Who says the pantry has to be a catch-all black hole for prolonging that shelf life? That’s what high school lockers are for!

It’s time to take stock in our most commonly used household storage nook, and make it as inviting as a vintage general store (with a modern green twist, of course).

Open pantries offer easy access for the organic gardener and cook, but also should look tidy since they are exposed to your visitors. Mine is en route to the powder room. Yep, that’s country life.

I find it’s easy to arrange …

Tags: apartments , baskets , bins , boxes , bulk food , decor , eco , food , green , home , homes , jars , pantry , preservation , small living spaces , space planning , storage , sustainability , tea

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My memories of high school are not what you’d call nostalgic. In fact, you couldn’t bribe me with eco-gifts and organic treats to return and relive the nonsense of it all. Despite the oodles of teen angst, I did manage to graduate with a strong B average while spending most of my time playing sports or hanging out at my locker.

Which brings me to today’s cool, clever décor object of desire. The Basket Locker is made of four found and refurbished locker baskets, colorfully painted and placed in a …

Tags: creative reuse , decor , furniture , reclaimed , refurbished , storage

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I’m not a parent”¦yet, but I am an aunt and at times I can still act like a kid, which is why I know the importance of snack time. No one in their right mind should ever consider messing with snack time.

A crucial part of any kid’s day, not to mention a necessary distraction so mom and dad can take a breath, snack time rules. I never outgrew my love for snacks and now there’s a fun, eco and safe way to share them with my niece and nephew….

Tags: Boon , food , healthy , parenting , safe , Snack Ball , storage

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How far are you willing to go in your pursuit of green?

For some environmentalists, it’s become a badge of honor to live without a fridge. It might be the ultimate convenience invention of the twentieth century, but the fridge accounts for about a fifth of domestic energy consumption.

Fridge-forgoing environmentalists believe they are making significant reductions to their electricity consumption by turning the fridge off and, depending on their needs, perhaps using a combination of a small freezer and a cool box instead. Many of the anti-fridge advocates live …

Tags: food , fridge , green , refrigerator , storage

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How cheery and inviting is this?

Over the years, I’ve modified the mental picture of my fantasy home numerous times, but one detail has never changed. Since I’m a total bookworm, I’ve always imagined cuddling up with my favorite characters in front of a big bay window on a cozy built-in seat with throw pillows galore. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to occupy a living space with the one feature that I want most. With the beautiful Barcelona storage bench, I don’t have to call the carpenter (and pay a small fortune) …

Tags: Barcelona bench , bench , eco , storage , sustainable , VivaTerra , woven furniture

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It’s always a great idea to bring lots of accessories on a trip, right?

After all, sometimes the poor clothing choices we made need help. And who knew it would be 40 degrees in Dallas the day you got there? By accessorizing with a great ring, necklace or pair of earrings you can whip that travel wardrobe right into shape and reuse the one pair of emergency jeans you brought without notice.

But, if you’re anything like me, you toss those accessories in little plastic bags and

…

Tags: accessories , aster and sage , fashion , jewelry , organic , recycled , storage

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Meet the rubber beach slip-on that became an urban fashion staple: The Flip Flop.

So popular are these rubber thongs, you’ll find barrels full at your favorite boutiques in mod patterns, as well as more sensible Eco versions for the camping set.  College kids (male and female) ride bikes to school in them and teens pair them with dresses..even on winter days. They offer zero support but there is no taking back the craze. The good news is you can store your pile over your closet door, thanks to …

Tags: accessory , bamboo , fashion , Jokari , organization , shoes , shopping , storage

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I interrupt your web surfing for some breaking news. Fresh off the press, I bring you a fad so hot the ink’s hardly dried: decor crafted from recycled publications. You readers – and everyone else in the world of style – can’t seem to get enough. Print media may be in a world of hurt, but at least there’s a use for all those unused rags.

We love the Recycled Magazine Rectangle wall mirror from Modern Furniture. Pretty useful, don’t you think?

For the …

Tags: decor , green , home , recycled , storage , trend , wall

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I remember my mother telling me that when my older siblings were little ones, she’d gift them their own toys or clothes for Christmas. “I’d just wrap them up as presents and they didn’t even know the difference,” she recalled. “They were delighted to open something new.”

It may be challening to get away with that sort of deceptive frugality these days: kids are sharper. But we can still find a treasure chest of reusable everyday objects in our cabinets and drawers. If the goal is to recondition society’s throw-away behavior, then it’s a …

Tags: craft , recycled , reduce , reuse , storage , tip

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