Everyday Is Earth Day

Ironically the day I land at our factory in Indonesia it is regarded across the world as Earth Day. Well for the last 10 years, that is what we have been promoting with our eco-friendly furniture so we feel everyday is Earth Day.


The whole trip to Indonesia this time was initiated by a very large commercial opportunity that we have landed in Colorado. Details of this amazing resort and high-end golf/equine community will be released in June but I can say it will be the premiere resort in Colorado if not the entire rocky mountains.

I came to our factory in Indonesia to oversee the production of both indoor and outdoor furniture for this beautiful community and of course to hit an almost unatainable deadline... But we will pull it off. A quick 37 hours of travel for a one hour meeting. Actually there is much more to this trip but that was what initiated the trip across the big pond.


Some days now we are up to over 50,000 web hits a day on our web site with people interested in eco-friendly furnishings and architectural elements for both commercial and residential applications. 5 Years ago hardly anyone knew even what LEEDS was or the USGBC and trading Carbon Credits and now the bandwagon is getting interesting.


So if you are knew to our site or just interested in my latest Indonesian adventure, here goes:
Our factory is located in Java, Indonesia. What makes us unique is we buy old homes that are made of teak wood, (well, some of the house is teak).


Standing next to the owner of this home, some of the teak we would use is right behind us.


Once we give the local people money for their old wood, then they add on a brick or cement home that is much more durable and prestigious.



The right side of the home is the old teak wood and the left side is the new addition of the cement and brick that they added on.


What we do with the wood depends upon what part of the home it came from. Below illustrates old doors that we found. They will be turned into doors for a cabinet or even a dining table top.

Old Pillar bases that hold up the home can be used as the base for a coffee or side table or even a bench and add alot of character as you can see below .


Other parts of the home will be then turned into various pieces of furniture. Below is a photo of a console table that has been constructed but has not been sanded yet so the piece still has some old paint on it. Sometimes I wonder if it should be just left like that which is a funky look in its own way.




Later in the day, I took a break with some of the workers in the factory. We are in the process of designing many new products to compliment what we are already producing and the workers at the factory are always up to a new challenge on construction.


So spending Earth Day 2008 could only be fitting at our eco-friendly factory in Java, indonesia. Then again, every day is Earth Day now....

Outdoor Conversation Furniture

They call them "chat tables" for a reason. The latest craze in outdoor furniture is to create products made to lounge in. We recently developed a Chat Table to go with the Rusteaka Club Chairs.

The Mark Suess Bellasera Benches are also great for conversation around a firepit. They are slightly curved to go perfectly with an outdoor fireplace.

They have a 3 inch thick Sunbrella fabric that is very comfortable and cozy.

March in Scottsdale, Arizona is a perfect time to enjoy outdoor living at its finest.

The Mountains Are Green

Even though the mountains were filled with snowy roads, they really are green. This trip brought us to the surroundings areas of Vail, Beaver Creek, Snowmass, Aspen, and Telluride.

Every retailer and every magazine that featured mountain living is spreading the word about eco-friendly living.

Unloading some samples at a retailer in Glenwood Springs, CO.

Even with the slumping housing market in the mid-range pricing, the high-end communities are still going strong. Many new private enclaves are continuing to be built and the buzz words of LEEDS, carbon foot prints and being green are seeping into all aspects of the rockies.

Outside of a top design house in Ridgway, Colorado. A stunning small town.

It takes a lot of hard work especially in the middle of the winter to get to these remote regions with a van load of samples but I think these retailers and designs appreciate seeing products first hand at their facility compared to a trade show in Vegas or High Point.

The town of Telluride and up the hill in Mountain Village are booming with eco-friendly building concepts. Our reclaimed teak furniture is the perfect compliment.

Mountain Living

Last July after an 8000 mile trip through almost every major ski community it was concluded the high-end mountain towns are perfect for our rustic teak look with an eco-friendly story.

It becomes very clear very quickly, that no matter what you socio-economic status is, you clearly care about the environment, whether you live in the mountains full time or you are a part time inhabitant.

During the trip last summer, a number bonds were formed with exciting retailers and design firms from the Big Sky of Montana to Taos, New Mexico.

One design firm stood out that after 10 years of doing this business, I have never witnessed a more professional organization that specializes in mountain living at its best for both residential and commercial.


The company is Slifer Design. In mountain living, they are famous. They are regarded as the nation’s top authority on luxury resort mountain interior design.

Offering full-service interior design and interior architecture and hospitality services for over 20 years, Slifer Designs has consistently been ranked in the top three of residential interior design firms by Interior Design magazine. Luxury resort design is Slifer Designs’ specialty. Based in Edwards, Colorado, Slifer Designs has completed projects throughout the Vail Valley, Aspen, Telluride, Jackson Hole, Lake Tahoe, Park City, as well as Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas, Nantucket and Sonoma County, California.


In July of 2007, I signed up for the next possible time to present our company to their staff which was today, March 4th, 2008. Eight quick months later and here we are showing our products to a firm that includes their clients roster like:
The Chateau at Beaver Creek , Arrabelle / Vail, CO, The Grand Hyatt Denver Guestrooms / Denver, CO
Main Street Station / Breckenridge, CO
Limelite / Aspen, CO
Old Greenwood / Lake Tahoe, CA
Vail Plaza Club & Hotel / Vail, CO
Inn at Beaver Creek / Beaver Creek, CO
The Residential Suites at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch





JL discussing the virtues of reclaimed teak and why it is perfect for Mountain Living.

Casa Primera Luz / Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Eagles Nest / Beaver Creek, CO
Tomboy Mine Retreat / Telluride, CO
Exclusive Resorts / Beaver Creek, Vail and Lake Tahoe
Great Bear Lodge / North Lake Tahoe, CA
Beaver Creek Hyatt Vacation Club / Beaver Creek, CO
Teton Club / Jackson Hole, WY
Miner's Club at the Canyons / Park City, UT
Palmilla, Ultimate Resort , Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Ritz Carlton / Aspen Highlands, CO
Roaring Fork Club / Basalt, CO
Snowmass Club / Snowmass, CO
Vail Plaza Club & Hotel / Vail, CO
Flattops / Steamboat Springs, CO




The presentation included about 15-20 of the design staff looking at the many products we brought in from The Mark Suess Collection to Rusteaka and even a carved entrance door for a wine room.


The story could go on and on but the picture has been drawn, Slifer is the firm in high-end mountain living and we felt fortunate to be invited to show our exciting collections of indoor and outdoor living to them.

The world is catching on to being eco-friendly in your living spaces and Slifer Designs is at the forefront of that movement. This will be a great partnership together.

It is hard to imagine a meeting in July of 2007 would lead us to JL standing in a blizzard in Edwards (just west of Vail) in March, 2008.

At least she was able to fly up for the meeting. I was fortunate enough to drive up from Arizona with samples, get caught in a blizzard and spend a night in a gymnasium cuddling up basketballs and hoolahoops in northern New Mexico.

Off to Aspen , Telluride and Taos. Will report more later. Please come back.

Jay

Phoenix Home & Garden Features Global Surroundings

The March issue of the Phoenix Home & Garden has featured us in an eco-friendly article. A photo of the very popular Lawas Bench is also included. The Lawas Bench is made of reclaimed teak wood. The bench is made by hand. This is truly what we call sustainable furniture. Click on the magazine cover to see the article.

Click here to go the Phoenix Home & Garden online.

Mountain Communities Drawn to Rustic Teak Furniture

Retailers and designers from Taos, New Mexico to the northern reaches of Montana are embracing rugged and bold look of our Rusteaka line.

Because it is made of reclaimed teak, the furniture can be used indoors or out. For outside applications, people are using the Sunbrella, all weather fabrics while indoors many people are using distressed leather and hair-on-hide.

Two recent retailers to sign on are Montana Expressions in Bozeman, Montana and Montana Style Interiors in Havre, Montana.

To learn more about Montana Expressions and their beautiful store click on their logo.

"The Thinker" on teak and ice.

Yes, it's a beautiful and comfortable stool but when I fall through this ice, can I use it as a Personal Flotation Device?