We just visited the new Crate&Barrel funriture store in Minneapolis, MN. The modern storefront is striking. The inside is like a wonderland to me, especially now that we can see the furniture in person. Crate&Barrel has always been a favorite of mine. Now they are even more a favorite since I discovered their abundance of eco-friendly furniture options.


While flipping through the catalog I was somewhat surprised to see a product description that started out with “Chairs have eco-friendly, certified sustainable, kiln-dried hardwood frames”. The surprise came in the fact that Crate&Barrel does not splash green terminology everywhere or put little leaf symbols to designate eco-friendly products. Instead they discreetly include the environmental benefits within their product descriptions. Their Environmental Initiatives page on their website explains “At Crate and Barrel, green is not a trend. It’s an ongoing mission.”

As I continued to browse the catalog I noticed that most of the upholstered furniture features eco-friendly frames and are benchmade in the USA. They also feature products made from eco-friendly woods/grasses like mango, peroba, eucalyptus, and bamboo. The resources guide at the end of the catalog provides definitions for all these and explains more about Crate&Barrel’s commitment to sustainable practices.

Here are some notable finds that I thought could be useful in a modern nursery or playroom:

The Nomad storage cube with a certified sustainable hardwood frame made in the USA.

The Court Bishop and Rook sculpture tables in chess-inspired designs are made from mango wood. I think these are just neat to look at.

The Taisho chest provides clever storage and is made from solid reclaimed elm.

The Troy Loveseat Twin Sleeper would make a great pace to cuddle up with a good book or extra guest bed. It has a sustainable hardwood frame and soy-based or plant-based polyfoam cushions.