Meet the Designer

Meet the DESIGNER: David Tunbridge

David has a motto, ‘less haste, less waste’. And this innovative furniture and lighting designer instinctive and original creations have given him international acclaim.

David’s working philosophy is strongly tied to green/eco principles . He also has a passion for working with wood. His studio workshop is in Hawkes Bay New Zealand where his lighting and furniture are produced and then distributed around the world.

His designs have a remarkable connection to the natural world which he translates into beautiful, sublime shapes. His work is inspiring and nourishing to the soul.

David has a motto: less haste, less waste.

His products available through www.dedece.com

For Baby

OTHER ECO-FRIENDLY products to help you care for your baby

Life Organic, Newtown www. lifeorganic.com.au(02) 9565 1156
BIO BAMBINI organic baby food, puree, cereals.
GLUTEN FREE teething rusks are specifically developed to soothe tender gums while baby is teething.
HOLLE organic infant formulae with balanced protein that are instantly prepared with water for babies zero to 12 months.
BAMBO certified organic, bamboo nappies. For babies 3kgs to 22kg.
WOTNOT 100% biodegradable baby wipes, refills, liners and nappy bags are also in the range.
Skin and Bath Care Range
GAIA baby range are soap and sulphate free products that gently cleanse, nurtures and cares for your babies skin. Also free from mineral oils, sorbolene and petro chemicals.
All products are enriched with moisturising oils to keep babies clean and soft without drying or itchiness.

STYLE PLANTATION - Stunning bamboo bath and hand towels - super soft, super absorbant - allergy free. For more information, see www.styleplantation.com or visit a showroom.

Baby Kind—caring for baby & earth

NURTURING, CALMING and soothing, these are the keywords to consider when creating a room for your young child.
“Colour,” says Fofi, should be the first consideration. “All colours have both positive and negative effects characteristics.”

Colour selection
· pale blue emotionally inspires peace. It is a restful colour and good for rooms that receive sunlight.
· green/turquoise reduce stress, calm nerves and create a sense of ‘freshness’ helping to balance and sedate. It is also a good choice for rooms that receive afternoon sun.
· purple and mauves are soothing and conducive to sleep as they lower blood pressure. It’s also a more great, sophisticated alternative colour to a traditional pink for young girls.

Paints for children’s room
As allergies become more commonplace, natural paints are a must for children’s rooms.Tim, from The Natural Paint Place in King Street, Newtown, told Life Style Plantation that natural paints are made from plants and minerals.
“Natural paints are well-priced, meet Australian standards (AS1580), free from toxin solvents, toluene, xylene, glycol”.
The Natural Paint place stock:
BIO: made in Adelaide to German formulaVOLVOX: made in Germany Benefits of natural paints include:
· a healthy balance between mankind and nature as the raw ingredients of agricultural origin are renewable and do not add to the Greenhouse effect, safe to transport and biodegradable.
· They won’t cost you more as these paints are around the same cost as synthetic paints; $79 for a four litre tin $179 for a ten litre tin
· There is no offensive smell, in fact some smell like lemons. Due to the lemon peel oil used in the paint (less than one gram per litre).
· Available in a variety of vibrant colours for walls, ceilings and most other painted surfaces.
· It’s also washable which is necessary for children’s areas.
· Low sheen paints are recommended as they allow the walls to breathe & there is no plastic coating on the walls.

Flooring for a children’s space
Why Bamboo? As well as being a stylish alternative to hardwood floors bamboo is also:
· Environmentally sustainable
· Allergy free
· UV and scratch resistant
· Low emissions
· Easy cleaning
· Available in natural, light coffee and coffee colours
Available through Style Plantation

Lighting

A hanging pendant from the ceiling on a dimmer will provide general lighting.
In addition, table lamps give a soft, calming glow and both of these can have matching covers or shades to give a sense of unity to the space.
Table lamp could be a compact fluorescent

Curtains & Blinds

Total block out factor (from sun) is an important consideration.
Venetians, dual blinds, (one sheer, one total block out) or dual curtains (sheer and a heavy drape). Plantation shutters are a great choice too.

Furniture

Furniture made from low toxic materials, like bamboo are the best choice.
Safety is also an issue, ensure that all furniture has smooth, rounded surfaces avoiding anything sharp or potentially hazardous to small children.
Good space planning ensures you have enough room to accommodate bed/cot, change table, toys storage etc.

Water Saving Tips for your home.

Planet Ark's top water saving tips in the home.
Water efficient labels: Look for the six-star water efficient label when you're shopping.
The six-star rating scheme identifies water efficient appliances. The more stars a product has, the more water-efficient it is. Go to http://www.waterrating.gov.au for a full listing.

Dual flush: If you don't have a dual-flush toilet then buy a toilet flush regulator. These devices fit inside your toilet and release the button once you remove your finger from it.

RELATED LINKS
Water saving in the garden

Install tap-flow regulators: These replace your aerator and can cut down the water used by half while still giving good pressure.

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth: This can save as much as 10 litres of water each time you brush.

Check for leaks: It's easy to check if you have a leak using your water meter. Before you go to bed, check your meter reading and write it down. Make sure no one in your household uses any water during the night. The following morning, before people start using water, go and check your meter again. If the reading is higher you have a water leak, which needs to be traced and fixed.

Cut hot water usage by installing a water-efficient showerhead, taking shorter showers and using cold-water clothes washing.

Planet Ark is encouraging Australians to save water and recycle as part of a broad, balanced approach to lessening our impact on the planet.

Happy New Year

We're back! And ready for a busy 2010 - the start of a new decade.

This year, we're working even harder to make a difference to the environment. Let us know what you're doing too - if there is anything that you would like us to share in helping the environment with other passionate people, please email us.

There have also been some changes in our Alexandria showroom over the Christmas break - pop in and take a look if you're in the area. For other Style Plantation showrooms, visit http://www.styleplantation.com/ for locations.