Better Living Show

We are excited to be furnishing the featured home inside Better Living Show on March 28, 29,30 at the Portland Expo Hall.  We will be featuring some of our local manufacturing partners both in the home and in our booth.  In our booth we are creating a complete natural bedroom complete with a brand new organic mattress, a sustainable bedroom set and organic bedding.  There is free admission to the show-we hope to see you there!

Organic Mattresses

More companies are selling latex mattresses to satisfy consumer demand. There are differences between a  latex mattress and an organic mattress. This is much more than an exercise in semantics.  If you are looking for a latex mattress there are many places to find one-from box stores, online retailers, and run of the mill mattress stores. Finding an organic mattress is not that easy. An organic mattress is organic: it is made from natural materials that have been certified organic. The consumer gets a sleeping surface that is free from chemical additives and coatings. Organic Mattresses Incorporated produces a certified organic mattress: the product as well as the plant where it is produced have third party certification. Handmade, organic, quality products are not inexpensive however when we deliver our mattresses we know we are giving our customers a superior product.

Sustainable Furniture Council

I had the opportunity to be part of a conference call with the standards committee of the Sustainable Furniture Council. Knee deep in a technical conversation that centered around devising green standards for things like foam cushions and adhesives made me realize what a daunting task this organization has taken on. What is really important is that someone is trying to establish standards for green furnishings. Many companies are beginning to promote sustainable goods and I think that is a good thing. I think too many people are overly concerned about "greenwashing"; saying something is environmentally friendly without really knowing or caring but just using green as a marketing ploy.

There is no real definition of sustainability; it is a moving target. I applaud the efforts of manufacturers to become more transparent about their manufacturing practices. And I appreciate the individuals and companies who are attempting to find the best way to minimize their footprint while maintaining a on-going operation. Our goal as a retailer is to represent those companies who are out there trying to product goods in a responsible manner and who also try to achieve the most innovative solutions for our customer's needs. Evaluating and retooling our global infrastructure will be an ongoing process. While we must always strive to be better we have to recognize that we are making progress and we have to support those eco-pioneers who are setting a new standard for design and production.

Las Vegas Furniture Market

It was a one day trip to Las Vegas but I managed to catch the highlights of the Las Vegas Winter Furniture Market. The designated Green Furniture area was much larger than summer market and had some new vendors. Of course Zola Furnishings, our premier organic upholsterer, was there with their new bamboo couch. I saw some nice new bamboo desks from Legare. Their transition from Baltic Birch to bamboo moves them up the chain of sustainability. I saw some very exotic tables made from reclaimed wood and old tree roots. And High Desert Naturals, another of our suppliers, introduced some new fabric colors and designs. It is really exciting to see the green furnishings options expand. We hope to have some of these new products in the store as soon as they are available. Keep in touch.

Furniture and the US economy

With rising deficits and turmoil in the financial markets we must all look around and devise a plan that will bring a lasting change to the economy. Manipulating interest rates and government rebates are just not going to cut it. First off we all intuitively know that buying American made products from smaller independent businesses can make a huge local impact. Local jobs, tax revenues, and support of American manufacturing has a direct positive effect on local, regional and the national scene. As I venture off to the next major furniture show it is my obligation to pursue the best American made sustainable products. We have already made a pretty good start. Zola, from Bend Oregon, manufactures some of the finest organic upholstery anywhere. Our organic mattresses are made in Southern California by OMI-these are the premier organic mattresses. Van Gogh Designs of Surry BC provide us with eco-friendly upholstered sofas and chairs with very high quality and modest pricing.

On the furniture side with also have some strong American brands. Barnwood Classics of North Carolina carefully crafts furniture from old barns. Our two furniture makers in Vermont, Vermont Furniture Designs and Maple Corner Woodworks both create American heirloom furniture.

Maybe you would be hard pressed to find an American made running shoe or washing machine but there is still a rich tradition of furniture making here in the US. At least consider some better quality furnishings from the US before you go out and spend a few hundred dollars for something that will probably decorate the landfill in just a few years.

I hope to see you in the store.

New Rugs

I have been on the hunt to expand my rug offerings-I have been hunting for almost a year.  My goal was/is to partner with one or two additional rug manufacturers who offer quality, responsibility, variety and color and innovative designs.  I have finally decided on two companies, Delos and Chandra.  Both companies have solid commitments to the communities where their rugs are produced and they offer quality all wool rugs at a reasonable price.  Over the next few weeks we will be receiving 2 x 3 samples and catalogues.  If you want to add some color and warmth to your home stop by or check out these supplier's websites.  

Bamboo Bed

We just set up a new platform bamboo bed.  Low and sleek this bed can help create a zen like sleep experience.  Coupled with an organic mattress this bed will take you off to dreamland in a hurry.  We are working hard to create Portland's most unique and sustainable sleeping store .