Saving the planet should start at home, and with so many companies going green, it's a cinch to shrink your carbon footprint without sacrificing style (spare me the hessian hairshirts and hippy-dippy homewares).

This month I'm loving...  Luxury 'upcycled' furniture from Jimmie Martin. You've seen other companies transform 'pre-loved' finds into salon-worthy furniture before, but I sincerely doubt with quite this much pizzazz.

 

Jimmie Karlsson and Martin Nihlmar personalise their fun and funky work with new upholstery, finishes, hand-painted images and spray-painted graffiti. Each one is a customised, one-off creation.  

You can choose from existing pieces or request your own frame finish, upholstery and artwork for a custom-made creation. The prices may be a bit higher than DIY upcycling (ie finding a chair in a skip and giving it a quick lick of paint), but the reality is that you're not just buying a piece of furniture – you're getting an original work of art in the bargain. If you can't splurge on a proper piece of Jimmie Martin furniture (at least until you've paid off that tax bill or your Christmas indulgences) why not start with a cushion or some sheets of Jimmie Martin wallpaper mounted on board.

 

As the business grows, it's tricky to find time to source secondhand furniture, but Jimmie tells me: "These days we might not have the luxury of time to stroll the markets and auction houses (which we love!) but over 50% of our pieces are still created from reclaimed furniture, and we will continue to source old pieces in the future."

Jimmie and Martin are finding new ways to source beautiful, quirky and interesting furniture to transform into contemporary show-stoppers. If you have an antique or other piece of furniture that's begging for a makeover, ask Jimmie Martin for a quote to bring it back to life, stamped of course with their own unique style.

 

 

For Gretchen, your best bud: Gretch is always there for you with a comforting cuppa and a listening ear, so warm her heart with this nostalgic eco-friendly tea cosy, £25, from Hand Made by Samantha Stas at notonthehighstreet.com. Each colourful tea cosy is unique and as they're made from recycled woollens and vintage linens, they've got bags of green cred too.

 

notonthehighstreet does what it says on the tin: it's a super place to shop for one-of-a-kind finds you just can't get from bland department stores and samey-samey shops. And anything that frees you from the madness of the high street during the maddening pre-Christmas rush gets a big thumbs-up here. You'll get a big thumbs-up from friends and rellies too when they open the eclectic, unusual and just plain fab gifts you've found for them. 

 

 

 

 

 

For your little brother Simon, who loves the classics: From his Bowler hat to his Sinatra CDs, Simon enjoys the golden oldies – but he's not averse to a modern twist. Give him the classic SodaStream, updated for the 21st century. It's ever-so-eco too. Each one-litre bottle you make saves three aluminum cans. Models start from £39.99 (this one is £59.99).  When you think of the almost £2 billion we Brits spend on bottlted water each year, it's actually a bargain. 

 

 

For Jo (and every dog person on your list): Edwyn 'The Allotment Dog', is a must for the dog-lovers you love. Made in the UK, Edwyn products are on sale through the fabulous Etsy.com or you can find them at Spitalfields Market on Thursdays and Fridays from 10-4. They'll be for sale on the 5th and 6th of December from 11-6 at the Pullens Yards Open Studios, SE17, where you'll also find wares from dozens of amazing local craftspeople and artists. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Nigel, a bit of a domestic god himself: Instead of a glossy celebrity cookbook, get real in the kitchen with The Borough Market Cookbook: Meat & Fish, from Can of Worms Press. The cookbook has 140 recipes including signature dishes sourced from the market's producers and traders who are passionate about the provenance of their livestock, fish and veg. The cookbook also includes advice on shopping and the importance of issues such as sustainability. Buy it from Can of Worms Press online, at their open days at the Pullens Yards or from Amazon.

 

 

 

This month I'm loving...  Recycled (and re-Mojo'd) furniture from Urban Upholstery. This month, Urban Upholstery teams up with Madeleine Boulesteix (my Fave Find in May 07) for The Light Lounge, a winter show of stylish (and green-guilt-free) finds, from 16 November-10 January 2010 at Urban Upholstery's Islington studio.

 

The designers are committed to reusing salvaged items, but this is not your grandmother's 'salvage' (ie the rotten wicker chair picked up from a skip, dusted off and plonked in front of the fireplace).

 

Instead, they transform found items into truly opulent and covetable treasures you'll be proud to show off to all your friends. They even do bespoke pieces.

 

Urban Upholstery brings abandoned (or unloved) furniture back to life with fab fabrics, sleek craftsmanship and individual style. Madeleine uses old kitchen items (teacups, sherry glasses even trifle moulds) to create quirky and contemporary chandeliers. (Here's one I bought earlier: below.)

 

Take a closer look at their work (and pick up some very special Christmas presents) at the show, at Urban Upholstery, 21 De Beauvoir Road, London N1 5SF.

Opening Hours: 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 11-3 on Saturday.

 

They'll also be exhibiting at Hidden Art Open Studios 28-29 November and 5-6 December, from 12pm to 6pm, except for the 29 November (Private View from 3-6pm). Madeline also has one large chandelier on show in Oliver Heath's Eco Home exhibition at the Geffrye Museum, London until January 2010.

 

 

 

For further details, follow the Urban Upholstery blog or get in touch: +44 (0) 207 275 9436.

 

                   


This month I'm loving...  WAWA (WOW, WOW!) Care about fairtrade fashion? What about your furniture? WAWA lets home fashionistas become 'compassionistas' without sacrificing an ounce of style, with stylish furniture designed and handmade in the UK (fare wages and fewer transport miles). 

Forget flimsy particleboard pieces or identikit couches. WAWA's Richard Ward creates bespoke designs with a distinct contemporary twist, covered in your choice of fabric. Richard trained as a sculptor and now whips up modern classics such as the signature 'Soho Two' (above). The 'Soho Three' (right) was even featured as part of artist Liz Rideal's photographic exhibition for a 'Friday Late' FLASH event at the V&A.

 

WAWA isn't just concerned with ethics – there's an eco ethos too, making frames from sustainable European beech and stocking tough and colourful wool fabrics from Bute Fabrics in southwest Scotland. Richard cycles into the studio and his colleague Lola walks to work. They also 'backload' deliveries: sending furniture with couriers who are returning from delivering to London anyway, saving another road journey.

WAWA's more than just beauty – plenty of brains behind this brand. For instance, Richard has solved the 'problem' of bay windows, by creating a sofa that fits the space perfectly. The Bay Sofa (left) helps you make the most of your bay windows, and it's now available in a sleek square version too (right). The Square Bay Sofa can be built on wheels or trendy braked castors, so it's easy to move around – perfect for parties!

The WAWA showroom is just off the buzzy Columbia Road flower market. Pop in on a Sunday (10-2.30) or ring for an appointment on weekdays. Support UK craftspeople and designers for a house you'll be proud to call home.

 

The Eco-Surfactants were developed by Ecover's research team. They're made from renewable plant-based ingredients and surfactants made with rapeseed oil and sugar (and based on a yeast found in bumblebee nests – really!).

 

The new and improved products include the Window Cleaner, Multi-Surface Spray, Power Cleaner (for cookers and stubborn stains) and All-Purpose Cleaner.

 

The entire range is tough as old boots (but smells much sweeter). And of course all Ecover products are perfectly safe for your skin (and your child's sensitive skin too!).

 

 

 

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This month I'm loving...  Green clothing (in a rainbow of hues) from Gudrun Sjödén. The English summer is doing its thing: boiling one minute, chilly and rainy the other 59 minutes of the hour (I suspect many stay-cationers are having second thoughts). The chill in the air makes one consider the autumnal wardrobe. When it's time to unpack the loft boxes, will you be happy with your cold-weather clothes or could your style use some freshening up?

Add a dash of pizzazz (while sticking to your eco and ethical credentials) with the eco-labelled line from Gudrun Sjödén. The fabrics are pretty green. The 'eco-jersey' is cultivated without chemical sprays, handpicked and spun and knitted in closed systems (no polluted waste water) on machines that are oiled with vegetable oils. The fabric dyes are made from natural materials such as leaves, roots, nuts and flowers. Lycocell is a cellulose fabric made from wood pulp.

 

But who says green threads have to be mud-coloured? Gundrun's creations are eye-poppingly colourful, just the thing if you've realised you've been dressing too old for your years. Now don't go mad with a micromini or some of Gundrun's more outlandish outfits, right - leave those to the young and the terminally hip (who can wear anything) or the clinically creative (who can get away with it because everyone already suspects they're bonkers).

 

For the rest of us, the odd top or cardi in eco jersey will brighten up your day. If your office is more conservative, try this lycocell jersey top (left) in more subdued shades of brown, grey or black. PS: it also comes in dazzling orange with hot pink spots or acid green with bright blue spots if you're feeling brazen.

 

Gundrun's Autumn 2009 collection also sports a home textiles range with sassy spots and some folklore-inspired pieces (don't worry; your sofa can get away with it, even if you can't). Happy shopping!

 

 

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This month I'm loving...  the sleek and covetable one-off creations by Magpie.

 

This 'socially conscious art collective' based in South Africa creates chandeliers and other extravagant creations made from discarded bottle caps, redundant plastic trinkets and retrieved glass beads. They even have a bin on the verandah where locals can 'donate' bits and bobs, trash that may yet be turned into treasure.

 

Order Magpie's chandeliers (and other creations) direct from them, or find them at the new Anthropologie stores in London (opening soon in Regent Street and King's Road). You'll be in good company – the Obamas have just purchased two Magpie chandeliers for the White House!

 

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This month I'm loving... gorgeous ethical lingerie from Daisy Green and Enamore, who've just introduced the 'best ever' ethical bra. So, what does it look like? Well, that's a bit tricky, as it's actually under wraps until the launch party on the 11th of June. [NOTE: The event was postponed due to the Tube strike. Visit Daisy Green or Enamore to find out when it will be rescheduled.]

 

Yes I realise it's bizarre to highlight a fave find you can't yet see, but never fear. As it's from Enamore, I can guarantee it's going to be fun, flirty and fabulous, just like the Peekaboo camisole, below (just £24 in the Spring Fever sale).

 

Each bra will be hand-crocheted in soft, eco-friendly bamboo wool and made in the UK (no sweatshops and a much lower carbon footprint). Not only that, a donation from every sale will go to charities that encourage breastfeeding worldwide, through education and support. Speaking of support, the bras will have more support than past ethical selections.

 

For a sneak peek, head to the launch party, from 7pm til late at I.N.C. Space in Grape Street, WC2. Tickets are £10 in advance; £15 on the door. The party also aspires to be the UK's biggest ever swish.

 

Worried all this char-i-dee and good will swishing will mean a goody-two-shoes party? Think again. The vibe is much more indulgent and well, naughty than nice, with a burlesque act, music from ethical group the Phoenix Rose, an ethical styling session by top stylist Lupe Castro, and of course plenty of green goodies at the sponsors' booths.
 

In the meantime there are plenty of other treats to behold on the Daisy Green site. Have a look at the beauty section's tried-and-tested ethical self-tanning products plus the fab competitions like the current one for two pairs of Pants to Poverty knickers.

 

 

 

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This month I'm loving... nifty nylon bags from Flip & Tumble. To survive the GFM (global financial meltdown – oh do keep up!) you need to try smarter shopping. That means buying only as much as you can carry (and resisting the urge of the adrenalin surge whispering 'Time for a binge buy!'). 

 

Shopping locally supports local businesspeople (if you choose independent shops, not the local branch of Tesco!). To make the journey as stress-free as possible, try these handy solutions (unless your child's still in a pushchair – unbeatable as a carrier bag carrier).

 

They're just so big, bulky and well, forgettable. Not anymore. Here's the cutest solution I've seen for American ecomaniacs: the Flip & Tumble bag. These nifty nylon sacks come in a rainbow of hues and roll up into a small ball (like a pair of socks). Stash them in your bag, and whip them out at the checkout for guilt-free purchases (unless you're already in the red – but hey, I'm not your accountant).

 

Save by buying in bulk: they're $9 a bag, going down to $7 a bag for 7+ so team up with an eco-friendly friend. By the way, though the pink is tempting it sometimes pays to go with more gender-neutral colours like this smart red 24-7 bag (right). That way your bloke can't squirm out of chores so easily. The bags are strong too, able to carry up to 25 lbs of goodies.