WHAT'S OLD IS NOT NEW...IT'S BETTER
- Kathleen Syron
- May 4, 2023
- 5 min read
No longer do you need to sacrifice style and luxury to be eco-
conscience
Interior design has always been about creating unique spaces that reflect the personality and style of the homeowner. When creating a space, a designer considers how the homeowners live, their preferred styles and colors, their budget, and unique features that reflect their personality. They then bring all that to life through material finishes, furniture, and decor items. As sustainability and environmental concerns become increasingly important, people are now asking their designers to incorporate eco-conscience materials and furniture into their plans. Before, this limited designers to items that were either rustic, industrial, or artsy, but not luxurious. However, just as recycling has gained a greater audience, so has the trend of repurposing old items, which has expanded beyond DIY enthusiasts and now also appeals to high-end designers. Luxury pieces, made from recycled materials, are being created by skilled craftsmen for their discerning clients. These pieces can add a touch of luxury to any room while also serving as a conversation starter. For example, the Cluster Bomb Cabinet from Plane Industries has refurbished a retired missile fuselage, into a radiant drinks cabinet. The functioning bar is a spectacular piece with a commanding presence that demands attention.
Finishes and Materials
If a homeowner wants to make their house more eco-conscience and lessen their environmental impact, they should first look at the largest surfaces in the home, such as walls, flooring, and countertops.
Paint
In terms of paint, environmentally friendly colors are primarily characterized by a low VOC value. VOCs are ‘volatile organic compounds that are released as the paint dries and for some time thereafter. VOCs assist with the quality of application and the drying process; thus it was hard to produce high-quality paint in a variety of colors that was also eco-friendly. However, as awareness of the health and environmental impacts of VOCs has grown, paint companies have developed new formulations that use alternative ingredients to achieve the same performance standards without the use of harmful VOCs. Responding to home buyers' interest in eco-friendly paints, most major luxury brands such as Farrow & Ball, Greene Little Paint Company, and Designer’s Guild have created eco-lines.
Standing more than eight feet tall and weighing 600 pounds, the mirror-polished Cluster Bomb Drinks Cabinet is a truly unique piece of furniture and is a perfect example of luxury upscaling.
Countertops
There are several existing high-end materials that usSeveral existing high-end materials use several either recycled or sustainable materials for both flooring and countertops. The most notable are terrazzo and quartz, which are both engineered stone surfaces that combine bits of marble, granite, or glass with cement or resins that are polished to resemble natural stone while offering greater durability. There is another fairly new product on the market from Foresso, labeled the ‘Timber of Terrazzo’. The solid surface is created with wood waste sourced from felled trees, cement, and plaster dust mixed with a non-toxic binding glue. The material can be used on counters, furniture, and worktops.
A wood-based ‘terrazzo’ has been created by Foresso for clients who want a recycled product made entirely from natural material waste.
The same company took recycling to the next level by introducing their ‘No-Chip’ solid surface made with their extracted dust and wood waste. The raw waste is then mixed with a non-toxic binder and polished. The resulting product is akin to a silky smooth matte paint finish.
Flooring
There are several sustainable flooring options, including cement, cork, bamboo, LVP, natural linoleum, and even marmoleum made from natural and recycled materials. Vinyl floors use recycled products but also have toxic glues to consider. Recycled rubber products, such as old tires, make excellent flooring for recreational and workshop spaces. Luxury flooring made from 100% recycled material is limited, but new brands like Matthew Wailes' UPCYCLE - Luxury Eco use plastic ocean waste to create stunning carpets.
Ceramic, porcelain, and terracotta tiles are naturally eco-friendly, as they're made from clay and dirt. However, to ensure a truly eco-conscious choice, it's important to consider factors like distance from the source and sealers used. Glass is the
way to go if you're after a high-end luxury option made entirely from recycled materials. While the glass used in all tiles is similar, the design and application set them apart. Invest in a professional tiler to create intricate designs that will showcase the beauty of this unique product.
Furniture
While buying new and trendy furniture and decor is tempting, repurposing old items is an eco-friendly and stylish way that creates unique and luxurious interiors. One of the benefits of repurposing old items is that they add character and depth to a space. Vintage furniture, for example, can give a room a timeless quality and create a sense of history that cannot be replicated with new furniture. On the other hand, if you are not crafty, or are looking for something more upscale, try these stores and designers.
In 2018, after researching, designing, and material and prototype testing – ecoBirdy created a four-piece collection of kid-sized design furniture entirely made from recycled plastic toys. They have since incorporated adult and décor items.
ecoBirdy’s award-winning Charlie chair is both light and remarkably stable making it perfect for kids. Recycled pieces of plastic toys are recognizable and make up the distinctive speckled look.
Expert arti
sans from every Hermès métier work hand in hand with artists and guest designers to create unique, functional objects from Hermès leather scraps. The items are playful and not based not on a preconceived notion of Hermès, but rather the materials themselves.
Petit h has a bold interpretation of everyday objects. This corkscrew, made from Hermes remnants is inspired by the shape of a footed knife, the leatherworker’s tool.
The Ash Tree Stool GM by Petit h embraces Hermes's classic materials of leather and silk. The choice of material and colors is based on what is available on the floor of the Hermes workshop.
Plane Industries is a British furniture brand that uses authentic aircraft parts to create beautifully functional pieces for the home or office. Founded in 2013 by two brothers with a shared love of breaking and making stuff set out to breathe new life and purpose into old beloved objects.
The BAe-146 COWLING CHAIR
Plane Industries crafted this chair from the cowling of a BAe 146 engine. Its smooth design alludes to a jet engine without appearing overt. The result is a one-of-a-kind chair that rotates effortlessly on a polished aluminum base, giving the impression of weightlessness.
Magis Design, a multifaceted Italian furniture design and manufacturing company, creates products that adorn residences, public areas, and over 35 museums worldwide. Their designs prioritize aesthetics and functionality for the present and future. As part of their commitment to sustainability, they have begun incorporating waste generated from their production process into their product line.
Crafted from recycled polypropylene sourced from Magis' furniture production waste and the local automotive industry, this patented material is devoid of nearly all "new" or virgin materials. Moreover, this innovative material can be recycled completely after use, contributing to Magis' commitment to sustainability.
The brainchild of designer Benjamin Rollins Caldwell, BRC Designs makes limited edition objects, one-of-a-kind pieces, and custom materials from the inception of the idea through to production. The objective is to use materials in such a way that completely transforms their original purpose into something new and innovative.
Designer Benjamin Rollins Caldwell has been dubbed “the re-inventor” because he creates furniture from recycled materials. His American Dream Pipe Chair is constructed of copper plumbing and faux leather fabric.
Lighting
When it comes to luxury, few fixtures can rival the grandeur of a chandelier. Unfortunately, environmentally conscious options have been restricted to lackluster faux crystal designs. Some rec
ycled materials offer a more contemporary and engaging look.
The Seattle-based design studio creates modern lighting collections made entirely from repurposed materials. GrayPant’s mission is to create a modern design that is ecologically responsible from start to finish.
The graceful Sun Pendant is a luxury version of Greypant’s famous Scraplight all of which are constructed from natural recycled cardboard, precision cut by a laser to enhance the warm light projected through the corrugation.
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