Over the last few months I have been on the hunt for eco-friendly furniture since I just moved into a new home. It’s a loft-type space with high ceilings, and I needed some tall modular bookshelves and a media console. My search led me to urbangreen, a home furnishings manufacturer based in Brooklyn, which uses wood that is FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) with low-VOC (and toxin-free) stains and paints.
On a cold Saturday afternoon, I ventured out to urbangreen, located in the iconic Brooklyn Army Terminal that served as the largest military supply base in the U.S. during WWII. Nowadays, the BKLYN Army Terminal houses commercial and industrial companies. It creates a great backdrop for urbangreen’s showroom and manufacturing facility with its modern and utilitarian architecture.
Everything works on a local level at the eco-friendly company. All wood comes from FSC-certified lumberyards in the northeast region of the U.S., and the entire design, cutting and finishing happens right there in Brooklyn. The showroom is stunning—very spacious and contemporary, filled with many design options.
At urbangreen everything is handcrafted, which I was able to see during my tour guided by the company’s COO. There was hardly any dust or smell, which creates a healthy environment for the artisans. All orders can be custom cut, designed and finished to fit into any home. In my case I just needed specific holes for the Thompson TV console, but you can basically design your own furniture. I ended up choosing a maple wood with an espresso finish to match the rest of my living room. A very thoughtful and elegant detail is that the drawers of the console close automatically in a soft motion when you touch them lightly.
It feels great to surround yourself with products that support local businesses, and to know where they come from. I was really impressed by the customer service as well. As soon as I placed the order, I was provided with a delivery date, and I didn’t even have to ask about the insurance qualification for my building. It made the entire process a breeze. Now I can’t wait until everything arrives!
Tags: eco-design, eco-friendly, home decor, sustainable design, sustainable furniture,sustainable style, urbangreen