ecocentric - eco chic style

Colour schemes for an eco interior

2010-03-10T16:48:00.001Z

Colour in the home can be applied in a number of ways, almost like layers, onto walls, fabrics, furniture and floors, so fear not that your home will end up a bland white space, its just a question of how you want to introduce it.
Obviously different rooms have different uses so whilst one might be energetic (such as kitchens or studies), another may be relaxing (bathrooms), calming (lounges), or romantic (well bed rooms of course!). By understanding what each room needs, there are a variety of ways that colour can be used to help create the right mood.

• Pure brilliant white will give your home a fresh bright, minimal feel - if used with the right accents (smaller bursts of colour) white can be made to feel soft and romantic or even bold and retro. But beware, that white can be left feeling stark and bare, with grubby marks showing up at their worst. Worst of all for me is the harsh way that white reflects light at night from unshielded bulbs, leading to a feeling of snow blindness when lights are turned on. So if you’re going to do white, make sure all light bulbs shine more softly through shades or bounce off surfaces without being seen directly, cutting down on painful glare.
• For a contemporary graphic approach combine white walls and surfaces with blocks of vibrant colour to add impact and focus to spaces. This will create a strong energetic and urban feel to spaces, which has associations with the colour schemes of the early modernists such as Le Corbusier.

• Taking Inspiration from nature seems obvious for Eco Chic. So go for naturally muted shades of colour- think of the colour of sun bleached drift wood, the silver white of birch trees, the colour of soft moss or dry clay. These softly muted shades show up colour wonderfully, and can provide a perfect canvas for your life, making pictures, objects and other pieces come to life. Add to this with small bursts of colour by using stencils, soft furnishings or other pieces that will off set the background adding a splash of vibrancy and energy.

• Combine lighter colours with wallpapers – for a reflective and coordinated feel to a space. Use the background colour of your wallpaper and then use a lighter shade of that colour for the surrounding walls, if possible a lighter shade still around the windows, to reflect maximum light. This will allow you to create a strong textural focus to the space whilst keeping it essentially light, and reducing the amount of painting that you’ve got to do (although you will off set that with a bit of wall papering!)

What are the colours of Eco Chic?

2010-02-10T14:49:00.000Z

As you would expect a style as important as Eco Chic has its own range of colours. Due to the combination of function and style, choice of colour can play a key role in the mood and atmosphere of your home and even energy conservation.
Its been known for hundreds of years that the orientation of a room will determine the sorts of colours that work well in a space. A room that faces south will get a good range of different light as the sun moves over head from east to west; from the warm reds and yellows of the morning to the harsher brighter midday light to the warm reds and oranges of the evening. A north facing room however will get no direct sunlight, and the reflected light into the room will be a cooler blue. In this way, through the ages rooms have been colour coordinated to compensate for the deficiencies or benefits of light to suit- with north facing rooms being painted warmer colours and so on.

In the world of eco design however, wall surface finish is critical to maximise the reflection of natural light, so some would argue that only pure brilliant white would be right through out the home- that’s walls, ceilings, and floors. OK so I can sympathise with this- the darker your walls, the less natural light gets reflected around the space, so the sooner you have to turn on the lights, thus wasting energy.

But this leaves me in a quandary – I enjoy using colour, it helps me to express feeling in a space, it can create drama and atmosphere, character and identity ….. need I go on?! Eco Chic needs to find a compromise where these emotional design aspects can be explored whilst creating functional light and reflective homes.

The answer may well be to introduce colour or darker shades in only certain selected areas. Think about using tonal shades of colour (the same colour just lighter and darker shades) on different walls – lightest on those walls surrounding the source of light such as the window and darker feature walls, further away. White details, (or very light colours) for window frames and sills will also help to bounce light as it falls through a window.

What is Ecochic?

2010-02-02T11:54:00.000Z

There are 3 essential aspects to Eco Chic that need to be considered in order to interpret the functionality of Eco Design and the 3 R’s into a style that’s as good to live with as it is for the environment :

1. Technology
Technology is an exciting area that is constantly developing; becoming smaller, better, faster and importantly more efficient. Embracing all that technology has to offer will allow us to make our lives less wasteful, more efficient and to gather more of what occurs naturally around us – such as renewable energies from the sun, wind earth and sea.
Technology not only refers to high performing appliances but also to cutting edge materials, be they new low impact materials, natural or even recycled.
We must trust that developments in technology are key to helping us reduce our impact on the environment and to combat climate change.

2. Nature
Nature is an essential component to our lives and one we sometimes take for granted. It should be remembered that we are not master of nature but part of it.

Interaction with nature is a grounding force in our lives, it quite literally brings us back down to earth, and reminds us that we are still part of the natural world. Think about the vibrancy of the smell of freshly cut grass, the textural feel of the bark on a tree, the flicker of the flames in a log fire- these all raise simple but sensual primeval emotional responses in us, that are essentially very comforting. Like us, natural materials often improve with age and use, developing a sense of character unique to themselves and their experience, adding individuality and a certain richness to any home.
The use of natural materials not only brings textural sensuality to the home, but also allows us to choose sustainable and naturally renewable materials – ones whose impacts onto the environments, if responsibly managed will have a reduced impact on the environment. Better for for, better for the planet…………. brilliant!

3. Vintage
The term vintage is an umbrella term that opens us up to the glamorous worlds of the antique, the ingenuity of reuse, and even the excitement of flea market finds. It’s about making the most of what we already have produced, and finding new ways of using them – offering a new lease of life for an item that someone else may well have thrown away. The pleasure of vintage is all about invention - putting a new spin on an existing object – be that through repositioning, framing, grouping or remaking.

But more than just finding new ways of using old things its about using the sense of style that the object posses, about borrowing from its past to dd to your own. In this way vintage items have the potential to add a touch of glamour to our lives, which is no bad thing. After all why shouldn’t we live like kings just because we respect the environment? Surely a good king (or queen) has a vested interest in protecting the lands they posses?

Vintage items also have a softening quality - all those knocks, scratches, wear and tear are something that can’t be simply reproduced, they have the effect of taking the harder edge off a contemporary interior. This patina of age speaks of an experience, and uniqueness that money just cant buy. In this age of mass production we yearn for objects that posses individuality, and character- aspects that in some way wear off onto us, expressing our own identities and curiosities.

These 3 corner stones of Eco Chic; Technology, Nature, and Vintage can be interpreted in a number of different ways and can help you solve style and functional dilemmas when trying to create your own eco home and lifestyle.
What we will discover is that certain rooms of the home will have a certain bias towards one aspect rather than another, due to their function and status as a public /private space or one that uses more or less resources.

– Kitchens will have a heavier slant towards technology, and possibly nature- as this is an area where many resources (gas, water, electricity) are used so we need to be as efficient as possible, whilst retaining a sense of style that may align to our tastes for organic foods, hence the lean towards nature for materials.
– Bathrooms may have a heavier slant to nature, as this is a sensual space so using natural materials to create a spa like feel will be very relaxing whilst technology will help us to reduce our use of resources.
– Bedrooms, being a private space may have a greater leaning towards the Vintage which can carry associations of romantic and nostalgic styles, whilst nature will lend a sense of simplicity and purity.
– Lounges may well lean towards nature, vintage and then technology, being a public space – thus reflecting a variety of your interests and activities (such as books, music, ornaments, photos, music, or film

In this way Eco Chic is open to personal interpretation; it is a flexible style that can help you express your own tastes and experiences whilst upholding your passions for a cleaner, greener way of living.

The 3 R principle in sustainable interior design

2009-12-29T12:51:00.000Z

This basic 3 R principle lies at the very heart of eco design. Its simplicity belies the complex nature of Eco Design when it is carried out in its strictest form.

When applied to the creation of housing, Eco Design becomes a fascinating but complex style. A well designed eco home will have a number of key features based around this principle:The real emphasis on any eco home is to reduce the amount of resources that it uses, making the most of the site that it sits on, having the following:

– A large amount of glazing on the south side of the building to take in the warmth from the sun.
– A reduced number of openings and windows on the north side to minimse heat loss
– Renewable energy sources such as solar water heating, photovoltaic panels, a wind turbine, located on the walls or roof
– Thick walls and heavily insulated roofs and floors
– A soild section of the building made of brick, concrete or stone, which will act as a heat sink to store the suns heat (known as thermal mass)
– Double or triple glazed windows
– An extremely efficient heating system.
– A minimal number of electrical lighting fittings
– A rated energy saving appliances such as fridges or freezers.
– Reduced flow water systems.

It may well contain a number of sustainable natural materials, such as :

– A timber construction, and external cladding and fittings (such as doors, window frames and banisters)
– Sheep’s wool insulation
– Natural flooring materials such as wood wool or cork
– Non toxic natural paints
– A green turfed roof to insulate and encourage wildlife

Lastly it will consider what resources can be reused and make the most of them:

– A grey (used) water recycling system, and water butts
– Heat pumps to recycle unused warm air
– Recycling bins
– A compost bin in the kitchen and wormery or compost heap in the garden
– Recyclable elements such as stainless steel, or wood surfaces

An eco house is a super functional and efficient piece of design; a building that performs at the highest possible level, putting as lighter possible impact onto the environment is at its very core of being. It places functional efficiency before all other choices, with “style” as a possible additional benefit. After all in the face of such an enormous issue such as global warming and destruction of our living habitat why would we even consider the trivialities of style as being important?

Eco design is a noble thing for architecture and design to work towards, striving to create a pure, efficient world for us to inhabit. It is a courageous ideal for the world of design to do battle with the very wastefulness of society.

What is sustainable interior design?

2009-12-22T11:46:00.001Z

Good design for the home has traditionally been about bringing a number of different aspects together to create the ideal living space; location, cost, function and style all have to be juggled (with a touch of inspiration of course!) for the perfect home.

However a new issue has landed at our doorsteps, one that now must be considered alongside the rest. Environmental concerns mean that our homes need to go beyond our personal requirements to become more conscious of the planet at a wider scale. We now need to consider the impact our homes are having on the environment, and consider our lives on a wider scale.
In the past “eco design” has been the reserve of what many believed to be tree hugging hippies – but who’s ideas are now becoming ever more relevant. Their approach to design could be summed up as less is more, or simply to tread lightly on the earth.

Society has been quick to ridicule these ideas, largely as they reject the conventional notions of consumerism – with a functional bare aesthetic intertwined with an alternative spiritual belief system. But if you were to drop the latter, there are actually many practical lessons that we can learn from this way of living.
Eco Designs fundamental “mantra” (ok I know that word does sound a little hippy, but stick with me) is known as the 3 R’s, that’s:
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle

Reduce is as the name suggests, about reducing your consumption of resources- be it the basics that you use in your home (such as gas, water, or electricity), or more general consumable goods such as packaging, clothes, furniture, petrol, cosmetics and foodstuffs. Being realistic it doesn’t mean living a totally minimal life, rather a more efficient, and thoughtful one.

Reuse refers to the sustainable method that the products we buy and use are made. We should ensure that they come from a well managed and sustainable source, one that is naturally replenished, this includes natural materials such as wood, wool, cork, and rubber. The Reuse of products also refers to items that are re-appropriated; this can be as simple as a chair that is given a new lease of life with a lick of paint or a recovered armchair. In addition it includes fabrics and foods and products that come from a fair-trade/ organic source – ensuring that we are not unnecessarily depleting or damaging the earths resources, or putting others lives in misery, starvation and poverty. Ensuring that the lives of others are in a balance as a result of the way that we live our lives.

Recycle differs from “reuse” in that the it refers to materials that would generally be totally broken down before being reassembled in another form, such as the recycling of cardboard, glass or paper. Recycling ensures that materials are not taken out of their useful lifecycle loop by being cast into land fill or being incinerated. Clearly the planet does not possess limitless supplies of raw materials, so its essential that we make the most of what we have. You can now recycle nearly 70% of what goes into your home - glass, tin, paper, plastics, clothes/ fabrics, paints almost everything can go somewhere if you simply take the time to think about it.

The 3 Rs sit in a logical hierarchy whereby it’s better to use less in the first place ( ie reduce). So be efficient with what you have and use, and try not to take it for granted.
If you can t use less then make sure that what you do use comes from a well managed renewable, and sustainable source (ie reuse).

Lastly, we should make sure that what we do use or consume, doesn’t just leave the loop by being put into land fill or being incinerated, but recycle it to be reused in another form. Recycling is at the bottom of the 3 R hierarchy as it takes energy to collect materials, chop them up and then reform them into new products - still it plays a vital role in our new sustainable world and life style.

For more eco interior design ideas visit OliverHeath website.

Eco furniture from a Dublin based furniture store

2009-12-18T18:27:00.007Z

All our beautiful handcrafted bedroom furniture is manufactured in Southern Ireland from the finest range of woods. Not only is it beautifully designed and elegant, but it is functional and purpose-built giving you bags of space for everything that you need to store in your bedroom.

Here at our Dublin furniture online store we also bring you some eco friendly alternatives in a variety of different and styles to satisfy all tastes. So if you’re looking for fine top quality bedroom furniture lovingly made in the Irish tradition in your favourite wood you will just love this site!

Why Eco for our homes?

2009-12-16T15:21:00.001Z

It was one of the fathers of Modern Design Le Corbusier, that once said “a house is a machine for living in”

Perhaps now more than ever, this quote is appropriate to our age. From a technical point of view our homes are under ever closer scrutiny, to use less energy and out put less waste- to become more efficient. That’s not surprising when we consider that the average home produces 6 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide emissions every year – a figure that could simply be reduced by one third (that’s 2 tonnes less!!) if we applied some simple principles to it.

Not only will this reduce the impact that our homes are having on the environment but also save us a money into the bargain.

We've moved!

2009-07-03T13:25:00.002+01:00

We've moved our blog to EcoHomeIdeas to an all singing all dancing blog.

Visit us at http://www.ecohomeideas.co.uk/ for more eco chic style ideas for you home and lifestyle, plus Oliver Heath's design advice and news in the eco business.

You can also follow our updates on twitter: http://twitter.com/ecochicstyle

See you there!

All at EcoCentric

What do Jude Law, Colin Firth, Jo Wood & Emma Thompson have in common?

2009-05-08T11:24:00.006+01:00

...They are all supporting World Fair Trade Day which is tomorrow - 9th May. Not only that but they have signed a limited edition butterfly top for People Tree in support of Fairtrade, as modelled by Jo Wood (left) - how many people can say they have Jude Law's signature across their chest?!

World Fair Trade Day is an international event when the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO, formerly IFAT) and its members promote global awareness of fair trade. It is a great opportunity to celebrate the 100% fair trade organisations and companies, and the gorgeous fashions and delicious and great quality foods that are available.

There are 100% Fairtrade breakfasts being held all over the UK aswell as in France, Norway, Poland and the United States.

Why not hold your own Fairtrade breakfast tomorrow - invite some friends round for fresh Fairtrade fruit shakes & hot-cross buns with dried fruit, and a cafetiere of delicious fairtrade coffee. Or if it is too late to organise, then just add a handful of Fairtrade dried fruit to your porridge or muesli.
Click here for some amazing recipe ideas from Tropical Wholefoods.

You could also use this as an opportunity to encourage your local European Parliamentary candidates to sign the Faritrade Foundation's pledge for fair trade, in advance of the European Elections on 4 June.

There is a great range of fair trade products at EcoCentric, from photo frames & albums to bedlinen - currently with 20% off.

National Compost Week: 3rd May - 9th May 09

2009-05-05T12:03:00.006+01:00

Yes it’s National Compost Week!

For those of you who don’t know much (or anything) about it, National Compost Week is organised by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

WRAP estimate that every year each home throws away 200kg of waste which could have been composted. National Compost Week aims to inform people of the benefits of making their own compost.

This year’s theme is ‘Food for thought’, and focuses on using compost to grow your own food. This theme is perfect because not only is it the right time of year to start planting, but growing your own fruit and veg has been made even easier by ‘Rocket Gardens’.

Now I love Rocket Gardens because they take the hassle out of gardening. You simply find and purchase a voucher for the garden you want, Children’s garden if you have kids, herb garden if you like to cook, patio garden if you don’t have a lot of garden space etc. Once your voucher arrives you return the freepost card telling Rocket Garden where you’d like the garden delivered and then a box of baby plants arrives straight to your door ready for you to plant.

Not only are these gardens easy but the plants are 100% organic, reared in soil approved by the Soil Association and are kept free of chemical pesticides, which will be delivered straight to your door.

They also make wonderful eco gifts because you have a variety of gardens to choose from, and you can give the voucher itself as a gift or arrange for the garden to be delivered straight to the birthday boy or girl.

Some of the benefits of growing your own fruit and veg using your own compost include:

You help the environment by reducing the amount of waste going into the landfills.
You can use your home made compost to grow your own fruit and veg; which will save you money on fertiliser.
Growing your own food will reduce in your shopping bill and ensures your food will be 100% organic and environmentally friendly.

So if you want to make the most of spring, start making your own compost and growing your own food, you now know where to start.

Oliver talks @ Grand Designs Live at ExCel London

2009-04-23T16:39:00.010+01:00

Oliver appears a lot in print, now he's appearing in person.

On the 26th of April and the 4th of May Oliver will be talking at seminars at Grand Designs Live at ExCel London.

Which seminars will Oliver be speaking at? Well good things come in threes and Oliver is no acceptation.

Seminar one: How to Use Vintage in the Home.
Want to give your home some character? Have things which can be reused and recycled? If so then this is a seminar you don't want to miss. Being held in the 'How To...' seminar theatre.

Seminar two: Eco bedrooms.
This seminar is all about making a living space which will have a big impact on you, without making an impact on the environment. Being held in the 'How To...' seminar theatre.

Seminar three: Urban Eco Chic.
How do you balance contemporary eco style and sustainable practicality? In this final seminar Oliver will address this question. Taking place in the 'Grand' seminar theatre.

The Grand Designs Live runs from 25 April to 4th May 2009, open daily 10am - 6pm.

To get tickets go to the Grand Designs Live website: http://www.granddesignslive.com/

In and out

2009-04-13T10:55:00.001+01:00

You may think, for a home based store, we are all about staying in - but no!

As active people who love the environment, we encourage as much interaction with mother nature as we can. A great example of this is our time & tide clock.

As well as telling the time, you can see at a glance the tide levels for your local coastline and whether it is coming in or out - so whether you are into sailing, surfing or kayaking on water, or walking or building sandcastles on the beach, this clock can help you get out on a spur of a moment trip.

A home based product that is aimed at getting you out of the house!

EarthBorn Paints launch new colour range

2009-03-31T15:58:00.004+01:00

Breaking news - EarthBorn clay paints today launch their new colour range! This new range of 36 colours (plus white) takes elements from a number of their previous colour ranges to offer a new, more streamlined selection of colours. With guidance from EcoCentric's own Oliver Heath, the new EarthBorn range is a well balanced range of contemporary colours which take the pressure off choosing your paint shades, as are extensively complementary.

Better still, Earthborn clay paints are the only UK paint brand licensed to carry the EU Ecolabel, Europe's definitive environmental standard. This is because they are low odour and VOC free, and help your house and your family breathe clearly, free from harmful chemicals and toxins. Clay paint has a beautiful matt texture which allows walls to absorb variations in humidity, has great coverage and is great for creating special effects. Why not spring clean your home with an eco re-decoration and give you and your family's health a boost at the same time?!

Grab a bargin with EcoExclusives

2009-03-31T15:35:00.004+01:00

We all love a good deal, particularly if the shops in question are eco friendly and ethical to the core. Which is why Green My Style, the premier online daily eco-glossy, has

come up with EcoExclusives. Offering a range of discounts or money off vouchers for a range of online retailers, EcoExclusives is your ticket to eco chic on the cheap. Offers are available from shops like Terra Plana, the inovative designers of eco friendly and ethical footwear, Foodari Direct, which delivers delicious, locally sourced food straight to your door, and Fashion Conscience, the gorgeous online boutique full of talented young green designers. There's never been a better reason to get out that plastic and treat yourself to a bit of eco style!

Big Green Festival

2009-03-30T15:44:00.001+01:00

If you are around in Manchester this weekend, head down to the Big Green Festival in Chorlton on Saturday (4th April).

The festival is celebrating all that is sustainable and local. Check out everything from the big swap (get some new goodies after a feel-good clear out) to green seminars and information about eco generators...

Let us know how you got on.

Egg a politician (virtually!) for Fairtrade

2009-03-27T11:56:00.003Z

Fairtrade is great - by requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), it addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

At the G20 meeting in London next week fairtrade issues are likely to be sidelined, which is why Divine Chocolate have set up their 'Egg a Politician Game'. You throw a yummy chocolate easter egg at a your choice of world leader - get your aim right and they'll gobble it up. You can then register your support for fairtrade by sending an email to the politician, asking them to raise the issue at the G20. Politics has never been so entertaining!

It's the little things in life...

2009-03-16T11:18:00.004Z

I have found that trying to put eco thinking into my life isnt about massive changes, but lots of little ones. The great thing being that each little change takes little effort, but added together make a massive difference.

And it is easy for anyone to take these little changes on board.

The ink ran out on our printer this morning so got me thinking about how we can save ink. We already use our mis-printed paper as scrap to print drafts and notes on. But that doesnt save ink.

The guys at SPRANQ in the Netherlands spent many a late night and cup of coffee coming up with ecofont, a font which uses 20% less ink than our standard fonts.

When enlarged you can see the way they have created it, with little holes in the letters. But when reduced to our usual writing size it looks no different from fonts such as Arial.

It is an open source font and you can download it here - make little steps towards your green office.

So I am making the little change of setting up my writer template to use eco font, and hopefully it will give us a couple of extra days before we need to change the cartridge next time... and saving pennies for that extra pack of biccies for our afternoon tea...

On the green carpet for the World premiere of Age of Stupid

2009-03-13T11:54:00.006Z

Make sure you are hanging out in Leicester Square on Sunday to catch a glimpse of all the celebs making their way down the green carpet at the World Premiere of Age of Stupid.

The Age of Stupid is going to be one of the most talked about films of 2009. It stars Pete Postlethwaite and is from the makers of ‘McLibel’ and the Oscar-winning ‘One Day In September’.In the film, Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone the devastated world of 2055, looking at ‘old’ footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

The world premiere is set to be as green as its message. A special solar powered cinema will be constructed in Leicester Square, and will be attended by numerous celebrities including Gillian Anderson, Natalie Imbruglia, Supergrass, Jonathan Edwards, Dwain Chambers, Ken Livingston, Damon Albarn, Alastair Campbell, KT Tunstall and Ed Milliband.

View the trailer here

The film goes on general release in the UK on 20th March.

If like me you always check out the extras on the DVD, go to the Guardian website for the 'Making-of' short for the film.

Why not let us know what you think of the film by leaving a comment below.

Spice up your life

2009-03-12T17:46:00.003Z

Do you long to do something different with your life? Whether you're feeling unfulfilled in your job, are facing redundancy or you're simply stuck in a rut and feel it's time to make a change, head down to One Life Live at London Olympia this weekend and get the inspiration, advice and practical support you need to make it happen.

Whether you long to retrain for a new career, want to take a career break to travel or volunteer overseas, live sustainably, dream about becoming your own boss or simply feel in need of a achieving a better work/life balance - you'll find the answers at One Life Live.

With insiring seminars and speakers, it really is a great show. It opens tomorrow, March 13th, and runs till Sunday. Simply quote FS1 to book two tickets for £22 – normally priced £14 in advance and £16 on the door.

Do you have a Green Office?

2009-03-06T13:02:00.005Z

This week has been Green Office week, hoping to empower employees to be able to make a positive impact on the environment while in the office, and to unite offices up and down the UK in an effort to change the way we work.

Click here to see Oliver's top tips for an eco and stylish office.

Whilst it is an incentive to know the way we are working is not having a negative impact on the environment, I mostly am affected by the way a greener workplace is a happier one.

I love having plants around the place - makes it look nicer and plants in enclosed spaces can help absorb the nasty emissions from computers, moblie phones etc. The cactus next to my pen pot also is a deterrant to anyone who may be thinking about 'borrowing' a pen from my desk... You can get some great ones that can be grown in pockets - fresh strawberry anyone?

I cycle to work, meaning I arrive in a more positive frame of mind (no pushing and shoving on the tube!), am healthier and have already had some great exercise by 9am. You can get a bike tax free through the government initiative set up to encourage cycling - check it out here. Also, think about all the savings on tube/bus fares...

I once worked somewhere for 2 weeks (a temp thing) and in that short time I had revolutionised their non-existent recycling system... I'd like to do that 'one year on' thing where tv cameras go back to the room that was made-over to see if they kept any of it...

Perhaps the Ovetto recycling bin would have been good for them - a stylish visual reminder to recycle.

If you have any ideas for a green office, or leave us a comment...

Are eco-homes ugly?

2009-03-03T18:06:00.004Z

No! I hear you cry...

Join the controversial debate at EcoBuild this week at Earls Court...
Germaine Greer, Bill Dunster, TonyJuniper and David Orr will be debating the aesthetics of low carbon design for new homes and communities tomorrow in the main arena at Ecobuild from 17.00 - 18.00.

Ecobuild is always worth a visit and is also free but you should register at http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/

Ecobuild is the world’s biggest event dedicated to sustainable design, construction and the built environment, so if you are renovating, doing an eco self-build or just interested then get yourself along for the best showcase of sustainable construction products anywhere, plus dozens of inspiring attractions and more than 100 free conference and seminar sessions.

But hurry, the show finishes on Thursday!

Win tickets to the Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show plus a pampering session

2009-03-02T12:08:00.006Z

With just under a week to go until the first ever Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show this Sunday 8 March the organisers have 25 pairs of free tickets to give away plus 3 free pamper treatments to be enjoyed on the day. Even if you don't win you can get 2 for 1 tickets by quoting ECWHS-EW09 when you book online or by phone.

To win the tickets visit the ethical weddings blog

Eco and ethical considerations are growing amongst couples getting married, but finding trusted suppliers of services and products for the big day is relatively difficult. I know when I got married in 2006 I spent a vast amount of time researching on the web and trying to make informed decisions - as if the planning wasn't stressful enough already! But it was important to us that our wedding, and setting up our new home, was as ethical and environmentally sound as possible.

We had our wedding list with EcoCentric, as well as with a few other eco companies. when we have guest round they love our dinner set and cant believe it's recycled glass!

The Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show takes place this Sunday (8 March) from 11am - 4pm at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. This exclusive wedding and home event offers ideas for couples for green & ethical weddings and living. It will be the perfect opportunity to see, touch, taste and try before you buy all the essentials for your Big Day - check out dresses, occasionwear, accessories, photography, flowers, gifts, honeymoon destinations, venues, cakes and much much more.

Home & gifts and the fairtrade mark

2009-02-25T12:09:00.006Z

We are currently in the middle of Fairtrade Fortnight. You will no doubt recognise the logo as you go around the supermarkets and when clothes shopping, but it is hardly ever seen on crafts, gifts and homeware items.

Why?

The Fairtrade Certification and its system of minimum pricing were designed initially for commodity products. It is technically difficult to adapt this model of standardized minimum pricing to crafts and other products made by small-scale artisans, which are each unique, made of varied materials and have highly varied production processes and costs. However the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) is currently conducting a global research project on the potential for a Fair Trade label for crafts. We await the results with interest. (source: Pinkdoodle)

Across the EcoCentric range you will see that we have many products that are 'fairly traded'. This means they have been produced in a closely regulated environment which is fair to workers in pay and working conditions.

The range of home products that are certified fairtrade currently include fairtrade organic cotton bedlinen - dont forget you can get 20% off until the end of fairtrade fortnight which ends next Sunday 8th March - just enter voucher code 3209 at the checkout

Fair Trade Fortnight is here!

2009-02-23T15:47:00.006Z

Fairtrade fortnight starts today, and there's hundreds of great events going on to promote Fairtrade around the country. From free smoothies in Norwich, to hot chocolate tastings in Brighton and a Fairtrade pancake race in Cornwall, there's sure to be something going on in your area. And don't forget the Fairtrade Taste Fair (see my last post) run by Cafe Direct in London's Whole Foods Market - Oliver Heath will be dispensing his wisdom about eco re-styling old furniture which could give you some great ideas for a new look for your home. Check out the events list on the Fairtrade Foundation website for an event near you and get down there!

Fairtrade has really come on leaps and bounds in the last few years - from the very first Fairtrade Chocolate and coffee, the Fairtrade label has now been certified for use on over 3,000 products, meaning making the ethical choice is increasingly easy and accessible. Today sees the launch of the first Fairtrade olive oil, made by a co-operative of 265 farmers in Palestine. The co-operative are already planning how they can use the Fairtrade premium paid to them to improve their lives and agricultural farming in Palestine. You just have to plan which delicious and quality Fairtrade products to buy to celebrate Fairtrade fortnight, or why not make it your habit all year round?

Tastefair - a quick heads up...

2009-02-13T17:54:00.005Z

Fairtrade Fortnight (23rd February to 1st March) is fast approaching, and to celebrate Cafe Direct have set up Tastefair. A two week celebration of all that is eco and ethical, Tastefair features a great selection of workshops as well as top celebrity speakers. Oliver Heath will be there, speaking about how vintage items can add heaps of style to your home as well as being eco friendly. Red or Dead's Wayne Hemmingway will also be sharing his wisdom on eco style, and Tom Madden from River Cottage will be discussing seasonal food. There's also live music, and workshops on how to make great coffee and the journey that the coffee goes through 'from seed to cup'.
I'll put more on the blog about this in the next few weeks, but just thought I'd put a quick 'heads up' out there so you can get your tickets in time!

Bed Luxury to stay in bed for

2009-02-12T17:24:00.003Z

I spent an awful lot of time (although never quite enough) in bed, and I'm always keen to make my bedroom environment as peaceful, heathly and eco-friendly as possible, without compromising on style. So I'm pretty excited about the gorgeous new luxury organic cotton bedding available at EcoCentric. It's exceptionally high thread count and sateen finish mean that it's super soft and reflects the light really beautifully. For the ultimate in luxury, I'd use it on top of a pure silk duvet and pillow and in a FSC sourced Cherry-wood bed from Crate and Barrel.

The benefits of using organic cotton really are phenomenal. Conventionally grown cotton accounts for around 17% of the worlds pesticide use, which largely ends up in waterways and the eco system. Because organic cotton is grown without these chemical nasties, it is not only kinder to the environment, but also better for you, as you are minimising the amount of toxins and chemicals that you're bringing into your home. And since organic cotton is often also fairly traded, like the bedding above, it means that producers are getting a fair deal and, consequently, have a better standard of living than if they were at the mercy of the fluctuating market price.

Bring valentines back into focus

2009-02-01T09:42:00.005Z

I dont know about you, but I feel there is a bit of pressure put on us around valentines, to show the best expression of love we have ever given. But that doesnt mean buying the biggest bouquet of roses or box of chocolates. Here are a few ideas from Oliver that bring it back to basics...

Romance is about:

Surprise
It's great to have be given an exciting surprise that shows that your partner cares enough to plan and keep a secret. It shows a sense of life and passion that we all hope will be with us for life.

The details

Sometimes it's the little things that count; a romantic note stuck to the fridge door, a chocolate on your pillow (providing it hasn't melted!). There is a delicacy and intimacy that tells your partner that you know this will make a difference to their day. Think of the possibilities of chocolates, candles, notebooks or even post it notes!

Nostalgia

Remembering a special moment that you shared- it could be a photo, a simple train ticket from a treasured journey, or an object thy you bought together such as an antique. Why not present some of these memories in a scrap book or photo frame.

The senses

Bring the sense bubbling back to life - it's all about the juxtaposition of relaxation and of course stimulation! Anything that feels, smells, tastes, sounds or looks lovely will do the trick. Often it's the senses that get overlooked on a daily basis that make a difference. Share an evening with some indulgent bath products, chocolate & candles. Snuggle together under luxurious fabrics such as organic cotton bed linen or luxurious pure silk blanket. Or if you really want to make a more permanent statement, why not paper one wall with this evocotive burlesque wallpaper...

Take a closer look at stinging nettles

2009-01-27T12:27:00.003Z

It might not seem like the most likely material for your next sofa, but stinging nettles are the latest new-starter in the fabric world. Designed by fabric manufacturer Camira in collaboration with DeMontfort University, STINGPlus is made from 75% organic wool and 25% stinging nettles. It's strong, sustainable and biodegradeable and has been called 'the most sustainable material ever'. Given that stinging nettles are also very easy to grow and require no pesticides or fertilisers, it certainly does seem to be pretty eco friendly. My only concern would be that the 'sting' has been removed before you sit on the material!

Lighten up!

2009-01-23T11:07:00.005Z

You may have seen in the news over the last few weeks that the standard lightbulb as we knew it is no longer being stocked in stores in the UK. Some people are in uproar that they are having to change to low-energy bulbs - as if they dont want to save money on their energy bills...

Oliver has a good point: "I've just changed all my bulbs to CFLs [compact fluorescent lamps] and saved around four-fifths on my electricity bill. It really is quite staggering that so many people are still using Edison's light bulb which was invented in 1879. It's 130 years later and people are still using the same technology – that just doesn't happen in other areas of our home and lives." Can you imagine still keeping a horse and trap when all your freinds are driving the Prius?

When designers were trying to persuade people to the benifits of the low-energy bulbs they came up with stylish and innovative shades that are specifically designed for use with these bulbs. Here are a few examples:

Felt
Made from 100% wool, felt is naturally fire retardent, so an ideal material for lighting design. It is moulded into shape when wet and bound together. It can be moulded into some interesting shaps, and can be cut into as it doesn't fray. The delight shade is a great example of this. However, intense heat can mean the shade loses its shape and can get scorched, so is designed to be used with the low-energy lightbulbs that give off a minimal amout of heat. Most of the energy of the edison bulb goes into heat it gives off - not hugely efficient...

Recycled plastic
Polyproplene is a great material, can be made from 100% recycled plastic and also be recycled at the end of its life - a closed loop system. It is also bendy so can be shaped into great forms for unusual shades. Again, intense heat can affect the shape and performance of the plastic so needs to be used with low energy bulbs.

Paper

Previously a faux-pas because of the fire risk, you can get gorgeous printed shades in recycled paper and card that work perfectly with the low-energy bulbs.

The bulbs themselves have come on in leaps and bounds since they were first developed and now come in stylish shapes to complement your lighting design as well as being available in warmer shades rather than the previous cool white. Try them and see...

And I haven't even touched on the possibiliies of LED lighting...more on that soon...

More good wood

2009-01-22T12:16:00.002Z

Space saving and an eco design delight? That'll be these gorgeous Pur Magin Chair; there's one chair when you're alone, and four for when you're with friends. A work of art in itself, the chair evolved from a need to be functional and space saving, but also to look good. The four chairs stack together like the layers of an onion (my imagery, I'm not sure it's quite the impression the designers wished to give!), but can all be used seperately when the occasion arises. In my eyes there is only one problem with the 'Magic' chair - it's only available in Canada!

Life in the treetops

2009-01-21T12:44:00.003Z

Well I never...Treehouses, once the staple of childhood fun, have, quite literally, come up in the world! This week the Guardian uncovered it's ten best green treehouse designs, for the ultimate in stylish eco living in the treetops.

My favourite is this beautiful structure, the eco friendly Yellow Treehouse Restuarant in New Zealand. Perched half way up a 40m Redwood tree, the restaurant is, bizzarely, the result of a project by New Zealand Yellow Pages as all of the materials and services used were souced using the Yellow Pages. The ideal eco restaurant? It just might be. Although it might be advisable to lay off the wine; it's a long way down.

Health in a stylish glass

2009-01-12T09:52:00.005Z

What were your new year resolutions? Do you even make any?

After the Christmas period of eating and drinking rich and delicious food (Thanks, Mother-in-law!) it is a common time to think about getting into shape. And the best way we know to get beautiful skin and feel energised is to drink lots of water.

Boris Johnson is obviously on our side as he is pushing the London on Tap campaign promoting tap water in London by creating a stylish drinking carafe for restaurants and venues throughout the capital to use when we order tap water. Not only does it taste great, but tap water is also cheaper and has a carbon footprint 300 times smaller that bottle water.

Did you know:

- London’s tap water is rated top in the UK, making it one of the best in the world? It consistently rates highly in taste tests, beating more expensive, bottled alternatives.

- London water is 500 times cheaper than bottled water, and is kinder to the environment, emitting 300 times less CO2 to process than bottled alternatives.

- Tap water is not only good for you, it’s good for London and kinder to the planet.

So here are your action points:

1. Be proud of your tap water, Londoners! Order tap water when eating out, instead of bottled. Do the taste test - and save yourself some pennies!

2. Let us know if you would like us to offer the London on Tap carafe on ecocentric.co.uk by leaving a comment below.

Hello 2009!

2009-01-05T16:57:00.005Z

A new year, a new leaf. After a long Christmas break of over indulgence many people at this time of year start thinking about ways to change and improve their life. While the financial predictions for 2009 might not be too rosy, there are several things we can do to help our tightened purse strings, as well as the environment. Here's one tip to get you started...

Monitoring our electricity consumption is a key starting point to reducing our energy use and saving precious pennies. The Efergy energy meter, from EcoCentric, is a clever little piece of kit: you attatch the sensors your electric cable and can position the monitor wherever you want, or walk around with it. By transmitting real time information the Efergy shows you which appliances are using the most energy, and by storing your usage info over a period of up to two years, you can chart your progress in reducing your electricity consumption. Genius!

Last minute gift ideas

2008-12-19T14:19:00.003Z

As the last dates for Christmas orders draws nearer (22nd Dec for Express delivery at EcoCentric) it's always good to have a few key staple gifts which don't need to be posted. Here's a couple of gift ideas which are easy and quick to buy, but always well recieved and appreciated.

Gift vouchers - Available from loads of retailers in many different amounts, they may not be very imaginative, but it does mean people can get something they really want, not just what you might think they like. EcoCentric are great for fans of eco design and have lots of stylish products that the recipient to choose from, People Tree gift vouchers are brilliant for ethical fashion and have a good range for women, men and kids and Ethical wares have lovely cruetly-free footwear and accessories for style with a conscience.

Charity Gifts - Rather than give someone something they don't want, give a person in need something they really need on their behalf. For a bargain £18 you can buy a goat with Help the Aged to give older people milk, fertilizer and maybe even more goats. Action Aid will buy books for poor school children in developing countries from just £10, and from £3 a month you can 'adopt' a polar bear with WWF. Just don't expect to be able to put it under the Christmas tree!

Eco home on tonight's Dream Homes

2008-12-18T09:51:00.003Z

Have you been following Oliver's trip round Britain with Dream Homes? Catch another episode with an eco focus tonight on the Discovery Channel. you can wrap those last minute Chrsitmas gifts whilst getting inspiration for your eco home...

Isle of Skye:
Architect Mary Arnold-Forster has bought one of the most spectacular plots in Scotland for just £25,000. Oliver Heath follows Mary’s progress as she designs and builds a house to withstand storms in winter and midges in the summer, and struggles to get building materials to one of the remotest parts of the British Isles.

Downsize your Christmas carbon footprint

2008-12-17T11:15:00.006Z

Following on from my tips for eco Christmas decorations, here are a few more good pointers to keep your Christmas carbon footprint from making you a first rate eco-scrooge.

The Meal: Using durable and good quality serving ware instead of disposable stuff keeps your footprint and your spending low. Better still, buying recycled glass plates and glasses means that you are actually reusing resources rather than fuelling the need to process new ones. EcoCentric sell a beautiful range of recycled glass crockery which will make any Christmas table look elegant and stylish. If you can't afford to buy new crockery, then there are often interesting vintage finds at charity shops, or the option of renting it if you're catering for unusually large numbers. If you do want to buy disposable plates and cups, then paper as the best choice as it can be composted along with the rest of the Christmas food waste.

The Wrapping: rubbish mounts up extremely fast over the Christmas period, but there are lots of things we can do to minimise the cost to the environment. Gifts can be wrapped in recycled paper, old maps, comics, newspapers or any colourful paper. Choose gifts that don't need to be wrapped, or make the wrapping part of the gift - a vintage scarf or a snazzy tea towel for example. Gift tags can be made from last years Christmas cards artfully cut out and threaded through with a piece of ribbon. Importantly, make sure to recycle all possible packaging and wrapping. We've found that kids absolutely love the new Ovetto recycling bin - it's made from recycled plastic and has three handy compartments for three types of recycling. Recycling has never been so fun and stylish!

Tips for a healthy and stylish Christmas

2008-12-12T17:28:00.005Z

Christmas is all about excess and I for one love it. But there are some Christmas essentials which we definately don't want an excess of and toxins is one of those. In our everyday products lie hidden nasties which over time can cause health problems and stress to our bodies.

Candles are one of these products. We don't think twice about hightening the festive atmosphere with delicious smelling candles, but studies have shown that conventional candles emit a range of carcinogenic substances which can seriously effect your health, as detailed in this excellent article in the The Ecologist. To avoid this risk is easy however, as ranges of alternative, clean burning candles are fast emerging. EcoCentric stock two types - the divinely scented Aromatherapy candles, made of natural plant wax and essential oils, and the fun and attractively packaged Aromatherapy solution candles, such as Love Potion, 25/7 and Chill Pill, made of soy wax, which burn for an amazing 50 hours!

Cosmetics are another hidden-toxin worry. Many skin creams, washes and make up contain a cocktail of skin irritants, colouring and fragrances, as documented in this article in the Ecologist. In order to avoid these nasties, a always used natural, organic cosmetics and skincare. EcoCentric have a range of really lovely organic cosmetics such as the fantastic Vitamin E skin cream and gift boxes like the Happy box, the Calm box and the Gentle Baby box.

Eco Christmas Decorating

2008-12-10T17:04:00.004Z

Tis the season to be jolly, and one of my favourite ways to spread the jollyness is by putting up Christmas decorations! The right decorations really bring out the best out of a home at Christmas and add to the festive atmosphere no end. Decorations can be a drain on your finances and the environment though, which is why I've put together a few pointers to eco-style your Christmas decorations.

Fairy lights can use a ton of electricity over the course of your Christmas period. For a cheaper - and just as pretty - tree use low energy LED fairy lights, like this lovely colour changing set from EcoCentric. With the touch of a dial you can control the colour and the speed of colour change, and best of all, they're extremely long lasting - the average set can be constantly used for up to 16 years apparently. Best of all they're currently half price at just £19.49 with voucher code 3182! Shinyhippy did this great video review of them last year - check it out on YouTube.

Christmas tree decorations can also be eco-friendly. Using recycled paper to make paper angels, laterns and paper chains keeps our precious forests from the chop and looks great. I always think that home-made decorations look better somehow, and you're more likely to keep them longer if they mean something to you. Belinda Mooney has a few good ideas, as does 'Krafty Kris'.

If you don't have the time to make tree decorations then FSC certified wood ones are a good option as they'll last for years and look great. These pretty ones from WWF also mean your money goes to charity - and what's more Christmasy than that!

East London Design Show

2008-12-05T14:10:00.003Z

A bit stuck for Christmas pressies for those 'difficult people'? Well this might just help you out...

Bag yourself some beautiful and unique Christmas presents this weekend at the fantastic annual East London Design Show! There will be designers from all over the world exhibiting and a number of products unveiled for the very first time. With clothing, jewellery, home accessories and kids stuff on offer there is bound to be something for everyone. And with a cafe selling delicious food and a special kids area with a 'create space' (sounds intriguing!), it makes a great day out for the whole family.

EcoCentric will be exhibiting, taking a carefully chosen range of products including our cute and phenomenonally popular Knit your own Monkey kits, our stylish Tord Boonje designed Transglass vases and our practical and attractive Bamboo chopping boards.

Other stands on my list to visit include the delightful Cocktail Tops, which makes gorgeously colourful clothes for women, the psychadelically colourful Victoria's World and the fun Creative Charlie, which engages children and adults together in creative play (and it shares my name!)

The show is open from today until Sunday. Opening times are 12 - 8pm today and 10 - 6 on Saturday and Sunday.
Admission is £4 adult and £2 concession - but you can download a 2 for 1 voucher from their website. Accompanied under 16s go free.

Happy shopping!

Dig for Victory

2008-11-27T15:23:00.010Z

Planting a tree in National Tree Week will boost your health and the health of the planet. We are continually hearing about the benefits of surrounding ourselves with greenery as they release oxygen and absorb the emissions from computers, Mobile phones and other gadgets...

I have a cactus on my desk, does that help?

From today until 7th December the UK will be celebrating National Tree Week, the UK's largest tree celebration annually launching the start of the winter tree planting season.

There are a great number of events going on around the country hosted by the tree council. They also have a wealth of information about how to buy, prepare and plant trees.

How about giving a plant as a gift this Christmas, something that gives back... Here are a few ideas:

Ready to plant: Tree to my door
This company is amazing, and has, it seems, any type of tree you want... and they deliver! Perfect...

For the cook: Chilli pocket garden
Grow this on the mantlepiece, and it produces a multitude of chillis for use in cooking - My brother-in-law had just one of these and now has 5 pots of chilli plants growing around the house! (If you want to re-plant the chilli seeds I have it on good authority that you leave them on the plant until they are dried out)

For the garden: Grow your own wine rack
when grafted to itself, willow will bind together... so graft it in this formation and after 2 years it is a strong wine rack, all in one piece! Whilst it is in the graden it is providing habitat for birds and butterflies and generally cotributing to biodiversity. Definately the most unusual and greenest gift under the tree...

Stocking filler: Grow your own mushrooms
This kit + second hand paperback = a very unique gift.
The recipient can grow a batch of yummy mushrooms (ON A BOOK!) in just a few weeks without even having to go outside. My Dad got 3 batches of his kit last year...loved it!

For the full experience: Plant a silver birch tree
Start this off py planting the seed provided into the soil in the pocket. When it has got to a certain height on your windowsill, then simply plant the compostable bag in to the garden and the tree will continue to grow. A great gift for kids to watch the progress from seed to tree.

People Tree Sample Sale

2008-11-26T16:57:00.004Z

One of my favourite eco-fashion retailers, People Tree, are having a sample sale this weekend! Along with a host of other cool ethical clothing brands the sale will be held from this Thursday to Sunday just off Brick Lane in East London. Grab yourself a stylish, ethical bargin or get stuck into your Christmas shopping...better be quick though, with up to 80% off I'm guessing it'll be pretty popular!

The sale is at Dray Walk Gallery, Dray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery (Off 91 Brick Lane), London E1 6QL.

Thursday 27th November 6 pm - 9 pm
Friday 28th 10 am - 8 pm
Saturday 29th 11 am - 7 pm
Sunday 30th 11 am - 5 pm

Sprig Discover Rig Video

2008-11-25T17:17:00.005Z

Thought I'd put on this cool video which shows the Sprig Discover Rig, which I mentioned in my last post, in action.

It really is a great eco toy. Powered only by the child playing with it, it lights up and plays sound, music and a narrative, telling exciting stories to the child. It's also made entirely of innovative new Sprigwood - a recycled and recyclable material - in Canada, doesn't need batteries and can keep kids entertained for hours. I just wish I was 20 years younger so I could get one for Christmas!

Eco Toys for Christmas Lists

2008-11-24T17:04:00.007Z

Christmas means many things to many people, but for most kids it means loads of chocolate, food and, of course, presents! But what to buy the children at Christmas without ending up with excessive amounts of plastic, batteries and gimmicky, soon-to-be-bored of 'stuff'? Luckily, there are an increasing number of cool, interesting and sustainable eco-toys on the market that will thrill kids and minimise use of resources. Here are a few key features to look out for.

Recycled: The fantastic new range of Sprig toys at EcoCentric are made of an innovative new material called Sprigwood, made of recycled wood and reclaimed plastic. The Discover Rig harnesses the kinetic energy of the child playing with it to play music, sounds and tell a great little tale.

Organic: Using natural processes and organic fertilisers, organically grown cotton avoids the environmental destruction caused by conventional production, resulting in cleaner, kinder and greener products. And when the finished result looks as cute as this soft organic cotton bear, going organic has never been easier!

Fairtrade: Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. The Fairtrade Foundation has licensed over 3,000 Fairtrade certified products for sale through retail and catering outlets in the UK, and a few of those, are toys! I think this Fairtrade wooden train with six animals is a really beautiful toy, and since it is hand made by a fairtrade accredited workshop in India from sustainable sheesham wood using low energy practices, it is also good for the environment.

Win £100 voucher for ecocentric

2008-11-21T09:58:00.002Z

EcoCentric are offering an early Christmas gift - a £100 voucher to spend at www.ecocentric.co.uk

All you need to do is click here and fill in the form to be in with a chance to win.

There are loads of great eco Christmas gifts to choose from, or you could treat yourself to some interiors accessories to give your home a pre-Christmas lift...

One-stop shop for eco Christmas shopping

2008-11-19T11:49:00.003Z

I do a lot of my shopping on the web, mostly because there isnt a lot of eco choice out there on the high street and I try to be as ethical as I can with my gift giving and fashion sense.

For those of you who are london based and love the browsing in stores and boutiques - listen up...

From now until Christmas there is a one-stop shop for all your eco gift buying on Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill. Amongst all the trendy boutiques and vintage stores you'll find number 303 - Our Eco Shop, a collaboration of eco designers, stores and lables to provide the perfect eco shopping experience.

With UK designers-makers and small green companies represented, the pop-up shop has a great selection of fair trade, ethical, organic, and eco-friendly products.

Get yourself over there tonight for the launch party, and check out the goodies before anyone else!

Enjoy!

Our Eco Shop Opening details:
18th November until 24th December
Mon - Sat 10am - 5.30pm, Sun 12pm - 5pm

The ultimate green Christmas 'how-to'

2008-11-15T09:21:00.006Z

I'm one of those people who (usually) refuses to think about Christmas until the first door of the (divine chocolate) advent calendar has been well and truly opened.

But I also know there are members of my family (Kate) who finished their Christmas shopping in September.

If you are somewhere in between you may be interested in the ultimate guide to having a green Chritsmas put together by the folks down at the Guardian.

Not just their top 10, but a whole alphabet full of ideas. Here are a few of the best:

A is for artificial trees - There is a whole debate about real or plastic trees...maybe even worth it's own blog post/debate...

C is for Candles - Paraffin candles are made from petroleum residue and are no good for your health or for the environment. Candles made from soy, beeswax or natural vegetable-based wax are more eco-friendly because they biodegrade and are smoke-free.

F is for food shopping - Buy local or buy less. Produce bought locally means you will be supporting small suppliers and the local community, while minimising your carbon footprint. Shop at a local farmers' market, or try growing some of your own vegetables where possible (a little bit late this year - though I attempting to grow lettuce on my window sill).

Remeber to take your own reusable bags and buy fruit & veg loose if possible to avoid excessive plastic usage.

L is for lights - Christmas tree lights left on for 10 hours a day over the 12 days of Christmas produce enough CO2 to inflate 12 balloons, so turn them off when they are not needed, and use low-energy LED fairy lights - you can get great half-price colour-changing ones here

Need more ideas? Read the rest of the article here
The guardian gift guide for 2008 will be out soon, so we'll post a link when it's up. In the mean time, check out these eco gift ideas

RE:fashion award winners announced at glitzy celeb filled occasion

2008-11-14T10:06:00.006Z

Last night saw the ultimate event in ethical fashion with the RE:fashion awards held at Shoreditch town hall (just round the corner from our HQ, where Elton had his 60th) where all the hot ethical designers mixed with celebs such as Daisy Lowe, Pixie Geldof and Leah Wood.

Established designers Vivienne Westwood, Zandra Rhodes & Katharine Hamnett showed their support for the awards with their outfits, created exclusively for the event, being modelled on the RE:design catwalk.

RE: Fashion Designer of the Year was awarded to From Somewhere, (right) beating off fierce competition from Safia Minney of People Tree, and Oliver's favourites Junky Styling.

Izzy Lane, who rears her own sheep for her very British collections (shown below), walked away with New RE:Designer of the Year Award.

Other awards and winners included:
Fashion retailer Adili - RE: Retailer of the Year
Pioneering jewellery label Made - RE: Africa award
From Somewhere - RE:Use Award

It was the first event of its kind, though trends would suggest there will be more to come, following the Estethica area at London fashion week for the past 5 seasons which has been growing in size and quality every time.

For the full report check out glam Sarah from Greenmystyle who was right in there with the action.

2008-11-13T09:51:00.005Z

EcoCentric has just launched a new affiliate programme, offering you an excellent 10% commission – one of the best rates in the field of eco retail.

As you may know, EcoCentric is the online eco home style boutique, offering the best in eco gifts and home accessories. Including eco toys & gifts, organic cosmetics, recycled glassware and fair trade homewares, the collection has been selected by designer Oliver Heath for its style and eco credentials.

It is free to sign up. You simply choose one of our pre-designed banners for your website or blog, and earn an amazing 10% commission on each sale generated from your site.

If you dont have a blog or website, then you can just put a text link on the bottom of your email or on your facebook (or similar) page and the same principle applies - just start spreading the word and earning a little extra for your Christmas.

Now is the time to sign up to take advantage of the high traffic coming up to Christmas.

Read here for more information. Click here to join.

Green Gods - but where's Oliver?

2008-11-13T09:36:00.002Z

On their blog this week the Daisy Green girls announced their Top 10 green gods ("The men making ethics sexy")! I thought their choices were pretty interesting - although some of the top ten may well rightly deserve their place, the 'God' factor did seem to be a bit more 'Hollywood' than 'green'. It's great that celebrities can use their media draw to publicise environmental destruction and ways we can be more eco-friendly, but we should also celebrate the hard-working heroes on our doorsteps.

So I would like to nominate Oliver Heath as the 11th Green God. He's played a crucial part in bringing sustainable design into the mainstream through his TV work, has acted as a media spokesperson for both the Waste and Resources Action Programme and the Energy Saving Trust, and has written for the Observer and Friends of the Earth, Earth Matters magazine. By putting environmental thought into his design and architecture work he has helped emerging eco-friendly businesses, and even co-founded one of his own - EcoCentric!

An inspiration to us all, and in my opinion, well deserving of a place on the list.

Who would you nominate?

Happy birthday Smart Car!

2008-11-11T10:01:00.003Z

Smart car is now 10 years old (born at the same time as Divine! - see below) and to celebrate they have launched a designer version.

Hermès on Thursday unveiled the tiny Smart car it designed, available in 10 colors including gold, indigo and the luxury house’s signature orange. Each is fitted with Hermès leather-covered steering wheels and gear levers, with colors including fuchsia and lime, along with the brand’s original canvas toile H.

The cars, starting at 38,000 euros, went on sale last week - just think about all the savings on petrol!

A divine experience

2008-11-05T09:40:00.004Z

This year Divine will be 10 years old and they are celebrating with a free exhibition telling their unique story, at the OXO tower gallery, starting tomorrow and running until Sunday.

In 1998 a new chocolate company was launched to try and prove the chocolate industry doesn’t have to be this way. A cooperative of cocoa farmers in Ghana decided to take matters into their own hands and set up their own chocolate business in the UK…….

The exhibition is an opportunity to see a collection of striking images by leading photojournalists giving an insight into the lives of Kuapa Kokoo farmers, and follow the enterprising journey that took Divine from being “a great idea – that could never happen” to an award-winning example of a more equitable trading relationship with smallholder farmers in Africa.

Divine has since partnered with Comic relief, launching the dubble bar, raising the issue of Fairtrade with young people.

If you haven't tried Divine chocolate then I thoroughly recommend it - the most delicious chocolate! My favourites are the dark chocolate, and the new champagne truffles...mmm!

Details:
The 'Decade of Divine' exhibition is at the.gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, London, SE1 9PH. Gallery open to public 6th-9th November 2008. Opening times 11.00am-6.00pm. Admission Free
Immerse yourself in a delicious world of chocolate and find out how Divine is building a brand for the 21st century.

Credit Crunch Eco Chic

2008-11-04T10:42:00.004Z

In these somewhat trying economic times thrift is fast becoming an essential way of life for many of us. It might not sound much like fun, but in an article in the Sunday Times Style magazine this week, entitled 'Credit Crunch Chic: How to save pots of money', India Knight showed that, far from being a bore, thrift can awaken your creativity and give you a great sense of personal satisfaction.

Making your own has always been a staple of a thrifty lifestyle. Giving someone a present that you have crafted from your own hands speaks volumes about how much you value them, and the objects created have a personal originality which money simply cannot buy. This might all seem a bit daunting, but if you need a little helping hand to start crafting, Ecocentric have some great kits, like the 'stitch you own donkey' and the 'make your own owl bag'.

The article also talked about 'doing your bit'. By cutting down on needless consumption you can reduce your emissions and help the environment, even in just a small way. Energy saving lightbulbs are a great way to lower your carbon footprint and achieve big savings in your energy bills. Shopping locally or online is also recommended - keep it local to reduce transportation costs, and shop online to curb thoughtless impulse buys.

Above all, thrift is about living a lifestyle which is more at one with yourself and the world. It's about appreciating what you have now, not lusting after something you want in the future. By focussing on the smaller things around us and the quality of the interaction we have with those close by we can hopefully all gain a deeper satisfaction from life and ultimately be happier and more fulfilled.

Have a happy Halloween - eco style

2008-10-31T14:24:00.005Z

Halloween can be great fun for kids and adults alike, but with all the sweets, costmumes, pumpkins and lights being used the environmental impact can soon add up. Luckily, there are a few things we can all do to make our Halloween celebrations a little better for the planet.

Reusing old costumes (for example by swapping them between friends and families) can be a great way to get something new for nothing. If old costumes aren't your thing, then costumes can easily be created by recycling any old rubbish found lying around the home - I think a newspaper monster could be a pretty scary costume!

Buying fairtrade sweets and chocolate, like the selection of Divine chocolate at Ecocentric, means that the producers are getting a fair deal - always good for your conscience. Organic pumkins are also a great way to cut down on your negative environmental imprint, and instead of throwing away the seeds, why not wash, then gently toast and salt them for a tasty snack?

Eco-friendly decorations for your Halloween party are also easy and fun to make. You can use of a whole range of used packaging, like washed crisp packets and chocolate wrappers, to make shiny bunting, and old tin cans with holes poked in them make nice little lanterns with a candle in them. For a safer version, Ecocentric's Candela lights give out a lovely warm glow, but are cool to the touch and rechargeable.

However you celebrate Halloween, I hope you have a ghoulish - and green - day!

Eco-home focus on Dream Homes tonight

2008-10-30T09:46:00.004Z

Just a quick heads up for tonight's episode of Dream Homes:

On the site of an old signal box in Wisbech, newlyweds Russell and Delia Swann are building a brand new house - with their bare hands. Using the latest sustainable methods, including recycled yogurt pots in the kitchen, this is going to be one of the greenest houses in the country. But all that’s in the future. The reality is that, just three months after their wedding, Oliver Heath finds Russell and Delia living in a caravan at the start of one of the coldest winters on record.

Catch it at 9pm tonight on the Discovery Channel (repeated tomorrow at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm)

Win free personal design advice from Oliver Heath PLUS a copy of his award winning new book 'Urban Eco Chic'

2008-10-29T11:09:00.003Z

We're giving you the chance to get your home interior decorating question answered by Oliver Heath, and to win a copy of his new book.

Oliver is an award winning TV designer and architect, and founder of online eco homewares and eco gift store ecocentric.

In this special competition Oliver will be personally answering 5 of your best design questions by email. This is a fantastic chance to get a fresh, professional eye on your home design challenges and inject a bit of eco chic style into your life, all for free!

AND if that isn't enough, you also have a great chance to WIN a copy of Oliver's new book - 'Urban Eco Chic' - with a personal dedication from Oliver to you.

Although only 5 people will get the exclusive chance to get their questions answered by Oliver, we will be addressing the other issues raised by your questions here in our blog over the next month. Make sure to keep coming back to check if your question topic has come up!

To enter the competition, just fill in your name, email and your question for Oliver in the online form.

Full terms and conditions are available here

Hurry! The competition closes at midnight on 12th November...

childrens bedrooms

2008-10-28T09:29:00.002Z

Good news – my wife Katie just had a little baby girl! Added to that over the last month we have moved house – believe me these are two major life changes that shouldn’t happen anywhere near each other!

However it has got me thinking ever more about designing eco children’s bedrooms.

As there wont be too much energy use, your main concerns will be the creation of a happy and healthy space for your precious child to live, sleep (and occasionally scream!) in. Remember that childrens immune systems are in development and so more susceptible to the effect of toxins.

The main things to think about are:
- Reducing toxins found in furniture, paints, and toys
- Reducing dust levels – cutting down on unhealthy dust mite.
- Good natural ventilation- cutting out the build up of damp and potential mould
- Safe Low energy lighting

Floors
Natural wood floors are great for interior design, they will also help to cut down on surfaces that trap dust (such as carpets. But if you do want some soft surfaces, try rugs or whip stitched sections of natural carpets made of wool with natural backings.

Walls
Paint walls in natural paints that don’t contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) which can off gas toxins onto the floor or surfaces below. VOCs are found at their highest levels in conventional eggshell or gloss paints

Furniture such as beds, wardrobes and chairs
Choose solid wood furniture that wont contain formaldehyde resin glues (found in MDF, chipboard and plywood) which can off gas. Vintage furniture can look great when given a lick of paint or even a little wall paper.

Beds
Mattresses can trap high levels of dust which leads to dust mites, these can be vacuumed clear. Alternatively you could use a closed cell structure natural latex mattress or use organic fibre mattresses which wont have been exposed to toxins in the production of the materials.

Toys
Buy solid wooden toys and avoid plastic toys particularly those made of PVC (like rubber bath ducks) which contain phthalates- which have been shown to cause a wide array of health issues affecting the liver, kidney, lung and blood pressure, but most importantly is their reported effect on the reproductive tract of boys.

Lighting
It goes without saying that you should use low energy bulbs but I advise using the bulbs that have the curly filament encased within a conventional bulb shaped cover. Low energy bulbs contain small quantities of mercury which can be released if broken. Alternatively use a tough lamp shade such as polypropylene, which can be recycled at the end of its useful life.

Heating and ventilation– thermostatic valves
Bedrooms need to be both heated and properly ventilated – this will keep the rooms living conditions healthy and comfortable. Children’s bedrooms should be kept at between 64.5 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, this can be achieved by using a thermostatic radiator valve to regulate room temperature.
Use trickle vents in the windows to maintain regular air changes, this will reduce the build up of damp and mould.

Oliver's book wins green award

2008-10-27T09:10:00.001Z

Oliver launched his new book 'Urban Eco Chic' last month and it has already picked up an award. The ultimate onlne luxury lifestyle magazine Hot Brands Cool Places gave the book its Green Award.

Urban Eco Chic is a design-led guide to eco-decorating, helping interior designers, green builders, and homeowners make eco-friendly choices that transform the home into a sanctuary of sustainable style. The book is filled with loads of inspiring colour photographs and presents the visionary eco-style of green designer Oliver Heath, who believes in balancing the elements of nature, vintage, and technology.
Urban Eco Chic is also about achieving a balance between function and style, teamed with a conscious effort to reduce one's environmental impact. Urban Eco Chic combines the use of pioneering technologies powered by the least energy possible, sustainable natural materials that leave the lightest footprint and recycled or recyclable products such as vintage furniture and accessories.

Oliver is giving sneak previews of elements of the book on his style column on the ecocentric website.
Read the Hot Brands Cool Places review of the book here

Oliver will personally sign all copies of the book bought from ecocentric, and you can also request he add a special dedication - an ideal Christmas gift!

Recycling is high design

2008-10-25T09:51:00.001+01:00

Want a sneaky peak round Oliver's home?

In this video he made for Recycle Now Oliver shows how the glass and plastic that we faithfully put out for the council to take away each week becomes beautifully designed products that can be incorporated into the design of your home.

Oliver really believes in sustainable design and in this tour round his home he shows you exactly how he has practiced what he preaches - and gives some great advice along the way.

To pick up some great recycled home accessories and other recycled and eco gifts, check out ecocentric

Congratulations to the Peoples Award winners

2008-10-24T11:22:00.004+01:00

Congratulations go to the Zon hearing aid who won the Peoples Choice Award from Cooper Hewitt Design Awards

It was a hot contest, in which our Ovetto recycled recycling bin held its own. It was great to see over one fifth of the nominees were green or sustainable designs, showing that this sector can compete against the big boys in the design world - a trend that I'm sure will only increase over the years.

Oliver's quick tips for saving energy

2008-10-24T09:39:00.002+01:00

These simple tips are great for those who don't have the cash to splash. In fact, rather than spending money on being a bit greener, these low-cost eco tips will actually save you money.

Clean your windows regularly. Dirty ones are depressing, while clean ones let in more light.
Position white or reflective surfaces, mirrors or light coloured tables near windows to bounce light around. It is amazingly effective.
When boiling the kettle, only fill it with as much water as you need.
Use a good quality washing powder and wash at a lower temperature such as 30°C; over a year it will save you an amazing amount of energy.
Air dry your washing outside to cut out the use of your tumble drier.
Switch to a green energy supplier who provides power from renewable sources. Simply request to change and they do the rest.
Cook with the lids on pans.
Thick blinds or curtains insulate the windows and stop heat loss; look for vintage ones at secondhand shops, markets or online.
Fit silver foil covered boards (make or buy them) and fit them behind your radiators, they are amazingly effective at kicking heat forward.
Only use the dishwasher or washing machine when it is full, or use an economy programme. However, modern A-rated appliances are now more efficient than cleaning by hand.

London is the fairest city of them all!

2008-10-23T09:56:00.002+01:00

Today London will become the world's largest Fairtrade City. Almost 1,000 retailers and 600 catering outlets have signed up to stock fairtrade certified goods.

London is the 400th place in Britain to be awarded the status by the Fairtrade Foundation.

The Metro was happy to report that Boris Johnson said it was 'super news'.

It is great to know that people are sticking to their values despite talk of recession in the news. Sales of Fairtrade increased by 55% over the summer - word is obviously spreading about the message and the benefits these certifications offer to producers worldwide - and, of course, that it is often the highest quality product...

Having been a supporter of Fairtrade for years it is really exciting to see them becoming more the norm in households across the UK.

Dream Homes is back!

2008-10-23T09:07:00.002+01:00

Oliver Heath's TV show Dream Homes is back by popular demand, and will be showing on the Discovery Channel.
Join Oliver as he travels across Britain meeting the people who are fulfilling their dream of building their own home.

Each week Oliver joins someone either building or renovating their own dream home, and inspires them with his design advice and by taking them to visit award winning architectural buildings or interior settings to encourage them in the dreams.

You can catch the show on Thursdays (9:00pm) on the Discovery Channel with repeats on Friday at 8:00pm and Sunday at 7:00pm.

Tonight's show:
Oliver meets Geoff and Sarah McCormack who are building their dream home in Maida Vale. Or, at least, Geoff’s dream home - Sarah is not so sure that she wants to sell their existing luxury flat. Recruiting architect Nicolas Boyarsky, they opt for a steel and glass house in contrast to the Victorian street alongside. But their new home is not to everyone’s taste.

Top spots for eco chic shopping

2008-10-22T10:07:00.006+01:00

This week Oliver has been chatting to Kate Watson Smyth from the Independent, tipping her off to the best places to visit for renovating and decorating an eco chic home.

Retrouvius
"Lots of people already know this site, but it really is one of my favourites. You can find unique pieces, and buying old furniture really is green. It's good for a browse and for getting ideas."

Junkystyling
"I buy very little from clothes shops. Instead, I will pick up something from the market and take it to this place in the East End of London for alterations - they adapt it to fit with bits of other material or some tailoring. It combines recycling, vintage and style all in one."

Brighton Sunday Market
"I love going to markets to look for furniture. Get to know the markets where the dealers go, as that is probably where the good stuff is."
Brighton Station Car Park, Trafalgar Street

Earthborn Paints
"I feel very strongly about paints: most are full of toxins, and give off fumes. My range for Earthborn are breathable. They soak up the moisture from the air as well as having no toxins"

Squint
"Save all those little bits of material that aren't good for anything else and use them in patchwork to cover a sofa or chair. It encourages us to become less precious about our belongings."

Brighton and Hove Wood Recycling Project
"I live in Brighton and come here all the time. The great thing about it being local is that the chances are someone will have thrown away something similar to what you are looking for, so there is a good chance you will find a door from the right period, say, or a floorboard the same width as what you need to replace. It's also a bit like a museum – you can see what people think is junk."

Charnwood
"A lot of wood-burning stove designs are rather Victorian in style, but this English company has great contemporary designs. I can pick up wood to burn from the reclaimed yard, and it's much more energy efficient. With a conventional fire, about 80 per cent of the heat goes up the chimney; with the wood-burning stove that 80 per cent is pumped into the room. It also adds character and focus to a room."

Vaillant
"Having a 1960s house is great as there are cavity walls which we can insulate – harder with a Victorian property. We are putting in a new heating system and this company has a really good range of products, such as ground-source heat pumps and solar-heating systems: high quality, efficient and reliable."

You can visit Oliver's own online store offering eco homewares & gifts - http://www.ecocentric.co.uk/

Read the full article here

More energy saving ideas

2008-10-21T09:31:00.000+01:00

Ok, so I promised you some more energy saving ideas following on from the tips from the Energy Saving Trust.

There are lots of simple ways to do save energy which don’t require such a big change or cash injection as a wind turbine or photo voltaics on the roof. Small changes around your home can make dramatic savings on your electricity bill, and help you to do your bit for the environment.

Installing an energy saving monitor will help you see where the biggest waste in your home is. It is really easy to put in and most have a seperate real time monitor so you can simply turn appliances on and off and immediately see the savings or wastage for each. There are a few out there, so have a look into which is best for you.

Did you know…when plugged in overnight, a charger keeps pumping your phone with energy, even when it is fully charged? Even when your phone isn’t attached, if it is plugged in, your charger uses electricity, increasing your bill prices by the minute!

The answer? Solar powered chargers. They use the power of the sun to charge your phone, saving you money off your electricity bills, and dont need bright sunshine, so work at any time of year. And you dont need to be near a plug to top up that battery. Which to get?

The Solio: James Bond gadget of the eco-world. This cool and brilliant solar powered charger uses three solar panels to harness the sun's natural energy. So versatile, the Solio universal charger can be used to power your i-pod, phone, digital camera, blackberry or other PDA's.

The Freeloader: A more compact version also comes with a wide range of phone and gadget tips, and at just £29.95 will make the ideas eco Christmas gift. The experts at SmartPlanet rated this top in their reviews of all the different solar chargers on the market.

We know to turn off lights as we leave a room, and to replace our standard bulbs with energy savers… but we can also go that step further, and reduce our carbon footprint even more by using LED lighting; with a lifespan over 50 times longer, using a fraction of the power of its energy hungry alternative, Light Emitting Diodes last up to 50,000 hours. This versatile technology can be used in all types of lighting from fairy lights to desk lamps.

Energy Saving Week

2008-10-20T09:05:00.001+01:00

As if the incentive of saving money wasnt enough to have made us take notice before, the Energy Saving Trust have designated this week Energy Saving Week to encourage us to save energy for the health of the planet, and our wallets.

The aim of Energy Saving Week is simple: to help consumers learn how they can reduce their carbon footprint and show how significant savings can be made in money, energy and time by making a difference. The Energy Saving Trust understand that time and money is something most of us do not have an abundance of.

From 20th - 26th October there will be loads of events and information out there to remind us how easy it is to take small steps to massive effect - just think, if we all took just one of these small step, this would be multiplied thousands of times over to create a massive impact.

Energy Saving Week is the perfect opportunity to discover your Green/Life Balance. We're urging people to take time to make time to change their households' habits to help fight climate change. It doesn't take long to get things started...

Here are lots of things you can do in just ten minutes:

Start eco-driving sometimes known as smarter driving: check your tyre pressure - under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.

Call to your local water company to request a cistern displacement device, such as a 'hippo' water saver. Alternatively, fill a plastic bottle with water.

Contact your bank to tell them you'd like to receive your statements online. Other service providers, such as BT, also offer paper-less billing schemes.

Mend that dripping tap washer, it could stop up to 5,500 litres of water wastage and, if you're on a water meter, it could save you over £18 a year.

If you're looking to replace a household gadget or appliance, compare thousands of products and find the best Energy Saving Recommended option.

Do a free home energy check to see how much money you can save on your annual fuel bill it could be up to £270 a year.

Enough to be getting on with?
We'll pop back with some more ideas later on in the week incase you are sat twiddling your thumbs...

Design classic up for an award

2008-10-18T10:33:00.001+01:00

We are very excited that Ovetto, our recycled recycling bin, is one of this year's contendors in this year's Cooper Hewitt Design Awards.

The competition gives people the chance to vote for their favourite example of good design.

We think Ovetto is not only a good design product. It's green, recycled, educational fun and practical.

At the same height as a 4 year old, it is the ideal little friend for a child with colourful doors and slots that beg to be pushed, pulled and played with.

So if you think the Ovetto is the best thing since Eero Saarinen (think Tulip chair) or Verner Panton, then go ahead and vote

It'll be a tight contest - check out who Ovetto is up against!

We'll let you know what happens when the results come out next Friday...

Vintage for kids

2008-10-17T08:56:00.000+01:00

We love this ingenious idea for using vintage wallpaper - you know those designs you see in classic 70's films but would never cover a whole wall with...

Dutch design company Inke have a huge range of retro designs cut into shapes of animals or trees - ideal for the kids room. Thay have giraffe, lion, alligator, elephant, birds trees...and the best bit (but possibly the most difficult) is choosing which design of wallpaper you want for each shape... I love this classic combination:

No need to throw out those old rolls, and even a reason to snap them up when you find them in the corner of a vintage store - have a go at cutting your own shapes to create nature montages for a playroom. I know Oliver is already planning a mural for his 2yr old daughters room...

Our two-pence worth

2008-10-16T15:17:00.000+01:00

The world of eco chic seems to be growing fast, as more designers and companies are adopting eco-friendly practices, and not just in the name of green washing.

A few of us from EcoCentric will be keeping you up to date with what's new and what's catching our eye in the eco world, from high design products to ideas you can try for yourself to enhance your eco chic home.

Obviously we can't tell you everything as we need some time to run the company, but we will get you the best bits to keep you positive and inspired.

Anything you think we've missed? let us know! Something you want us to offer on the website - ditto!

We hope you enjoy it...