Green

Connecticut's Poshest Private Landscapes

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Nov 2nd 2010 at 2:01PM

Twenty-eight of Connecticut's most entrancing private landscapes are featured in a beautiful new book from Monacelli Press. Private Gardens of Connecticut offers a privileged glimpse at the personal oases at the estates of designer Oscar de la Renta, socialite Anne Bass, decorator Bunny Williams and many more. Included are gardens from all across the state, from Greenwich to New Canaan and the coast, many of which have never been professionally photographed. A variety of styles is represented from formal to small, contemporary, wild, and old fashioned. Some, like de la Renta's (on the cover above) are grand in scale and tended by an army of skilled professionals, others modest and easily kept, but all alluring and extremely enviable. Throughout the oversized volume author Jane Garmey recounts the story of the creation of the leafy retreats while John Hall's lavish photographs of sumptuous flowers and luxuriant foliage make them leap off the page.

Tags: books, coffee table books, Connecticut, estates, garden, gardening, Greenwich, New Canaan, Oscar de la Renta, real estate

"Nogg" Makes Keeping Chickens Stylish

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) — Oct 31st 2010 at 4:01PM

Thanks to the local food movement and that whopper salmonella scare earlier this year keeping chickens has become an increasingly popular alternative for people seeking healthy and safe ways to feed their family. But although backyard chicken coops are popping up in all kinds of traditionally non-farming neighborhoods it's been a tough and slow transition getting them into upscale areas. Traditional chicken coops just don't go with the decor.

Enter the "nogg," a giant egg-shaped designer chicken coop that makes domestic farming possible without ruining your beautiful backyard landscape. Designed to house a small group of just 2-4 chickens, the nogg is made of naturally bacteria-resistant cedar wood and features secure locks to keep the foxes out and a flap door for easy access to fresh eggs every morning. It's the brainchild of furniture designer and engineer Matthew Hayward and Creative Director Nadia Turan and sprung up out of frustration at what an eyesore traditional chicken coops are. Get more info or order a nogg for your backyard here.

Tags: backyard, chickens, farming, outdoor living, urban farm, urban farmer, urban farmers, urban farming, urban farms, yard

The Meaning of Flowers: What Does That Bouquet Say?

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) — Oct 28th 2010 at 10:01AM

We use flowers to say so many things, from "I love you" to "I'm sorry" and everything in between. Humans have been using flowers to express and punctuate feelings since the dawn of time and so over the eons certain flowers have come to symbolize certain things. The meanings of flowers can vary based on culture, context, and occasion but here are some popular blooms and their most commonly associated messages.

Roses
The Romans and Greeks both associated roses with goddesses of love (Aphrodite and Venus) and although roses today are most often used to express romance and passion they can have other meanings as well.

Red -- Love, Passion

Yellow -- Friendship, Jealousy

White -- Humility, Innocence, Purity

Pink -- Gratitude, Admiration, Happiness

Dark Crimson -- Mourning

Tags: awards-main, bouquet, decor-pedia, floral, flowers, luxist-awards, main-pedia

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Laila Ali Launches Skincare, Haircare, Fragrances Line

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) — Oct 18th 2010 at 6:01PM

Boxing beauty, famous daughter, and singer Laila Ali now has a full line of beauty products -- skincare (Global Complexion), haircare (Global Texture), and fragrances for women (Laila), and men (KO). The line is affordable and strives to be eco-friendly, two things that don't always go hand in hand.

Both the skincare and haircare lines are made with a blend of sulfate- and paraben-free ingredients combined with exclusive Derm Essential moisturizers. Plant derivatives, plant-based compounds, and sea kelp extracts are used for the line's essential oils instead of oils derived from animal products. Organic, hypoallergenic, wrapped in recyclable packaging, and designed for daily use. All products in both lines are $13 each.

Fragrances are $40 for women and $47 for men. Both are a 3.4 oz. EDT spray.

Tags: celebrities, celebrity, fragrance, green, haircare, Laila Ali, organic, perfume, skincare

Luxury EV Maker Tesla To Do EV Toyota RAV4

by David Kiley (RSS feed) — Oct 14th 2010 at 2:01PM

Luxury electric-vehicle maker Tesla will develop and electric version of the Toyota RAV4 compact SUV. Toyota took an equity stake in Tesla earlier this year, giving the EV maker its NUMMI manufacturing plant in Fremont, CA. Now, it will pay Tesla $60 million to leverage its battery know-how to create a 100% electric version of the RAV4.

Toyota makes the number-one hybrid, Prius, as well as hybrid versions of the Camry sedan, Highlander SUV, as well as hybrid versions of Lexus luxury vehicles.

Tesla sells an EV roadster today for $100,000-plus. The company had its initial-public offering last June, and the stock is up 21% since then in part because of the investments and deals with Toyota and Daimler.

The gas version of a RAV4 ranges in cost between $22K and $28K and up depending on added features. The EV RAV4, due in 2012, won't be priced until then. Given the cost of batteries, it's hard to imagine that the starting price wouldn't be close to $40K, but then come down to around $30K after government subsidies for zero-emission vehicles.

Tags: Daimler, Electric Vehicles, RAV4, Tesla, Toyota RAV4

$41,000 Chevy Volt Draws Controversy for Engineering Claims

by David Kiley (RSS feed) — Oct 11th 2010 at 8:02PM

The Chevy Volt extended range electric sedan is critical to the new General Motors that has emerged from bankruptcy last year, and is about to try and sell its initial-public-offering to investors. But as it unveils the car to the media this week, some critics are blasting the automaker for over-stating the car's fuel efficiency and innovation.

GM has long called the Volt an 'extended age electric vehicle." That made it decidedly different from the Toyota Prius and Toyota's and Honda's other full-hybrids. The key difference, GM has said for three years, is that the gas-fed motor in the Volt never directly drives the wheels of the car. The motor in the Volt, GM has said, powers the battery after its charge runs down, eliminating the risk of the driver running out of power before reaching their destination or a recharging station.

But GM executives confirmed this week that the Volt can use the internal combustion motor under its hood to power the wheels. This fact was first reported by MotorTrend.com, which was allowed to test the car for three long drives. The magazine discovered "...when going above 70 mph in 'charge sustaining mode,' and the generator gets coupled to the drive-train, the gas engine participates in the motive force. GM says the engine never drives the wheels all by itself, but will participate in this particular situation in the name of efficiency, which is improved by 10 to 15 percent."

It may not seem like much, but this does fly in the face of what GM officials have been saying for the last three years as it has hyped the Volt as being an industry leading innovation. The fact that the gas-powered motor can directly power the wheels of the Volt makes it much closer to traditional hybrids already on the market.

Gallery: Chevy Volt Launches and Stirs Controversy

Tags: Brad Pitt, Chevy Volt, Electric Vehicles, extended range electric vehicle, fuel economy, General Motors, George Clooney, Nissan Leaf

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Exagon Motors Unveils the Furtive e-GT in Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) — Oct 4th 2010 at 11:02PM

While most of the new cars we see making their debuts at major auto shows – like the one currently going on at the Port de Versailles in Paris – come from recognized, established automakers, a new generation of hybrid and electric vehicles has been coming from new start-ups fresh to the game. Names like Tesla and Fisker come to mind, and now Exagon Motors joins their ranks with the Furtive e-GT.

Built by an experienced racing-car manufacturer, the Furtive e-GT is a sleek 2+2 electric sportscar powered by a pair of Siemens electric motors producing 340 horsepower. That's enough to propel the e-GT to 60 in just 3.5 seconds, or cruising up to 250 miles on a single charge.

Tags: 2010 paris, 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris auto show, 2010 paris motor show, Exagon, Exagon Furtive e-GT, Exagon Motors, Exagon Motors Furtive e-GT, Furtive e-GT, paris, paris auto salon, paris auto show, paris motor show

Plaid Doctrine Briefcase, Handbag of the Day

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) — Oct 4th 2010 at 5:01PM

OK, not quite a handbag, but certainly can carry a few extra items tucked in with your laptop ... Plaid Doctrine's briefcase is a nice twist on the ho-hum black laptop carrier and is eco-friendly, too. The bag is water- and stain-resistant, and its high-performance fabric is made from recycled bottles. Other features are prime-grade, vegetable-tanned leather trim, solid brass hardware with nickel matte finish, a full ripstop nylon lining, and a handy rear pocket to slip over a rolling luggage handle. Measures 12" x 16" x 4" and holds a laptop with up to a 17" screen. Colors are Blue Houndstooth (shown), Red Houndstooth, and Grey Striped. Free ground shipping domestically. $479

Gallery: Plaid Doctrine Briefcase, Handbag of the Day

Tags: briefcase, eco-friendly, handbag of the day, laptop, Plaid Doctrine, recycled

Lincoln 2011 MKZ Hybrid A Sweet Green Ride

by David Kiley (RSS feed) — Sep 27th 2010 at 4:01PM

Lincoln is Ford's only remaining premium brand after jettisoning Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. For many, Lincoln is the car that takes them to the airtport, or the cemetery. But Ford has been adding to the Lincoln lineup in the last couple of years in the hopes of changing minds about the storied brand.

The latest addition to the lineup is the MKZ Hybrid, a full-electric version of the MKZ that has been out in the market for a few years. But Ford, hoping to capture some excitement around the hybrid package, just as it did with its Ford Fusion last year, the MKZ has had several interior upgrades that make it a worthy entry in the lower rungs of premium/luxury sedans.

The fuel economy is impressive. It is rated at 39 mpg combined city and highway driving, and 41 mpg in the city, and I got close to that level.

Tags: Ford, Ford Motor Company, Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKZ, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

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Salmon Skin Upholstery - All the Rage for Eco-Friendly Superyachts

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Sep 22nd 2010 at 11:01AM

Some people find the very idea of an "eco-friendly superyacht" simply ridiculous. If you're willing to accept that a floating monument to conspicuous consumption can somehow be good for the environment however, you'll probably agree that it should have a decor to match. Hence the growing trend in "guilt-free" luxury furnishings designed to take the edge off all that over-spending. The latest of these is salmon skin leather (above), being touted as an environmentally-friendly, ecologically sound and cruelty-free upholstery suitable for the finest superyacht interiors. The leader in the field is a German company called Nanai, which sources the skins from fish raised on certified organic salmon farms in Ireland.

With an appearance similar to python skin, salmon hide looks convincingly like exotic leather when vegetable-tanned and dyed (and deodorized). It's light and thin, yet durable and resistant to tearing. As the skins form a by-product of the salmon industry, the fish are not specifically bred or killed for the stuff – which might keep eco-crusaders happy if they weren't opposed to salmon farming to begin with. It remains to be seen whether oligarchs like Roman Abramovich will send their superyachts back to have their stingray and alligator upholstery swapped for salmon skin. Cue the cracks about "something fishy" but don't hold your breath.

Tags: eco-friendly, environment, exotic leather, fish, interior design, Nanai, python, Roman Abramovich, salmon, salmon leather, salmon skin, superyacht, yacht

Justin Timberlake Re-Opens Eco-Friendly Golf Course

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Sep 8th 2010 at 1:02AM

Justin Timberlake started the week in his home state of Tennessee. The multi-talented star was at his Mirimichi golf course in Millington, Tennessee for the ribbon cutting of the new Mirimichi Performance Center on Monday. The course had been closed in January for renovations. Mirimichi was once known as the Big Creek golf course; the name Mirimichi means "place of happy retreat." The par 72 golf course underwent an eco-friendly upgrade that added more wetlands and native plants. Timberlake wrote on Twitter that also the course had received the GEO (Golf Environmental Organization) Award for 1st certified "green" golf course, an honor he deemed as "pretty damn cool." The first phase of the project cost $16 million. At the opening Timberlake joked that he had invested in the golf course as a selfish way to have a place to play when he goes home to visit. Up next for Mirimichi is a campaign to get one of the major championships to play there. As Timberlake put it in an interview on My Fox Memphis: "we're going to wave our flag as high and proud as we can and hope that we can make some waves in that direction." Check out their video piece with Timberlake after the jump.

Tags: golf, justin timberlake, mirimichi golf course, tennessee, tennessee golf course

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Donna Distefano's Fair Trade, Eco-Friendly Custom Jewelry

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) — Sep 7th 2010 at 4:01PM

Donna Distefano's eponymous jewelry line features gorgeous gems that you can wear with a clear conscience. They are created without unnecessary environmental destruction and without human rights violations. The Fair Trade-certified pieces are custom-made and hand-wrought in Distefano's NYC store and use eco-friendly refining, substance purification, and recycled metals. The extensive line features a variety of beautiful pieces: diamond and colored gemstone engagement rings, wedding bands, cocktail rings, chandelier earrings, jeweled necklaces, and pendants. The "Silva" pendant at right is $12,250, but the line varies in price. See the gallery for a few more examples of Distefano's work, and if you're in NYC, stop by her store at 20 W. 20th St.

Gallery: Donna Distefano's Fair Trade, Eco-Friendly Custom Jewelry

Tags: Donna Distefano, eco-friendly, fair trade, green, jewelry, jewels

Angela Lindvall's John Hardy Ad Campaign

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Aug 24th 2010 at 6:02PM

Model Angela Lindvall appears in John Hardy's new Fall 2010 ads but it's more than just an ad placement. Lindvall is an eco-minded activist who worked with John Hardy creative director Guy Bedarida to create her own jewelry collection. The line, called Hijau ("green" in Indonesian), is a new interpretation of the bamboo theme with cuffs, earrings and bangles made from recycled and sustainable silver embellished with black sapphire and white topaz. Ten percent of the proceeds go to Forest Ethics, an organization that protects wildlife and forests in North America. There is also a charm bracelet made from a woven cotton organic cotton cord with a sterling silver bamboo charm accented with a small green tsavorite gem. All of the proceeds from this $95 bracelet go to Forest Ethics. The video above shows some behind the scenes details of Lindvall's Bali visit and her photoshoot for the new ad campaign.

Tags: angela lindvall, bali, forest ethics, indonesia, john hardy

The $80,000 BlackTrail Electric Bike

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) — Aug 20th 2010 at 4:02PM

The BlackTrail BT-01 electric bike from PG-Bikes costs as much as a luxury car and can give some motorcycles a run for their money in terms of features and speed yet technically it's still a electric push-pedal bicycle. Made of carbon fiber, NASA grade aluminum, titanium, and magnesium forget pedaling because the bike can go as fast as 62mph for up to 100 miles on a single 2 1/2 hour charge. But it's not all about speed as it also cruises easily at 20-30mph for convenient 'about town' travel and has brake lights, a speed indicator, and a stylish leather casing around the battery pack. The BlackTrail BT-01 is limited to 667 pieces for $80,000 each.

Via Dvice

Tags: bicycle, electric bike

Jute and Jackfruit Organic Clothing, Jewelry, Handbags

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) — Aug 20th 2010 at 2:01PM

It wasn't all that long ago when "organic" apparel and accessories conjured up ideas of wearing a burlap sack, carrying a rag wrapped around a stick for a purse, and wearing a twig necklace. But in the last few years, the organic way of life has spread like wildfire -- even to upscale clothing. My sister told me about Jute and Jackfruit, an online company that offers eco-fashion and organic, designer, women's items that are ethically made, hand-crafted, made in USA, and fair trade. The site offers clothing, jewelry, and handbags that include luxury eco-fabrics and up-cycled materials. Gift certificates are available too.

Gallery: Jute and Jackfruit Organic Clothing, Jewelry, Handbags