A few years ago I snapped up a pair of placemats by San Fran design outfit Publique Living that layered thin walnut veneers over squishy foam backs. Thus began a little obsession with the company's products, which honor the beauty of patterns that occur in nature like wood grains and fossilized stones. The company's newest offerings also give props to mother earth: artfully designed boxes printed to mimic walnut and rosewood, plus chic gift-wraps made with soy inks on uncoated recycled-content paper...a little gift back to nature.

+ publiqueliving.com