Anokhi Fashion Lifestyle Entertaiment

It's a great time to consider your environment. From making some simple changes to investing in big projects, your home can be a space that connects you with the ambiance of the outdoors while still maintaining a personal touch.

President’s Choice: Eco-Cornstarch dishes

The kitchen is infamously known for its ability to inflict disaster upon one’s house. Kitchenware constantly needs updating, and, as we throw out broken plates yet again, they are left to live in fragments at the local landfill. Innovations such as President’s Choice cornstarch dishes attempt to provide a stylish solution to this problem. Only one product among an array of eco-oriented kitchenware options, these dishes are dishwasher friendly and can be reused as long as possible—but they do eventually decompose. Choosing to make simple environmentally-responsible decisions not only makes you a great role model but also a chic interior decorator. PC Home Eco-Cornstarch dishware comes in a set of four and retails for $5.99-$7.99 CDN. More information can be found at www.presidentschoice.ca. 

Control4 Whole Home Audio

While the home theatre system receives extensive attention from the man of the house, the aural experience of the whole home is often left unchecked. Whole home audio systems can be retrofitted for older houses or installed in new homes and enable owners to control their home theatre, multi-room music, temperature, security, and lighting. Control4 has recently released a Blackberry and Droid compatible application, which, along with their existing iPhone and iPod Touch applications, makes their system compatible with all smart phones; this allows users to manage their home automation system from their handheld devices. The Control4 7-inch Portable Touch Screen retails at $1,499 USD. For more information visit www.control4.com. Too often, music is a forgotten component of interior design, but it is critical to creating a cohesive and warm environment for family and friends.

Kelly-Moore: Environmentally Friendly Paint

Paint colour can make or break the mood of your home, but it’s also an easy fix when that “trendy” new colour takes a turn for the worst. Mary Lawlor, the colour stylist for Kelly-Moore Paints, a company that produces the largest selection of recycled paints as well as other green paint solutions, recommends taking your paint sample home to see how it fits with the atmosphere of your home. But she always wants you to remember: “Don’t be afraid of colour!” Visit www.kellymoore.com to inquire about a pricing quote.

Rollout Creative Inc.: Custom-made wallpaper

Art is how we express ourselves, and it’s an essential component of every home. Sometimes though, it becomes difficult to decide upon the design choices that maximize your favourite artistic pieces. Custom wallpaper brings both worlds together. While designing your own wallpaper may be more of an investment and can require professional installation, by doing this your home can reflect your own creativity and individuality. Companies like Rollout Creative Inc. allow customers to create their own wallpaper or, if you’re more of a visionary, have artists on-site create the images you desire. Your home can finally look exactly how you dreamed. See www.rollout.ca for more information about receiving a quote.

California Blooms: Eco-Friendly Roses

Taking the time to tend to the garden is not always an option for the average woman; nevertheless, flowers provide a home with an easy finishing touch to bring back the softness and femininity lost in the busyness of our lives. Although it’s difficult to pick out flowers that are high quality and eco-friendly, companies like California Blooms offer an online service dedicated to providing stunning, responsibly-grown roses in a variety of colors. Whether flowers are for your own home or a gift to brighten a loved one’s day, they are an essential piece for a beautiful abode. The California Bloom long stem roses are available as a dozen for $39 USD or two dozen for $59 USD. See www.CaliforniaBlooms.com for more information.

Teragren Fine Bamboo Flooring

Beautiful wood flooring is a no-brainer; either in rich dark textures or light airy finishes, wood floors add sophistication and flawlessness that carpeting will never attain. Bamboo flooring is a highly renewable natural resource with a strong, durable surface that guarantees long-lasting results, perfect for high-traffic areas. In order to ensure your environmental footprint remains as minimal as possible, it’s important to understand the quality level of your bamboo flooring choices. Teragren Fine Bamboo Flooring has an excellent reputation for maintaining high quality and eco-friendly procedures while consistently introducing new colours and designs to their selection. The suggested retail price ranges from $5-$9 USD per square foot before installation. Visit www.teragren.com.



BY: KIMBERLY ELWORTHY / PUBLISHED: MAY 2010
PHOTOS COURTESY OF: CALIFORNIA BLOOMS, PRESIDENT'S CHOICE HOME, KELLY-MOORE PAINT, MERCEDES-BENZ STAR LOUNGE, ROLL-OUT CREATIVE INC., TERAGREN FINE BAMBOO FLOORING (PANELS & VENEER), CONTROL4