The summer before my junior year in college I dated a surfer - the real, authentic kind who lives, breathes, sleeps and eats waves. We worked nights at the Charthouse restaurant in Malibu, CA and lived the perfect surf-couple lifestyle.

75% of our time was spent outdoors; we ate little and drank a lot; we had few clothes and rarely shopped; we rode our bikes to the beach and his motorcycle to work; we slept under the stars more nights than not. Without realizing it at the time (this was 1987, kids), we were probably living eco-friendly. I simply thought we were living in heaven or paradise or something ultra-sweet and non-intrusive.

These memories came floating back to me when I stumbled upon Maku Furnishings, a sustainable outdoor furnishings company based in Carlsbad, CA. Their first collection was launched in May 2007 at ICFF, and they seem to be growing strong.

Johnny West and Mike Johnson, two “global surfers, travels, marketers and lifestyle enthusiasts”, started Maku after a trip to Indonesia introduced them to the country’s plantation grown raw materials and the artisan talents of its people.

All of Maku’s products are made using the reclaimed, sustainable teak that West and Johnson “discovered” on their travels. The result is a refined, high-quality product manufactured with barely an impact on the environment; furniture that communicates a way of life - organic, natural, contemporary and sustainable.

And that’s not all. Most of their products are shipped “flat packed” and require very little assembly. And Maku is a member of 1% For The Planet - so they give part of their sales right back to the planet.

I like the graceful lines of the Bench, available in two sizes from $629, as well as the gorgeous floral carvings on the Limited Edition Lounge Chair for $1499, add a cushion for an extra $299. Available for purchase online at Maku Furniture, Structured Green, 2Modern, Design Public, Mod Décor and Feel More Human. Check the Maku website for retail shops around the U.S.

Maku also has a blog updated every so often with cool green lifestyle and design tidbits. (You can also see their funky yet modern doors in this post by Tina.)