Green Living
Eco-friendly changes to a home or condo don’t always need to be hidden behind walls (think insulation) or underneath lampshades (think CFL bulbs). Here are four products made by Atlanta companies with a green focus that will be visible to you and your guests.
1. Lamps
People want lamps that look good in their homes, but if they’re eco-friendly, it’s another plus, said Bruce Bradburn, CEO of the Bradburn Co., an Atlanta-based lighting and accessories company. Two of its lamps, for example, have that component. The Mandalay Bay lamp ($390) is finished with reclaimed leather cut into thin strips, hand woven and applied to the base. The shade is made of recycled soda bottles and reclaimed cotton. The carved pediment on the Agora lamp ($475) is made from reclaimed wood that is lightly buffed with neutral beeswax, and its shade is made from reclaimed cotton and recycled soda bottles. The company’s products are sold at Henredon Furniture near Perimeter Mall and Glyn Weakley Interiors, at Northside Parkway and West Paces Ferry Road. “It’s really eco-friendly in that it would have been waste that was thrown into a landfill. Now we've transformed it into something beautiful for the home,” Bradburn said.
2. Bamboo containers
Locally grown bamboo can be pieced together to create a plant container or make an outdoor statement as a wall or fence. It’s ideal for decks, porches and patios as well as garden steps and walkways, said Bevan D. Suits, owner of AquaPlanet, which sells the bamboo at Habersham Gardens in Atlanta. They can span anywhere from 6 inches to 8 feet long (ranging from $9-$27). The bamboo also can be used in more elaborate projects, such as screening part of a deck, Suits said.
3. Glassware
The tumblers by Uncorked Glass Co. are handcrafted from recycled wine bottles. Founder and curator Daniel Hart creates 100 percent of the glasses from materials donated by Georgia restaurants, wineries and consumers. The glasses come in 12-ounce and 16-ounce options and five colors: green, gold, amber, clear and tinted clear. Sets of four to six range from $36-$60 at www.uncorkedglass.com and Star Provisions in West Midtown.
4. Room fragrances
ScentSticks -- available at the AirCraft Scent Bar at Lenox Square -- are made of natural, biodegradable fibers. The sticks can be personalized by mixing the 12 scents, with the potential to make more than 1,000 fragrances. The sticks, which also are available at Bed, Bath and Beyond and online at www.craftyourair.com, don’t require oils, flames or electricity, and they last up to 30 days. The company, Atlanta-based EnviroScent, recommends going with three in a small room and adding two or more as room sizes grow. The starter kits -- with five ScentSticks and a ceramic vase -- are $12.99 (refill kits with five ScentSticks are $9.99).
