REUSABILITY: DON'T GO OVERBOARD

Last time on Beyond Taupe, we talked about the concept of sustainability and reusability, as it pertains to your home furnishings. This week, we'd like to emphasize that there is such a thing as going too far with creating a new product out of what was once something entirely different.

For example, there are companies that on the surface specialize in high-end home furnishings and accessories, but then look at every piece of flea market discard and decide it should be turned into some new product (which they then mark up by 50%). We hate to point fingers at a particular company for being notorious offenders in this category, but we feel the need to give you the heads-up and help you to sidestep their money traps. Of course, we fully encourage you to decide for yourself as to whether this company's items are worthy of your hard-earned dollars

SUSTAINABILITY: FOR YOUR HOME AND THE ENVIRONMENT

No doubt you've heard the terms "sustainable wood" or "reclaimed wood", either in regards to furniture or building materials. If you haven't, don't worry, you will more and more frequently in the years to come. Sustainability is a trend that isn't likely to die out.

With this in mind, we thought it wouldn't hurt to give the term, and its relation to the decorating of your home, a space on the blog this week.