INSIDE & OUT : Earthly Goods

Some people talk about recycling. Some people talk about being sensitive to the environment.

But interior designer Sandy Abel and architect Dennis LaRoche are doing more then talking, they are doing something about it.

Their new venture, Living Naturally, a store that opened in late August in Laguna Beach, is a store that sells environmentally sensitive home furnishings and accessories.

Living Naturally, at 361 Forest Ave., came about after Abel and LaRoche discussed doing something to help the Earth after attending a meeting that focused on environmental concerns. Both are active in such organizations.

“It’s time for everyone to start caring about the environment and this is one way to make it easier for consumers to do so,” said Abel, who grew up in London, but has lived in Laguna Beach for 20 years. Abel designs some of the furniture in the store, in some case using recycled wood.

A featured item that uses natural materials is the bamboo shade lamp ($150). The shade is woven bamboo, and the base is made of an aluminum alloy.

Abel and LaRoche, who also has designed a clothing line for the store, uses supplies and products from environmentally sensitive vendors only.

“It takes a lot of time and effort to find and get these materials, but it’s worth it,” said Abel, adding that she and LaRoche are working on more furnishings and accessories.

All of the bed and bathroom linens and fabrics in the store are made from organically grown cottons. One of the signature collections, The Purists, is already a big seller. With natural cottons, virgin wools and linens, the sheets, towels and other furnishings have varied textures, weaves and colors.

The pillow sham ($48) has a Jacquard pattern, the bath sheet ($49) sports a waffle look and the jasmine-patterned sheet ($200 for twin flat) has its own silky, thick texture--all achieved without chemical bleaches, dyes or finished. For more information, call (714) 376-2640.

‘Za Hut

First there was the fondue pot, for casual entertaining right at the table.

Now there’s the Pizzadom, a Swiss clay dome oven, that makes brick oven-style pizza on the table.

Using three safety paste burners and steel deflectors on a stainless steel base, it can make up to five four-inch pies at a time in about four minutes.

The Pizzadom, which is 14 1/2 inches wide by 10 1/2 inches tall, is available by catalogue from Potpourri’s Expressions, based in Medfield, Mass. The dome ($225 plus shipping and handling) comes with a dough cutter and three spatulas.

To order from the catalogue call (800) 388-2699.

Kids’ True Colors

One place most parents allow their children to express themselves is in their bedrooms, and with that in mind, Plummers, which has a store in Santa Ana, has introduced a line of Dannish modular furniture just for the young

Color 4 Kids is a four-part collection of beds, chests,desks and tables in primary colors in which every piece fits with everything else.

Made of a medium-density fiber board with a non-toxic brightly painted surface, the pieces are easy to clean.

The four groupings--First Steps, Action, School Time and Club 8 for teens-- can be rearranged in a multitude of ways. Each grouping is made to progress into the next, so pieces from the nursey can be incorporated into designs for a teen room. For instance, desks and book shelves from the School Time grouping can be added to the Club 8 bunk bed..

Prices vary, depending on the pieces chosen. The two-bed bunk beds are $375; a book shelf is $39 and desktop $69. Plummers is at 1540 E. Warner Ave. For more information, call 557-0611.