Design^Sprout | Your Guide to Green Design

Sit on That! New Uses for Old Suitcases

   With this economy a lux getaway may not be in the cards but that's no reason for your suitcases to gather dust.  Turkish design collective MayBeProduct creates retro-inspired seating by classing up some old suitcases to create funky seating that puts your luggage to good use.

Advertising Rules My Life

   I hate when advertisers get it so right that I want to run right out and buy their product.  This London-based Adidas ad is fantastic. I'm not sure what it means but I know I love it. Yes, at time I'm a sheep but I'm not proud of it.

Pop Goes the Color!

 

    I ask you, is there a better (aka cheaper) way to perk up a room and your mood than a shocking hue here or there? Twenty bucks, a brush, a rainy Saturday and viola!–you've got a whole new look. Well, if color is your thing too, look no further than designer Ghislaine Vinas.  Winner of the Pantone "Color Outside the Lines" competition (and eons of other things) for color use in residential interiors, she certainly knows how to use this spectra power to it's fullest impact. Maybe with a little inspiration you can too?

And You Thought Letters Were Soooo Yesterday.

    Oh, how I l.o.v.e. this table! Love the recycled element, love the mixed typography, love the vintage feel! Made by artisans at The Inspired Maker, each table is one-of-a-kind and as you'd expect super pricey. But don't worry your pretty little head - Crate and Barrel has knocked one off (made from sustainable wood, of course). Not quite as nice but only half the price!!!

Here Comes the Sun...

   These amazing solar powered bags by Noon Solar not only look great but can charge your cell phone in under 2 hours. There goes your excuse for not calling back.

   Plus, they're made of all the do-gooder staples; organic hemp, cotton, sustainable leather.  Great idea, no?

D^S Contest – Win a Flip n' Tumble Reusable Bag!

 

    So, you're not perfect. You buy bottled water from time to time, occasionally mow down on a little Mickey D's (gulp) and don't have the foggiest idea how to compost last night's dinner (nor do you really want to learn). Trust me, you are not alone. The designers at Flip and Tumble realized that despite our best "green" intentions, forgetting to bring a reusable grocery bag to the store was a common problem. As a solution, they've designed this teeny, tiny, sock ball that happily sits at the bottom of your bag waiting to be filled with goodies. Maybe you're not perfect...but no one has to know.

                                     WIN THIS BAG!

    Ooooh yeah, you too can avoid the oh s*%t moments at the checkout stand and look ever-so-designy while doing it. Just drop me a comment saying anything at all. Any 'ol thing will qualify you to win. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday. Good Luck!