PHOTOS: The Best Green Designs From ICFF 2012!

Heads up design aficionados! The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/icff/">International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2012</a> kicked off last weekend in <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/nyc">NYC</a> and Inhabitat reported live from the Javits Center to bring you the best in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/">green design</a> and innovation from this year's show. We spotted a bunch of fun and fabulous designs - from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-is-reporting-live-from-icff-2012/david-clarkin-headliner-seating/?extend=1">LED Broom Lamps</a> (exactly what they sound like), to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-is-reporting-live-from-icff-2012/kast-van-een-huis-kids-house-closets/?extend=1">mini-house-shaped closets</a>, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-is-reporting-live-from-icff-2012/art-of-board-skateboard-tiles/?extend=1">skateboard tiles</a>, and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-is-reporting-live-from-icff-2012/parvez-taj-rubicks-cube-lamp/?extend=1">Rubik's Cube stools</a>. We'll be publishing breaking design coverage throughout the week, so keep checking back for new updates, and peruse our <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-is-reporting-live-from-icff-2012/urbio-magnetic-plant-holders/">gallery slideshow </a>for the most recently-uploaded photos that grabbed our attention at ICFF!

How fun is this screenprinted trompe l'oeil Rubik's Cube lamp/seat by <a href="http://www.parveztaj.com/">Parvez Taj</a>? In addition to serving double duty, the lamp-cum-stool uses LED illumination, which saves energy.

<a href="http://www.myurbio.com/">Urbio</a> magnetic modular holders are an easy way for urban dwellers to create vertical gardens on their walls while also organizing things like pens, tsotchkes and utensils.

Kohler brought a splash of color onto the ICFF showfloor with their chartreuse booth made of a recycled shipping container.

We fell head-over-heels in love with <a href="http://www.kastvaneenhuis.nl/">Kast Van Een Huis</a> - a Dutch company making these adorable <a href="http://www.kastvaneenhuis.nl/">house-shaped closets</a> and storage lockers for kids. Not only are they the cutest thing ever, allowing children to play grownup and "own their own house", but the materials and finishings are all eco-friendly and non-toxic as well. Stacked in a row of 4 or 5 they make a sweet "street" - perfect for a kindergarten classroom. <b>LOVE!</b>

BRC Designs' <a href="http://inhabitat.com/brc-designs-american-pipe-dream-chair-and-table-are-made-from-a-maze-of-copper-piping/">American Pipe Dream Chair</a> was inspired by the Windows infinite pipe screensaver.

The hottest trend at ICFF this year? Broom Lamps! Amazingly these LED illuminated <a href="http://peteriszilbers.com/">"Mood Broom" Lamps</a> by <a href="http://peteriszilbers.com/">Peteris ZIlbers Design</a> were not the only broom lamps at <a href="http://www.icff.com/">ICFF</a> 2012. More coverage of the dueling broom lamps to come!

3D printing design studio <a href="http://n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com/">Nervous Systems</a> wowed us with these gorgeous <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nervous-systems-ethereal-3d-printed-led-leaf-lamps-shine-light-on-natural-design/">3D-printed "Hyphae Lamps".</a> The design is modeled on how veins form in leaves. As if <a href="http://inhabitat.com/biomimicry/">biomimetic design</a> and zero-waste 3D printing technology wasn't eco enough for ya, these lamps also employ low energy LED illumination. <b>WIN!</b>

The Headliner Chair is named for the magazine and newspaper clippings that make up its colorful design, conceived by student <a href="http://www.coroflot.com/public/individual_details.asp?individual_id=439570">David Clarkin</a>. The aluminum and resin chair system is customizable meaning that almost any kind of flat material could be used.

We loved how these LED lamps by <a href="http://www.lightandcontrast.com/">Light and Contrast </a>didn't look like lights at all. Resembling tiny flowers, they can even be dimmed by twisting a small leaf-shaped knob.

<a href="http://www.emeco.net/location.aspx">Emeco</a> teamed up with <a href="http://www.starck.com/">Philippe Starck</a> for the North American debut of the Broom chair - a cute eco seat made from 90% recycled industrial material.

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/art-of-board-shows-off-its-skate-decks-repurposed-into-rad-wall-tiles-at-icff/">Art of Board</a>'s recycled skateboard wall tiles were an even bigger hit at ICFF this year. The crowd was loving the colorful wall tiles that makes use of defunct decks.

Welsh family company <a href="http://www.melintregwynt.co.uk/">Melin Tregwynt </a>caught our eye with their bright, woven wool textiles that can be used for anything from furniture upholstery to apparel. We especially loved their high-quality satchel bags.

While the pieces that caught our eyes the most tended to be more affordably-priced, there was no shortage of ultra high-end furniture at the show. For example, this breathtaking stool made of a reclaimed tree stump dipped in silver, going for a mere $2,500.

With "Make Life Fun and Easy" as their motto, <a href="http://zuny.info/about.php">Zuny </a>works with artisans to create their adorable leather animals that do double duty as paper weights, doorstops and bookends.

This intriguing and weird firewood-pile desk by <a href="http://www.fiftytwothousand.com/postindex.htm">Mark Moskovitz of FiftyTwoThousand</a> invited interaction from the crowd. Its a pile of wood! It's a pile of firewood! No..... it's a chest of secret drawers!

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/itree-is-an-ipod-docking-station-made-out-of-an-entire-tree-trunk/">iTree's</a> enormous sounds matches its gigantic treetrunk base.

We've long been fans of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-growth-chandeliers/">eco designer Chris Poehlmann</a> of <a href="http://www.cplighting.com/">CPLighting</a> for his amazing sculptural tree-like lamps made from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-growth-chandeliers/">recycled pipes</a>, and his latest stunner is this incredible dining table / floor lamp combination - featuring all recycled pipes and LED bulbs. <b>WOW!</b>

<a href="http://reclaimedcleveland.com/">Reclaimed Cleveland</a> specializes in finding old junk and refurbishing it into desirable new products that have a rustic feel.

We're fans of kneeling chairs because they improve posture and bloodflow, and this one had a colorful print to boot.

Cardboard lamps were a trend we spotted all over ICFF and these were some of our favorites.

Nuvo displayed their elegant LED pendant lamps - another trend we spotted a lot of at ICFF 2012 - from the ceiling of their booth.

Heads up design fans! <a href="http://inhabitat.com/icff/">ICFF 2012</a> just kicked off in <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/nyc">NYC </a>and Inhabitat is reporting live from the Javits Center to bring you the best green designs from this year's show. We'll be publishing breaking design coverage throughout the day so keep checking back, and step into our <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-is-reporting-live-from-icff-2012/urbio-magnetic-plant-holders/">gallery slideshow </a>for just-uploaded photos of the designs that grabbed our attention so far today!

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Inhabitat favorite <a href="http://molodesign.com/">Molo</a> surprised visitors by rolling out a line of honeycomb cardboard softseating in a brilliant blue hue.

<a href="http://www.qisdesign.com/">Qisdesign</a> launched their brand new Aurelia LED lamp, which looks like a glowing deep sea jellyfish! Look for a hanging version of the lamp to hit shelves later this year.

<a href="http://www.ruxdesign.net/">RUX Design</a> showcased the Stickbulb - a modular LED lighting system made from a variety of woods - including <a href="http://inhabitat.com/roller-coaster-chair-made-from-coney-island-boardwalk-planks/">salvaged planks from the Coney Island boardwalk</a>. Stickbulbs can be connected together to form abstract installations or arranged ad-hoc in vases like bouquets of light.

<a href="http://www.vt.edu/">Virginia Tech</a> unveiled a prototype of a beautiful blossoming flower facade system that is capable of opening and closing throughout the day to control daylighting.