As we stay in our houses, to protect our health and that of others, the idea of home as our sanctuary is taking on a whole new meaning. With school, work and self-isolation all happening in one place – the need to create an overall sense of calm amongst the chaos is greater... Read More →

Patience and Gough are a dynamic design duo, reviving found furniture in the stunning surroundings of Cumbria’s Lake District. Their upcycled furniture range was presented at London’s 100% Design exhibition last autumn. After being spotted by one of their buyers,... Read More →

After graduating in Constructed Textiles from the Royal College of Art, Folkestone-based textile designer Heather Orr forged a collaboration with fashion designer and fellow RCA graduate Jane Bowler. Their bold collections gained a celebrity following – worn by the likes of... Read More →

Etsy is a goldmine of handmade art and craft from around the globe. Lesser known however are the abundance of Etsy shops selling beautifully curated vintage home decor and furniture for the modern interior. With so much second hand homeware available, sourcing the perfect antique... Read More →

Tara Button is an author, eco-campaigner and entrepreneur. In 2016, she founded Buy Me Once, a website selling high quality products that are built to stand the test of time and stay out of landfill. Buy Me Once aims to change our shopping habits for good by promoting brands who... Read More →

Material designer Charlotte Kidger showcased her work at the London Design Festival last year. With plastic named as the Material of the Year, her collection of furniture is made from recycled industrial waste – polyurethane foam dust, which is a byproduct of 3D model... Read More →

Sachie Muramatsu lives in the Japanese city of Sakura, located in Chiba Prefecture. After graduating from Kuwasawa Design School, she took an apprenticeship at a studio specialising in ‘Kaga Yuzen’, the traditional art of hand painting silk for Kimonos. It was through... Read More →

At school Ian Berry was known as the art one. But around aged 18, he didn’t turn up for his art foundation course and listening to those who said art wasn’t a way to make a living (something he now campaigns against when lecturing at schools and universities), went to... Read More →

In 2005, Kresse Wesling and James Henrit launched Elvis & Kresse*. A certified B Corporation, their sustainable luxury line of bags and accessories is made from genuine de-commissioned British fire brigade hoses that would otherwise be destined for landfill. They have now... Read More →

Bottletop have been creating their signature handbags made from recycled aluminium ring pulls since 2002. The brand collaborates with artisans in Brazil, Kenya, Nepal and Indonesia, whilst also running a number of global initiatives through The Bottletop Foundation, which you can... Read More →

In an age of Netflix, Spotify and iTunes, we continue to leave behind a large trail of redundant CDs and DVDs. Turning those discs made from layers of aluminium and polycarbonate plastic into something useful, let alone beautiful is no easy feat. In the UK, only a handful of... Read More →

Ignacio Canales Aracil is a Spanish sculptor who makes extraordinary delicate structures from real pressed flowers and plants. The flowers are held together without the use of any glue but once dried, sprayed with a matt varnish to protect them from moisture. His works... Read More →

According to data gathered by the Green Building Council, construction, demolition and refurbishment accounts for around 120 million tonnes of waste in the UK each year. The value of that perfectly reusable material ending up in landfill – 13% of which is still new and... Read More →

Any discussion around the eco-friendly values of IKEA is guaranteed to provoke hot debate. Even if they are able to make their manufacturing more sustainable, can they ever shake off the transient throwaway image we associate with their products? IKEA calls to mind, mass-produced... Read More →

As more architects explore the potential of tiny homes, finding ways to optimise small interiors is a growing area of interest for designers. Some minimalists advocate that living with less creates simplicity, efficiency and a calmer existence, allowing us to focus on... Read More →

With more of us shopping online, cardboard packaging is fast becoming one of the most ubiquitous materials we discard on a daily basis. Elevated from its humble status, this post explores how artists have been able to exploit its creative potential in unexpected ways, through the... Read More →

When it comes to reusing unwanted materials in an innovative way, it seems the humble seat can be made from just about anything. Looking at the designs below, seating can also surprise and delight as a striking art piece. If you’re sitting comfortably, read on to see some... Read More →

You can never have enough plants in the home, but what about the vessels you put them in? Hundreds of talented ceramicists are selling their beautiful handmade pieces on Etsy, all of which are one of a kind. A stylish way to present your succulents, air plants and cactai, add an... Read More →

Daniel Heath is an award-winning independent wallpaper, textile and surface designer. After training in silk screen printing at the Royal College of Art, he set up his East London studio in 2007 to create bespoke hand printed wallpapers and hand crafted interior surfaces. Key to... Read More →

Surrounded by breathtaking mountainous scenery is the Alila Yangshuo, a converted 1960s sugar mill turned luxury resort hotel. Part of the Alila hotel group, the resort is built on the banks of the Li River in China’s Yangshuo County, situated in the northeast of the... Read More →

With virtually everything become increasingly digitised, more of us are striving for a paperless life. We still however, manage to produce a staggering amount of paper waste, with the UK alone using 12.5 million tonnes of paper and cardboard each year. Creative reuse of this... Read More →

Rupert McKelvie‘s education in woodwork began with acquiring traditional boat building skills in the coastal town of Lyme Regis, as well cabinet making. He then graduated in 3D design and sustainability with a distinction from Falmouth University. He has since worked on a... Read More →

Collect is an annual international contemporary art fair held by the Crafts Council, now its 14th year. It brings together 40 galleries from around the world to London’s Saatchi Gallery. The display of beautiful objects was a feast for the eyes. Several works demonstrated... Read More →

Ignoring the cold spell currently hitting London, the budding crocuses are proof that we are indeed almost at the end of winter. The prospect of sunshine and green leaves on trees is never more welcome than on a chilly day in London. It’s perhaps the ideal time to share... Read More →

The concept of plastic bottle art initially evoked flashbacks of Blue Peter’s Here’s one I made earlier. It’s hard to believe that something as ubiquitous as a used plastic bottle could ever be turned into a thing of beauty. There has been recent media attention... Read More →

The bathroom may not be an obvious setting for some of your flea market finds, but then again, isn’t it that element of the unexpected that makes a room stand apart from the norm? Even one or two vintage pieces – an ornate mirror or a Midcentury cabinet, could turn... Read More →

The war on plastic may finally be gaining traction after the EU announced an official plastics strategy earlier this month. Their target is to make all plastics reusable or recyclable by 2030. Buying your food from bulk bins using your own containers is far from mainstream, but... Read More →

When used bicycle parts get a second life as something beautiful, the term ‘upcycling’ couldn’t be more apt. Although an advocate of all things eco, I am one of the few Londoners that doesn’t do cycling – in fact, you couldn’t pay me to get on a Boris Bike. But... Read More →

Some of the most creative ideas for pop-up spaces, pavilions and temporary structures involve the repurposing and reappropiation of found objects and materials. Repurposing whatever you have to hand, perfectly sets the tone of spontaneity for a casual pop up bar or exhibition... Read More →

Definitions of ‘eco friendly’ can get confusing because it’s hard to quantify exactly much how one manufacturing process or material can be considered less harmful to the planet than another. Furthermore, when a company makes loose claims about being... Read More →

As well as being a natural, durable and highly recyclable material, little can compete with the magic that glass can offer visually. Glass-blowing as an art form dates back as far as 1st-century BC during the establishment Roman Empire. See how these contemporary artists have... Read More →

When it comes to Scandi design, natural branches and foliage are Christmas decor staples. To create a focal point, a few foraged branches and sprays of pine can be much simpler alternative to a Christmas tree, especially where space is limited. So, if you’re looking for... Read More →

The conscious shopper will always ask… how much use and joy will I get out this item that I’m about to bring into my life? This time of year we see an abundance of homeware that can only be used at Christmas, everything from snowflake embellished tableware to Santa... Read More →

It’s somewhat ironic that the seed of Naomi Paul‘s beautiful lighting brand began with a uni project that involved deliberately making something ‘badly’. Fast forward to today and her contemporary pendant lights have caught the attention of commercial and... Read More →

I used to believe that Christmas just isn’t Christmas, without a real tree. There’s just too much nostalgia associated with that familiar pine scent. But our obsession with having a real tree, is costing us. In 2014, it was estimated that 160,000 tonnes of Christmas... Read More →

Following on from my recent post on wool blankets, my hygge obsession doesn’t seem to have waned. The best selling book, The Little Book of Hygge* reveals that 28% of Danes light candles every single day of the year and more than 50% almost every day during autumn and... Read More →

The rate at which we produce and throw away clothes is leading to inconceivable amounts of textile waste. According to the 2017 report by Pulse of the Fashion Industry, only 20% of discarded clothing actually gets reused or recycled. The majority ends up in landfills or gets... Read More →

Stripes, velvet or digital print? Reupholstery of a tired old chair, stool or sofa could make some big changes to your interior. Whilst there are environmental benefits to giving furniture a second chance with exciting fabrics, it can also equate to a style statement that simply... Read More →

Will you be facing your fear of the dark, this Halloween…? To some, the idea of painting a room black is somewhat horrifying, but if you use just about the right amount, it can take a room from drab to dynamic with little effort. And it goes a lot further than just... Read More →

Once you discover the Danish art of hygge, you might even look forward to the onset of winter. Although it has no direct translation, hygge is the word used to describe a feeling of cosiness, wellbeing and contentment with all the simple things in life: cups of cocoa by the fire,... Read More →

If you think reclaimed wood only has a chance at second life, either as furniture or floorboards, think again. More and more creatives are coming up with fresh and exciting way to reuse unwanted offcuts. Negating the need for canvas or clay, these artists prefer working with... Read More →

One of my favourites from London Design Fair was a collection of furniture that immediately stood apart for its elegant and distinctive graphic aesthetic. The artist behind this body of work was Jo Elbourne of Cumulo Design, who works from her studio in Margate on the Kent coast.... Read More →

London Design Festival highlighted a number of designers and makers who are breaking new ground with mindfully sourced materials and more sustainable production. One of the key trends I noticed were the innovative approaches to cork in contemporary furniture and homeware design.... Read More →

Amongst the hundreds of exciting events that have been kicking off at London Design Festival 2017, the launch of Pentatonic‘s eco friendly furniture stood out from the crowd. As you can see for yourself at their pop-up showroom on Chance Street, Shoreditch, Pentatonic have... Read More →

With such an overwhelming amount of options available, choosing paint colours is enough to bring on a headache, even before you’ve been exposed to any paint fumes. Narrowing your choice down to more eco-friendly paint brands, could make life easier… Paints are known... Read More →

Lighting in the 21st-century can be made from all kinds of repurposed ephemera – and not just glass mason jars. From spectacles to drinking vessels, these works by expert designers show how a resource we have in abundance – ordinary glass objects, can be transformed... Read More →

If you’re fortunate enough to visit or reside in Melbourne, Australia, The Estate Trentham, should get straight on your radar. The three bedroom house, surrounded by gardens, is available to rent as an idyllic country retreat, just one hour from the coastal capital. The... Read More →

I’ve always been impressed by artists who use unexpected and found materials in their work. Where others see something unremarkable and disposable, these artists see beauty, and I think this can shift our perception of our surroundings too. But these artists aren’t... Read More →

I would like to think I’m not a hoarder, but some of the items I’ve owned since childhood, will probably never get thrown out – Hopefully that Sylvanian owl family will come in handy one day… It goes with out saying, that being able to reuse heirloom... Read More →

Yukiko Nagai relocated from Japan to Italy, to study the traditional art of mosaic at Ravenna Art Academy. After briefly returning to Tokyo, she decided to set up her life in the city of Ravenna. She now makes exquisite one-of-a-kind chairs, tables and benches using antiques that... Read More →

One of my new guilty pleasures, usually whilst half making lunch, is watching YouTubers reveal their journey towards a simpler, greener and more streamlined lifestyle (currently binging on Use Less and The Girl Gone Green). From Hygge to Minimalism, lifestyle trends can trigger a... Read More →

I’m sure once upon a time, the only thing that adorned a shop ceiling was CCTV and smoke alarms. But when it’s time to refurb a shop, bar, hotel or restaurant, it’s not just about changing up the walls and furniture; it seems many designers are utilisin... Read More →

The cost of gutting, purchasing and installing a new kitchen can vary enormously, but I recently learned that some of us really are prepared to splash out on this part of the house. According to the Kitchen Trends Study 2017 carried out by Houzz UK, 9% of homeowners spent more... Read More →

This is the first in a new series on vintage shopping, and this month I’m putting the spotlight on the renaissance of rattan. This seems to have come hand in hand with a revival of all things 1970s which, thanks to the likes of Gucci, has also hit the catwalk. Rattan also... Read More →

We may be a long way from eliminating waste plastic from the planet completely but more and more designers and manufacturers are finding new and alternative ways to make use of the material, one of them being outdoor furniture. Here are a handful of examples, plus some other... Read More →

With Peckham increasingly becoming one of the coolest London hangouts, I was all the more captivated by this Victorian house renovation on JJ Media‘s locations site. The owners are stylist, artist and art director Liza Giles and architect Matt Giles of Giles & Pike... Read More →

I’m beginning to think that those who have the knack of being able to style vintage are the most eco of all. Being able to see the value in something old and rejuvenate it simply by placing it in the right setting, really is an art form. No sanding, repainting or... Read More →

It’s easy to regard the things that get used every day, as purely functional, practical and utilitarian. But first thing in the morning, we instinctively reach for our favourite mug, because there is something about its shape and texture that makes that ritual of tea... Read More →

If there’s anywhere that prompts you to contemplate exactly where your food is coming from, it’s Silo – an award-winning zero waste restaurant, bakery and coffee house in Brighton. Silo opened in 2014 and pioneered zero waste dining in the UK. Its unique... Read More →

Possessing an ethereal and enchanting quality, the moment you come across a piece of textile art work by Karen Nicol, you’ll be curious to see more. Karen is a London-based embroidery, mixed media and textile artist, whose creations dance between the disciplines of art,... Read More →