Category Archives: Natural stuff

Ethical interiors an essential ingredient for sustainable homes- learning from fast fashion disasters

In light of the recent tragedies in Bangladesh, and even more recently in Cambodia, we cant allow the interiors industry to follow such a shameful way of operating. Knowledge, transparency and questioning is what’s needed. But just who is going to look after our homes interiors and the impact they have around the world? So [...]

I’m dreaming of…..well a Green Christmas of course

It’s that time of year again when decorations start going up and houses become all twinkly. There’s certainly plenty of magic around, but does that really mean it’s ok to give up on our aspirations for a better home and world to live in? And more than that is there a way to still really [...]

Temporary Structures: Working With Nature

  With summer just around the corner, my mind turns to the camping season. It gives me the chance to get outside, be closer to nature and make the most of my fabulous new Bell Tent. But what we are also seeing in the design world is that there is a new found fascination with [...]

Biomimicry: What eco design can learn from nature?

As a designer, there’s really no greater inspiration than the marvels of nature. Increasingly we’re seeing science taking its cues from the natural world in an effort to solve complex design issues in a more organic way. Hopefully creating better spaces for us to live in.   In a nutshell (nice idiom right?), biomimicry or [...]

Eco Home Composting: future designs on home food waste

Ok, so my guilty secret is out. I really find it tough to recycle food waste and scraps from my kitchen. And I suspect I’m not the only one. It’s the smells coming from the compost caddy, the emptying into my enormous outdoor composter, and then getting stuck in to turn and farm this ready-made [...]

My favourite Eco-Friendly Christmas Decorations for this Year

What’s not to love about this mid winter festival of ours, although every year I get hit with a pang of just how am I going to do all this decorating and Christmassy stuff and still make it sustainable. Creativity, inspiration and upcycling is what’s called for. When it comes to decorating my own tree [...]

Sofa, So Green

Choosing eco home furnishings can be really tricky. Particularly for items that are a little more complex in their manufacture and don’t necessarily have a daily energy use. Subsequently, the provenance of manufacture and materials, embodied energy and durability of these pieces really comes into question.   Sofas are a prime example of a high-ticket, [...]

Eco homes need eco heating: My Top Five Favourite Wood Burning Stoves

With winter setting in and chilly temperatures just around the corner (this mild spell can’t last forever), I thought I’d share my favourite wood burning stoves with you.   Come the winter, there aren’t many inanimate objects in my house that I love as much as my wood burning stove. There’s nothing like cycling home [...]

Edible Household – Playing With Your Food

So if we can’t explore a few crazy ideas in this blog, where can we? And with that liberating and mouth watering thought in mind, I thought I’d share with you a few designers who are cooking up a storm with their edible furniture and accessories. It’s clear, if you watch TV on ANY given [...]

Never Felt Better: The Many Uses Of Pressed Wool for eco homes

Felt is one of those under-used but “designers’ favourite” materials. And as one of the earliest fabrics created, it has been for a very long time. Natural felt is made using wool in a wet or dry process and utilises the wool fibre scales and kinks to bond or matt the fabric together.   For [...]