From the monthly archives:

August 2005

Edo Style Japanese Beds

August 31, 2005

This bed frame, constructed in Japan, is made in the style of the Edo period, which was known for its simplicity and restrained elegance. On the eco-level, the bed is constructed out of solid mahogany, which is sustainably farmed. The bed can support a futon or a traditional style mattress. One benefit of this type [...]

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The Best Low-Flow Toilets

August 29, 2005

Early on, low-flow toilets got a bad rap — and justifiably so — their flushing ability left a lot to be desired. But today there are many low-flow toilets on the market that work well. Terry Love is a plumber who reviews low-flow toilets. He takes his job seriously, installing some of the toilets his [...]

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Top Rated Rice Cookers: Zojiriushi

August 18, 2005

Rice cooker reviews are little hard to find — the bigger consumer magazines don’t seem to cover them, but some other sources on the web do. Reviewers on Cool Tools and Sally’s Kitchen both recommend Zojirushi Rice Cookers.
Popular in Japan, Zojirushi cookers are pricey ($150-$200). But they also have no-frills models for about $60.

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Best Wines Under $10

August 18, 2005

Here are the best wines that can be acquired for under ten dollars, according to the New York Times. About their selections, the critics say:
We tasted 12 whites and 12 reds, and picked our top 5 of each. Of the whites, three of the five were made from the sauvignon blanc grape. A fourth tasted [...]

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2Faced by Lees Carpets

August 18, 2005

Lees Carpets is introducing a new line of eco-friendly carpets called 2Faced, which were recently chosen as product of the month by Architectural Record. 2Faced carpets are tufted in such as way that they appear to change colors, depending on your perspective (see photo above).

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Rotary Cheese Grater by Cuisipro

August 8, 2005

These devices make grating Parmesan and other European hard cheeses a breeze, compared to a plane or box grater. You can use any reasonably sized blocks of cheese (1/2″-2″). Soft cheeses do not work well in this grater — they become stuck in the grate barrel and become glued to the internal structure.

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Best Pizza Stones: Soapstone Pans

August 8, 2005

​​​​Soapstone is a stone that retains heat efficiently and evenly. It’s an excellent material for cookware. Soapstone pans and pots are handmade in Brazil and are able to withstand temperatures twice as high as cast iron and other metal cookware. Soapstone develops a natural non-stick surface and lustrous black patina finish after curing. They can [...]

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Best Toaster Oven: Cuisinart TOB-175

August 8, 2005

Toaster ovens are very handy devices in the kitchen, but often overlooked. They can be used to heat and reheat a variety of meals(not just toast), and they are also quite energy efficient when compared to regular ovens. So which oven is top rated?
Reviewers fairly unanimously chose the Cuisinart TOB-175 Convection Toaster Oven.
It gets 4.5/5 [...]

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Highest Rated Home Espresso Machine Under $500: Rancilio Silvia

August 8, 2005

This espresso machine was the top pick on CoffeeGeek, for a home machine under $500. It gets a 9 out 10 rating, based on 118 reader reviews.
According to Consumer Search, the most attractive features of this machine are the three-way solenoid valve, three thermostats, and machine-forged brass boiler, brew head, and filter holder, as well [...]

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Modern Rattan Lounge Chair

August 6, 2005

This “donut chair” is an example of modern wicker design. The dark two tone color comes for the natural color of the rattan. It has a washable cotton cushion.
Rattan furniture is durable, smooth to the touch and made from plants that grow quickly and replenish easily.
Available from Surroundings for $295 each.
They also have this [...]

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Eco-House: Non-Toxic Products for Artists

August 4, 2005

Eco-House makes a range of non-toxic products for painters. No longer will they have to suffer from inhaling dire substances! Eco-House offers solvents, thinners and finishes. They have a turpentine substitute which combines the solving action of orange peel oil with highly purified mineral oils. By contrast, petroleum-based solvents have toxic aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, [...]

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TA-KE Floor Lamp

August 4, 2005

This “TA-KE” floor lamp is one of many affordable, asian-style lamps available from Shojidecor.
Light on resources, it is made of thick rice paper with a satin steel finished base.

Available for $89 in five colors from Shojidecor.

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Soap Nuts: Natural Detergent

August 4, 2005

We always like to discover innovative, plant-based products that are being introduced into the marketplace. Take for example, Soap Nuts which are an organic, eco-effective alternative to detergent. The powder is made from the sun-dried fruit of Sapindus Trifoliatus trees in south eastern India which is ground into a fine powder. Nothing further is [...]

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Bent Ply Chairs

August 4, 2005

Even retail stores sometimes offer efficient bent plywood furniture, like Hold Everything which sells this “Bent Ply” chair. You may need to go to their site and zoom in to get a good look at the wood grain.
Available in four different stains for $88 (including shipping) from Hold Everything.
This attractive “Kinetic Santa Catarina” chair (below) [...]

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Bent Plywood Overlap Tray by Offi

August 4, 2005

Bent plywood is energy efficient in its construction. Also, less wood is wasted because the wood is not milled but molded instead. This overlap tray by Offi is molded plywood with a Baltic birch veneer, and has a cork covered area for your cup of coffee. Read more about Offi here.
Available from Amazon for $99.

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Recycled “Spaceframe” by Modernseed

August 4, 2005

This little fellow is hiding under a Spaceframe, which is made from 100% recycled plastic soda bottles. It’s soft to the touch while still strong enough to build a grand sculptural statement. Kids can configure these into whatever arrangement they can dream up. Available at Modernseed for $169.

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Raintree Nutrition: Sustainable Extracts from the Amazon

August 4, 2005

Need some Maca, Chuchuhuasi, or Cat’s Claw to cure what ails you? You might want to try Raintree. They wild-harvest and export over 60 sustainable rainforest plants, resins and oils from the Amazon.
Raintree has developed many proprietary rainforest herbal formulas and extracts utilizing these medicinal plants. They also have a first-rate Tropical Plant Database.

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Boomtune Mini: Portable Speaker Tripod

August 3, 2005

The Boomtune Mini is a portable speaker system that incorporates a tripod design and has a 2 x 1W output. It runs on one AAA battery.
Boomtune Mini can be used with almost any MP3 player. It appears to only be available in Japan. More information at Yanko Design – thanks for the tip.

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Lacquered Bamboo Dishes

August 3, 2005

These dishes are made of lacquered, wound bamboo, which comes from Cat Dang, Vietnam. The soaked bamboo is cut into very fine strips and pressed into a curve. The strips are then coiled outward from the centre of each dish. A frame is used to achieve uniform depth and angles. After a coating of cashew [...]

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Kago Matchstick Lamp

August 3, 2005

This Kago Lamp has a natural matchstick weave.
Available from Oriental Furniture for $24.

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