I’ve always loved how white walls are like a bright blank canvas, but as a conscious maximalist I crave color. We have this west-facing wall opposite our sliding door in our living room which gets tons of light and was just begging to be upgraded. We actually moved in last August and I’ve done nothing with this corner of the room. I finally decided on a simple console table and that it would feature a gallery of framed art. Over the months I collected art and frames (it’s wild how this little collection actually took so much planning!) Once I had a handle on that, I knew that paint was the missing piece!

Sourcing Sustainable Interior Paint

So began my research into what VOCs actually are, paint sustainability, and why I’d go with one paint brand over another. Before I got to the accent wall, I actually touched up some of the trim in our apartment with a mainstream paint. The paint all over this unit is, to put it kindly, less than professional, and the trim had nicks and scratches everywhere. (The walls that I painted over during this project were super unevenly textured too.) That basic paint was what I’d call high odor (haha), I had to be on top of ventilating and tried to breathe in as little as possible. This was a helpful experience because once I got to the Clare paint, I immediately noticed the low odor, not to mention didn’t feel queasy when I got too close to it!

Is Clare paint sustainable? What I liked about Clare was that their paint is not only free of toxins (see below), but they are an eco-conscious company… Even down to their supplies. For example, the paint liners and trays (seen below) are made of recycled materials. Packaging supplies are made of 100% recycled material. And, their paint is LEED compliant. I’ve seen so many companies prioritize human health but disregard their effect on the environment, when the two should really be intertwined.

What are VOCs?

VOCs are a group of carbon-based chemicals (the most common is formaldehyde) present in home construction and maintenance products such as flooring, building materials, and paint. VOCs have been linked to anything from minor irritation while using to cancers caused by long term exposure. As far as I can tell, there isn’t universal guidance for the levels of VOCs that can safely be in a home (where air pollutants can be worse than outside!); the general consensus is simply that you should limit them as much as possible. Apparently, they’re what’s responsible for that “new home” or “new car” smell! No wonder that always gave me a headache…

When it comes to sustainability, some VOCs can act as indirect greenhouse gases in the form of air pollution. VOCs can accumulate in the air and ground water, so they are of concern for both the environment and personal health.

What is GREENGUARD Certification?

GREENGUARD is a certification by safety leader UL Solutions that analyzes products for chemical emissions. This certification process emerged as a way for low-emission companies to let their customers know health and safety is a priority. According to UL Solutions, “If a product has been UL GREENGUARD Certified, it has been tested and scientifically proven to have low chemical emissions.” They test for more than 10,000 chemicals in their labs.

Zero VOC Paint

Clare is GREENGUARD Gold Certified. “Gold” indicates that a brand has even more strict standards as to which chemicals are allowed in their products. (You’ll find that many sustainable children’s brands go the extra mile to get this so that health conscious parents can have confidence in their products.) The Gold certification further limits formaldehyde in particular. (Confession: I’m not sure how much formaldehyde is or should be allowed in any product–certification or not.)

Clare says, Our paint is Zero VOC, which means no carbon-based solvents (VOCs) have been intentionally added to our products, although trace amounts of VOC may be present as residual components of other ingredients.

When researching sustainable paint companies, I found several that advertise low-VOC paint. Clare was one of the only companies I’ve ever heard of that offers Zero VOC paint. They also contain zero EPA chemicals of concern. Comparable paint brands I came across had a higher price point as well. 

Trying Removable Swatches

Over the holidays I had my Christmas tree and bar cart in the living room space, but it’s been empty (and driving me bananas) ever since the new year! I tried their removable paint swatches on my blank slate as well as in my dining nook. You can purchase the peel-and-stick paint samples individually or in curated sets (they sent me minty Rain Check + the other swatches shown are from their Sunset Shades kit) which are available with free shipping.

Side note: Before I reached out to Clare I had already ordered a few swatches, Wing It for the pink wall and Headspace + Dirty Martini potentially for my dining nook, which I’ll share more about soon. But they weren’t *quite* right. Miraculously as I was mulling it over I got an ad for their new hue Rain Check, which is an almost neutral green-blue, so I went with that for the nook. More on that later!

Choosing Color

This is an awful photo but I wanted to show how accurate the swatch is! Keep in mind that the color will change throughout the day depending on the light. I had my swatches covering the wall for days before I landed on Meet Cute. Originally I felt Wing It was more my style (I’m a pastel girl at heart) but I was told it seemed too light and baby pink. The Meet Cute swatch looked a bit dark, but of course it was contrasted with near-white. It looked beautiful in the Instagram photos I saw it in. I couldn’t decide, but when Kevin said he liked it better I went with it (he lives here too, after all) and I’m super happy I did. I think anything lighter would look washed out in the sunlight. This makes a statement!

When it came to how much paint is needed for an accent wall, I used their paint calculator and advice on their website. I ordered a gallon because at the time I wasn’t sure if I’d paint other walls with Meet Cute too, but just a quart would have done the trick! I was shocked, as a quart seems like such a small amount, but for two coats it’s totally accurate. This is also great news as opting for sustainable, zero VOC and low odor designer interior paint can come with an increased price tag over some of the mainstream brands, but you can save a lot by only getting what you need.

The Painting Process

The paint arrived quickly and I decided to knock it out over a weekend (one day for this wall). I read the instructions and got started! You can see the process on our Instagram. I was excited to see how quickly their paint dries. It was ready for its next coat in maybe an hour. I also liked their painter’s tape more than the standard blue kind. I used some blue I already hand on hand so I could compare and the yellow sticks better and tears off easier. I must say I’m pretty impressed with my paint job considering I’ve only ever painted a wall once. At least compared to how it was!

It would likely have helped to hide some of the previous paint job’s imperfections by using their primer, but I’m still happy with the result.

My Gallery Wall

Once finished, I moved my table back and got to decorating! We finally put up the art and photos I’d been collecting. I’ll share sources for the decor pictured below, but on the wall is a mix of art and my personal photos (sunsets and flowers). The frames are a mix of gold, wood, and bamboo, and some cheaper ones I’ve had forever.

The following week was my birthday, so I shuffled to get this all decorated by time I had a few friends over to celebrate! Hence the bubbly, candy bowl, and too cute to handle butterfly birthday cake by Charity.

During golden hour the whole place lights up! As you can probably tell, I took these photos at different times throughout the day, which changes the pink hue slightly. I gave all the photos the same minimal edit so you could see the difference.

Once the sun set, everything took on a cooler tone. By the way, I kept a strip of the original paint color at the top which mimicked the bottom trim. Would be amazing if we had moulding but alas. I was too nervous to paint right up to the popcorn ceilings and hope it would detract a bit anyway.

This one was taken at night with the warm light from my living room lamps. See below for the art and decor sources; some of the pieces featured are available in Jenn and my boutique, wallflower!

Sources: Paint, Swatches, and Supplies: Meet Cute from Clare | Candle: Wildwood Candle Co | Twist Candles: Wallflower | Picnic Basket: Wallflower | Truffles: Seattle Chocolate | Vivid Book: Wallflower | Bloom Book: | Vases + Vintage Glassware: Etsy + Thrifted | Cat Lady Print: Alja Horvat | Green Coat Art Print by La Poire: Wallflower | Floral Still Life: Helen McCullagh | Abstract Print: Wilde House Paper | Pink Wall Print: Esther Pai | Petal Puzzle: Wallflower | Pink Throw Blanket: Wallflower | Sage Chair: Target | Cloth Napkins: Wallflower

Thanks to Clare paint for collabing with me on this accent wall project! Meet Cute is the perfect hue for Spring.

The post Painting a Pink Accent Wall with Clare Paint appeared first on Eco Club.

My initial idea was to throw the rug down here and then try it out in the other two spaces (I figured a round rug might be more fitting here?), but I fell in love with this look. As for the rug, it’s not only pretty but absolutely the softest rug my tootsies have ever walked across. Therefore it needed to be in this high-traffic area, from which I admittedly work more than eat. This Berber style pink and toffee dots rug is 100% cotton, chemical-free, and Goodweave accredited. It’s also machine washable (what?)! On their website, you can see it styled beautifully in a nursery/kids room. Which this colorway is perfect for (besides a pastel-lover’s dining nook, obviously). You can find this rug in other colors and styles too. This one is 4’11” X 6’11”, which is almost the exact size of my nook. Now that I had a rug to anchor the whole design, I got to styling my quiet little corner!

First, I decided on a simple table and two identical benches to give it the dining nook feel. I spent some time looking into custom benches and cushions, and tried to find sustainable sources, but as expected there wasn’t anything in my small budget. I looked on Craigslist, Marketplace etc but given the small size of the room didn’t score like I hoped. So, I just bought these not-so-eco furniture items new online. Thankfully they worked out well and I know I’ll get a lot of use out of them.

I brought these West Elm curtains and velvet pillow from the living room of our last place. I’ve had them for several years now. The like their new home!

The pillows are a mix of Zuahaza designs (read more about them here), with one super old Etsy purchase mixed in. The “throw” blanket on the right is actually a Zuahaza scarf, which is so cozy no matter how you use it. The pink woven throw blanket is one featured in our shop. It’s lightweight and super cozy.

You can find the blockprint napkins from the tabletop in the shop as well.

The centerpiece here are the very last flowers I bought before blooms officially went out of season here in Seattle. Sigh!

Lastly, the beautiful woven wall art you see above is by another member, Will + Atlas! I’ve had it for years now (and three apartments) and always find a special new space for it everywhere I go.

That’s about it for my new dining nook! Several months later, it’s still one of the few spaces that feels complete in this new place. Next up I’ll be working on an art wall for the living room, and I’m hoping to carve out a corner devoted to my morning routine of journaling, reading, and meditation.

After reviewing and loving the rug, Ohh Happy Home is now a member of our sustainable shop directory. If you are in the US and shop from them, you can use ECOCLUBFREE for free shipping!

PS Find more ethically made rugs we love here.

The post My Light & Bright Dining Nook appeared first on Eco Club.

We take Jenn’s collection of Estelle Colored Glass wine glasses pretty much every where we go. They make not only the prettiest props, but also feel really special to sip from after a long day! Here the glassware is sitting on Zuahaza’s woven placemat/charger. It’s a super sturdy surface made from natural fique, and worked nicely as a sort of serving board.

I also brought along a pillow from their previous collection, Tyba, the one snuggled in the back here.

We have these sweet ceramic tumbler cups coming to the shop soon. They’re perfect for a morning latte!

Many of you know that I don’t go anywhere without flowers. Yes, even to Airbnb cabins. I grabbed a bunch of different stems at the market and simply trimmed them each to varying heights. I didn’t do much else for this arrangement, and I’m pretty pleased with the wild fall look of it all!

The Sumaz Large Throw in Cream is one of the most beautiful blankets I’ve ever curled up in! The woven details are just stunning. It’s 100% organic cotton, undyed, and a women artisan cooperative in the town of Charalá, Colombia. Honestly, I thought I might regret not having a pop of color with the blanket, but it’s such a lovely complement to the rest of our decor, from the pillow covers to the flowers and glassware, and I loved how the creamy neutrals cozied everything right up.

A preview of a couple more products we’re offering over at wallflower!

This pillow stack also features the the Paramo Pillow Covers and Cocuy Pillow Covers which come in 5 colors. I can’t decide if I like them more here on the sofa or up in the cabin’s loft on the bed… BTW, they are SO soft.

I love the rustic cabin decor of the PNW, but sometimes I crave more playful color. Zuahaza’s textiles were just the accent we needed!

Thanks to eco club member Zuahaza for gifting us these products to photograph so that you could get a better sense of the superior beauty and quality of sustainable, handmade goods produced ethically. 

Cream Blanket | Paramo Pillow Covers | Cocuy Pillow Covers | Woven Placemat | Pink Throw Blanket | Blockprint Napkins | Striped Table Runner | Cat Charcuterie Board

The post Eco Friendly Cabin Decor for Fall with Zuahaza appeared first on Eco Club.

I loved that they always told the stories of not only their makers, but the towns they lived in and the vibrant communities they connected with. Soon we collaborated on photo shoots, like this summer picnic + bedroom decor guide. We even hooked up for an IG live featuring a naturally dyed cotton and silk tutorial, which totally sparked my love of natural dyeing.

Both of our teams finally caught up the other week, just as we were launching wallflower shop and they were gearing up for their latest collection to go live! It’s called the Cartagena collection and it’s named after a beautiful travel destination on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Cartagena was founded back in the 16th century, and their original architecture and streets full of color inspired the blankets, pillows, and decor you see here!

Cumbia Large Throw

One of their goals with the new collection was to showcase the naturally gorgeous fibers like organic cotton and fique, while adding a pop of color as a nod to the colorful streets of Cartagena.

Magdalena Pillow Cover

Baru Small Throw

La Popa Oversized Throw Pillow

My idea of the perfect neutral bedroom definitely has subtle colorful accents like the throws here. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bright bedroom, but I naturally lean toward dusty pinks and greens, and pastel colors in my own life, so seeing them against creamy organic cotton offered such an elevated look to me!

Morenas Storage Baskets

The Cartagena collection is officially live on zuahaza.com, and you should pre-order before October 15th to be given priority for shipping in time for the holidays. Since each of these incredible pieces are made to order, you’ll want yours in quickly to offer time to spin, dye, and weave the yarns!

I’m excited to share that we’ll be collaborating with Zuahaza again on some original fall content for you all, which we’re shooting next week. Until then, we’ll be back with a little Cartagena travel guide tomorrow!

The post Neutral bedroom ideas with Zuahaza appeared first on Eco Club.

We actually have two bedroom styles for you today, beginning with this sunlit linen bed scene.

Recreate this look with a set of pillows, sheets, and a linen duvet in two tones of blush.

Top with soft woven throw pillows in cheerful colors. Zuahaza’s Salento Pillow and Jardin Pillow were used here!

The pillows look TOO good with that linen. So cozy and yet summery.

In related news, Charity decided to paint a wall in her guest room the most amazing dark jungle green. It turned out pretty damn good for an impulsive DIY, don’t you think? The prints are by Carla Llanos and Madeline Kate Martinez.

OF COURSE our sweet lil’ pillow snuggled right on in. This look is all about unexpected color combos. There is a lot of ethically made home decor designed in rich colors and textures (especially if woven) in online boutiques like Zuahaza’s. Because of the often higher price point of ethically made goods, it can be a little risky to take the plunge and go for it. But that’s why I like investing in statement pieces like these when I’m able to. There’s been so many times I’ve opted for something less beautiful and just poorly made because of budget, and had I just saved that to put toward one or two really, truly great pieces, I’d have spent the same amount (or less). And I can honestly say that whenever I’ve spent the money on a handmade piece from an independent shop or Etsy maker, I’ve never been disappointed!

Something so simple as a beautifully made pillow or a little shelf featuring a couple of unique art prints can truly transform a space. Just make sure to keep your kitty away from those tassels!

How has ethically made home decor transformed your living space? Do you find that pieces like this are worth investing in? Let us know!

The post How to Transform Your Bedroom with Ethically Made Home Decor appeared first on Eco Club.

Today I’ll walk you through what we did so that hopefully you can make the most of this strange summer safely, with just a good friend (or family that you live with!) and a little patch of grass.

We’d connected with Tatiana of Zuahaza earlier this year with a tour of her creative studio in Bogota here on eco club. Zuahaza’s ethically made home décor are designed and produced in collaboration with their local community of female artisans. Tatiana is a fiber artist herself so it’s very inspiring to see how she combined so many of her own passions into this sustainable business.

She mailed us Zuahaza’s Salento Pillow and Jardin Pillow. When possible, I love to personally experience the brands we add to our sustainable shopping directory. I know there’s a bit of risk in not being personally involved with each & every one, but we’re also mindful of each member’s budgets and the fact that quite honestly we don’t need that much product. The pillows were beautifully made using 100% organic cotton and vibrant natural dyes. And as mentioned, they’re SO soft. So I brought those, along with several pillows I’d collected from Etsy for my balcony, over to summer happy hour with Charity.

Next we made this tasty cantaloupe margarita recipe by Charity’s sister, Katie Hestead, who is a cocktail expert!

Click here to view her cantaloupe aperol mint frozen margarita recipe. It was the perfect summer cocktail for real. We garnished with mint and edible flowers from Charity’s garden and took 9 million photos because that’s what we do with pretty drinks ‘round here.

A few suggested accessories for such an afternoon: snacks like fresh fruits & veggies, sun wear and care, a fun little raffia fan (I use them as wall décor so I have a few around), journals or books or magazines, and a camera if you’re in the mood to get creative and share your pretty scene with your Insta community.

And more cantaloupe margaritas.

How are you making the most of your summer during COVID? Let’s all be sure to check in on our friends and try to lift people up when we can. Even the tiniest activity like those above can be difficult to be motivated to do when you’re feeling down.

Shop Zuahaza on their website or via eco club member Made Trade.

The post Making The Most Of Summer During Covid-19 appeared first on Eco Club.

From the very beginning of Zuahaza, one of the main values was to create not just beautiful items for the home, but truly create products that would not have a negative impact on the environment and the lives of the people who make them. With that in mind, we decided that we needed to work with a material that was earth friendly but also was culturally appropriate for the region. In the region of Santander, organic cotton farming goes back to the Guane indigenous people that lived in this land. The Guane people were experts in harvesting their local cotton, and in making woven goods which they commercialized with other ethnic groups. With the Spanish conquest and later the industrial revolution, the importation of foreign cotton fabrics at a low cost caused the production of organic cotton in Santander to almost disappear.

Today, the artisans in the region are advocating to return to growing organic cotton in the way their ancestors had done it. Sadly, this is still a long-term dream. Organic cotton still exists here, but the lack of government and industry investment in tools to spin that cotton in organic methods has made it difficult. That is why we had to look for another organic cotton supplier meanwhile we continue to get the resources needed for an organic certified spinning mill to make our own organic cotton yarn a reality.

We currently work with another artisan factory from Peru to supply us with the organic cotton yarn we need. We thought it would be very important to still create products with the integrity of the history of the region by only using cotton that was organic. The artisans also use plant and vegetable dyes. We respect and value this choice because we also know that natural dyeing is a very good sustainable option instead of conventional chemical dyes which are widely used in the textile industry and are water pollutants.

Lastly, there is a big problem of waste. I agree when people say that waste is a design flaw. By using the design thinking method, I think it is possible to start redesigning our linear method of production for a more circular one. In our case, we firstly design with only biodegradable materials. This means that even though we are creating new products, at the end of their life cycle they can go back to the earth with no problem. Still, we believe that even when making new products we have a responsibility to design them to last and with minimum waste in mind. We design all our pillows, rugs and blankets to mostly fit the width of our looms entirely, and for the small fabric waste that is created we make smaller items such as pouches and clutches, having a minimum waste design model.

Tatiana also told us about her design process and how she works with her team to bring it all to life.

Inspiration. I collect imagery, memories and photographs of color combinations, textures and scenes that will be guides I we make desicions, making sure what the design is always in tune with the brand’s aesthetic and collection’s theme.

Material Research. Although we only work with organic cotton, we think that thickness of yarn and color do play a big role in textile design, so we try to understand the behavior of our materials very well when designing a new fabric.

Experimentation. This is the step when I try out new weave structures at the handloom. Using a weaving draft as a beginning point, then we explore the endless possibilities the loom can give us to create new innovative patterns and color combinations.

Textile Samples to Final Product. I take these small textile samples to the artisans’ workshop. This is when we start collaborating in choosing the best weaves, finalizing color combinations, trying them out in a product for the first time and making final and important decisions collectively. During this time is when weaving new fabric, cutting it and sewing it into new products takes place.

Final details. Quality control is very important. You can’t make a product that looks gorgeous in a photograph but is not well made. This step is tedious but is crucial. Making sure the fabric is resistant (although our fabrics are delicate, they don’t fall apart), sewing is perfect and some products require final touches such as macrame knots and tassels which will elevate the design.

Given that our products are handmade and there are so many steps to finish one single item, we want to be respectful of the load of work our artisans have and allow them to work at a good pace, not a factory environment. We generally make between 30-50 units per style of each product to keep in stock for our online sales platform and we are currently making one collection a year as we are just staring off. We hope designing 2-3 collections per year to allow for custom projects as well as more homes and businesses want to have Zuahaza products designed for them too. As we grow, we will continue to evaluate and learn better ways to make our production easier and more efficient without compromising our values and the wellbeing of our artisans.

Thanks to Tatiana for diving deeper into her business and gorgeous, ethical home decor at Zuahaza. See part one of this eco studio tour, if you missed it!

The post Eco Studio Tour: Zuahaza Artisan Workshop in Colombia appeared first on Eco Club.

Tatiana’s story is fascinating for those of you who love a deeper look into an artisan brand’s creative process and production, which is why we decided to treat this like a guest post and give you the full scoop in her words. Her brand Zuahaza is an all organic + naturally-dyed textile brand based in Colombia. Tatiana collaborates with women artists in rural communities outside the city to bring their woven home goods to life. This is a two part post, with the next being a tour of Zuahaza’s artisan workshop outside the city.

I can think of nothing more inspiring than pairing Tatiana’s story with the magical images Ali Campbell captured of her creative Colombian studio. Keep reading!

From Tatiana: I am from Colombia and lived abroad for many years before coming back to my home city of Bogotá. Zuahaza launched in November 2019, but it was truly the work and relationship building of over 2 years prior that brought Zuahaza into existence. Zuahaza’s main operation happens in Bogotá. Our artisan partners live 7-8 hours away by car in a lovely town from the region of Santander called Charalá.

In 2018 I made a trip to Charalá to learn about the rich history of organic cotton growing, spinning and weaving in this region. During my trip, I met with an artisan cooperative called Corpolienzo. I loved talking to them and learning from their journey making 100% organic textiles for over 30 years. We shared our stories and found a great opportunity to collaborate in a new project. The artisans had expressed the necessity of connecting to larger markets. Although they could sell at art fairs in larger cities, they found it really difficult to sell handmade, organic products at a fair price in the national market. With my background in textile design and having lived in the US, together with my experience working directly with other artisan groups from Latin America, we saw the opportunity to try out a new model of designing and selling handmade textiles to a different market looking for fair trade and sustainable products.

We developed a new line of textiles born of the artisan’s extensive knowledge of craft, and my desire to share creative, innovative textiles with the global market. We wanted to truly understand what a “collaborative” model would look like, honoring ancestral techniques and innovating in design for the contemporary home. That’s when the name “Zuahaza” came to mind. It means “my sister” in the Muisca language of the people who lived in the Cundiboyancense mountain region of the Colombian Andes.

As a social enterprise our main goal is to embody collective sisterhood between women in Colombia. Following an era of intense conflict, which continues to shape and affect Colombia today, we seek to participate in peacemaking efforts to reunite and heal our country. We believe that by collaboratively creating unique products that reflect our diversity, history and dreams, we can start creating a new future for all Colombian women.

Our main studio/office is in Bogotá for the easy access to ship products, network with clients, and the great connection this city has to other countries. I try to work directly with the artisans every 3—4 months and it’s such a joy to spend a couple weeks working together with my team. Although I love having a creative space to try new textiles, material research and make samples, it gets lonely in the studio! Working as a team is definitely the ideal situation and I hope that as we grow, I get to spend months at a time with our team in Charalá.

We only use natural dyes so we end up with a limited color palette to work with. It is a design challenge, to design with only a natural color scheme. Right now, between working with the artisans from Peru (our yarn suppliers) and the artisans in Charalá, we have a whole team of experts in natural dyeing, which is a privilege. They have recipes that have passed from generation to generation, so I think color is a representation of indigenous knowledge that we get to preserve through only designing with natural dyes. Natural dyeing is not easy, it takes so much research to get colors in cotton to look the way they do in our products. I am very proud of the knowledge of our team in achieving gorgeous hues that are long lasting and color fast.

In terms of design, it comes easily living in such a beautiful country like Colombia. The launch collection was inspired by all the colors, textures, patterns and flora found in colonial towns across the country. Colombia is such a diverse and culturally rich country. Every region is so different in its own way because of the historical events that have taken place. Every town embodies the music, gastronomy and art from the people who live there; that inspires me. We wanted to create textile collections that represented our country’s diverse culture in an abstract, eclectic and sophisticated way. To represent our values even in the way we designed our products aesthetically.

Isn’t Tatiana’s studio so dreamy? In our next post we’ll share how she goes from inspiration and design to handcrafting them with the team in Charalá. In the meantime, head to zuahaza.com/shop to see the products!

{to shop on madetrade: mongui rug / charalá blanket / salento pillow / barichara pillow}

photos: Ali Campbell Photography / studio: Zuahaza

The post Eco Studio Tour: Ethical Home Decor Brand Zuahaza’s Bogotá Studio appeared first on Eco Club.

We shared these eco friendly Friendsgiving ideas (a mouthful, I know) last year right before our rebrand to eco club, so they didn’t get circulated very well, which is a shame because, well, they’re just so pretty and EASY to pull off.

Charity and I, along with many of our friends and just lots of people in their 20s in general, have moved about a zillion times since college. This year’s Friendsgiving was at a completely different house! So this is a great way to remember a cute little corner with all the light.

About flowers. Wide, low floral arrangements require assistance to stay in place, unlike a lot of taller vases. The foam-free floral movement has really taken off even since this last post (which was my first and only time using foam). This is great news since floral foam, while easy and convenient, is not biodegradable or reusable, which is a real bummer considering the beautiful natural stems we stick in ’em. Check out this, then this, post from a florist in Chicago for a little more info and how to get this look in a more environmentally conscious way.

Most of what we added to this scene was secondhand, but two brand new elements were a jute table runner and accompanying placemats from eco club member Will + Atlas. Jute is one of the most sustainable materials for homewares, and it’s incredible durable. The intricate patterns in these gave the tough material a more delicate feel and I use them for pretty much all my entertaining, not to mention as photo backdrops, whenever possible!

The dahlias came from Pike Place Market, leaves from the backyard, and dried plants and strawflowers were also purchased at the market in one big dried flower bouquet that I’ve reused like 1000 times. I am not kidding. They come in giant sets for $20-$30 and yes my friend, dried flowers are SO VERY reusable. I have used some of these very same pieces in every single season since getting them. All from one single purchase. I used them for this year’s Friendsgiving, too. And then? I took ’em out of the vases and put ’em back in my stash for safekeeping. (Are you starting to sense how my apartment looks yet?)

I shared this + more sustainable flower tips here with a springtime bouquet.

Another member, Ten Thousand Villages, provided the marble serving board and knife. They have a few different options now too. Another piece that we’ve used again & again. And of course, would be perfect for a veggie spread too, or fruit + chocolate, like we did last summer.

We first used all this thrifted glassware for Charity’s wedding and have since used them in oh, about 100 shoots. I swear, they will live on forever, whether in our homes or someone else’s. We also thrifted the candlestick holders and vases. Our friend and talented calligrapher Rachel Johnson designed + made these paper goods with little eucalyptus sprigs.

Another favorite Friendsgiving idea: If you serve chocolate, try Seattle-based jcoco, which has unconventional, culinary inspired flavors. They’re a woman-owned company that gives back with every purchase, and is committed to ethically sourced ingredients and sustainable practices. You can learn more here.

One last note. If your area provides a compost service. DO IT. The City of Seattle collects compost and I could go on for hours about how grateful I am for this service. But some cities have this available and are just awful at promoting it. We have neighboring areas with such services that many people don’t even realize is an option. Be sure to check what’s available in your area!

So! This is our blueprint for a successful Friendsgiving. Eco friendly and secondhand wares and decor, supporting companies we love, making things by hand… Oh, and going around the candle-lit table to gush over how thankful we all are for each other. No matter what your Thanksgiving looks like, you’ve gotta do that last one. It’s good stuff.

The post Eco friendly Friendsgiving ideas with DIY fall flowers appeared first on Eco Club.

I’ve spent the last year slowly renovating a traditional plantation-style house in Hawaii, an endeavor that’s been both fun and frustrating, and promises to yield a nice profit. I have another year until it’s finished, a timeline established by my work schedule and by the fact that my husband is more often at sea working as a submariner than he is home, so I do most the work myself.

Fixer-upper homes are common investments these days (thanks, Joanna Gaines!), but I’ve been around them my whole life. My parents own a home-building company, and in their spare time, they flipped homes. We lived in and renovated some rough-looking houses during my childhood. Once they pristine and polished, they’d sell and buy a new one.

As a kid, this used to embarrass me. Now, it excites me.

Over the next few months, I’m going to share some of my renovating stories. I’ve built interior walls to add a new bedroom, rewired my kitchen, laid flooring, and done a lot of painting (seriously, it never ends). For now, I’m going to share what my family taught me about how to pick and renovate the perfect project home.

You want a fixer, not a fiasco

The key to a good flip house is finding one that has the cliché of the industry: good bones. As I was searching for this house, I found one intriguing property that had foundation and roof issues—and I wasn’t about to mess with that, so I moved on.

The house I settled on was an older, plantation-style home with gross carpet, an inexplicable wall blocking the fridge from the rest of the kitchen, and no driveway. I often say that if the owners had simply given the place a coat of paint before they’d listed it, I couldn’t have afforded it.

The house needed a lot of cosmetic work, but it didn’t need anything structural. I found a reliable, well-reviewed inspector who told me what to worry about, and more than that, told me what was solid. Inspectors can’t catch everything, but they can catch a lot, so make sure you get a good one, and research the list of problems they give you. Stay away from the huge problems and stick with the cosmetic, or budget for the larger fixes.

Keep it classic

It’s so easy to look at Pinterest and follow everything you see. Shiplap! Gray and navy cabinets! Butcher blocks!

If you’re planning to flip the house in only a few months, following trends isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, if you plan to buy and live in a house like I am, consider what you say when you look at houses: “Ugh, look at that recessed wall for a TV.” “That sponge paint.” “That carpet over hardwood!” The audacity!

All of those things were trends not too long ago. So when you two-tone your cabinets or spend a nice chunk of money herringbone tile floor, remember: In a few years, people might look at your house and call your reclaimed wood accent wall so 2019. They might wonder if they can negotiate down the price because of all the updates it needs.

My solution? I keep things classic with the expensive things, like counters and flooring, and follow the trends with décor. I once took a “Millennial Apartment Bingo” quiz from Apartment Therapy, and I checked almost every box—my house is decorated according to what’s in fashion, but the home itself is classic. The flooring, paint, and kitchen fixtures I chose are timeless, and won’t date the house. If people can tell when it was renovated, every passing year is a liability.

Location, location, location

Okay, it’s cliché. But it’s true. Every market is different, but on Oahu, traffic is a way of life. I’ve been stuck in traffic jams at 1 a.m. on multiple occasions. So, when I was looking for fixer upper homes, I made sure to find a house that was centrally located. In addition to its central location, my fixer-upper has ocean, city, and Diamond Head views, which will always be valuable. Sure, I could get a bigger house with fewer needs in the ‘burbs, but I bought my home two years ago, and watching how property has appreciated, I know I made the right choice prioritizing location over size. Do research to determine what matters in your market, but no matter where you are, location will always be important.

Don’t get emotionally attached

This is the hardest for me. Here comes another cliché, but when you pour your blood (literally), sweat (hello, it’s Hawaii!), and tears (of anger) into a house, it’s hard not to get attached. So, when you’re looking at finishes for your home, it’s easy to want to go with what you want, not what is rational and financially sound.

In my house, there have been times when it made sense to go high-end (as with our floors or countertops). There have been times when it made more financial sense to do something mid-range (keep an eye out for an article about how I rehabbed my custom-built cabinets!). When you’ve put so much time and money into something, it’s easy to get caught up in what you personally would like, but it’s important to always focus on your return on investment. Great floors will increase the value of your home. Expensive baseboard trim? Probably not.

Know when to DIY and when to call the pros

As I mentioned, I’ve done the bulk of my renovation projects myself, or with my husband when he’s here, but it’s important to know your limits and when to call in a professional.

My dad once told me you aren’t a homeowner until you wonder what the homeowner before you was thinking. He’s right: I’ve never been so annoyed as I was when I tore down some wallpaper and discovered someone hung the drywall in our living room wrong. You’re supposed to hang it 1/2” off the subfloor to avoid moisture issues, but there it was, brazenly perched right on the subfloor with the telltale discoloration of water damage.

One of the reasons my renovation is taking so long is that I spent months fixing incorrectly installed drywall left behind by our previous owner, and it’s thankless work because fixing it yields no cosmetic difference.

I’m all for tackling a project yourself when you can. In fact, tons of people warned me against hanging my own drywall when my husband and I were building our interior walls, though I considered that a challenge. However, I spent countless hours researching how to do it right, and when it got monotonous, I didn’t cut corners, even though mudding drywall takes forever to do right.

If you don’t have the time or desire to be so meticulous about important projects, it’s better to hire a pro. I’m grateful I caught the drywall issue when I did, because that could have been much more expensive in the long run than the cost of professional drywall installation would have been in the first place.

My parents, my professional advisory, have been very encouraging in all my DIY home improvement exploits, but they’ve also told me when I should call someone in for help. Certain things are better not done at all than done poorly.

So far, my experience with fixer upper homes has been positive. Renovating has been frustrating, and a bit more work than I anticipated, but it’s also been oddly empowering completing these projects on my own. As I mentioned, my husband is often at sea or deployed, so I’ve done a lot of the work on our house myself, with a business to run and a baby to raise. Knowing I’m capable of these things has created confidence that’s hard to describe.

Our home’s value has increased, too. We are confident in our investment and our greatest worry about the house is whether we should keep it and rent it or sell it and take our equity. Buying a home is always a risk, and not one to be taken lightly, but with work ethic, a penchant for hard work, and some vision, a fixer-upper can be a rewarding, difficult, and prudent investment.

In the coming posts, I’ll be sharing progress along with my tips for doing DIY right, keeping things eco friendly whenever we can, and as affordable as possible too.

Do you have any questions about tackling fixer-upper homes? Find more green living ideas here!

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