Interior Design Ideas: 'How to' do Stylish Sustainability (P1)
INTERIOR DESIGN IDEAS: HOW TO DO STYLISH SUSTAINABILITY -PART 2
There are two important factors driving the Interior Design sustainability agenda:
1) Finding trusted sustainable brands and partners.
2) Is sustainable design stylish design? cue really poor myths around sustainable being favoured by a certain lifestyle and how sustainable equals boring brown wood! Thinking similar? then read on…
Sustainable design really is ‘super stylish’. This blog sets out to demonstrate the value, possibilities, capabilities and just how incredibly stylish sustainable interior design really is.
Brands are pushing the boundaries of technology, materials and design to achieve sustainable perfection. We are all aware of the climate crisis, there is no escaping it. There is however a lack of brands that are instantly recognisable as the ‘go to’ interior sustainable brands. If you type sustainable fashion into Google, you are spoilt for choice with an array of sustainably sourced clothing brands, could this be because of the recent criticism of waste within the industry, resulting in the industry tackling these challenges head on and very positively? With that in mind, we take a look at some of the available offerings starting to shape the Interior Design landscape:
OUR TOP TEN SUSTAINABLE INTERIOR DESIGN WARES:
1. Hemming and Wills, www.hemmingandwills.co.uk
Recycled Wool Cushions: The cover is made from recycled wool clothing and the cushion pad is filled with an Eco-friendly polyester made completely from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
2. Soak and Sleep, www.soakandsleep.com
Recycled Feather and Down Duvet: This beautiful snuggly duvet is filled with GRS-certified recycled feather and down.
3. Thea Recycled Knitted Throw, www.dunelm.com
Available in 8 shades, neutral to compliment any interior palette, it is made entirely from recycled materials: 51% up-cycled cotton and 49% recycled polyester.
4. Super Soft Pastel Bedding, www.ethicalsuperstore.com
It's made from 100% bamboo, even the buttons! Bamboo is a highly sustainable resource as it is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet. It also only needs a third of the amount of water needed to grow thirsty cotton plants. The bedding is available in four beautiful colours including the much sought-after dusky pink.
5. Organic 5 Piece Knife Block by Viners, www.silvermushroom.com
We adore the look of this super stylish block, the knives are made from 85% recycled steel and the block and handles are part-made with wheat fibre; a natural by-product from the wheat farming industry that's usually burned. The bamboo lid on the block can also be recycled or composted.
6. The Ultimate Sustainable Luxury Mattress, www.brookandwilde.com
The premium British mattress-in-a-box company with a focus on quality – and sustainability. These are the ultimate in luxury design mattresses and fantastically committed to sustainable design.
7. Recycled Glass Cake Dome, www.nkuku.com
This Dome is a work of art, The glass is 100% recycled and the base has been made from sustainably-sourced mango wood.
8. Vektra Innovative Kettle, www.ethicalsuperstore.com
This innovative kettle has a built-in vacuum flask technology that boils water efficiently then keep it hot for up to four hours – so you're not continuously re-boiling, saving money, time and energy.
9. 100% Recycled Glass Vase, www.gardentrading.co.uk
We know what you are thinking, there are a million of these, what makes this one so special: the pale blue tone of this beautiful vase is stunning, the complimentary curves in the shape would add refined glamour to any interior space. It is recycled and lovely, absolutely marvellous!
10. Recycled Tumblers, British Colour Standard, www.trouva.com
They're made from 100% recycled glass; we love the spectacular blue, reminiscent of birds found in paradise. The fact the colour ‘almost’ matches Pantone’s 2020 colour of the year ‘Classic Blue’, made these a winner!
SPEAKING OF STYLISH…
We have been taking inspiration from Architects such as Masow Design Studio, who have created a gorgeous glass house that wraps around an entire tree in the woods of Almaty, Kazakhstan. The circular glass façade envelopes the entire tree trunk along with the branches and reinvents the concept of the term ‘tree house’. We feel this concept will feature heavily within commercial and Residential Interior Designed spaces in the future.
Glass has proven to be key in supporting the sustainable focus within design: with the ever increasing shift in technology driving us closer to nature.
Science is also playing its part, providing understanding of how shapes and the role they play is of significant importance to human engagement. The importance of curves in art has long been scientifically substantiated.
A century ago, a British art critic by the name of Clive Bell attempted to explain ‘what makes art?’ Bells findings concluded: “significant form”—a distinct set of lines, colours, textures and shapes—that qualifies a given piece of work as art. These aesthetic qualities trigger a pleasing response in the viewer and that response, Bell argued, is universal, no matter where or when that viewer lives.
Supporting this theory of curvature being the most appealing shape: neuroscientists at the Zanyl Krieger, Mind/Brain Institute at John Hopkins University joined forces with the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore to conduct an experiment. The experiment looked into ‘What shapes are most pleasing?’. The group wanted to understand exactly what is happening in our brains when we look at them? They had three hypotheses:
1) It is possible that the shapes we most prefer are more visually exciting, meaning that they spark intense brain activity.
2) At the same time, it could be that our favourite shapes are serene and calm brain activity.
3) They surmised we very well might gravitate to shapes that spur a pattern of alternating strong and weak activity.
The experiment titled ‘Beauty and the Brain’ displayed images of shapes on a wall by the artist Jean Arp, chosen due to his abstract sculptural work which is not meant to represent any shape. Participants in the study were asked to rank the images in terms of least and best preferred. The neuroscientists then reviewed the museum-goers’ responses in conjunction with FMRI scans taken on lab study participants looking at the very same images. The scientists found that visitors like shapes with gentle curves as opposed to sharp points. The magnetic brain image scans of the lab participants had proven the team’s first hypothesis to be true: these preferred shapes produce stronger responses and increased activity in the brain, bringing a whole new meaning to the term: ‘way ahead of the curve’.
SOLAR….FAREWELL….
Solar Power has been emerging for some time, but have you seen the panels on roofs and thought: I really wish someone would make them more aesthetically pleasing? Well this design concept is now adjusting!
The ever impressive Architecture studio Snohetta (https://snohetta.com/) always ahead of the curve, has recently completed an office space which is completely clad in beautiful black solar panelling, the building makes an impressive design statement on the Trondheim Fjord, you simply would not initially consider the sustainable mechanics behind the construction. The design sees a large circular central window wrapped in warm white lighting, delivering credentials and aesthetic appeal to a sustainable landmark that the designer can be incredibly proud of. Buildings with sustainable energy focus are now firmly part of our future. It is something to be excited about, as the possibilities and directions to go in are endless.
Architecture studio Snohetta hopes in light of the climate crisis, that sustainable focus will set a new standard for the building industry, without compromising on aesthetics.
Coming up in part 2 of the Eco Style blog, we will be taking look at how sustainable wood and mixed materials are transforming hallways, how materials utilised from nature are providing sustainable alternatives to construction. We hope you found part 1 to be an enjoyable and interesting read., look out for part 2!
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Hello From Speak,
We relish the opportunity to home stage and create interior design’s that inspires. We love to maximise space, leverage colour, and blend architectural features with modern design.
Contact us to SPEAK about your home staging or interior design project’s. We would love to hear from you and explore the rich possibilities!