Phrena Light, originally uploaded by re-modern.com.

New arrival to the shop. We love this light by designer Karl Zahn because it’s not just beautiful, but affordable, too! It’s so lightweight and achieves such as maximum impact with the limited materials used (Tyvek). Compare this to similar chandeliers and hanging pendant lights and you’ll see that luxury is possible for those on a limited budget. In stock and ready to ship. More details about this Phrena light fixture here.

Post-consumer recycled plastic

Immediately on the tail of our busiest season of the year, we packed up the Re:modern office and moved our headquarters from Burlingame to San Carlos, California. We’re enjoying the new digs (which we’ll share photos of once we’re fully unpacked and settled in) and working hard to keep the transition as seemless as possible for our customers.

Setting up a new green office is very different now than 6 years ago when our company first began. Back then, sustainable options were few and the choices seemed to be more about selecting products that created less harm. This time around, we were pleasantly surprised to see some major, conventional retailers offer up office necessities with a greener twist.
Office Depot, for example, now carries scissors whose handles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. And our friends at Carbonfund just told us about a carbon-neutral paper shredder by GoECOlife. This certified CarbonFree shredder is actually going to be available to the masses through Costco. As a CarbonFree partner, Re:modern currently offsets carbon emissions generated from our everyday business practices (read more here). We’re happy to see that green is slowly, but finally moving towards the norm.

Certified carbon-neutral

25% Off Eco-friendly Rugs

Our 25% off Rug Sale has been so popular that it’s extended through to the end of this month. We’re clearing out first quality, and eco-friendly bamboo shag rugs, wool shag, and jute boucle rugs in stock to make way for new arrivals. Certain colors and sizes are selling out on a daily basis, so if you’ve been eyeing to pick up one of these fabulously eco rugs, do so before January 31st. These are the absolute best prices we’ve ever had on this affordable rug collection, and paired with Free Shipping on orders over $250, we encourage you to do the math and be pleasantly surprised. Buy a rug now and make those toes happy this winter.

It feels a bit like elf central here. Last minute gifts are still shipping in time to arrive before Christmas. Shop our 2009 Green Gift Guide and Quick Ship items now.  Stock those stockings!

What are you doing this Friday and Saturday?  Come to our first ever Re:modern warehouse sale where we’ll have lots of items for the home and for giving – many that are one-of-a-kind and not even on our website!  Prototypes, open-box items, media samples.  Everything from home accessories to green gifts and even floral makings.  (It’s a joint sale with Plan Decor, a wedding event florist.)  Stop on by for some good cheer and save big just in time for the holidays.

Stainless steel food box

With all the heaping amounts of good food during Thanksgiving last week, I couldn’t imagine ever finishing up the leftovers in the fridge. Well, it’s Monday now and all leftovers are long gone and it’s back to a regular work week. Next time, I need to portion my meals and remember to bring some reuseable food containers that transport easily as a perfect lunchbox.

These stainless steel lunch containers are new to our shop and just in time to for holiday gifting.  I love that the lid latches tightly so it doesn’t open up during the commute and unlike plastic, the stainless steel is BPA-free and does not leach any toxins into my food.

Happy Cyber Monday, everyone!  (p.s.  Be sure to join our mailing list or become a Facebook fan for special savings not seen by the public.)

You are wonderful.
It is that simple.
Thank you for appreciating good design.
Thank you for being green.
Thank you for creating a nicer world,
By choosing quality over quantity,
By being thoughtful about where we are going,
And by being an everyday leader
In doing good, while living well.
Thank you for keeping Re:modern in business to serve you further.
We appreciate you.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!

Cooper Hewitt re:design, originally uploaded by re-modern.com.

The Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in New York has just begun a major renovation. Maria snapped this photo when passing by because the “re:design” campaign reminded her of our company “re:modern“. (FYI… We’ve been using the “re:” moniker for years to refer to our philosophy of making modernism fresh and green – i.e. re:sponsible, re:levant, re:cycle, re:new, re:imagine, etc.) Glad to see we’re ahead of the curve.

A customer emailed us today with a question: “I have always thought a project could be done with bailing twine. I have hundreds and hundreds strands. Do you know any designers interested in this?”

recycling twine

Well, Eliza, you’re in luck. We did a bit of research and decided to share this great idea by Cal Patch on how to make your own recycled twine welcome mat. If you’ve got a bunch of twine and some crochet skills, Craft Stylish has instructions on how to make it.  We’d love to see photos of whatever you decide to do with your excess twine.

DIY recycled twine doormat

For those of us not quite so crafty, take a look at these readymade doormats made from recycled tires or recycled foam rubber.

“Save yourself several after-dinner dishwasher cycles and invite guests to pile mashed potatoes on sturdy Bamboo Veneerware Plates by Bambu” – Real Simple

Bamboo Veneerware plates and utensils

We were thrilled to hear from Alexandra that Real Simple chose to feature our Bambu Veneerware collection of biodegradeable plates, trays, and utensils in their Daily Finds article on Great Green Goods for Thanksgiving. These single-use tableware really are perfect for big, special occasions like Thanksgiving, family holidays, and weddings because they eliminate the need to do dishes, while being so much more beautiful and sturdier than flimsy paper plates. Browse the entire Bambu Veneerware collection here.