DIY Project: Handmade Gift Wrap
Design*Sponge
Ever wanted to add an extra personal touch to your gift giving? Try making your own gift wrap. This how-to takes you through the process.

Which is Greener, a Real of Fake Christmas Tree?
The Daily Green
“For many families, the centerpiece of Christmas celebrations is the luminous, awe-inspiring tree set up with care in the living room. But with all the options now available, how do you know which Christmas tree is the greenest choice for the environment?”

Foodie Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids of All Ages
The Epi-Log
Wondering what to get your young gourmand? Here are some ideas from the editors at Epicurious.com.

Design & Decor Books: The Best of 2010
Apartment Therapy
“Even the most die-hard design blog addict will admit there is something special about flipping through the pages of a real, tangible book on home design. Throughout the year we have posted on a host of books about the home — from inspirational (and “aspirational”) glossy tomes to instructional and downright technical guidebooks.”

5 Last-Minute Green Gift Ideas
Re-nest
“‘Twas the weekend before Christmas, and just like this blogger, you’re scrambling to find some good green gift fodder. You forgot someone important (how’d that happen!?) or a few extra folks are coming to celebrate, and you don’t want to resort to some plastic crap that the giftee will end up sending to Goodwill anyway. What to do? We have some ideas.”

One Project Closer has an awesome post about building, renovating and living in a green home, asking the central question, “How do you measure green?” Here are a few of their benchmarks:

• Water conservation
• Energy efficiency
• Resource efficiency
• Community and site impact
• Indoor environmental quality

The fact is, there’s no one measurement for green. There are a lot of things to consider. Are you just interested in a product’s energy efficiency or is it important how they treat their workers? What if something is made of non-sustainable materials but provides an energy savings over its lifetime? Or what if the “non-green” product lasts longer than the green one? Or if a local product is widely available and the green option needs to be shipped halfway across the world?

Lots to think about! What’s most important to you? What would you like to see as standards for green home products?

Photo courtesy of Stuck in Customs on Flickr

While perusing Remodelista, we came across this little gadget: the Soda Stream Pure Sparkling Water Maker. Basically, you can make your own sparkling water at home.

It certainly is an unusual kitchen gadget, and so we must ask: genius or useless? On the one hand, as the manufacturer points out, there’s a certain green aspect to this: no more using up cans and bottles of soda water (it comes with two bottles). And it doesn’t even require electrical power! All you do is fill the machine with tap water and begin pumping.

And yet, unless you and your family are huge sparkling water fans, how much will this really be used? Perhaps if you are having a party, it might come in handy for serving your guests drinks. But at $149.95, it might take a lot of bottles and cans to make up this cost.

Let us know in the comments: Would you spend money on this, or is it another kitchen gadget with limited usage?

Photo courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

There’s been a lot of ink spilled lately about alternative energy on a macroeconomic scale. But what about ways you can use these new forms personally?

It seems like every other cornfield now has been given over to wind energy. No doubt these massive structures can provide great benefit to companies and cities. If you wanted to experiment however, it was a little difficult. But now there are some options.

Looking similar, though on a smaller scale than the average wind turbine, the Proven Energy 2.5 kW 300 V Wind Turbine Grid Tie can be used for personal energy usage. As Luxury Housing Trends points out, it’s not cheap, but the company’s promise of their product powering a three-bedroom house (minus heat) might make it worthwhile over the long run.

For an wind energy option that provides less power but is small enough to go on the roof of your house, check out our recent profile of the WindTronics wind turbine, which was on display at this year’s International Builders Show.

Also via Luxury Housing Trends, we have a new option for solar power. It’s an easy, low-maintenance kit. According to the site, the Sunforce 39626 160-Watt High-Efficiency Polycrystalline Solar Power Kit has “weatherproof solar cells…made with an aluminum frame and tempered glass coverings to ensure that they’re durable enough to withstand the elements. This kit comes with two 80-watt polycrystalline solar panels, a 200-watt power inverts, a 30-amp digital charge controller, a voltage tester and a wiring kit with mount accessories included.”

Have you thought of using wind energy, solar power or other forms of alternative energy in your home?

Photo courtesy of nualabugeye on Flickr

Re-use, reduce and recycle. Lately, the fourth “r” in that series could be “reclaim.” Using reclaimed materials in your home can not only be green, but it can provide a stellar conversation piece and the chance to own something truly unique.

One of the most popular uses of reclaiming is reclaimed wood. Where does this wood come from? Almost anywhere. We’ve heard of wood being reclaimed from the bottom of a river, as well as the more usual practice of reclaiming from an older home.

And the reclamation craze goes beyond wood! For period-appropriate pieces and fixtures, there’s nothing better than an original in need of a new home.

Re-Nest recently featured a kitchen that has lovely cabinets made from reclaimed Douglas fir. Most of the glass used in the cabinet doors is also reclaimed. The builder and owner, George Ramos, made a conscious effort to use green materials, such as a sustainably sourced mahogany countertop, even when reclaimed ones weren’t available.

Please check out Re-Nest’s post to learn more!

Images courtesy of Re-Nest

We like to think of our gardens as an extension of our home. And just like any room in the house, sometimes you just want a few new things to brighten it up. For your reading pleasure, here are some fun products and ideas that can liven up any outdoor abode.

The Lluna planter by Serralunga is a cool modern planter as you can see:

But if you find yourself needing a cold drink instead of more greenery, this planter obliges. It would work well for a large backyard soiree!

Speaking of that garden party, if you are looking for a use for the empty beer bottles you stashed in the planter/ice bucket, look no further than Design*Sponge’s bottle garden idea.  It’s an easy idea for a really cool garden…and it’s a great way to re-use without recycling!

If the bottle garden inspires you to find a way to re-use objects in your garden, then consider Re-Nest’s idea to turn your chandelier into a planter. Where the bulbs would be, you put small pots of flowers instead. It’s unique, funky, and classically quirky.

What are some fun ideas you’ve tried for “re-decorating” your garden?

All images are from blogs linked to above

Apartment Therapy recently featured some self watering planters — perfect for those of us with irregular schedules or who can’t quite remember that all living things need water! Now, they’re not completely maintenance free — you will have to put water in every so often. But once the water is in, you can sit back and watch your plants grow.

There are quite a few options out there, but our favorite is the Grobal Self-Watering Planter designed by Karim Rashid (see some of his work for the myMarvin project here). The Grobal comes in enough colors to satisfy any decorating scheme and features Rashid’s signature curvy lines. With something as easy as this, there’s no excuse not to try growing something this summer!

Photo courtesy of A + R

It’s ironic that a thing that exists to clean you can get dirty and disgusting so fast. A fresh, clean shower can make the entire bathroom look sparkling. A grungy shower can make the whole room look dingy. If you’re tired of pulling the shower curtain closed when guests come over, you’ll want to check out Apartment Therapy’s post on how to clean your shower without the use of harsh chemicals. Here are a few tips:

• You’ve got some choices on green cleaners. Apartment Therapy recommends either a tea tree cleaner, white vinegar cleaner, citrus juice cleaner, hydrogen peroxide cleaner, or borax and vinegar cleaner.
• Clean after your shower–steam helps loosen any gunk on the walls.
• Let your chosen spray sit for a few minutes and then scrub with a stiff brush. And old toothbrush works well for getting in the grout.
• If you have a fan or a dehumidifier, run it to get rid of extra  moisture-causing mold in the bathroom.

And to prevent mold in the first place, check out Apartment Therapy’s post on that topic.

Photo courtesy of jfpeck on Flickr.

This gorgeous retreat (via Trends Ideas) was built in the grand tradition of Adirondack Great Camps, mostly found in upstate New York. Its spacious exterior, gracious porch and beautiful stonework follow this tradition, but it was designed with many little twists. Architect Laine Jones and builder Steve Howell did things like put bedrooms downstairs to keep the upstairs common rooms free for tall ceilings and beautiful views.

Even though it is a large house, this home is designed to blend in with its surroundings, not overpower them. According to Jones, “Traditional Adirondack elements such as rising stonework anchor the house to the land – but this house achieves a lighter feel.”

There are traditional elements to this house though, most notably the trusses that support the roof. These were made in the traditional Mennonite manner–heating and twisting by hand. This mountain lodge’s dual nature also means many modern conveniences, including broadband, an underfloor heating system and beautiful, energy efficient Marvin windows.

Images courtesy of Trends Ideas

The food we prepare and eat leaves us with certain scraps that we don’t know what to do with. Yes, making coffee and fresh orange juice is tasty and healthy, but what do you do with the leftovers? Re-Nest tackles some issues that kitchen gourmands may wonder about…

According to their experts, when you are done with juicing your own fruits and vegetables, there may be lots of pulp left over. As easy as it is to scrape it into the trash, there are a few alternatives: mix it into pancakes or breads, use it as a base for a sauce or, if you truly can’t do anything with it, compost it.

For disposing of coffee grounds, you have even more choices. If you’ll be hitting the shower after your morning coffee, mix your coffee grounds with soap for an exhilarating exfoliator. You can also use the grounds to scrub your hands to get rid of food odors. And if there are unpleasant odors in your fridge or car, or on your pet, those leftover coffee grounds will do the trick.

Now that you’ve properly disposed of your morning coffee and OJ, there’s always the matter of the newspaper. Recycling  it might be your usual earth-friendly course, but if you are a crafty knitter, consider making yarn from it when you’re through reading.

Good morning and wake up to a green day!

Image courtesy of How can I recycle this on Flickr.