Styx sang Come Sail Away with Me and we all wanted to jump on board and head for the open sea. Savvy designer David Trubridge jumped on board, as well, when asked by the inventive New Zealand company Okooko to design a bed that challenges how we sleep.

He responded with Float, a seaworthy lounger that will cradle you to sleep for $25,000. I know that sounds outlandish, but it really is a marvel in terms of engineering and beauty. The mostly eco-friendly design, constructed of natural latex, bambo and wool, is framed with sustainably harvested Totara wood, a water resistant timber. (Less lovable acrylic fabric finished in Teflon encloses the base and canopy.)

Trubridge is an avid sailor who has voyaged with his family through the Caribbean and the Pacific. The experience apparently influenced his exploration of sleep when designing his floating cocoon.

"Sleep is a voyage through dreams when we wholly give ourselves up in trust, lying curled up in our bed vessel feeling safe and cosy," says the designer. "It can be ten minutes in the office, an hour on the lawn or all night in any place we pull our cradle to."

Float was voted "Best Piece of Bedroom Furniture" in a New Zealand competition that invited designers to explore sleep with functional and fit creations. It's not surprising given Trubridge's other impressive home furnishings, including stunning honeycomb light fixtures and modern outdoor rocking chairs.

The word Okooko means "to cradle in arms" in Maori. The company, which sells its products in New Zealand and Hong Kong, recently opened a new store in Philadelphia at 205 Arch Street (215-667-8240). Check out its ...Read More

His side: Self improvement books falling precariously from makeshift bookends and a highball glass half-empty with water; a  CD player and scattered CD's from The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. A sock he would have thrown in the hamper had he been more present. An urn-shaped lamp with a square white shade. A folded Wall ...Read More

If it were a practical option, I would kiss my sofas goodbye and replace them with a den of plush cushions. In Decorative Days and Sweet-Scented Nights, Kim dished about her pillow obsession, and I happen to agree that these cozy accents are a simple and ...Read More

Modern style sinks in. True, it's not as powerful as television commercials for cereals and toys on Saturday mornings, but it has an impact nonetheless. Surround your gurgling genius with clean lines, geometric forms and sustainable materials, and before you know it, it's off to architecture school!

Dr. Spock can't help with this one ...Read More

The far corner of your bedroom has been lonely for too long. You’ve been searching for the perfect chair to stash decorative pillows at night, put on your shoes in the morning but mostly just to embellish that neglected space in eco elegance.

If this last factor is where most potential items have fallen short, then the ...Read More

That's right, Junior, Bambi had lots of helpful woodland friends like a bunny named Thumper and a skunk named Flower and the mean old hunters....Oh, dear, you don't need to hear that part. All you need to know is that forest creatures look terribly sweet inhabiting your darling nursery.

Mommy doesn't need to hear about toxic chemicals ...Read More

It's the color of Elizabeth Taylor's eyes, the fragrant bundled plant used for soothing pillows, and the heart awarded for acts of bravery in battle. No wonder shades of purple - from lavender walls to orchid bedding - are making a splash in the prettiest eco-friendly bedrooms this fall.

I have accessed subtle shades of lavender for ...Read More

If your taste tends toward the graphic rather than trends of late, show your eco-conscious soft side with this recycle logo pillow made with 75% recycled cotton from apparel and upholstery factories that would otherwise be pitched. Inside pillow has ...Read More

You know those cute little herb-filled dream pillows that are supposed to enhance your sleep and dream life? I’ve always been skeptical of those. Sure, they smell nice and they’re adorable, but the practical utilitarian in me always wondered “what’s the point?”

Now a recent ...Read More

Who would have ever imagined the day when Clorox, makers of the ubiquitous chlorine bleach, would come out with a line of eco-friendly cleansers? 

But here they are, 7 Green Works natural products such as bathroom cleanser, dishwashing liquid, and ...Read More