get lots of eco ideas for wrapping gifts.

This year, I decided to wrap all my presents using a large roll of recycled brown kraft paper, natural red/white twine and green woolen yarn.   The large kraft paper was actually leftover in the craft room by the previous homeowner (who used it to wrap up his artwork) and the natural string was material I found in my box of crafting props.    Here are some gifts all wrapped up and ready to go.  I used some manila mailing tags as gift tags, too.    Just love the simplicity and ease of all the gifts.

 

On the back of the dining room chairs, each person gets a monogrammed stocking full of eco treats and gifts, too.    This year, in addition to small toys, playing cards, candy and personal care products, I am also giving warm slippers to people.   I don't allow shoes to be worn in my house, so I make it my responsibility to give people a brand new pair of slippers to wear instead.  I figure:  Win-win.

Oh, the bear.... I just had to buy it to give.   How could you resist?

Who Knew? Calphalon Recycles

 

Well, file this one under Who Knew?  

I am a bargain hunter at heart, so I decided to stop by the outlet store shops that are strangely enough located next to a nuclear power plant.   Can anyone guess where I was?   A clue: It's in Pennsylvania.

Anyway, I stopped in the Calphalon cookware store looking for some cast iron pans when this little flier caught my eye for Calphalon Renew.

Basically, whenever you buy a new set of Calphalon One cookware, you can fill the box your new cookware came in with your old cookware (any amount, any brand, any condition) and send it back to Calphalon at their own expense.   They'll sort it and recycle it for you free of charge.   And as an eco-thank you gift, they'll send you a free Calphalon Hard Anodized Colander ($50 value).   Apparently, this is the first industry-wide recycling program of its kind in the cookware industry.

If you think about it, most cookware should be easily recyclable, since it's either stainless steel, cast iron or aluminum...all valuable and easily recyclable materials.    With Dell making computer recycling easier...Nike accepting old sneakers at their Niketown stores for recycling...and Lenscrafters taking old eyeglasses to give people the gift of sight all over the world...suddenly, it's becoming a bit easier to recycle things when you're shopping.

Needless to say, I left the Calphalon store empty-handed...but if you're lucky enough to get a Calphalon One set for Christmas, think about recycling all your old cookware through their program.

www.calphalonrenew.com

My Obsession: Bissell Steam Mop

 

The other day, I was reading The New York Times and there was a story about people using their American Express "points" to buy gifts for loved ones instead of using cash.  And that had me thinking: How many "points" do I have sitting in my Amex Rewards account?   Well, it was like finding a lost wallet under the cushions of the sofa.  So I cashed some in and treated myself to a gift card to do some shopping.

At first, I thought I'd be very practical and buy things I needed on a daily basis, like coffee, cleaning products and and maybe a soy candle.   And then I saw the Bissell Steam Mop on the sales floor and remembered how I would watch the infomercial for this and be obsessed with trying one out.   After all, all you do is fill the container with regular tap water and the sanitizing power of steam would naturally disinfect floors while blasting away dirt and grime.  A reusable microfiber head picks it all up and you can just toss it in the washing machine.   Basically, you don't have to keep buying supplies to work this steam mop...you just plug it in and clean away.

But being the skeptic that I am, I saved my receipt thinking it probably would disappoint.   Well, I'm here to tell you I am absolutely obsessed with it.

In my house, I have engineered wood floors finished in a very dark, walnut color.   At night, they look pristine and perfect.   But during the day (when the sunlight glares through the window), every little speck of dirt is highlighted to the Nth degree.   It drives me nuts.

So, after plugging in the steam mop and wiping the floors clean, I was surprised---no shocked---how much dirt it picked up.   One look at the microfiber head and I basically said "Ewww."    Today, with the sun glaring through the windows, I am only looking at truly clean floors.

And at less than $100, it's a good deal, too.   I don't normally go on and on about products on this blog, but I am honestly sitting here thinking what else I can clean with this thing.   Was wondering if any of you gave a steam mop a try... would love to hear.

Find: Product Gallery

 

Well, what a surprise to find in the mail.  I got a lovely holiday gift from Lynn Butler, who runs the online shop The Product Gallery.    I produced a story about Lynn for the pages of Country Home magazine last year about her Bucks County, PA home.   She had a cute store in Lambertville, NJ for several years where I frequently shopped, but she closed it and moved her design sensibility to her very cute online store.

In the gift box were things I desperately needed and will use: bamboo serving dishes and reusable cloth napkins.   Honestly, they will be used lovingly this holiday season.

Over at her website, I loved the styling and photos of products she's selling and thought I'd share 'em with you:

 

Who wouldn't love to receive this for their birthday?

 

I am tempted to get these glasses for my own house.  We all look good wearing black clothes, so wouldn't our tables, too?

 

Oh, How I miss summer.   When the ice and snow melt, I am definitely going to entertain much more in the woods behind my house.  Here's an inspiring idea.

   

These are lovely vintage finds for sale at The Product Gallery.  If you don't have time to shop antique stores for vintage flatware, let Lynn do the shopping for you...

 

And I am so stealing this idea for my New Year's party!   I love using spoons to serve small appetizers to guests; they can just pop 'em in their mouths.   This board just screams holiday...

Check out www.theproductgallery.com for lots more inspiring ideas.

Magazine Bows

 

Believe or not, I am actually new to the online community Etsy.   If you don't know what Etsy is, it's basically an online shop where crafters can sell their wares to the world.   I know...many of you are rolling your eyes right now thinking "how do you not know what Etsy is???"   But, I am totally honest with you all....

One Etsy crafter I found and bought something from made these handmade gift bows out of old magazines.   She basically takes an old issue of Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Wired, etc and makes sharp looking bows out of them.  Above, is a lovely bag of Vogue bows for sale.

 

Here are some more Spring-like bows from Glamour magazine.    So funny to see the faces of Kate Hudson and Matthew McCougnahey (I am SURE I spelled that totally wrong) looking at you from the cover of the magazine strip.

 

And my favorite ones, from the pages of WIRED magazine.   I can totally see myself using these recycled bows all over gifts throughout the year.

Truthfully, even though I bought a bunch of bows, I would've paid the same amount fo an online tutorial to make them.    Are you more of a crafter or a buyer of wares? 

Lost my Camera...

Well, I didn't lose it. I misplaced it and I know who has it and it's on its way back to me now.   So, hopefully by tomorrow, this blog will be back to it's photo inspiring old self.  Today, just try to close your eyes and imagine...

I travel quite a bit for my job, but lately I've been going at the point it confuses the automatic airline check-in websites: it can't tell if I'm coming or going.  

I'm doing four cities in 6 days right now and, of course, I would see a million great ideas on the road unable to document with a camera.   So, here's the list and hopefully, again, we can all imagine.

1.  Started off in Dallas.  I work with JCpenney as their Green Living Partner so I did my ususal 8-5 back to back to back meetings with various teams to discuss how we can go a little bit greener.   I stayed in the ecofriendly PURE rooms at the NYLO hotel and loved their chlorine filters they installed in the shower.  Makes a big difference when showering!

2.  Then I flew into NYC to film a CBS Early Show segment on creating a paperless office.  Did you know the average co-worker uses 10,000 sheets of paper a year?   It's such a waste and I'll show you how next Saturday.  I pre-taped it and it'll air on this upcoming Saturday The Early Show.

3.  Hopped in my Prius and headed to the airport for Portland.  At a layover in Denver, I treated myself to a chair massage and couldn't stop looking at the intricate bamboo floors.   I am obsessed and wished I had my camera.   The massage is distracting me...

4.  In Portland, OR now, I check into my favorite Heathman Hotel in downtown.  I've stayed here since I was 19 on my very first book tour.  On the mezzanine level, they have a bookshelf loaded with signed books from authors who have stayed there.  All of my books are there!   So fun.     The hotel room has an old fashioned coffee press for morning coffee; yum.   I am now getting a coffee press for home.  In the lobby is a Christmas tree made entirely from screwed together driftwood.  AMAZING.   The hallway artwork has gorgeous collages that are made from---get this---band aids.  Again, wish I had my camera to show you... you never would've guessed.

5. Sunday morning, 730AM. Met with the retail sales associates at Mattress World, where they have a full 8 models of my Natural Care by Danny Seo mattress line.    So cool.   I took them through the line with my Simmons co-horts and off we went into a snowy Sunday afternoon.

6.  Back at the Portland airport.  The Nike store has a giant recycling bin for old sneakers for their reuse-a-shoe program.  WISH I had my camera again.   I am freezing at this point and buy an organic cotton hoodie and bamboo fiber t-shirt.   Then I remember I am heading to Los Angeles to film a TV segment and have nothing to wear with color (I wear a lot of neutrals).   The bamboo shirt will do!   Lighting fixtures throughout the airport say "I'm solar powered."  

7.  In Los Angeles, I'm meeting the amazing organizer-to-the-stars Peter Walsh at HD Buttercup to show him my mattress line and discuss green everything.   He's the guy who did that famous Oprah episode helping a woman declutter her terribly cluttered home.    And I'm doing a little work for the Sundance Channel too while I'm there and have work meetings in Century City. 

Then, I get to finally go home.   Home, where my digital camera is sitting in an envelope (hopefully) by the front door.  

I am taking three weeks off in December into January for the first time in my life.   Working 7 days a week is not a healthy thing to do, so it's time to re-charge.  With my 2009 calendar already booked until April, I think I need to recharge, refocus and refresh a bit.    I love what I do...but I am so not loving the constant 4AM wake up calls.

You. Don't. Get. Used. to. it.

Winter Wonderland

 

This morning, I woke up to the morning light and looked at the window to what many would think is a winter-y, dead ravine of trees.   But to me, winter is one of my favorite times of year because it really encourages this idea of coziness, warmth and indoor fun.     With a light coating of snow on the forest floor, it just adds to that idea....

 

Over by a nest of LED string lights, It's been fun just poking random things here and there.   Today, this wooden ornament was found on the floor, so I just stuck it on top of the lights.  

 

Up in New York City, I am constantly seeing LED lights everywhere.   Here, on Park Avenue near Grand Central Terminal, these mini evergreens are all festive with blue lights.   I'm so glad to see LED technology becoming much more mainstream.

 

And back at home, as I was flipping through a magazine in the sitting area of my bedroom, I glanced up at a collection of trophies I've been collection and realized I never blogged about them.   One thing I'm beginning to collect are vintage dog show trophies.  I have no idea why I am.... but there's something peculiar and handsome about these trophies that I think just adds to the quirkiness I'm trying to achieve here at my house. 

Random blog post today, I admit... but that's what winter is really all about...randomness!

Holiday Decorating

 

I don't think there's such a thing as too much holiday decorating.   Now, I don't mean covering the house with string lights to the point that the local news is camped outside your house to cover "the most festive home in America."    But I think it's okay to add something to each room to celebrate the holiday season.   

In the craft room, I've been spending A LOT of time in there working on some new product lines, so to make the room a bit more festive, I covered the windows with paper snowflakes that were used in a recent TV appearance.   These paper snowflakes look good from inside and outside the house.

 

On the long shelves, I strung a HAPPY HOLIDAYS sign made entirely out of spent pens, pencils and other writing utensils.   It feels very architect-like in appearance.    The sign is huge...so it's quite dramatic and fun to see each morning when I walk into my office.

 
Over by the open beams in the house, I strung some white LED string lights up.   I took to types of lights and twisted them together to give them some weight and variety.   And then I just swagged them in between beams.   What's sorta funny is that I found nails already in place where I wanted to swag them... making me think the previous homeowner may have done somthing similar....

 

And my floor to ceiling homasote inspiration boad is really starting to take off.   I think this is my favorite part of the whole house.  I can just tack tear pages, fabrics and photographs right onto the wall and get ideas from them.   This wall is ALWAYS changing, but today, I thought it looked particularly inspiring.

Winter De-Icing

 

It only takes ONE time to slip and fall on an icy sidewalk to make you always remember to have de-icing solution at your home to make the slippery ice melt, melt away.

Before the first snowstorm of the season, I headed to my local hardware store to stock-up on shovels, brooms and other winter essentials.    One thing I noticed this season was a new variety of de-icing material called MAG.   What caught my eye was the bottom right artwork: "Giving Nature a Helping Hand."

 

On the bag, it lists why MAG is better for the environment.   It contains 1/3 less chloride than traditional ice melters, it can be used safely around landscaping, and it corrodes metal less than other melters, too.    The less chloride part is what I like best, since that can be a major issue when it comes to waterway pollution.  

 

One thing I do like to do is to transfer the ice melting mixture into a seperate container.    Here, I filled a galvanized container with the MAG melting mixture and added a vintage feed scoop I found at a flea market.

 

And here it is all closed up.   The handle on the side actually shuts the lid totally closed on top.  So, a gust of wind or a wild animal coming by can't open it or knock it over.   I keep it in the outdoor shed for easy access and just scoop up some mixture and scatter it around.

After the first storm, I'll let you know how well this performs.   I will admit it does cost more than the cheap de-icing mixture, but perhaps the extra money is worth it.   We'll see...

Organized Linen Closet

 

There are things in the new house that I've been meaning to tackle, but never got around to doing.  And it doesn't help that I can avoid taking on the project by simply shutting a closet door and keeping it out of mind.  But a rainy day can sure make you think of things to do, so I finally cracked open that linen closet and took the mess of sheets, towels and everything else and organized 'em.

 

I have lots of these JCPenney Studio bamboo fiber towels in both green and blue in my house.  I bought a dozen of both towels in two different colors because that way I can keep the green ones for one bathroom, and the blue for another.  One thing I like to do is roll them up and stack them side-by-side in the closet in a narrow shelf.  Also, guests are always welcome to grab an extra towel or two if they need them.

 

I keep lots of extra pillowcases on hand and have a whole collection ranging from organic cotton to organic linen to bamboo silky smooth ones.   After they are laundered, I keep them stacked in these zip-close boxes I found at Ikea.   I could stack the pillowcases in the closet, but over time they'll gather dust and need to be laundered again.  This way, I always have clean ones ready to go.

 

And an overall look of the closet open.  On top, I have a collection of vintage storage boxes I've been finding at flea markets.  They include a wicker picnic baset, a military ammunition box and a photographer's stainless steel kit.  So random!  

The two top coverlets are some of my favorites:   On the left is a silk blanket by designer John Robshaw and on the right, is a 100% organic cotton one from JCPenney that's part of my Simply Green partnership with them.   It's downright cozy.