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• Incredible Self-Sustaining Home Communities
• A Leather Lounger: Not Your Grandpa’s Recliner
• Wireless Home Lighting with Verve Living Systems
• How to Shop for Environmentally Sustainable Furniture

Incredible Self-Sustaining Home Communities Posted: 01 Feb 2010 03:25 PM PST These circular-designed Tolou homes in China are a brilliant example of sustainable building. Faced with internal war and conflict since the 17th century, the Hakka people of the Fujian province built these massive structures for protection from invaders. They’ve since become quite remarkable micro-communities. The fortified "city" holds their weapons and livestock, as well as community resources, such as places of worship. The citizens were granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 2008 for their uniqueness. "Among the 35 Chinese properties on the World Heritage List, there are 25 cultural, 6 natural and 4 mixed sites," states UNESCO's website, recognizing the importance of this site. As you can see from the photos, the multistory apartments surround a shared courtyard. Built from natural resources, some Tolou can hold up to 800 individuals. Construction began in the 12th century and continued to the 1900s. Story & Photo Credit: CleanTechnica Please bookmark and share

A Leather Lounger: Not Your Grandpa’s Recliner Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:51 AM PST When one hears the word "recliner" they may think of a worn, old, faux-suede chair that their grandpa loved to kick his heels up and relax in. Today's recliners come in more contemporary styles, colors and fabrics that combine comfort with style. Trendy Recliners are Eye Candy for Your Living Room or Family Room With new designs and new colors of recliners on the market, it's easy to incorporate this piece of furniture into your existing home décor. More traditional styles are still available but to really liven you your room, go with the more modern look and feel of leather. Leather is one of the most popular fabric choices for furniture for the following reasons: Outlasts fabric Colors will not rub off or fade Breathable and assumes body temperature for a custom and comfortable fit Practical and wears well without stretching or sagging Ages well and becomes more supple with age Fire-resistant DirectBuy offers a wide selection of living room furniture to help you create comfort, style and convenience in your home. At prices up to 50% off, you can choose great living room furniture that fits into your budget.

Wireless Home Lighting with Verve Living Systems Posted: 01 Feb 2010 11:49 AM PST Your home lighting should be near the top of your design priorities. Setting the decor, furnishings and paint isn't complete without considering how it all looks under correct light. It can also be a tremendous chore selecting which lights are controlled by what switch and with a traditional hard-wired home, your choices can be limited to how your switches are setup. At this years International Builders' Show we were introduced to Verve Living Systems which promises to break you free from a homes wiring system via the wireless controller shown below.

How to Shop for Environmentally Sustainable Furniture Posted: 01 Feb 2010 08:29 AM PST by Julia Ritzenthaler The shopping public is a very fickle monster that retailers work hard to carefully understand and serve. What is popular one month will be out of vogue the next month. Popular styles will differ even in different parts of the country. Environmentally sustainable furniture is a fairly new concept to the buying public. Many people believe that it sounds like a good idea but they do not really know what sustainable furniture is. The key is to not take more from the environment then can be replenished naturally. This includes the materials that the furniture is made from to the toxic chemicals that are emitted from the manufacturing plant where the furniture is created. One of the first rules of eco friendly furniture is to lessen your impact on the environment as much as possible. Reduce, reuse, and recycle is one of the best things to keep in mind. Do what ever you can to keep your pieces of furniture out of your local landfill. For instance, when you finally manage to replace your husband’s beat up arm chair, consider giving it to someone who will continue to love that monstrosity of a chair. The definition of sustainable furniture includes using materials that have been recycled or re-purposed or are made from a renewable resource. These furnishings will also use materials and manufacturing processes that are safer for the environment. Transportation of goods also adds to the economic impact that furniture will have on the environment. Online retailers are also an interesting environmentally friendly shopping option. You don't have to drive to get to and from the store and because there is no brick and mortar store, the retailer has a smaller environmental footprint. Plus they have the ability to bring you an amazing selection and ease of comparison shopping. Eco furniture can also be made from reclaimed materials. These materials may include wood, iron and glass. Buildings that are no longer being used can be stripped of these materials and then re-purposed to make a chair for your living room. Wood that has been reclaimed has become extremely popular because of the unique markings that it will usually have. No matter what direction you choose to go with your sustainable furniture choices, be sure to consider an environmentally friendly disposal option for your old items. Pass down to a family member or friend who is just starting out on their own, or consider donating to a women's shelter or somewhere like Goodwill. This article has been provided by Julia Ritzenthaler, owner and founder of several online boutique home furnishing stores including http://UniqueEcoFurniture.com/ visit or call 1-866-526-1843 for more information.

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