i just heard from a tile artist, carol francis, i met with her artist husband michael a couple years ago at hd expo, an interior design show for the hospitality market in las vegas and am thrilled to post this update after first sharing their talents with you back then.  first of all, the fact that this is a husband and wife team of artists who started their pottery studio in a thatched cottage in 1980, is just so romantic!  now, their studio francis ceramics, is based in wales and produces traditional delft, custom mural, and contemporary hand-painted tiles which are also eco-friendly!  their client list is extremely impressive and includes kensington palace and nina campbell!  

michael francis hand-painting bespoke tile panel

their recent winter newsletter highlights some recent projects and reminds me how versatile their tile is.  i love how they share in that newsletter, images of the process from start to finish, some of which i share below with you.  enjoy a stroll through this process for a vanity in the VIP restrooms at an exclusive london nightclub, chinawhite.

source material supplied by client

initial layout sketch

artist's isometric impression based on finished tile

finished installation

one of their tile panels for another project that also makes me swoon:

i love how the client's art on the console creates a 3d effect of the mural

impressive treasures at ford & ching

last week i attended a spring cocktail party at the ford & ching furnishings and fashion showroom in downtown la at the historic kimsing theatre. as always, there were fabulous finds including many with eco-friendly elements.

i got to meet one of the furniture designers, george bergere of go build studio. this dresser is zebrawood made with sustainable veneer harvested from plantation-raised poplar trees.

this next item caught my eye because of its beautiful wood finish. geneva sound systems creates a unique and more effective speaker solution eliminating the need for 2 separate speakers.

skram furniture are responsible for this cool cork stool.

samuel moyer crafts these tripod stools out of offcuts of various species.

eric clayton's striking coffee table is made with reclaimed poplar table with a recycled steel base.

ango's rattan and steel pendant.

stunning & cool new eco wallpaper

featured in O magazine, Town & Country, Dwell, In Style, Domino and House & Garden, among many others, mod green pod, the cool folks who make eco-friendly wallpaper and fabric, just launched a new pattern of wallpaper. its aptly named "delight" in 3 colors hand-printed on vinyl-free FSC-paper with non-toxic ink and finished with a water-based glaze for light wiping.

be sure to check out their cool room creator feature

to see what their products look like in a room!

their fabric is printed on 100% organic cotton! i love this pattern, even the name, glimmer.

check out their website to learn more about

the talented women behind this company and their environmental commitment.

how healthy is your home?

for those who are following my blogs and tweets regularly probably know that i love q collection for for their exquisite eco-friendly furnishings. they just sent me an email with shocking information. ABC News' reported that products on american store shelves now contain 89,000 chemicals! many of these have proven to increase the risk of cancer, neurological disorders or reproductive defects! why is this possible? the EPA is virtually powerless to regulate these chemicals due in part to lobbying by the chemical manufacturers.

however, a new senate bill, powered in part by dow and dupont, is pushing for the reform of outdated chemical regulations and is expected to be introduced soon and then would need to be passed. until we know that our laws are protecting our health, it is up to us to know how things are made and the impact it has on the people who make them and the environment so that we can make healthy choices.

q collection's primary goal is to eliminate all toxic chemicals. for example, their furniture is free of formaldehyde and polyurethane. their fabrics are printed with low-impact, heavy metal-free dyes. this fabric is durable enough for commercial applications and was used as welting on the chairs in sea wellness spa at casa del mar.

elegant mirror made with coconut

this is an excellent example of how an organic material can be quite elegant. the mirror at the top of the 1st photo and then shown in the next photo, #2, is so beautiful. offered by ochre, it's framed with white coconut strips! thanks to interior design magazine for sharing this mirror on p38 of the current feb issue and online at the link. i love reading my design mags...they are so inspiring!