Green Living in Stockholm

It was actually quite interesting to see that environmental awareness is something that is more of a way of life then a trend, like we have here in the United States. Being someone who loves both environmental politics and sustainable design, I found it very refreshing to find that many places, not just our specific hotels were “green” and on the right path towards bettering our environment. The hostels and hotels that we stayed in were picked for the specific reasoning that they were “environmentally friendly,” but if you were to have seen the everyday stores, restaurants, and tourist attractions, you would; too, see that “green living” is a way of life. On one of my trips to “Old Town” I came across this little jewelry story…I instantly fell in love with it…the store was filled with the brightest, craziest looking pieces of jewelry I had seen. I think I spent a little too much there, for the fact that the boys immediately left the store and sat outside for what I am sure seemed like an eternity. After starting a conversation with the store owner, she started telling me about how all of the glass that is used in her jewelry is recycled, melted, and then re-hand blown into the pieces that she makes. This sparked my interest even more, and I shared with her why I was on the trip and my interests in the environment and design. She shared with me the layout of her store and how pretty much everything, aside from the other manufactured knick knacks that she sells, was environmentally conscience. From the lighting, to the fixtures, all they way down to the floor, this woman had turned an old store into an environmentally friendly boutique that not only looks spunky, but sells some pretty sweet jewelry too! She told me that I would be surprised to find how many people actually remodel or design their homes using sustainable materials and products. This is definitely a stop I will make again, when I find my way back to Stockholm.-Kory Bonnell