Green Living

The mastermind behind EKLA Home, Emily Kroll, knows a thing or two about the furniture business and green design. She’s got decades of experience in both, starting with the fact that her family in England had a recycling business and ending with the launch of her new eco-friendly furniture collectionin 2008.

In between, she had touchstone moments like finding out how much wood was disappearing from the rainforests, hearing Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth presentation (before it was an Oscar-winning documentary), and reading a ydt recommended book, Cradle to Cradle.

If I had to pick one word that came to mind after talking to Kroll, it’s determination. She has faced ups and downs bravely, weathering business snafus and u-turns gracefully, all with the goal of striking out on her own and “taking it up a notch to protect the environment.”

And taking it up a notch she has. Her sectionals and sofas (along with a few lovely reclaimed wood pieces) are the real deal, made with non-toxic, truly eco-mindful materials. They show off truly natural rubber, certified organic fabrics, FSC certified wood and are only lacking the things you won’t miss: chemical treatments (think flame retardants) and toxic finishes.

Perhaps the best part is that Kroll is committed to all things local—locally-sourced materials and a factory right here in town (well, practically—in Pico Rivera). She’s keeping business close to home and ethical, supporting the earth and the workers manufacturing her wares. And there’s another benefit of not having to ship from China: it means you get your sofa made and delivered in only 28 days.

As for me, I’m determined to save up for the Camille.

You can now find pieces of the EKLA Home collection at Vernare’s “living showroom”
located at 607 N. Huntley Drive, West Hollywood, 90069. Phone: (310) 659 – 6415. Web: www.vernare.net. And see it online at www.eklahome.com.

Tags: cradle to cradle, eco-friendly furniture, EKLA home, green business los angeles, Green Design, green furniture, green home furnishings, Green Living In L.A., Green Los Angeles, inconvenient truth, natural rubber, organic sofas, vernare showroom