Currently viewing the category: "Materials"

The MetaEfficient Kitchen

By On October 2, 2010 · 5 Comments

The kitchen is often the heart of a home – it’s one of the most-used rooms in a household for both working and socializing, so shouldn’t it be as functional and energy-efficient as possible?  Here is a collection of design ideas and products, both big and small, to help you create a beautiful and efficient [...]

Continue Reading →

Minimalist Functional Design

By On March 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Kenya Hara wrote the book “Designing Design“, which is 472 page tribute to “white” not just as color but as a design concept. It contains chapters by like-minded designers such as Jasper Morrison and Naota [...]

Continue Reading →

Ultrafine Yak Wool Clothing: Efficient

By On March 11, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Khunu is a start-up company that aims to be the first to bring yak wool clothing to the global market. They offer a range of athletic clothing that is made with 100% Himalayan yak wool. What are the advantages of yak wool? Khunu says that independent lab [...]

Continue Reading →

Looptworks: Products Made Of 100% “Excess” Material

By On March 8, 2010 · 3 Comments

I’ve been testing some Looptwork products, and they are amazing. Here’s why: the company makes all their products from 100% industrial “excess” materials. That means every zipper, button and thread used in their designs was about to be thrown out. For example, the Hoptu Laptop Sleeve shown above is made with [...]

Continue Reading →

Ultra-Efficient Design Meets Low-Impact Manufacturing: Patagonia Wetsuits

By On May 7, 2009 · 2 Comments

If you’re not a surfer or a diver, a wetsuit may seem like a fairly specialized or even obscure piece of equipment. But once in a while, a product arrives on the market that’s noteworthy not only for how well it performs its job, but also for how it’s designed and produced. Such is the [...]

Continue Reading →

GreenFiber Cocoon Insulation: Energy Efficiency From Recycled Material

By On April 9, 2009 · 17 Comments

One of the simplest ways to improve a home’s energy efficiency and comfort is to make sure that it is properly insulated. Cocoon Insulation from North Carolina-based GreenFiber is a highly efficient insulator, offering more convenient installation and higher R-values than common alternatives, as well as utilizing recycled source material.

Continue Reading →

Efficient: Bamboo Toys

By On May 9, 2008 · 1 Comment

The Contina line by Hape International is said to be the first range of 100% bamboo toys. They are colored with natural, water-based paints. The full range is available from Hape through Amazon. Found via: Eco Child’s Play

Continue Reading →

Bloxes: Modular Cardboard Furniture

By On March 11, 2008 · 11 Comments

Cardboard can be incorporated in modern design pieces — check out this impressive gallery of cardboard furniture. Bloxes (shown above) are the latest option in cardboard furniture. The corrugated cardboard puzzle pieces lock together to form sturdy shapes such as chairs, walls, and play forts.

Continue Reading →

Cocona: A Fabric Enhancer Derived From Coconuts

By On November 23, 2007 · Leave a Comment

Cocona is a natural fabric enhancer that is made with activated carbon. The activated carbon is derived from coconut husks — it is a “waste” product of the water filter industry. But what does Cocona do exactly? It is said to help traditional fabrics resist moisture, control odor and shield [...]

Continue Reading →

Optimal Material For Mattresses: Natural Latex

By On September 12, 2007 · 12 Comments

I’ve come to the conclusion that natural latex is the optimal mattress-making material. I’ve tried all kinds of mattresses: goose down, wool, foam, cotton futons and box spring mattresses. But I have to say that my first few nights sleeping on a latex mattress were the most comfortable I ever experienced.

Continue Reading →

Looking for something?

Use the form below to search the site:


Still not finding what you're looking for? Drop a comment on a post or contact us so we can take care of it!

Visit our friends!

A few highly recommended friends...

Archives

All entries, chronologically...