Decorating Ideas
The Eco-Friendly Home: Living With Sustainable Design
Posted on April 22nd, 2019 by Hannah.
In a time where threats to our ecosystems and environments are increasingly prevalent, sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It’s become an important practice across many industries, especially in the realm of interior design. Organic, natural, and sustainably made materials and products are now a top priority for designers and consumers alike, inspiring one of the biggest trends of 2019.
“The green emphasis is to live with nature and not against it, which means this trend reaches far beyond the resulting products. Eco-friendly material sourcing, construction, and innovative design all form part of sustainability,” says Decorilla interior designer Germarie Bruwer. Ready to take a green approach to your own space? By setting your sights on eco-conscious fabrications and shopping for sustainably focused brands, you can take steps to reduce your environmental impact at home this year.
Substances With Substance
From recycled, repurposed, and reclaimed to 100% au naturel, the materials you incorporate into your living spaces have never mattered more. “As more reports share how different products and materials wreak havoc on the environment (and our health!), we all want to minimize our carbon footprint. We buy clean beauty and ethically-made clothes, so why should our home decor be any different?” Apartment Therapy’s Kelsey Mulvey shares.
Do right by the environment on your search for the perfect furnishings, whether you’re seeking a large-scale piece or striking accents with a one-of-a-kind feel. Think big with styles like this sculptural side table that’s artistically pieced together from natural teak wood, and this weathered and sun-faded console cabinet, constructed from solid reclaimed fir wood. And when it comes to embellishments, we suggest the following accessory finds: a statement-worthy chandelier made from wrought iron and recycled glass, a distinctive floor clock built from rustic live edge acacia wood slabs, and a textured rug that’s hand-woven from recycled charcoal leather and natural hemp.
What’s In a Name?
“I think it’s so important to be really strategic and purposeful about making any sort of purchase, but especially for the home. And to take that a step further, to really think about who you are buying from, the materials being used to create each item, and what values the company stands for,” lifestyle blogger Grace Atwood explains. Here at Stowers, we admire brands that stand for something, which is why we’re proud to feature several vendors on our showroom floor that specialize in sustainably made products.
Look to The Phillips Collection for a selection of artisan-designed organic contemporary furnishings. The High Point, North Carolina-based company also offers a line of furniture called the Origins Collection, where not a single tree is cut down in the production process. Family-run brand Palecek handcrafts their eco-conscious designs from abundant renewable plants like rattan, abaca, and seagrass, and each piece is upholstered and finished in California. Headquartered in Austin, Home Trends and Design makes solid wood furniture by hand from sustainable and reclaimed materials. A founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, HTD also created the Mango Foundation, an organization that works to reverse the harmful effects of furniture production by planting trees.
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