Guilt free decadence with social conscience provenance

design objects

When I look at the furniture and decorative items around my house — pillows, small tables, candelabras, bowls, lamps and the little things that make up the style of who I am, the pieces I take out from storage or buy new to enhance the changing seasons, or things that just say what I like right now — I think to myself: of all the things I own, the things that persevere through changes in design or colors of the seasons are the things that are well made. These are pieces that stand out, not because they are the smartest design, the newest hype or the most talked about seasonal items, but because they have something inherent about them that says they are here to stay, they are conceived, produced and brought to market with pride and integrity. These are carpets, furniture and accessories that are meant to last.

We have been hit hard in the last two years with economic turmoil and our brains have been re-wired to cut down, spend less, rein in and tighten the belt. Despite this, however, there are positive developments in our culture and in our economy that have surfaced and may reflect a lasting shift in how we spend. The conspicuous or over-consumption of cheap, mass-produced products is falling from grace and is being replaced with a more careful approach to spending and a mind towards what we buy and from where.

The idea of thinking globally and spending locally that bobbed to the surface in the ‘90s has become a household fixture in the past few years. We have acquired a deeper understanding of the impact our “need” for inexpensive gadgets has on the environment, while the working conditions of the people in the third world countries we buy from are becoming more and more apparent to a broader section of the population.

So my slogan for 2010 and the years to come is that with frugality we are now in a perfect place to invest in the interiors of our homes in a way that both pleases the eye and soothes our conscious – and in the long run will be kinder to our wallets.

NEW CRITERIA FOR BUYING
The first thing I look at in a piece of furniture or an accessory is its provenance.

  • Where does it come from?
  • Who made it?
  • Who will benefit from me buying?

Equally important is the product’s chain in the eco- structure:

  • What materials went into making it?
  • Where were the materials harvested, mined or procured?
  • Does the company re-invest in the community that they get their raw materials via reforestation, labor incentives, education and such?
  • If there could be a component of recycling in connection with producing it, where in the process does recycling come in?
  • Is the piece made partly of recycled materials?
  • Is the product recyclable?
  • Will the company I bought from recycle themselves or, in other words, how tightly connected to the process of recycling is the company responsible for the product I am buying?

At first this process can seem like you have to do research for a white paper before you can buy a couple of new pillows, a side table or a chair. Hardly worth it, you might think, but over time, this thinking becomes second nature. If you are humbled by our current global and domestic situation, but still have some things you really would like to get for your house and do not know how to go about it, here are a few places to get you started:

The story of Stephanie Odegard is one that encompasses ALL I love about the home decorating business. Odegard has built a business of fine carpets and a distinctive line of high end accessories and is a pioneer in custom carpets who uses no child labor, builds schools, and puts resources back into the community.

The British company, Fair Trade Furniture manufactures a beautiful and simple line of indoor casual furniture produced on the island of Java.

To bring a Bauhaus lamp design back from extinction, Kaiseridell of Germany decided not to use a cheap manufacturing process and mass produce, but to engage a Danish company to re-introduce three new designs. They offer more for your money – and an heirloom to pass on.

But we can’t forget that we have a long tradition of manufacturing here in the States — everything from custom furniture to individually-designed decorative pieces that have supported local economies for centuries. Let’s start thinking differently and look to custom designs or luxury manufacturers that support both our local and global initiatives with products that will support generations to come.

The furniture of designer Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar was reintroduced a few years ago. The beautiful classical modern lines are in good company with a Flor carpet from Interface.

One of my local furniture designers, who I have not yet been able to afford, is Matco Peckay. His tall coffee table introduced in a recent show of artisans is my latest desire from his extremely beautiful collection.

If you are of a more classic bend, there are many furniture makers especially in the North Carolina area who have been in business close to a century and still make bench-made pieces in the traditional manner. I especially like the New York Demilune inlaid card table from Irion Furniture Makers. It will be equally handsome in the entry foyer or on a small wall in your living room. For a simpler, cleaner line that fits equally into a contemporary setting or a traditional New England home, the beautifully crafted desktop box in walnut from Owl in the Poplar is a gem.

For a contemporary take on the Asian-inspired designs we have seen in the Greene and Greene Arts and Crafts mansions try to look up John Reed Fox’s liquor cabinet.

Humble offers earth-friendly textiles, including pillows, that are made in the USA.

And if you are in the market for a custom-designed bedcover, look up Judy Ross.

Upholstered furniture should be long-lasting and worthy of a recovering in 10 to 15 years. Consider these options to fit a variety of design styles:

Classic Leather – all made in the USA, with a range of contemporary to traditional. I especially like the Dumont table with four ottomans tucked underneath, and the Valentino bench with its classic elegant feel.

If you are looking to replace your sofa, you can find a clean classic sofa from Southern Furniture. The 1570 is one of my favorites.

outdoor chairFor a modern sofa with lines you could have found in Milan, but was made in the U.S. by another furniture company that prides itself on making everything in its own furniture fabrication plant, try Hancock & Moore’s Dixon. They also collaborate with Jessica Charles – and who would not want to sink into this chair?

Then when it is all done, you can sit on your front porch, draw a deep and relaxed sigh of relief, watch the last leaves fall and rock back and forth in the front porch rocker by Christopher Poehlman.

P.S. Fair trade partnerships are popping up everywhere and we embrace them with a clear conscience.

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