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Shopping
can be a healthy and empowering act ! New and valuable resources for healthy,
empowering furniture are entering the marketplace daily. If you are a professional
designer or redesigner, or just helping a friend redecorate - introduce them to
healthy options. Honor yourself and your family with non-toxic and earth friendly
products.
The Conscious
Design shopping rules are : love it, let it love you, and let it love the earth.
Beautiful furniture pieces can also
be comfortable and supportive. Avoid those
sharp edges and uncomfortable chairs. Surround yourself with products that you
love,
and you will feel lifted when you enter a room. Choose furniture that is healthy
and does not bring harm to the earth.
Shopping
Tips:
Neighborhood
Shopping:
Shop your community stores and help save the environment. Not
only can we support and nurture our local
artisans and retailers, but we can
also reduce the financial and environmental costs associated with shipping
and
transporting goods.
Discover Bamboo
This fast growing grass
is making it's appearance in all facets of design - from windows to floors, from
buildings to furniture.
Bamboo is one of the best choices in value, beauty
and environmental quality.
Choose woods that are from sustainable sources.
We know the value of
our trees, and by shopping for furniture made from sustainable sources,
we
can protect and nurture them for our our children's children to enjoy.
Learn
more at the Stewardship Council - FSC- http://www.fsc.org Recycled
Materials are being reborn
Shop furniture made from recycled materials
and wood reclaimed from old furniture or buildings.
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org Shop
antique and retro
For many years, antique shopping was shunned by feng
shui experts, as it harbored memories and other people's energies. Today, we find
antiques a valuable resource. This furniture was well built, and was made of
real wood.
It is still not recommened to keep furniture from a sad or
bitter relationship, or from relatives that have a troubled past.
Why create
feelings of anxiety in our lives?
When bringing home a used piece, take the
time to clean and clear it before bringing it inside.
Shop for less
toxic furniture
Chemicals are one of the largest problems today in a home,
making the inside atmosphere much more dangerous than the outside one. VOC means
"volatile organic compounds" and much research has connected it to disease.
Say no to the extra chemicals that often encouraged with the average sofa
purchase.
Resources:
Co-op America - Incredible resource for
shopping, guidance and action. http://www.coopamerica.org
GreenGuard
- certification related to furniture. http://www.greenguard.org
White
Lotus.net - http://www.whitelotus.net
Greener
Lifestyles - http://www.greenerlifestyles.com
GreenSage-
http://www.greensage.com
Learn
more at the upcoming conference in September: www.ConsciousDesignExpo.com
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