Asparagus Interiors

Carpet, usually lasts around 5-10 years depending on the type of fiber and wear and tear in your home. As I look at my own carpet, the contractor grade nylon special… it’s seen better days. How can I recycle it?

Chicago’s Recycling Coalition, offers great information about America’s carpet consumption and how the industry is handling the reuse and recycle of carpet materials.

Key findings noted in the article:

“In 2002, approximately 4.7 billion pounds of carpet was discarded, accounting for about 1 percent of all municipal solid waste by weight. The industry estimates that only 3.8 percent of that waste was either re-used or recycled and broken down into materials for use in producing new carpet, plastics, new backing, and new padding.”

“The most reusable part of the carpet is the non-fiber material that comes from the padding or backing.”

The coalition recommends ways to recycle your carpet material:

• Find an installer who offers reclamation services with installation.
• Ask your dealer about carpet refurbishment.
• Look for carpet dealers and installers who take back used pad for recycling.

Another great reference: The Twin Cities Green Guide

Kinda makes you want to consider wool carpet, bamboo or another sustainable flooring material.

Green Carpet Products:
Nature’s Carpet (Wool Fiber) / Nature’s Carpet Pad - Natural Wool Fibers and Jute Backing, Biodegradable and Recyclable.

Flor Carpet - Some tiles are made with renewable and recyclable resources. Product can be returned to manufacturer for recycling.

A guilty pleasure I have yet to indulge in! Wallpaper.

I love wallpaper and didn’t really get into in until design school. I think it was all the trips to the paint store back in the day with mom perusing the Waverly books that did me in. Although I do recollect some fun papers we used to have in our bathroom.

Couple fun sites, some that offer Eco-friendly wallpaper as well as not so Eco, but equally fun!

Walnut Wallpaper - Extensive collection of modern paper. Butterfly Jubilee by Mod Green Pod is Eco-Friendly (shown above)

twenty 2 - Always a fav, I keep coming back. Maxwell - Made of Grass Cloth

Thibaut (Not green but pretty) - More traditional but if you look hard, you’ll find one you like.

Looking for a furniture designer that makes products out of sustainable materials?

I met with Melissa at the Geneva, IL Crate and Barrel. We discussed Eco-design and trends in furniture. Melissa introduced me to their Maria Yee designed product offerings.

Maria Yee, based in Santa Cruz, CA designs Eco-friendly products using BambooTimbre and her patent pending BambooJoinery™ system. The product offered at Crate and Barrel is made of 100% solid BambooTimbre and is constructed with out the use of nails, screws or fasteners.

Using ancient Chinese designs and construction methods as inspiration and updating them with a modern application. Maria Yee designs are not only made of sustainable materials, but constructed using ancient techniques for strength and durability.

Looking for design inspiration? A color palette? Artwork for your walls?

Consider paper. Stores like the Paper Source offer a wide variety of sheet paper in the many styles. The rich graphics and textures of the Japanese prints offer a saturated color palette and contrasting design elements.

If you can’t make it to the store, check out their website for vivid pictures of the real thing. Order a couple sheets that you like and complementary sheets to group together. At $8.00+/- a sheet, that’s pretty cheap for design inspiration.

Consider framing them in thick frames that compliment the design, accent your wood work and tie in your freshly painted walls.

Every designer oggles and googles over Maharam’s line of fabric. Frequently used in commercial applications, their fabrics can be used in residential design. Maharam focuses on a reduced environmental impact in development of their fabrics. They offer fabric made with recyclable material and natural fibers. Stick to the natural fibers and you’re doing good, such as the Shepherd’s Check.

Maharam also offers “Textiles of the 20th Century,” a line featuring designers such as Alexander Girard and Charles and Ray Eames.

I’m considering Maharam as an eco-friendly offering due to their extensive use of wool from the UK, their reduced environmental impact in manufacturing and their revitalized approach to bringing traditional patterns such as houndstooth and checks to a much larger scale for the modern application. Bigger is better these days in pattern selection.