Dwell on Design Does Eco, Fabulously

By Lauren Stillman
June 28, 2011

Touted as the West Coast’s largest design event, “Dwell on Design,” on view this past weekend in Los Angeles, is a design lover’s paradise curated by the editors of Dwell magazine, a highly acclaimed glossy encouraging the incorporation of modern design elements into our everyday lives.

We had the opportunity to roam the aisles at the L.A. Convention Center and peruse the 300 participating “Dwell on Design” exhibitors as we hunted for the most exciting trends in modern design.

ecofabulous house

Ecofabulous House

Our first stop was the MODERN LIVING showhouse, a one-of-a-kind designer home featuring the latest innovations in stylish sustainability. Zem Joaquin, founder of green lifestyle site Ecofabulous.com and eBay eco-expert, overlooked no detail in her direction of the design of the 550-square-foot space. From rapidly renewable cork flooring and energy-efficient appliances to recycled content grout and luxurious seaweed sheets made by eco-designer Linda Loudermilk (body heat warms the seaweed causing it to release skin nourishing properties while you sleep), the home proves that reducing your carbon footprint need not mean sacrificing great interior design.

"I'm really excited about the eco elements we were able to bring to this year's MODERN LIVING showhouse," Joaquin told us. "Inside, I love the Brizo one touch faucet, which is made with a high percentage of recycled content. I'd been dying to use exquisite Plyboo edge cut FSC-certified bamboo in a project, and the center cabinet was a fantastic collaboration between architect Jonathan Davis and me. ModWalls recycled glass tiles are stunning in the kitchen, but it's the grout made from waste dust in the glass recycling process that is game-changing."

The show-stopping pre-fab home also serves a greater charitable purpose: eBay Giving Works will be auctioning it off, with proceeds donated to environmental nonprofit Global Green USA. The auction is open from July 5 through July 15. Click here to bid.

Joaquin, who buys furniture, clothing, accessories, electronics and horseback riding clothes for her daughter on eBay, says she and her husband visit the online shopping marketplace at "least a few times a week... I recently bought a pair of Derek Lam boots on eBay and was excited when they came in [the eBay box], a box made of 100% recycled material that is also fully recyclable. It was made with non-toxic dyes and designed to be durable for reuse. I also like that you can track online to see where the box goes when you're done with it."

"I always check the 'used' box when searching and like to buy locally to cut down on transportation," she says of keeping her eBay shopping extra-green. "I put in my ZIP code to find local sellers, which is especially good for choosing big items like furniture (and an added benefit is saving money on shipping)."

All over the show, designers were paying serious attention to environmentally-friendly living. Following are five of the most notable eco-ideas.

Hold It Burlap Cubes

Made from repurposed burlap-covered sacks, these floor cubes by Cisco Home lend a dose of rustic comfort to any space.

Cisco Home Burlap Cubes

Lot of 10 Vintage Burlap Sacks

(current bid, $13.29)

If you're up for a DIY project, try re-purposing these into floor cubes, pillows or even chair coverings.

David Trubridge Lighting Fixtures

These large wooden light fixtures from David Trubridge were designed so that they could be packaged for freighting in smaller packages (40 of the new packages would fit into 1 of the older models) and easily assembled at home to create the awe-inspiring design visuals seen here. An extra bonus: the timber used is sourced from sustainably managed plantations in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.

David Trubridge Lighting Fixtures

Wooden Light Fixture

(buy it now price, $349.99)

eBay offers loads of pre-owned (read: green!) wooden (read: recyclable!) light fixtures.

Hold It "Air Roots"

Repurposed wood is playing a major role in modern home furnishings in everything from cabinets to tables to décor. Pieces like these “air roots” from Hold It in San Diego will add a unique natural earthiness to any home.

Hold It

Klein & Hess Re-Purposed Cabinet

(buy it now price, $1,500)

This cabinet, designed by Baltimore artists David Klein and David Hess, uses repurposed wood and other materials for a whimsical effect.

Astek Inc. Wall Coverings

California-based company Astek Inc. offers unique wall coverings created using eco-friendly inks that are certified zero VOC and free of harmful solvents. Jump into the ‘70s resurgence by hunting down your own unique wall covering to brighten any space on eBay. Or make your own using vintage magazine covers.

Asket Inc. Wall Coverings

Cotton Wall Fabric

(buy it now price, $7.98)

A great vintage print will liven up a small space such as a bathroom (you could cut and frame a piece) or look great accenting one wall in a larger space.

Cisco Home Repurposed Lamp

It has been said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This old adage holds true when it comes to current home décor trends. Items made of repurposed industrial items such as this lamp found at Cisco Home are also a trend in modern home furnishings.

Cisco Home Repurposed Lamp