Designers will often refer to a house as having “good bones”. When a home has strong, clean design, there is little need for clever efforts in the decor department. You can choose elements, colors and objet to enhance the strength of the home’s character, but there’s no covering up. Of course, sometimes we have to make do with an imperfect home: a baffling window placement, a challenging room size, an engineering oddity. And rather than be frustrated, we can take the wabi sabi view of living and look for ways to strengthen “the bones” and feel comfortable with flaws.

River stones are one organic way to help create strength and balance, whether used to hold candles, hang towels, embellish your doorstep or add a decorative touch to a house plant. Featured here is a favorite of mine: stacked from large to small, smooth and substantial stones form the base of the eye-pleasing Stone Cairn lamp from sponsor VivaTerra. (I think it would look beautiful a symmetrical, modern space, too.)

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: it’s time for some more of my top EcoEtsy picks!

Sustainability is just as important as style to the team at Jalex Studios. Their unique Mango Modern lamp is crafted from, yep, you guessed it, mango wood. Made from a recycled hard disk drive, even the subtle metal lining at the top of the lamp’s base is eco-friendly. These designers sure are resourceful.

I never thought a piece of pottery could so authentically capture the beauty of Appalachian Mountains, until I saw the Amber bowl. Its striking details are created from imprints of rose leaves from this beautiful region.
You would think after so many servings of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, I’d be sick of its scent. Call me a glutton but the irresistible aroma of the Pumpkin Pie soy candle is…well, irresistible. Plus, it comes in an upcycled glass tea cup, so you can enjoy steaming cups of chamomile after your candlelit evenings.

Keep it up, Etsy!