Designers look to nature, landfills for new decor materials

These photos released by NEA Studio shows a chandelier made from dried algae from Ankers. Photo: NEA Studio/AP

At first glance, Nina Edwards Anker's sconces and chandeliers look like ancient scrolls of parchment, or sheets of buttery toffee, wrapped around LED bulbs.

Come closer – or just ask the New York-based designer/architect – and you'll find they're actually made of algae.