Go from Homely to Homey with Sustainable Furnishings, Part I

Posted on November 21, 2008 by Joyce Benson
Tag(s): Green Furnishings, Greening the Home

Need new living room furniture? Whether your current sofa is torn and tattered or your living room is sitting empty, you can go green with new, eco-friendly furnishings. Some companies offer stylish seating collections that use sustainably-harvested wood frames, soy-based or natural latex foam cushioning, and natural or recycled-content fabrics.

Top quality pieces that will last a lifetime are constructed using: kiln-dried solid hardwoods and eight-way hand-tied spring suspension, and upholstered in fabrics that have been rigorously tested.

Here are some companies offering chic, sustainable options sure to increase your living room’s cozy, comfy quotient:

Cisco Brothers constructs its furniture with biodegradable and non-toxic materials. The company uses FSC-certified hardwoods and offers natural upholstery options such as flax, hemp, jute, or yak fur blend. Furniture is made in Los Angeles and is available at stores in California & New York. (Their Epoch collection is pictured here).
Crate & Barrel offers many styles that are made in the U.S.A, and use certified sustainable kiln-dried hardwoods and soy-based polyfoam cushioning. Some models offer eight-way hand-tied springs.
EcoSofaDesign has a showroom in Los Angeles, CA where you’ll see living room furniture upholstered in organic cotton, hemp, sustainable wool and recycled polyester. They also use eco-friendly foam cushioning, sustainable kiln-dried woods, recycled heavy-gauge steel springs, and natural finishes.
Greener Lifestyles creates sustainable furniture in its Seattle, Washington facility using FSC-certified wood, natural latex cushioning, organic & wool batting, natural fabrics, eight-way hand-tied recycled steel springs, and zero-VOC glues.
RC Green by designer Robert Craymer offers high-end furniture made in the U.S.A. with locally-sourced FSC-certified wood, recycled steel, non-toxic & formaldehyde-free stains & glues, soy or latex cushioning, and natural fabrics. His line can be found at Vivavi in New York City and through trade professionals (prices are not for the faint-of-heart!).
Viesso offers custom pieces made in Los Angeles with 3 week delivery times. The company uses FSC-certified woods, natural latex cushioning, recycled or natural fabrics, and water-based glues & stains. The furniture can be seen at its LA showroom and ordered online by consumers or trade professionals.
Zola Furniture is hand-made at the company’s facility in Bend, Oregon and is sold through interior designers. They use only the finest low-impact, sustainably produced, natural, organic and recyclable materials.