I knew I was sick the minute I walked through Pottery Barn.

Not only did I actually consider buying a brand new chest of drawers that was exactly like ones that I already had in storage; the ones in storage had been handmade by my grandfather.

I needed to get to a hospital.  Clearly I was suffering from (idea) exhaustion.

After telling my agent and publicist and manager and lawyer to alert the presses that I was taking some time off to “rehab” some furniture, I got down to business. These chests weren’t in the best shape when I pulled them out of my 10×14 space; they were scuffed, missing some pulls and needed a serious jolt of energy, but they had potential. Having recently relocated to Austin, Texas, we’d been setting up house and noticed that our bedroom needed something…electric.

Electric Orange. Benjamin Moore Natura Zero-VOC paint.

I started by sanding down the chests, and then got to the business of applying coat after coat of paint; followed by adding some vintage crystal pulls. The look that I was hoping for was a Sixties Pop, shiny, how-fabulous-am-I-and-check-out-my-go-go-boots look.

I think it worked.

And now, back in my body and out of Pottery barn, this is just the beginning.

Stay tuned…next up I’m redoing a fifties chair that I found a vintage store….

Writer, stylist and all around talented gal, Tiffany Romigh is serious about style.  Whether she’s seamlessly fusing Street Art with French antiques or Hermes with rock concert tees, Tiffany has a knack for merging genres and mediums – and boredom is her enemy.  Never one to ask others to do what she can tackle herself, Tiffany rolls up her sleeves and dives right in – whatever the project might be!  Having recently relocated to Austin, TX… she’s now faced with a whole new house to grace with her good taste – and a whole new city to explore.  With Chic Re-do, Tiffany shows us how turn the simple into the sublime and the unexpected into the unbelievable!

The weather’s getting warmer and we’ll all be hanging outdoors any day now.  So, there’s no time like the present to spruce up your outdoor space!  Whether you go for the rustic look, classic elegance or dig the modern vibe… I’ve found some of the best “eco” decor around for every style, every space.

I’m absolutely obsessed with these Ceramic Head planters.  They are glorious and oddball… I want one in each color… to create a movable herb garden.  How perfectly special!

If you’re in need of easy seating/small tabletops/statement-y plant stands, garden stools are the way to go.  They’re chic, versatile and luxe-looking (well, the good ones are).  And besides some beautiful vintage ceramic stools out there, the Recycled Aluminum “Miami” Garden Seat at Neiman Marcus (thanks Green Your Decor for the heads up!) is a serious show-stopper.  Modern, classical, tropical… and maybe even nautical, this seat will works it’s chic with many different styles!

I’m also a huge fan of bird watching (sounds a bit nerdy, I know).  I have an amazing array of wild birds that come to feast at the feeders I’ve placed around my house… and I could honestly watch them for hours!  But as to not have my home look like the Birdman of Alcatraz’, I make sure my bird-based pieces are as chic as everything else.

Enter this lovely and artful Recycled Glass Birdfeeder. Easy to fill (which not all are!) and easy on the eyes, it’s stylish, sustainable and gets the job done!

This recycled birdhouse is lovingly made by the students at Brown’s Foster Home in Rome, Maine.  Each little house is an individualistic work of art!  I particularly like this paint-splattered, ceramic doorknob number because of it’s 1980’s Soho meets historic Northeast vibe… Who wouldn’t want to live there?!

Now, take a load off and enjoy the warm weather with the oh-so-chic Modern take on the Adirondack rocker by Loll.   Available in 7 gorgeous colors, this rockin’ chair is made from 100% recycled HDPE (high density polyethylene)!

And what cheeky outdoor area would be complete without the company of a little guy known as the Garden Gnome?!  Let this little ceramic fellow cast a positive spell over your outdoor area… and may your Spring by simply magical!

Keeping it real… garden style!

I was never much of a silent film fan until recently.  Honestly, I just never really gave them a chance, but now I’ve changed my tune.  Like any other good movie, regardless of type or era… a silent film can be funny, compelling, tragic, beautiful and glamourous!!!  I have a serious thing for the master of the genre, Buster Keaton, but when it comes to the ladies, Clara Bow is my girl!  She was vivacious, confident and yet another woman who possessed that magical quality – easy elegance!

There is a similarity to many silent film sets… silky textiles, geometric prints, glammy lighting and curvy furniture.  The vibe is fancy meets moody and I love it.  There’s not a ton of yesteryear glitz “green” decor out there, but here are some chic pieces that fit the bill.

The Cameo Lamp by LightenUp Design at Green With Glamour is a lovely nod to the bygone days of silent film.  Pretty and polished, LightenUp Design uses only natural clays and handmade, non-toxic glazes. 3-way socket, shade included.

Nothing makes a bold statement in the bedroom like a striking headboard!   Of organic cotton & a hardwood frame, the York from Pottery Barn will add some serious style to any sleeping quarters!

Ms. Bow in the boudoir.

A modern take on a Deco look, the Organic Fossil bedding from West Elm has a bit of sheen to the fabric and that luxe look of a Clara Bow bedroom.

And for a major hit of style in any room the Senna Chair by Ami McKay has the sexy, sultry quality of these beautiful black & white screen gems.  And by using OEKO-tex certified fabrics, organic dyes, non-toxic wood finishes, biodegradable latex rubber, FSC certified hardwood frames, non-toxic adhesives, jute and latex webbing, organic cotton batting… the Senna’s about as “eco” as it gets!

Ooh la la!

Take a peek inside the home of Deana Bracken, GWG’s president & creative director – featured on Apartment Therapy/Re-Nest!

Deana’s Vintage Glam Hilltop Cabin
Green House Call

Name: Deana Bracken, Interior designer and owner of Green With Glamour
Location: Silver Lake, Los Angeles

Moving from nearly 1800 square feet into under 600 square feet was a considerable design challenge, but the larger apartment was just too big for our needs. So this quirky, teeny 1923 hilltop cabin was a welcome change. Not only did the smaller space force me to purge many unnecessary furnishings that I had amassed over the years, but our energy use has taken a serious and glorious nose dive as well.

I would describe my personal style as vintage-glam-meets-mid-century-mod, with a dash of uptown bohemia (although I adore working with all styles for client projects—from craftsman to super sleek contemporary). My number one design inspiration is my grandmother. Her approach to living is a bit more formal than my own, but the way she makes elegance look easy has always spoken to me.

As for “green” elements, my primary focus is re-use, although I do like to trick out the surfaces with décor from Green With Glamour. Just about every element (furniture, lighting, rugs, pottery, even most of the artwork) in the house is second hand, including my grandmother’s massive 1971 Chesterfield sofa. I have had amazing luck finding thrift store gems on my many trips to Palm Springs. Whenever a vintage piece is in need of re-upholstery, I look to stylish, sustainable textile designers like Mod Green Pod and Rubie Green for gorgeous fabrics—and of course, my upholsterer works with kapok (upon request).

The bedding is organic cotton from West Elm. The headboard I made myself from a discarded hollow door, organic cotton batting and a wonderful hemp linen I found at Near Sea Naturals. I’m not big on window treatments (luckily the house is incredibly private), but I did fashion the “dining room” drapery from remnant silk and all of the paints are no or low-VOC.

When I first saw the house, every room was painted this horrible dusty pink, so that was clearly the first thing that had to go. Though I’m typically a big fan of boldly colored walls, the cabin is so small and weird, I opted for a bright, warm white for all walls with the exception of a half wall in the kitchen on which I used a metallic Ralph Lauren paint leftover from a design project.

However, I would say the greatest issue with this space is that it’s tiny. The bedroom is barely big enough to fit a queen sized bed (leaving only an 18″ path on one side), but luckily the built-in shelving and closet spaces are quite efficient… so the overall vibe of the room is quite cozy. The living/dining area and the kitchen are actually fairly spacious, so once I paired the furnishings down to only truly beloved pieces, everything seemed to fall perfectly into place. The bathroom is ridiculously small (including the shortest claw foot tub I’ve ever encountered). The walls are old and rough, so I upholstered them with a bold-patterned remnant fabric that covered all of the flaws and tried to keep every other element in the room clean and white as to not look “too much.” The kitchen has a very late 70s/early 80s vibe which actually works wonderfully with my vintage pottery, heirloom china and glassware collections… and the view is incredible. It actually makes doing dishes way less of a chore. The covered patio is one of my favorite spaces. The view goes on forever, it’s roomy enough for about 8-10 people to sit comfortably, but even better for romantic dinners for two.

My latest article for The Green Girls:

It’s not that I’m not a fan of “mainstream” fashion, but overall I do find “eco-fashion” a lot more interesting – the risk-taking designers, always evolving textiles and heightening profile of the industry in general.

That being said, I am a sucker for a classic design… a Chanel suit (vintage, of course), a Halston gown and definitely the Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress.  I’ve had a crush on that silhouette since my mother wore a handful of them in the 70s.  There’s something about DVF’s style that is unparalleled.  With her design, she has mastered the combination of bold patterns, clean designs and a flattering cuts… but to me, more important than that, she is the greatest example of an incredible & independent, easy-elegance and exotic-though-still-urbane lifestyle look.

She’s a lot to live up to… but it’s certainly fun trying!

My latest piece for The Green Girls:

I have to admit, I’m not typically a huge fan “rustic” decor… but ’tis the Sundance Season and I got caught up in the hoopla!  As long as your home’s look is not uber-formal, a piece or 2 of “rustic” can look amazing just about anywhere and really warm up a space.   AND so much of it is made from reclaimed woods and recycled materials… it’s almost silly not to take the plunge!

To shed a little warm & woodsy light on the subject, the Light Block by Brave Space (at Vivavi) is a rustic-meets-modern head turner.  Made from EcoResin, this stylish light comes complete with a low-heat, energy-efficient light bulb.



So typically our “Runway to Real Way”s feature fashion pieces, but I think it makes sense to include some home design pieces every once and again as well.   I’m personally in love with Green With Glamour’s recycled glass cobalt tumblers. They’re chic and simple and sturdy… just what I look for in glassware!

Recycled Colbalt tumblers from Green Glass Co. at GWG, $43/set of 4

But just recently, I spied these very similar tumblers at Neiman Marcus (I mean, I’ve got to keep my eye on the competition, right?) I couldn’t quite believe that they were asking $112 for a set of 4 NON-RECYCLED (and not quite a good-looking) tumblers. Yikes.

“Iris” Cobalt tumblers at Neiman Marcus, $112/set of 4

You be the judge.

My latest article for The Green Girls…

I recently learned that controversial writer (Henry & June), erotica advocate and elegant bohemian Anais Nin lived in my neighborhood, with husband Rupert Pole, for about 20 years beginning in 1962.  She helped design her hill-perched Silver Lake getaway home with architect Eric Lloyd Wright (grandson of Frank Lloyd Wright).

Interior shots of Anain Nin’s Silver Lake home

The Pole (& Nin) Residence by Eric Lloyd Wright

Needless to say, I’m now officially obsessed with the house and it’s feminine take on early 60s Modern architecture.  Nin’s decor style is not dissimilar to my own… nods to Japanese style and Chinoiserie, ethnic textiles and mixing clean, mod pieces with organic, natural-y furniture and classically refined American & French staples.  So, there aren’t many tasks I enjoy more than searching for new (& old) goodies that work for the likes of Ms. Nin.

Reclaimed wood print block panel at CB2

Art Deco box

The Kalafornia Lounger by WhyrHymer at Green With Glamour

Vintage Curtis Jere lamp

Reclaimed Oriental rug made from 100% recycled plastic bottles

Anais Nin at home in Silver Lake

And she answered!

It’s an amazing honor to be singled out by editor extraordinaire, Anna Griffin, as the home design expert for Coco Eco’s holiday gift giving… and our fearless leader, Deana Bracken, met the challenge.

When asked for her eco-stylish gift picks, Deana went for everything from high-end furniture pieces by PURE

to Vegan baked goods by Fakery

to edgy glass skulls by Esque Studio.

For the complete scoop… check out the current issue of Coco Eco, pages 124-125.  And then read the rest of the magazine – it’s a stunner!

The Stott Family of Lena, IL were the subjects of this week’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition on ABC.   Down in their luck – not only because if the hard hit American farmers have taken in this economy AND with global warming climate conditions – the wife and mother of three teenagers, Joey, is a Leukemia survivor.  To help design the new, energy efficient farm house for the family of 5… David Duchovny was on hand to lend support to both the show and the idea of building with energy efficiency (the new farm is complete with a windmill!).

For the interiors… who did the design producers turn to for some amazing, “eco-chic” home decor?  You guessed it – Green With Glamour!  Front and center on the Stott Family’s new coffee table sits the recycled glass pedestal bowl from GWG!

And for the Master bedroom, the shows host Ty Pennington, opted to display 2 beautiful, one-of-a-kind salvaged wood pieces by Hitoshi Tanaka (we have since sold out of Mr. Tanaka’s pieces).

One of Tanaka’s gorgeous pieces used for the EMHE Stott Family house!

And scene.

The Stott Family of Lena, IL were the subjects of this week’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition on ABC.   Down in their luck – not only because if the hard hit American farmers have taken in this economy AND with global warming climate conditions – the wife and mother of three teenagers, Joey, is a Leukemia survivor.  To help design the new, energy efficient farm house for the family of 5… David Duchovny was on hand to lend support to both the show and the idea of building with energy efficiency (the new farm is complete with a windmill!).

For the interiors… who did the design producers turn to for some amazing, “eco-chic” home decor?  You guessed it – Green With Glamour!  Front and center on the Stott Family’s new coffee table sits the recycled glass pedestal bowl from GWG!

And for the Master bedroom, the shows host Ty Pennington, opted to display 2 beautiful, one-of-a-kind salvaged wood pieces by Hitoshi Tanaka (we have since sold out of Mr. Tanaka’s pieces).

One of Tanaka’s gorgeous pieces used for the EMHE Stott Family house!

And scene.

To me, animal prints (not skins) never go out of style!  I do love to spice up an ensemble with a leopard cardigan or some zebra ballet flats, but the boost in chic-ness these pieces can deliver to a fashion look… can easily be acheived in the home as well!

I’ve always been a big fan of Areaware’s animal pillows… I have a bird and a squirrel living comfortably side by side in my Living Room at home, but this Leopard number is just stunning!  Of 100% Organic Cotton with poly fill & made in Brooklyn, this big kitty will make a seriously chic statement wherever you chose to let him or her prowl!

Whatever your design M.O…. from the sleekest of Modern to the most tasteful Traditional, a zebra print is a perfect fit!  This super-soft recycled cotton throw from In2Green, not only adds some serious style to your space, but will keep you oh-so-cozy on a chilly day.  More colors available (and makes the perfect gift!).

To me, animal prints (not skins) never go out of style!  I do love to spice up an ensemble with a leopard cardigan or some zebra ballet flats, but the boost in chic-ness these pieces can deliver to a fashion look… can easily be acheived in the home as well!

I’ve always been a big fan of Areaware’s animal pillows… I have a bird and a squirrel living comfortably side by side in my Living Room at home, but this Leopard number is just stunning!  Of 100% Organic Cotton with poly fill & made in Brooklyn, this big kitty will make a seriously chic statement wherever you chose to let him or her prowl!

Whatever your design M.O…. from the sleekest of Modern to the most tasteful Traditional, a zebra print is a perfect fit!  This super-soft recycled cotton throw from In2Green, not only adds some serious style to your space, but will keep you oh-so-cozy on a chilly day.  More colors available (and makes the perfect gift!).

I’m in a wedding state of mind.  One of my dear friends is getting married next September… and for the 1st time EVER – I’m in the wedding.  So, also for the 1st time ever… I’m looking at wedding magazines (I may have looked at 1 or 2 years & years ago when I was engaged, but once we decided to elope – recycle bin).

The Knot is a gorgeous magazine.  It actually made me excited about helping to plan a wedding, miss that I never got that wedding dress, and of course, wish I could register for gifts all over again (check out GWG’s gift registry)!  And the editors of The Knot chose a wonderful gift, the trio of Fleur vases by Lighten Up Design… as one of their top picks!

Fleur vases by Lighten Up Design at Green With Glamour, $135

Today is a big day for Green With Glamour – it’s our Fall launch and usually the work day that excites me most and swells me with pride, but of the 3 years we’ve been active… today is by far my favorite!  You see, we typically celebrate each season’s launch with a gorgeous celebrity photoshoot (and trust me – that’s exciting too), but this time around we decided to celebrate with a meeting of some of our favorite minds as we think this season is the BEST YET of the “green” style movement.  These are exceptional designers (some new to GWG, some have been with us for years) that inspire us on levels both creative and compassionate.  Women who are working today to preserve the integrity of tomorrow… these are The Women of Eco-Design photographed by the incomparable Lelah Foster!     

(pictured clockwise from bottom row, right)

The Classicist – Jadie Kadletz of PI Organic

The Forward Thinker – Lizz Wasserman of Popomomo

The Bohemian – Fahmina of Fahmina

The Glam Girl – Kelly Barry of Kelly B Couture

The Curator – Deana Bracken of Green With Glamour

In further celebration of these amazing women, GWG is offering 20% OFF all of the above lines with coupon code GWGFALL20.  Please click here for more about The Women of Eco-Design!

So, Treehugger did this fantastic feature on a bunch of designs done by Latin American designers, many for Chile’s “Remade” contest (link, in case you read Spanish).  They were are wonderfully creative, but I just must talk about 3 in particular!

Have you ever???  And I LOVE that they utilize the bending waist!  The Barbie Doll legs salad servers are from the brilliant mind of Chilean design student, Catalina Villa.

Between you and me… I actually lose sleep over the amount of plastic bags this planet is producing, using and discarding – which in turn makes Chilean design student, Camila Labra, my heroine because her entire line of boots is made from old paper bags!  I already have an email out to Camila, asking about purchasing… will let you know when I hear news.

 And finally, the best possible use for those old mixed tapes some ex-boyfriend made for you.  I mean, C’mon…what the hell else are you going to do with something that has 5 tracks by Soundgarden on it? (but save the Mudhoney & Afgan Whigs… that boyfriend may not have been all bad).  Anyway, this shrug is actually knit from yesterday’s cassettes and is the perfect union of past & present!  Created by Fernanda Henríquez, Cindy Silva, Paulina Vilches and Teresa Monreal… more Chilean design smarties.

So, Treehugger did this fantastic feature on a bunch of designs done by Latin American designers, many for Chile’s “Remade” contest (link, in case you read Spanish).  They were are wonderfully creative, but I just must talk about 3 in particular!

Have you ever???  And I LOVE that they utilize the bending waist!  The Barbie Doll legs salad servers are from the brilliant mind of Chilean design student, Catalina Villa.

Between you and me… I actually lose sleep over the amount of plastic bags this planet is producing, using and discarding – which in turn makes Chilean design student, Camila Labra, my heroine because her entire line of boots is made from old paper bags!  I already have an email out to Camila, asking about purchasing… will let you know when I hear news.

 And finally, the best possible use for those old mixed tapes some ex-boyfriend made for you.  I mean, C’mon…what the hell else are you going to do with something that has 5 tracks by Soundgarden on it? (but save the Mudhoney & Afgan Whigs… that boyfriend may not have been all bad).  Anyway, this shrug is actually knit from yesterday’s cassettes and is the perfect union of past & present!  Created by Fernanda Henríquez, Cindy Silva, Paulina Vilches and Teresa Monreal… more Chilean design smarties.

This is a new category for Living GWG… inspired by art consulting firm, White Box Projects.  I know, for many, buying artwork can be a daunting endeavor – but with the help of a friendly and knowledgeable art consultant, like White Box Projects’, Beth Caldarello… find the perfect piece for your space can be the awesome experience that acquiring art should be!  WBP just launched and currently reps 7 truly talented – and quite varied artists, but photographer Mickey Smith is my absolute favorite…

 ”Money” & “Blood” by Mickey Smith

But I’m also digging on the Gouache works by Frida Larios…

 So, if you need a little hand-holding, introductions to the works of up-and-coming artists or even just straight advice on what art suits your space… check out White Box Projects.  Undaunting, exciting and well-selected art for all!

For whatever reason, I’ve been looking for things to make me smile lately.  And wow… do these little nuts make me smile!  For me Etsy can be a little daunting, but sometimes I do set aside a chunk of time to peruse their pages.  This fantastic piece, called Squirelly Love, is from a seller who goes by Enormous Champion.  I love the sleek design, the cheeky vibe and the heartfelt message (see below).

Made in the USA from sustainably harvested wood. The heart was painted with a non toxic, no-VOC water based paint. The little squirrels were left the natural color of the beautiful wood. All are finished and sealed with beeswax.

As put by Enormous Champion:

These two squirrels are in love, plain and simple. But, they know that they have to work together to maintain their relationship. Compromise and team work are key. Together they hold their little love up

.

I know this isn’t one of my typical bargain buys, but for $30… a well-designed piece that puts smiles on faces certainly seems like a bargain to me.