Disappearing Act

John Ryan didn’t while his summer away; instead it was the inspiration for abeio, his line of outdoor furniture and accessories that was his graduate thesis.
Research has shown that living in urban locations with limited outdoor and storage space; durable outdoor furnishings are often treated as consumable goods: purchased at a discount, used for a season, and disposed of in lieu of disassembly and storage. I know I am part of that statistic.
Ryan asked, “If outdoor furnishings are used as consumables, then why aren't they designed as consumables?” Why design durable and permanent furnishings that spend ¾ of the year in the storage shed or under a tarp? Ryan feels to be truly seasonal, goods should, through the very function of their use, cease to exist. This means no disassembly or storage. End of season should mean end of life. Thus, abeios (from the latin abeo: to disappear slowly) was born. Low-cost, low-impact consumable outdoor furnishings which celebrate seasonality.

abeioLight, resembling Malibu Lights, is” Made entirely of beeswax — a non-toxic, renewable, and biodegradable ignition source. abeioLights are designed to be planted in the ground and used for outdoor lighting. The cup shaped top of the candle provides cover against drafts, while the tapered base gives stability and support. “

abeioDrink is”A decanter and cup set made from low-fire terra cotta. Terra cotta has been proven to absorb tannins from wine, reducing bitterness and reducing hang overs. Terra cotta also has osmotic properties - smashing abeioDrink and burying the shards in a flowerbed normalizes its moisture levels; thus preventing root rot, freezing and parching.” http://www.abeio.com/

Eco and Chic Used to be Mutually Exclusive

Don't dismiss Green Design as a fleeting fad or the trend du jour. It is quickly becoming part of the mainstream practice both in the workplace and residential interiors. According to Jill Salisbury, founder of EL: Environmental Language, a green furniture company, and at the forefront of the movement, "The movement is not a trend; it's an awakening. It wouldn't surprise me if, in five years, green design becomes the defination of good design. " We have to agree with her.
In July's WF Trendspotting column, we covered the subject. Here are some more green products coming on the scene-



Sprout: Mod Green Pod’s founders Nancy Mims and Lisa Mims loved swank design and sustainable goods, but they couldn’t find anything that combined the two. Refusing to choose one over the other, they started their own company. Veterans of the fashion industry, they create products that won’t harm the planet, its manufacturers, or users, all without sacrificing style.
Their 100% organic cotton fabrics are produced without using any harmful finishing agents and our water-based printing process also respects this simplicity and purity. Mod Green Pod’s wallpapers are also printed with water-based inks and unlike most wallpapers, ours are finished without a coating of toxic vinyl.
Their debut collection Jubilee merges clean modern lines with classic damasks for whimsical but sophisticated mixing and matching. Look for their new Sprout collection to be unveiled this month. http://www.modgreenpod.com/


Fresh Air Textiles: This collection by Louise Russell for Carneige Textiles has an intriguing place in residential interiors. The collection is based on the precepts of intregrative medicine, emphasizing wellness and healing of the whole person. The power of positive imagery is transferred into textiles to impart healing on both a mental and spiritual level. Russell, believing in the energetic importance of objects in our environemts, worked with nature photographs; broke them down into pixels and then reassembled them into patterns. A proponent of vibrational medicine, she trademarked the collection as Vibrational Wellness –a textile that has healing powers. http://www.carneigefabrics.com/

Eco-to-Go: Non-profit organization Ecoagents recently coined the phrase “eco-to-go” as a way to encourage consumers to request less packaging when ordering take-out meals. Ideally, once the phrase catches on, employees and managers at dining establishments will know to go light on napkins and utensils when an order is requested “eco-to-go”, cutting down on the roughly 30% of waste that comes from discarded packaging in America.

Flow Kitchen:John Arndt's Flow Kitchen is its own mini eco-system. This compact modular sysytem features dish drying racks that drip water onto herbs and edible plants in terra cotta jars. The inset bowl flips to empty into the worm compost bin complete with Red Wigglers and removable tray. http://www.johnarndt.com/