Bring the warmth indoors and into your living room with a freestanding ventless fireplace. How great does that sound? These new fireplaces by Ecosmart Fire – fueled by renewable green energy, are an effective heating solution, environmentally friendly and convenient because they do not require a chimney or a flue. When it comes to design, there are several modern options.

I recently stumbled upon this really hot new fire pit by Skagerak. The cast iron bowl is kind of reminiscent of 1950’s planters, giving this piece an ultra modern and super sleek look. I just ordered one for my house upstate. My purchase was inspired by Joe Wright’s film Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly – it is one of my favorite movies. I love that in the film the old English estates are lit by urns and fire pits. I want to create a similar feel at my house when we have guests over!

If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace in your living room then consider some accessories for your hearth. Log holders, great matches, electric igniters, and baskets for newspaper can all enhance the fireplace’s toasty tone. Plus, fireplace accessories make hot housewarming gifts, just perfect for gatherings on chilly winter nights. Check out these great porcelain logs by Klein Reid.

I love these “I am not a paper cup!” porcelain coffee mugs. They couldn’t be cooler. Reduce your daily trash by bringing this into the coffee shop with you every morning.

While working on this photo shoot at my country home, I was glad to have some ferns around the house. I have always been drawn to the lush and green plants. There is something 70s chic about them—they look beautiful in a carefully selected pot in an interior setting. Since I live and work in the city, I am not always at the house, even though I am not around the plants are still looking good. Ferns are low maintenance so you don’t need to worry about them and just a little bit of sun goes a long way.

TASCHEN has just come out with a new book New Paris Interiors, which is filled with stunning photographs of eccentric modern homes of the Parisian elite. There are some beautiful traditional homes featured too – so you really get an eclectic mix. Expect to see lots of texture, vivid colors and dynamic spaces. I cannot wait to catch a peek of the homes of French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, shoemaker Christian Louboutin and many more of the city of light’s most interesting personalities. Now, if you could only have a macaroon from Laduree while flipping the pages of this gorgeous book!

There are plenty of designers transforming factory floor scraps into tasteful and stylish up-cycled goods – from telephone wire to recycled cardboard, they’re using it all. Right now, I am seeing lots of industrial felt being transformed into really chic and durable rugs. The Huffington Post Oasis Lounge that I designed incorporated a very unique cardboard screen by Molo design. We sold the piece on eBay and it was definitely my favorite item up for auction.

But recasting industrial bits and pieces to create something new isn’t really a recent phenomenon. In 1972, Frank Gehry created the Wiggle Stool, a really neat stool made from recycled corrugated cardboard. Gehry successfully gave cardboard a new identity, introducing a new aesthetic purpose to the bored board. Taking a cue from Gehry, the once utilitarian eco-conscious design is acquiring a more decorative tone – and I love it. All this creativity and innovation makes me wonder: what will they come up with next?

* Photo used with permission from Nova68.com

Jazz up your home with some Jade. My client just purchased a fabulous jade bowl in a pale celadon tone. Now jade tones have me hooked – the hues are a little hypnotic, aren’t they? Jade and jadeite come in an array of colors from white through pale apple green to deep jade green. My favorite shades are in the yellow–green family. The subtle variety of tints, textures and translucence tell a really soothing story. There are some really remarkable pieces on the WorldofGood.com website – take a look!

Call me obsessed! This Italian handmade flatware by Match, is a delightful combination of modern and rustic. The pieces are made from pewter and stainless steel and are strewn with charming intricate details, but they are still simple enough for every day use. The whole sets can be a little pricey and no one wants to fork it all over for some forks – but I was able to find some great deals on some sets on eBay – dig in!

WorldofGood.com launches today and I am really excited about the breadth of incredible products. This site is awesome! The goal of the site is to enable shoppers to shop online while staying in line with their values. I can get behind that.

The marketplace has so much to offer and I wanted to highlight a few items because I just LOVE them:

Looking for a show-stopping house warming gift? The Spanish Colonial Tin Bird Feeder is a great pick.
This Reclaimed Barn Wood Table features really pretty and clean lines.
The Santa Clara Pueblo Blackware Pottery is beyond chic! I love it.
The Guy Wolff Wentworth No. 4 White Clay Garden Pot is adorable and perfect for indoor plants this winter!

How very exciting! Check out the items yourself – there are several pieces that are sure to be a huge hit.

The eco-friendly pieces featured at the Huffington Post Oasis Lounge during the Democratic National Convention have made their way to eBay! The exclusive Huffington Post Oasis Lounge served as a place for delegates, media and other convention goers to relax and recharge during the convention, featuring a yoga space, work area, Thai messages.

The lounge featured custom-designed furniture from me, Shawn Henderson- a daybed and club chair, as well as a variety of green and sustainable items such as side tables, slipcovered chairs and a sisal area rug—all currently available for auction. The proceeds from the charity auction will be donated to Off the Mat, Into the World, a program that aims to inspire and guide individuals to find and define their purpose and become active in their local or global community in an effective, sustainable and joyful way, through eBay Giving Works.

Check out the charity auction.

The Huffington Post asked me to design The Oasis at the Democratic National Convention. The space will be devoted to rest and relaxation and attendees will be able to enjoy free yoga instruction, massages, facials, organic snacks and music in the suite. My goal on this project is to combine organic and green material with calm purpose – to create a peaceful, quiet retreat from the activity and stir of the convention. The Oasis will feature some of my own custom-designed pieces — a lounge chair and daybed, as well as green and sustainable furnishings and accessories from other designers.

Below please find some sketches of the items we will be featuring in the space. At the end of the convention, we will be selling several of the items on display on eBay. Proceeds from the auctions will benefit Off the Mat – an organization devoted to building networks of participants to undertake social change in the environment, education, children’s issues and health issues.