Product Ventures, Ltd
Fairfield, CT

I was just introduced to Prairie Vodka this morning via email, and although i have yet to try this supposed organic goodness, i'm absolutely smitten with the photography, website, and branding! It's gorgeous! So they really run with the Prairie meets the City theme ~ and have these breathtaking images of a woman on her NY patio with the city behind and the wolves at her side... and then the gentleman in his plush red chair at the fireplace with his bison... and then the subtle details and styling of the logo and site... *swoon*... and then you must see the actual bottle design as well, so sleek and simple. Even the transitions... to have the wolf walk up, and breathe on the screen till it gets foggy and fades into the next page... little silly, but an interesting approach! Is it any wonder that Prairie recently received a gold medal at the 2008 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirit Awards, as well as "Best Overall Design" and "Best Package of Show"? See more screenshots and imagery on the next page... and read more on Prairie Vodka at their site.

P.S. i'm so distracted by the prettiness of the visuals, that i'm saving discussing the organic and kosher aspects of it and the unique partnership between Phillips Distilling Company and a co-op of over 900 Minnesota farmers who are stakeholders in the brand - for a product review to come!

TO PAGE 2 of "Prairie Vodka Site"! ----->

(Want more visual goodness? See NOTCOT.com + NOTCOT.org)

Today Samsung released their green "Eco-Phone," made of corn-based bioplastics and lacking in harmful lead, mercury and cadmium. They're also Energy-Star-rated, and an alarm feature beeps when the battery's topped off, so you don't leave it plugged in and drawing juice. For now, the Eco-Phones are only available in South Korea.

via akihabara news

...

Maxwell posted a photo of Morrocan cement tiles recently and we love their time-worn beauty as well. In an entryway or kitchen where there's no upholstered furniture to clash with, they draw your eye in and welcome you. And they are a perfect anecdote to all things sleek and shiny...

We don't have hallways this large, but we do have a sorta-mudroom area at the back door which would be a great place to inlay some tiles into the wood floor in a little area "rug." There are a lot of of places that sell new and antique cement tiles, and there are so many colors! Some of the newer patterns are easier to get and would even look great as a backsplash or as an accent under a bathroom sink. Our friend Nancy installed cement tiles around the tub in her bathroom and mixed it with a wood floor. We've always loved how it manages to be both warm and cool at the same time. Here are some links to places that sell new and antique cement tiles: Cement-Tiles.com Concrete Cottage has a list of places that sell antique cement tiles around the world Granada Tiles Mission Tile West Provence Retrouvee sources tiles (and other things!) from the demolitions of ancient buildings in southern France. Images via Light Locations -Jeanine >>To All AT Boston Posts

Luxury bathrooms are emerging as the new must-have for home owners. No longer it is enough to place a few candles in your commode -- today's top bathrooms have to be spa-like sanctuaries for the weary and worn down.

Bath manufacturers aren't missing a beat when it comes to catering to their elite clientele. While color palette, fixtures, and flooring are an integral part of creating a tranquil retreat, it's the tub that delivers the biggest impact.

Hydrology, a high-fashion bath art showroom, is focusing their energy on highlighting pure and authentic designs. With a catalog that features $350,000 bathtubs carved of pure seamless gemstone, LED-lit shower heads, and 24k gold sinks, Hydrology pulls from international artists including Jaime Hayon, Ross Lovegrove and Claudio Silvestrin.

Carved seamlessly from a single block of white gemstone, the Le Acque collection by Claudio Silvestrin incorporates the textured grain of grey oak to evoke a sense of calm and organic flow.

--allie

Tags: luxury bath, high-end bath, modern bathtub, gemstone tub, modern spa

Weekly finds from the 3D world:

Rhino
Ashlar/Vellum releases Grasshopper, a graphical algorithm editor for Rhino that requires no scripting

Inventor
CAD Wars video (in German, but so worth it)

Pro/Engineer
Introduction to SmartAssembly third party scripting tool, for defining templates and UDFs

3D Studio Max
Bend modifier tutorial

SolidWorks
The complete guide to Layout Sketches

Multiple Packages
Google Trends analysis of major 3D CAD companies - results may surprise you

...

Have a great holiday weekend! I wanted to share this super cute cake made by Philadelphia's Whipped Bakeshop for a 4th of July themed wedding being held today by the actors who portray Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross here in Philly. I love the tiny paper flowers that look like fireworks!

We stumbled upon this reading garden at our local library, and were immediately struck by the low maintenance design. With comfortable chairs and no grass to mow, this garden makes excellent use of its urban setting...

We think it could serve as an inspiration for the small front yards so often found outside rowhouses throughout the city. The lack of grass is a real plus for us as it eliminates the need to drag the mower through the house just to maintain a basic degree of curb appeal. On a smaller scale, this type of garden could be an oasis of zen in the city. >>To All AT Washington Posts

NOTCOT Note: Here's the latest discovery from Anna (Sub-Studio) ~ these cheese/cutting boards would be SO perfect for fourth of july picnics and bbqs!

I saw Lotte van Laatum's work on Bloesem recently and fell in love with it. Lotte is a designer and recent graduate from the Design Academy Eindhoven. In her graduate program she specialized in the social-cultural and ecological aspects of design, an interest you can see permeate through her design collection. Much of her work references other cultures, and even employs craftsmen from those cultures, such as her Bloei! sofa, Tulipa vases (after the jump), and the Made in Peru cushions. Lotte's Dutch Wood project attempts to create awareness about the sustainable use of local resources by keying the shape of each cutting board back to the geographical region it was harvested from. The cutting boards come from the regions of Veluwe, Noordoostpolder and Salland, and are made of three different types of wood - beech, ash and maple.

TO PAGE 2 of "Lotte van Laatum"! ----->

(Want more visual goodness? See NOTCOT.com + NOTCOT.org)

Name: Aaron

Location: New York

Profession: AT Editor All of our Green@Home posts have talked about the little things that, over time, can make a big impact. In our small Manhattan apartment, we're re-using shopping bags and making an attempt to buy locally produced food. One of the latest changes, I've made is to train myself to turn off the water while I'm shaving. This seems silly, but it was a habit that took a few weeks to break...

I used to let the water run while I shaved. Now I only turn it on to rinse the blade. It's a no-brainer (like turning the water off while brushing your teeth), but it was a habit that I needed to change.

Please send us photos and info on how you live green@home. This is not a contest, just a way to build up an AT inspirational database of sorts on how real folks are living greener at home. Simple, straightforward ideas are welcome, like how you deal with your recycling bin in a small kitchen, and so are ambitious projects - like your amazing green roof. We hope to have a big archive of ideas to inspire us all by the end of the month. In exchange for sharing your green@home ideas, Ecover is giving the first 100 of you that we post a thank you gift from their line of green products. The submission form and all the details are here - hope to hear from you today.

Dear AT, I simply love the pendant light in "Stephanie's Tile and Marble Vision" bathroom you posted a while ago. Could you please tell me where this ceiling light is from or where I could get a similar one? Thanks! Rita

Just north of I-80, between Toledo and Cleveland, is an unexpected educational facility that is setting a shining example of sustainable building for ecological and human health. Completed in 2000, the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies is an ongoing green build experiment, as its energy performance is studied and adjusted as green technologies continue to evolve. We wouldn’t expect less from Inhabitat favorite William McDonough + Partners, but were surprised to find that this particular PV-powered experiment was taking place in Ohio. It just goes to show that you don’t have to live in sunny California in order to efficiently harvest solar power.

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These modern takes on the still life painting make a curated glimpse at everyday life.

A 138-year-old, three-bedroom, 5 bath, 6500 SF home in Marblehead just got a LEED-certified makeover in Marblehead...

Just in time for AT's Green month, The Boston Globe has a great room-by-room tour of the renovations that made this luxury ocean-front house LEED certified - including the scoop on the recycled rubber roof. Check out the full article here. Photos by Globe Staff >>To All AT Boston Posts

Many urban dwellers have embraced the local food movement. Greenmarkets are booming in Manhattan and CSA food boxes are trendy. The New York Times shows us some former urban dwellers have embraced the local food movement even more by becoming farmers themselves...

We get a peek into their new farming lifestyles (which are all wildly different and unique) in At Midlife, Called to a New Field. We're curious to know if ATers woudl move back-to-the-land...what would you farm? Pics: Stewart Cairns

We've never been fans of vinyl, although we did grudgingly use vinyl windows in our house. But vinyl shower curtains? Turns out they pollute the air in your bathroom.On the other hand, maybe we were hoodwinked. This week, we're on a hunt for the best free or low-cost e-waste recycling resources across the country. Stephanie suggests biodegradable plates for your Fourth of July picnic, and we find a great video how-to guide for novice gardeners like us.

Below the jump, we're pondering whether crockpots actually save energy... and amidst all this serious green stuff, we think it's high time for a laugh.

  

The Onion is jumping on the green bandwagon, and, as usual, it's good for a laugh. And we're pondering whether our innocent little crock pot saves as much energy as we've been lead to believe...

Smooth, sleek, sharp, and made entirely from paper, Inga Sempé’s Double Stray Lights for Artecnica, require no assembly and arrive flat packed. There’s not much we don’t love about these elegant paper lamps. Their ability to be so incredibly sophisticated, while retaining a tactile, vulnerable quality, has us absolutely captivated. Arriving compact, the Double Stray unfolds accordion-style to light up interiors with an intentional moiré pattern that gives both structure and ambiance.

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Dear AT, My grandmother, a glamorous woman who lived her whole life in New York, cherished her genuine Louis XVI chairs. When she died, the appraiser informed us that though the style was genuine Louis XVI, these were actually made in the late 1800s. Real or not, they remind me of her and I want to fix them up. As you can see, the bottom's coming out of the bigger of the pair, and the fabric is both dingy and outdated. My grandmother smoked for years, so who knows what the real paint color is...

I'm wondering how to spruce them up, but I've never done anything like this before and I don't know where to start. How does re-upholstery work? Do I bring my own fabric, or does the upholsterer have that? What kinds of fabric might work? (Most of my decor leans toward the mid-century modern.) Should I get them repainted? Since these are heirlooms, I don't want to go overly trendy with them. How much should I expect to pay? And does anyone have a good upholsterer in Brooklyn? I'd love to avoid schlepping them into Manhattan. Thanks! Debbie

Name: Regina

Location: New York

Profession: architect, AT co-editor To kick off July's Green@Home giveaway, we're sharing a few green tactics from our own homes. In case you missed it, check out Janel's Simple Small Steps at AT Chicago. In our family's home, we try to take advantage of the building's bones...

On these hot summer days, it pays to live on the first floor, with all of the hot air in the building pulling right up the stairs. Our apartment, built in the 1870's, has thick brick walls under the plaster. The walls stay cool and keep our apartment cool, too. We use a ceiling fan to get the air moving and have had to succumb to the a/c on only a handful of days.

The fact that the building is so old is in itself a green move. The old details left from the past are not only pretty, they are signs that the life span of the building's materials is a very long one. Surfaces like the floors, plaster walls, and doors have lived through four or five generations and are prepared to keep on going with proper care.

Please send us photos and info on how you live green@home. This is not a contest, just a way to build up an AT inspirational database of sorts on how real folks are living greener at home. Simple, straightforward ideas are welcome, like how you deal with your recycling bin in a small kitchen, and so are ambitious projects - like your amazing green roof. We hope to have a big archive of ideas to inspire us all by the end of the month. In exchange for sharing your green@home ideas, Ecover is giving the first 100 of you that we post a thank you gift from their line of green products. The submission form and all the details are here - hope to hear from you today.

Product: 1 Judy Ross Seeds Pillow Value: $ 190 Description: From one of our favorite textile designers, Judy Ross, we're giving away one of our favorite pillows, the Seeds pillow in green/blonde/blue. Enter below.....

The Seeds Pillow:

• New Zealand wool, hand embroidered with canvas back.
• "The Judy Ross Home Collection pairs century old hand embroidery techniques with modern design. For the past 16 years, Ross has developed a special relationship with artisans in Northern India. Her designs are paired with their fine craftsmanship, and each piece is meticulously hand-embroidered using the finest 3-ply New Zealand wool. The wool is hand-dyed which gives depth and rich nuance to the color. The tightness and stitch of the hand embroidery cause the color to shimmer and give dimension and texture to the yarn."

How to Enter: To enter this Thursday Giveaway, please submit a comment below. The contest begins today and ends on July 7th, at NOON ET. We will choose one winner at random. Rules: Please, only one comment per person per giveaway post. Duplicate comments will be discarded. You'll need to be a registered member of the Apartment Therapy network of sites to post a comment. Make sure the email address in your Apartment Therapy registration is valid; that's how we'll contact you if you win. If you haven't registered yet, please join us here: welcome to our community & create an account. Winners must claim their prize within three business days after the date of notification of such prize. A Sweepstakes winner's failure to respond to the prize notification within the specified three business days will be considered such Sweepstakes winner's forfeiture of the prize and an alternate winner may be selected from the pool of eligible entries. If an entrant is found to be ineligible, an alternate winner may also be selected from the pool of eligible entries. To enter, you must be a U.S. resident, age 18 or older to enter. Employees, partners and vendors of Apartment Therapy and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter. We will disqualify any entries that we believe are generated by scripts and other automated technology. When applicable, the winner may be required to execute and return within five business days an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability and Publicity Release to be eligible for the prize or an alternate winner will be selected. All prizes will be awarded. No substitutions including for cash are permitted, except that Apartment Therapy reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater monetary value for any prize. Winners shall be responsible and liable for all federal, state and local taxes on the value of their prize. To receive a complete list of winners or a copy of the Official Sweepstakes Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Apartment Therapy, 22 Howard Street #4i, New York, NY 10013.

Okay, here's a layup: my favorite three Wegner side chairs and a radical tip - TRY MIXING THEM UP (no one ever does that). The idea comes from the picture above, which I saw on the Bulthaup website...

1. Wegner 1962 - ch36 2. Wegner 1956 - ch20 3. Wegner 1950 - ch24 (the Wishbone) >> Carl Hansen - manufacturer >> Hive Modern - good source >> Room & Board - good source

We’ve seen lamps made from many different types of recycled materials, including plastic bottles, and the result are often fabulous. One of the greatest things about green design is that everything shiny, snappy, translucent, funky or everyday works great for repurposing into a lamp. There’s something especially stunning about the light creatures created by Lisa Foo and Su Sim. This pair of designers sat down with a pile of plastic mineral water bottles and came up with a collection of etheral light creations where the plastic bottles become unrecognizable as fluid, organic, blossoming forms.

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Artist and motorcyclist Linda Dodwell has a deep love for the architecture and iconography of rural Australia. When she built her five-building compound in Sonoma County, California, many of the materials, finishes and artistic details were imported from down under. While The New York Times makes special mention of her eucalyptus-leaf weather vane and marquetry panels depicting silver-leafed gum trees, we're fond of the metal walls in the bathroom and the treatment of the outdoor area as additional living space...

Read the whole feature, Australia in Sonoma, and don't miss the slideshow, it's an excellent style primer in the Australian vernacular of the Outback! Pics: Matthew Millman

Melissa wrote in to ask for your help giving the kitchen in her new house a makeover.

We just moved into our new house and everything about it is amazing except our ‘country kitchen’ — meaning small and outdated. I just got married and have all these neat dishes and toys (breadmaker, slow cooker, etc.), but don’t have any counterspace or storage! The floors and counters were newly done, and hopefully we can get a new stove in there soon. I was thinking of leaving the cabinets white (it would be hard to sand them to repaint because of lead paint hazards…) and painting the walls another color that’s not so pukey. Can you help me find some inexpensive ways to freshen up and rearrange our kitchen?

Hi Melissa! Thanks for writing in and sending in photos (click through to the next page to see a couple more). First off, congratulations on your new home — and new marriage. What an exciting year you must be having. Secondly, this kitchen is not bad at all. We’ve certainly seen worse! There is a ton of potential. Changing the cabinet pulls, backsplash, countertop — tall that can be done without a huge budget. Pick up a copy of new This Old House — there’s a great story in there about re-doing a kitchen on the cheap. It will help you prioritize where to spend the dough (sadly, the story’s not online). More inspiration can be found over at design*sponge. Look at this Sneak Peek with Conn & John in Hawaii. Their kitchen is just white with stainless steel accents and looks great. A stainless workbench in the middle of the room to add counter space. Stephanie’s before and after shows how a little color on the back splash can make a big impact. Love that green! Another resource to check out: Consumer Reports just came out with a kitchen renovation special. Look at this article on easy cabinet upgrades.

Does anyone else of suggestions for Melissa? Click through to the next page to make suggestions and see a couple of more photos!

Friday June 27

3 PM: Book launch on the Bund

It’s raining cats and dogs—we’re getting the tail end of a typhoon that’s blown up from Hong Kong. Rather than abandon their bikes, everyone just rides around in colorful plastic rain suits—very intrepid! But they have the right idea: it’s impossible to get a cab in this weather…hence, I’m already late for the book launch at the Design Republic, back in the Bund…

+ 100percentdesign.com.cn

July Sales... MoMa Design Store Sale • Up to 50% off selected tabletop, desk and personal accessories, home furnishings, and stationery • Starts July 10th • 11 West 53rd St, 44 West 53rd St, 81 Spring St.

Nancy Koltes at Home Sale • Up to 80% off bed and bath linens • July 10th through August 10th • Nancy Koltes at Home, 31 Spring Street, 212.219.2271 Desiron Three-Tier Summer Sale • Up to 20% off (purchases up to $9,999), 25% off (purchases up to $25,000), and 30% off above that! • Through July 31st • 151 Wooster St., 212.353.2600 DWR Summer Sale • Up to 75% off tables, umbrellas, planters, and chairs for an outdoor deck or patio, AND up to 50% off all floor samples. • All studios! Crate and Barrel Outlet Sale • Up to 70% off everything • Through this weekend • Woodbury Common Premium Outlet, 650 Bluebird Court, Central Valley, NY 845.928.1008 Metropolitan Museum of Art Store • Up to 50% off sculpture reproductions, jewelry, and books • Through July 6th • Fifth Avenue, 212.731.1498 ABC Carpet & Home Summer Sale • Up to 75% off • Through July 20th • 888 Broadway, 212.473.3000 Pompanoosuc Summer Sale • Up to 20% off all furniture • 124 Hudson Street

I've always been a fan of J.Schatz colorful and streamlined ceramics. His newest piece, Peekaboo, includes votive holders and pendant lamps in a sweet and curvy shape.

Silent Gliss makes us think of cool, crisp shades and drapes gliding perfectly on their tracks. And that's just the name. Then we look at their photo gallery and are inspired to sheath our home in shear layers...

Go here for more info.

California-based Martin Sprouse specializes in custom furniture that often draws upon architectural influences. No two pieces are alike, but each piece is a fine example of craftsmanship, functionality and material. The 4140 table above combines a variety of unusual angles and slants with a resin surface on solid walnut to result in a striking centrepiece. Switch, after the jump, is a combination table/bench/storage unit, depending on need, and again is a mix of nooks and angles. Deep Swiss, with its many layers of black walnut, was inspired by a layered-stone wall.

+ martinsprouse.com

This gorgeous Graham & Brown Victorian Wall Doctor Paintable Wallpaper would be a stunning way to cover up some unsightly plaster, or to give your apartment a rich, regal feel. As the Graham and Brown website says, "[...] this best selling wallcovering is patterned after traditional tin ceilings and has 8.5 inch squares. As with all of our textured paintables, this pattern covers problem walls and even paneling..." Caitlin in Columbus Circle has one roll left, untouched and ready to use!

Click to view these in bold below

Apartment Therapy New York Furniture Classifieds are open for your business in the Shopping Guide. They are local and JUST DECOR. Post a particularly good thing, and we'll highlight you here on the front page. OTHER GOOD STUFF

• Great small Mid-Century drop leaf dining table with 4 chairs - $325
• Fantastic orange vintage mod oval swivel chair - $130
• Antique Couch with Carved Wood - $625
• DESK Wood - $20
• Cool Chairs! - $50
• DESIGN WITHIN REACH sofa components 4 sale in perfect condition
• beautiful vintage dresser - $75
• 2 gorgeous refurbished antique couches/sofas -- great condition - $350
• Bottoni Chair by Marcel Wanders for Mooi in Modulating Stripe fabric - $1100
• West Elm Circles Rug (Chocolate) - $50
• Vintage Dining Brass-Frame, Glass-Top Table and 8 Brass-Frame Chairs - $1000
• Antique Wall Mirror Gleams in Red Lacquer - $179

Thanks, Craig!

>> Yesterday's NY Scavenger

Dear AT, I recently bought a pair of funky looking chairs and an ottoman off Craigslist. The seller claims that he no longer remembers the manufacturer. I have no idea either! Can AT help me? I ask this question because I want to put new cushions+covers in. The current blue expanse is kinda boring. I want a thicker cushion + a livelier cover. Any ideas and/or sources? Thanks! Peter

Even though they are plentiful and free, leftover carpet and wallpaper samples rarely find a purposeful second life. However, there is hope to “rethink, reuse and upcycle” the ever growing pile of pre-consumer carpet waste. Design students and professionals can compete annually to come up with great ideas to reuse carpet samples in the Ample Sample design contest. Meeting the challenge to make good use of the some 700,000 carpet samples shipped annually, past years’ winners included everything from recliners, benches, bags, and wine carriers. The winner that caught our eye from this year’s Ample Sample competition is the GreenScreen.

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Have you tried everything to clean the dull, stained grout between your tiles? It's a common question we wrestle with at Apartment Therapy: Groddy Grout: Cleaning Tile Grout? We've covered grout coating, grout-whitening pens and grout colorants and dyes. The New York Times gives us some basic pointers and suggestions for professional help when all else has failed...

The professionals talk about the importance of sealing the grout, after cleaning it, to protect it from future dirt and grime. Read all about it: The Fix: Power Remedies for Dirty Grout. Pics: Joel Holland

Josh Friedland, the voice behind The Food Section blog, thinks about gardening the way we do: it sounds great in theory, but knowing how to get started can be overwhelming. Friendland found a group on Flicker called square foot gardens, all inspired by a book (and blog) of the same name. For novices like us, this is the that was a the perfect way to get started. The idea is to create raised beds that are filled with a specific thing, like herbs (above). Click here for step-by-steps at The Food Section.

Before — dark and gloomy kitchen!

After — bright and open. Love the subway tile wall!

My pal Nicholas recently completed a five month renovation project on his studio apartment. When I saw the results, I knew I had to ask him to share them with you. The total place is 450 square feet on the Lower East Side. To create more space, he removed three closets and created created an alcove area (which some would call an East Village-sized bedroom). He tore down a kitchen wall to open up it up into the living area and got all new fixtures and appliances. Though most was done a tight budget (the cabinets are Ikea), he spent extra on the appliances for brand names (Bosch and Fisher Paykel). — Angela M.

Want more details? Click through to the next page for additional photos and the secrets behind some of Nicholas’ great finds!

Here are are few of his sources:

The stools are industrial stools I found online from a place called MEYER MATERIAL HANDLING, at meyermat.com.

The sink and stainless countertops are from a industrial kitchen supply place in Chinatown called MASTER KITCHEN SUPPLNEW YORK, 212-533-2356

The Sputnik (kitchen) light I found in a thrift store and the orange one I inherited from a friend who passed away.

The wall art (Bollywood and Egyptian movie posters) I got on eBay. The limited edition Mike Mills (blue) poster I bought at Kim Gordon’s (Sonic Youth) store X Girl when it was around in the early 90’s. The Warhol/Basquiat flyer I got when I went to their opening.

The three hanging lights above the island are from REJUVENATION HARDWARE*INC. You can’t really tell from my snapshots what they look like. They sell them for $150 each but I bought the parts from them and put them together myself. It took five minutes to put each one together. It cost me $60 each this way.

Bikes Without Borders is a non-profit group that aims to use bicycles and pedal powered machines to make the world a better place. They have many plans, one of which is to aid in designing a bike that is accessible to the developing world (low-cost, durable, can carrier large loads, etc. etc.) Of course, they need the help of designers to accomplish that goal. They also want to design other pedal powered machines that will make life easier for those who need them. The bicycle powered water pump that is pictured here from MayaPedal is a good example of that type of project (you can see other interesting bicycle based machines designed to help the people of Guatemala on the Maya Pedal site).

Any of you who are interested in helping out by sharing your design ideas should contact Bikes Without Borders directly. Also, those of you in Toronto, Canada should know that Bikes Without Borders is holding a brainstorming event this Monday, July 7th. They would love to have some designers in on the discussion, so plan to attend if you can. Here is a bit more information about the event from the people at Bikes Without Borders:

Join our board of directors as we work on a longterm vision and recruit new members. If you have a passion for cycling and an interest in helping others, then please come out. Everyone is welcome. Your input will be greatly appreciated. We are looking for enthusiastic, creative and inspired individuals with fresh ideas and knowledge of all kinds.

WHEN: Monday, July 7, 6 pm to 8:30 pm
WHERE: Boardroom #120, Centre for Social Innovation - 4th floor, 215 Spadina Ave, Toronto

Please RSVP to this address and let us know if you are interested in taking part, and how many people will be coming with you. If you can't make it but want to get involved- email us!


With a long weekend coming up (for readers here in the U.S.), I want to leave you with a few completely random links.

This bike may be a contrast to the machines mentioned earlier that can make the world a better place. It does look like it would be fun (and a little scary) to ride though. Warning- the video does contain some profanity, so be warned if you are watching at work or if you just don’t want to hear it.

If you want to build a solar powered trike, here are some DIY instructions to do so. Via: Ecofriend (Have I already posted this one?)

I was glad to hear that Camelback recently hired two new industrial designers to expand their product line. As I have said before, now is a great time for designers who wish to work in the bicycle industry.

DL Byron from Bike Hugger sent me an interesting article titled Trekinetic: Reinventing the wheelchair. Yeah, it is not about bikes, but it is a very interesting read for anyone interested in product innovation.

Finally, Since I mentioned the Museeuw flax composite bikes a while back, I will point you to this recent Bike Biz post about a product developemnt deal that the company signed with the University of Ghent. It will be interesting to see what comes out of that.

Have a great Independence Day weekend (again to U.S. readers) and don’t forget that the Tour de France starts on Saturday (that is for everyone).

We occasionally see these mid-century modern indoor planters that make us look twice. This is one of those - we love the stand's tapered legs and the white insert that turned out to be...

Styrofoam! Okay, not a good material to showcase, especially during Green @ Home month. But the planter was recycled: it's owner, m free, bought it on ebay.

LuLu Living is a concept store/café on the edge of the Kazimierz district in Krakow, Poland that has a modern, laid-back vibe and a nice selection of contemporary decorative items from Poland and the rest of the world.

Check out their English-language website for some long-distance inspiration. - Kristin Hohenadel blogging from rue Vieille du Temple, Paris, France. She can be reached at kristinh @ apartmenttherapy . com

This past week we came across the chive's big brother, the ornamental onion after its' prime. Now we like it even more.

After the purple fades, the dried flower and stem 'skeleton' still hold their own. Something of this dried structure reminded me of old wooden rollercoasters that have lost their newness, the wood shows through and the paint has faded long ago by the sun. Or the old flashing starburst neon signs that still hang over the retro Chinese restaurant in our old Bronx neighborhood. Dandelions float away on the wind when they have expired, and daffodils shrivel and flop. But these stand their ground - even through the torrential downpour that happened this past Sunday. matt at apartment therapy dot com

It's almost the 4th of July, and fruit cobbler is a perfectly easy, perfectly delicious way to sweeten the holiday. Here we have a 3-ingredient recipe for fruit cobbler. It takes literally 45 seconds. • Click here for full post: Recipe: Easy, Foolproof Cobbler (for Any Fruit)

Be kind people. We’re admitting one of our deepest, darkest eco-guilt secrets on a national website. We’ve only replaced a few of our lightbulbs with the vastly more efficient Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs (CFL’s). And the reasoning may just be as atrocious as the actual lack of replacement…

We’re very affected by lighting, and to date, most of the CFL’s have made us feel like we’re in a seedy, demoralizing institution. We know, we know, we know…this is no excuse for obliterating the planet. So imagine our delight when this past Sunday’s Boston Globe magazine revealed a new bulb from Sylvania called Soft White A-Line compact fluorescent (CFL). If the photo from the Globe article (the same one used for this post) is an accurate depiction, these bulbs look as warm and cozy as standard incandescents. Okay, we hereby commit to finally replacing our energy-greedy standard bulbs. Available at Lucia Lighting in Lynn, MA. 781-595-0026 Have you found other brands of CFL’s that you really like? >>To All AT Boston Posts

Foster+Partners is making their mark in Amsterdam with their newly completed towers housing the headquarters for Ernst & Young. Standing 24 stories tall, the new tower has been dubbed the “gateway” to the Vivaldi Park area of a new Zuidas district development south of Amsterdam. While it is arguable that the new Ernst & Young headquarters is not nearly as highly designed of as some of our past Foster + Partners postings, there are at least two things that we can guarantee about this new design: the building is completed and it is exceeding targeted Dutch environmental standards.

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Aero Studios Ltd
New York, NY

+ Eastvold Custom makes use of reclaimed Douglas fir for this credenza.

+ Christopher Yue proposes the Mess Unit, described as a “wall playground” for mess, wall storage for clothes that are not quite dirty yet.

+ The ExSqueezit is a lightweight, rubber juicer by Assaf Israel that can be used by placing over any container.

Since we'll be sticking close to home most of the summer (our neighbors call this a staycation), we thought we'd use the time to summer-ize our kitchen a little. With the way the soggy weather has been the past few weekends, we took advantage of an unusually sunny Saturday and tackled the refrigerator first. Check out the results after the jump!

Now that's more like it! We love our Amana refrigerator because it takes panels, but instead of making it match the cabinets, we cut a plywood board to fit so that we could change it to strike our mood (up until last weekend it was chalkboard). It's simple to slide out and paint (just 4 screws). ...although never content to leave things for too long, we have a plan for its next makeover when we get tired of red. This door mural looks like it might fit perfectly, especially with the bottom freezer. color: Benjamin Moore Red -Jeanine >>To All AT Boston Posts

Address: 3-17 26th Ave. City: Astoria State: NY Zip: 11102 Phone: 718-777-0132 Website: http://www.bignyc.org/front-page Think BIG. If you are looking to renovate using recycled resources or want to get plugged into the green movement in NYC, Build it Green! is paving the way on the retail front. A division of the Community Environmental Center, BIG is a noble undertaking as it seeks to be "a one-stop-source for green building products, resources, and services."

With a huge, 17,500 square feet warehouse in Astoria, Queens, Build it Green! has everything from "plumbing and lighting fixtures to wood, windows and everything in between." They also offer deconstruction services, take donations (and can pick-up!) and will soon be selling "a line of reasonably-priced new, green building supplies". MGR (Re-Edited from 2005-3-1 - CB)

It's been one of those days my friends. Thunderstorms, power outages, internet connection out for several hours... So I shall return to blogging on Monday, July 7 since we have a holiday here in the states and I plan to spend a long relaxing time away from work to enjoy every moment of summer that I can. Though the entire time promises to be gray and rainy, I plan to cherish the moments indoors anyway. I'm off to light candles, play some Beirut and Edith Piaf, and make Thai food. I have a craving for something spicy with mango. Have a lovely time off!

7/3 update: i've blogged a little over on my more personal blog called haus maus today in case you care to peek in over there...

8 PM: Party on the Bund

We capped off our day of VIP events at the opening party, held at an event space in Three on the Bund. The building—which houses clubs, fancy restaurants (Laris, Jean Georges), and retailing—overlooks the burgeoning Pudong district across the river. Andrew pulled me over to the window and pushed open the curtain, warning me about the Blade Runner moment I’d have when I saw Pudong. Which is like Times Square on speed—blinking lights, crazy-shaped buildings, a little dystopic. The kitschy Jetsons-esque curves of the Oriental Pearl Tower (the Eiffel Tower of Shanghai) is basically a huge TV antennae in drag. A highlight: I finally had a chance to meet Rossana Hu and Lyndon Neri, The multitasking architects are also copartners behind contemporary boutique Design Republic (which carries Droog, Vitra, and Magis) and their new product arm, Neri & Hu, which they run in their spare time between building all over the world. More to come: I’m headed to the store tomorrow for a book launch.

+ 100percentdesign.com.cn

4 PM: Tour of the Bridge 8 complex

Members of the press were treated to an off-site adventure this afternoon: a tour of Bridge 8, a mixed-use complex that includes offices for creative professionals—architecture firms SOM, Alsop, and David Chipperfield among them. A stunning piece of contemporary design, Bridge 8 is actually a savvy conversion of the former Shanghai Automobile factory, treated to a high-class redo with humble materials like brick, concrete, and metal mesh. Its two buildings are connected by a dramatic bridge that wraps up and over the street in a gesture similar to OMA’s Beijing loop. Indoor and outdoor common areas lend the feel of a little neighborhood, as do office doors left open and glass walls providing glimpses of the creative production within.

+ 100percentdesign.com.cn

Seattle based Graypants channels an exuberant work ethic into elegant pieces of sustainable furniture. Their set of Scrap Chairs are composed entirely of upcycled materials ranging from from finely polished plywood to corrugated cardboard and printed publications. Each piece develops out of a fluent process that perfectly encompasses their innovative approach to design: “Consider everything an experiment. Nothing is a mistake. There’s no win and no fail. There’s only make”.

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{cherry orange blossom cakes from tartelette and steamed lemon pudding from Live, Love and Eat Desserts.}

The crowd was rapt this year at the 37th Annual Architectural Awards ceremony held June 14th in Beverly Hills where the Los Angeles Business Council recognized 25 project teams and seven entertainment studios for outstanding contributions to Los Angeles. The diverse projects spanned 12 different categories including mixed-use, preservation, public use, landscape architecture, renovation, and sustainability, and this year the urban fabric of LA featured several notable green threads.

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+ With the release of the Electric Kettle, Plus Minus Zero's 5th Collection is now complete.

+ Tokyo-based Cina's latest product is a 4GB USB flash drive made of laser sintered nylon.

+ Naoto Fukasawa designs the Noto ballpoint pen for German maker Lamy. JS

It’s a sure sign that green has moved into the mainstream when even fairly traditional-looking drapes are now made using sustainable bamboo materials. Drape Style’s bamboo and linen drapes are the epitome of grown-up cool - while a couple of the patterns are a bit stuffy for my taste, I love the leafy, stylized Bordocano Angelus and fun polka-dotted Tapla Angelus patterns. Custom made in the US, you pick the size, pleat style, and lining. Available here, starting at $279/panel. — Meg D.

Read more of Meg’s tips for stylish, green living at her blog, Style Saves the World.

One of the best things about having this blog has been the people I've met and have become friends or acquaintances with through our shared interests and pursuits. I was thrilled to see fellow Philly textile designer, t-shirt designer, blogger, and pal Amy Volshin's wedding in the newest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. I was lucky enough to see some of her own photos last year, but its even cooler to see the Martha Stewart take on Amy & Leo's beautiful day and the amazing personal details they contributed. Congrats guys! Here's a sneak peek....check out the new Summer 08 issue for the rest.

{photos by Marcus Nilsson from Martha Stewart Weddings, bird topper by Ann Wood & stationery by Bird & Banner}

INHABITAT FUN IN THE SUN Greener Gadget Giveaway!

Okay, this is it! Today is the last day to enter the Inhabitat Fun in the Sun Greener Gadget Giveaway! We are giving away a ton of great green goodies this week, including a Voltaic Solar Power Backpack (valued at $250). We’re announcing the winners tomorrow, so today is the last day to get your name into the drawing for one of many super hot summertime prizes. All you have to do to be eligible to win is be an Inhabitat newsletter subscriber, so what in the name of renewable energy are you waiting for?

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE for your chance to win >>

Prizes include the ultimate summertime sidekick Voltaic Solar Power Backpack, hand-cranked LED lanterns by Freeplay, truly green (not to mention stylish and super comfy) Inhabitat T-shirts and eco-friendly Inhabitat totes for all your beach time, summer market and eco-styling days in the sun. There are lots of great prizes to go around but YOU MUST BE ENTERED TODAY TO WIN. Only Inhabitat newsletter subscribers will grab these hot giveaways so don’t wait, sign up for our newsletter by midnight EST tonight and read it tomorrow to see if you are one of the lucky winners!

Read on for more about the contest prizes and how you can win…

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Typically, folding chairs do not scream modern, or even very functional. They are usually uncomfortable, rigid, and not very aesthetically pleasing.

Whenever I think of a folding beach chair my mind invariably goes to the old school metal frame chair with those horrific plastic/rubbery bands -- which could leave second degree burns on your unsuspecting thighs. Plus, those nice horizontal lines imprinted against your legs were always hot!

There is no doubt about it -- those chairs were nasty. So now I am on a mission to seek out the most mod, functional folding beach chairs for 2008.

Up first, the Teak Sling Rocker:
* mildew-resistant mesh
* hammock-sling for comfort * round arm rests

Check back for more...

--allie

Tags: outdoor chair, beach chair, modern folding chair, modern outdoor furniture, contemporary beach chair

Here’s a little dish from Bon Appetit that sounds harmless enough but was so spicy, it brought tears to my dinner guests’ eyes: Asian grilled steak with spicy slaw. The steak was simple and scrumptious — simply marinate in soy sauce, freshly grated ginger and minced garlic. But the slaw — coated in a dressing of vinegar, sugar, more ginger, jalapenos and green onions — caused fireworks in our mouths! Sweet tasting at first, but then POW! The heat hits ya. I think I mad