Cork is one of those materials that designers love (a bit like cardboard) but others still have a bit of a hang up about. Reminiscent of chilly 1960s bathroom floors, it’s now having a renaissance in the home, with a selection of truly sustainable, beautiful and highly functional products. It’s warm-to-the-touch, has a little bounce and is really, really floaty. …
New designs, new ways with super micro renewables
We all know that micro generation is changing the street and roof scapes of our cities, and of course if we can make this work financially then we should be investing in it. But what about creating energy at a smaller scale still, for want of a better term I’m going to call it Super Micro generation, which doesn’t mean …
And so to bed … healthy bedrooms, eco homes
Im often asked how eco design can create healthy homes as a means to reduce asthma and allergies. More often than not the answer lies in the bedroom; its materials and potential toxins. As we spend a round one third of our lives in our bedrooms focussing on the reduction of toxins, good ventilation and reducing the build up of …
Knitted furniture for happier Eco interiors!
Amazing to think that there are around 32 million sheep in the UK – that’s half a sheep per person (perhaps a bit messy) or 2 sheep per family of 4, much neater except perhaps in the bathroom. So where I hear you ask is all that fabulous wool going, especially as wool sales have been in such decline? Well …
New Eco light bulbs
The world of low energy lighting seems to move at, well, the speed of light I guess, so its pretty tricky to keep up to date with whats going on. No sooner have you specified your new super bright LED down lighters and they are yesterdays news. So here a few newcomers to the low energy lighting market place. First …
Eco Interiors need your old drawers
Ok so I know that this headline can be easily misinterpreted and people often raise an eyebrow or two when I tell them I am obsessed with old drawers, but just hold out and let me tell you why… Every year hundreds of thousands of tonnes of usable furniture is simply thrown into landfill sites or crushed and chipped. It’s …
Eco homes need a bit of breathing space
Build tight, ventilate right. With the weather turning just a little my mind is sadly turning towards getting the home ready for winter. With the cooler weather, comes the closing of doors and windows, so the house is getting noticeably less natural ventilation, it’s not just that the smell of my cooking is sticking. But it seems to me that …
Cool Homes? The Unusual World of Refrigerator Upcycling
I didn’t see this coming but it turns out white goods are the new black. What am I on about? I hear you ask. Well, weird but true, but we seem to be seeing an increasing number of projects that make the most of upcycling refrigerators in really unusual ways. I know what you’re thinking – pretty cool huh? Sorry, …
Greener homes (literally!) and more sustainable homes
The world of architecture is awash with new ways of adding plant life to our built environment. To my great delight we are seeing that trend move into the home in all sorts of inspiring ways. Plants are not only good for the soul but also for the health as many, such as ferns, orchids and spider plants, remove toxins …
Great Green Garden Gadgets Eco-Friendly Summer Cooking
I know the summer is nearly over but there seems to be a rush on eco-friendly garden gadgets and I can’t resist showing you some. Who knows, we might even get an Indian summer and a chance to enjoy them for a little longer? Camping is great for getting away from it all but these days we need to stay …