These chic finds are kind to the earth too.
Caring for the environment isn’t an option, it’s a requirement. From eco-friendly designs to sustainable spaces, we round up the places, products, and initiatives that help you green your lifestyle one considered step at a time.
(Related: 7 Ways To Decorate With Greenery, Pantone's Colour Of The Year)
Natural Slumber
Sleep peacefully and in comfort, in one of the most sustainable ways possible. All products from Greek bedding and mattress purveyor Coco-Mat are made from natural materials such as coconut fibre, cotton, wool and seaweed; these are produced with ecologically non-toxic dyes and wrapped with reusable packaging. Try the four-layer bed system, which features all of the brand’s top products—the bed-mattress, mattress, natural rubber top-mattress and goosedown topper—that collectively help to ease you into a relaxing repose.
Available at HomesToLife, 65 Mohamed Sultan Road, Tel: 6635 5050, coco-mat.com
Frozen In Time
Reclaimed lumber has never looked this luxurious. Amsterdam-based firm Barn in the City reuses wood from old barns by encasing the material in resin before using it to make furniture and decorative panelling. Dubbed “iced barn wood”, the treated material can also be coated in layers of gold or silver, and other finishes for added sheen. It can be used for dining tables, television consoles, planters as well as wall surfaces—the possibilities are almost endless, as all furniture and panelling are made upon order.
Available at Tatum Singapore, 29B Keong Saik Road (By appointment only), Tel: 6221 2524, barninthecity.com
Especially For You
These stylish seats might just become the essential pieces for your soirees. Although they are made of recyclable wood fibreboard and kraft paper, chairs from Taiwanese furniture brand Flexible Love are far from fragile and are made for long-term use. They feature a unique honeycomb structure that not only provides robust support but also allows the chairs to be easily compressed for storage or expanded to sofa seating when you’re expecting many visitors. Over time, the edges of the seat will soften to create beautifully irregular facets that make this furniture a piece that’s uniquely yours.
Woven Beauty
Opt for nature-derived materials such as rattan to add warmth and texture to your home. The Janus et Cie interior Rattan collection for Spring 2017 features plenty of cosy rattan chairs with sinuous curves that celebrate the material’s organic origins, while pairing these with classic silhouettes and elegant hues. The renewable and recyclable material is made of natural plant fibres, which are hand-woven into fabric-like sheets to create pliable seats that are resilient and refined.
Available at Janus et Cie, 11 Beach Road, #01-02, Tel: 6333 0060
Soft Landing
Support artisans in developing nations and help them prosper by decorating your home with handmade fair trade pillows. Available for purchase on Californian fashion designer and TV personality Lauren Conrad’s global online store, The Little Market, you can choose one-of-a-kind woven, embroidered or organic silk throw pillows made by indigenous communities in countries such as Guatemala, India, Mali and Mexico. Particularly colourful and intriguing are the Huipil & Corte pillows, which are made from fabrics used in traditional Mayan women’s clothing.
Island Life
Take in the breeze and enjoy the great outdoors with modular outdoor furniture from Giorgetti, created in collaboration with design studio Ludovica+Roberto Palomba. Produced with eco-conscious and energyefficient technology, the sturdy platforms of its Apsara outdoor seating system serve as decks for removable cushion seats and side tables. Each set is made of aluminium frame and afrormosia wood, and paired with cushions clad in waterproof covers; stainless steel pins keep the cushioning and side tables secured to the platform.
Available at Space Furniture, 77 Bencoolen Street, giorgetti.eu
Flights Of Fancy
Ever thought of creating a miniature version of your favourite mid-century architectural work? Handmade by co-owner Doug Barnhard in Santa Cruz, California, these birdhouses from Sourgrassbuilt were inspired by the works of American architects Joseph Eichler, Frank Lloyd Wright and the Bauhaus School. While these structures may have been made for fowls, the elaborate designs make them beautiful and eco-conscious objects—each piece is made from repurposed wood sourced within the US.
Tropical Tribute
Designer Ito Kish has a deep well of untapped inspiration—the culture and crafting traditions of the Philippines. Made up of over 7,000 islands blessed with natural resources, the country is referenced in many of his creations for the home, which use organic materials and follow nature’s forms. From the award-winning Gregoria Chair to his reimagining of rattan, Kish’s mastery of weaving age-old traditions to suit current tastes makes his eponymous brand one of Asia’s most distinctive.
Gone With The Wind
For an eco-friendly way to stay cool within your room, opt for energy-efficient ceiling fans to help reduce your power consumption. Ceiling fans from Spin come fitted with the Ultra Dynamic Direct Current (DC) Motor, which is said to utilise just 30 per cent of the energy of a conventional alternating current (AC) motor. Available in three colourways—black, white and woodgrain brown— each fan comprises of three precision-engineered blades made of lightweight acrylic, that are both durable and easy to maintain.
Available at Spin, 12 Tagore Drive, #03-01, Habitat Warehouse, Tel: 6298 1038
Let The Sunshine In
Curtail your energy consumption by using the sun’s rays to help power your home. Renovation and interior design firm Nic and Wes offers solar panel installation that can be made to fit your home’s specific structural and design requirements. What type of home works best for this? Ideally, it should have a large and open roof space, where the solar panels—also known as as photovoltaics (PV) system—will be installed, to convert light into electricity. Arrange for a site visit to make sure installation is feasible and you’re on your way to a greener abode.
Available at Nic and Wes, 53 Ubi Avenue 1, #05-52. Paya Ubi Industrial Park, Tel: 6449 7949