What was once thought of to be out of reach is now available to the masses. But how do you stay on Mother Nature’s good side while thinking about décor and design of your home? Is it hard to maintain a beautiful home that is stylish and chic whilst remaining sustainable? Yes and yes, there are ways to do both and for this month’s green issue, I decided to give you a few of the top stylish eco products available out there.

Bedding
Organic bed sheets are one of the easiest ways of introducing some stylish green elements to your space. One line that I have fallen in love with come from California and are called Coyuchi. These are made from 100 per cent certified organic cotton, all dyes are environmentally friendly and the process uses less water, less heat, and less waste. Coyuchi’s collections, named Spring Air, Rocky Shore, Graceful Morning and Windy Point, offer a design for every taste, each taking a que from Nature. The palettes are subdued and calm, perfect for creating a sanctuary in your bedroom. Their products don’t only stop at bedding but also products for baby, bath and fashion items.

If you are looking for something that is a little less subtle and offers more pattern and colour then Amenity Home is the way to go. Combining their eco friendly materials with their artistic touch as graphic designers, they have come up with some fabulous items for the home. I love the organic silhouettes that they use to create their pieces. Gone are the days of thinking that being eco friendly means you have to be boring. Their pieces will definitely make a statement in your home.

Paint
Every paint company from Benjamin Moore to C2 is coming out with their own line of paints that are better for the environment. A paint that you may not know of is called Yolo Paint House.  Based out of Portland, they are thinking eco all around not just with their paints. No, their paints don’t contain any VOC’s ( Volatile Organic Compounds — which are very harmful to the environment) but they’ve considered the entire manufacturing process right down to soy ink they use on the labels of the paint can. The base of the paint is made with recycled water and their warehouse is run using wind power.  Their large collection of colours and great practice in the way they produce their paint is just cause to source their products for your next project.

Counter Tops
Choosing counter tops for your home can be quite overwhelming as there are so many options. A new choice that is out on the market and manufactured in Red Deer, AB. ArtistiCrete is a company that specializes in concrete however have come out with a new material for counter tops that utilizes concrete and recycled glass, called Crystal Crete. Being manufactured in Alberta gives them an added advantage, as they are not shipping from abroad — can you say 100-mile décor?

Custom manufacturing each piece also alleviates waste as each one is made for someone with the exact dimensions. They come in a wide range of colours and can also do custom colours, which I think is a fabulous idea. I would even go as far as comparing some of them to that of quartz and that is a big thing!

These are just a few of my favourite eco chic items available but the possibilities and products are endless. You must do your research and make sure you know where each product is coming from. It is easy to plaster a green or eco-friendly sticker onto something but it all has to do with manufacturing practices, materials used, and how much waste goes into making each product.

All products stated in the article are available at RIVA’s Eco Store in Inglewood (1237 9th Ave SE)

Happy eco-chic decorating!  NL

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Alykhan Velji
Having a successful design career for the last several years, Alykhan Velji has definitely made a name for himself on the Alberta design scene. Coming in as one of the top three finalists for HGTV’s Designer Superstar Challenge in 2006 and then landing a role as a Stylist/Design Assistant on The Style Dept. also was a great boost to his career.
As well as having his own design business, Alykhan Velji Design, Alykhan has been featured in many local and national publications, offering his expertise on design and trends. Finding inspiration in his travels and keeping abreast with the design industry’s new and innovative trends ensures his design esthetic is always fresh, all the while remaining original and timeless. In its fourth year as a design firm, Alykhan Velji Design specializes in both residential and commercial projects.     
www.alyveljidesigns.com