reclaimed Archives - Page 23 of 24

Sleep with an eco-friendly clean conscience

We are all trying to do more to live a lifestyle that doesn’t impact negatively on the planet now or in the future. This includes the choices we make about the furniture we buy, where it comes from, whether it is sustainable and recyclable when we no longer need it. When it comes to furnishing the bedrooms, there is a growing choice of products that allow us to sleep with a clean eco-friendly conscience.

Eco-friendly mattresses

The pictures of tropical seas blanketed in a floating layer of plastic – from bottles to fishing nets – are truly heartbreaking.

But, plastic can, with vision and the right process, be broken down into material that can be reused in all kinds of applications, including mattresses.

The Seagreen Collection is made from a range of plastic products, such as bottles that fisherman ‘catch’ in the open seas. Made to a high standard, the pocket spring mattress is both comfortable but also at the top end of the recycling game.

The fabric covers and pockets are also sustainable materials that have wicking properties – in other words, you’ll be cool as you sleep, essential for a full night’s rest.

Hand tufted and hand stitched, these mattresses come with an impressive 9-year warranty and a 12-month guarantee.

Eco-friendly throws and blankets

Using the same materials – plastic bottles from our oceans – these throws are ideal for any bedroom. Adding a layer of warmth for chillier nights, the plastic is recycled and, using an environmentally friendly process, it weaved into a beautiful blanket that you’ll use time and again.

Adding texture and detail to the bedroom, these recycled plastic bottle throws are available in three beautiful colours – duck egg, blush and grey.

Reclaimed wood furniture for the bedroom

Hardwood was often used in buildings to add structure and strength as well as detail, and was used in the railways to build tracks. As modern life has evolved and alternative materials created, the wood has been salvaged and repurposed for our homes today. Master craftspeople turn it from an ordinary looking piece of old wood into something truly spectacular.

A heavyset bedframe bursting with personality, there is a uniqueness to each Beam piece that makes it perfect for the bedroom. Mellowing and developing over time, age creates a beautiful patina the older it gets.

Eco-friendly pendant lights and shades

Rattan and wicker bamboo are two similar materials. Rattan is a solid material whilst bamboo is hollow and can be flattened to make long, lithe pieces which can be tied together into a pattern.

When knotted and tied, these strong materials become even stronger, which is why they are used in everything from outdoor furniture to conservatory furniture, and light shades too. But, what makes them high on the eco-friendly stakes is that they are a genuine renewable source as they are naturally fast growing. Also, the manufacturing process of rattan and bamboo is quite simple, meaning it doesn’t require so many chemicals or energy.

Our Fenshaw Mango Wood Storage Bench with its hinge lid provides discreet elegance to a bedroom, not to mention a great place to store bed linen and blankets. Position at the end of your king size wooden bed frame or in the bay of a window and channel that colonial cool vibe. This eco-conscious accessory blends with any style room, from rustic or industrial to a modern farmhouse scheme.

Along with natural bed linen made from sustainably sourced fabrics, you can have a stylish bedroom and sleep comfortably, knowing you have worked with and not against the environment.

The Eco-Friendly Living Room Guide

Sustainable and stylish, if you are aiming for an eco-friendly living room, you need to read this guide! Sustainability is a peaking trend at the moment with more and more people making conscious choices when it comes to furniture and materials. How can you create an eco-friendly living room?

Buy reclaimed wood furniture

For too long, when something was obsolete, we just threw it away. In old buildings across the country, there are all kinds of materials that can be salvaged and upcycled.

This is exactly what reclaimed wood furniture is all about. Hardwood beams and other structural wooden components are removed from buildings and, using the skills of woodworkers and other skilled craftspeople, are turned into beautiful furniture that is built to last.

In the living room, a reclaimed wood coffee table, for example, is simply stunning. Or, if you like the industrial look, opt for black steel and rustic wood display units as statement pieces.

The choice is continually growing and can be used to create a stylish living room landscape.

Natural AND sustainable materials

Not all natural materials are sustainably sourced or grown but with producers becoming more mindful and consumers more aware of the origin of materials and fabrics, the sustainability of an item is coming more to the fore.

Fast-growing and sustainably farmed, bamboo and wicker can be made into all kinds of things when it is dried and tied or knotted together.

A bamboo pendant light, for example, is stylish and a talking point but is also made from a natural and sustainable material. Similarly, a rattan coffee table adds a colonial vibe to a living room, whilst being eco-friendly.

Use non-VOC paints

Volatile organic compounds – VOCs – are carbon-containing substances that easily become gases or vapours. Major paint manufacturers are attempting to phase these out and so you have probably been using these for some time. But check the label and, if they do contain VOCs, don’t wash them down the plug hole are they are damaging to the environment.

Opt for recycled materials

The course of actions used to process materials are developing all the time and so many of today’s recycled items don’t look any different from the ‘usual’ ones we would turn to.

For example, the Seagreen recycled plastic mattress with pocket springs looks nothing like the plastic bottles it is made from, nor are the PET throws. Available in three beautiful colourways, these soft throws are made from recycled plastic bottles that fishermen have collected from the sea, adding warmth and detail to your eco-friendly living room.

Discover the power of LED bulbs

From strip lighting under the cupboards in the kitchen to ‘normal’ light bulbs in table lamps and pendant lights, the LED bulb uses energy efficiently. Not giving off heat, they are cheaper to run but also help to reduce your carbon footprint too.

Add houseplants

Plants are our friends – they soak up all kinds of goodness from the air which is great in the stylish, eco-friendly living room. If you are worried about your ability to care for them, the good news is there are some very hardy evergreen houseplants need nothing more than an occasional water now and then!

8 Changes you can make at home to help the Earth

Seed growing out of small terracotta pot with red heart on a stick

Earth Day is celebrated on 22^nd April and this year, there is an extra special twist because this is its 50^th Anniversary year. Like many people, you will to do your bit, no matter how big or small, to contribute. This year, the theme is climate change an issue that we are yet to truly take action to slow and reverse. So what changes can you make at home to help the earth?

Environmentally friendly, non-toxic products

Take a look at the cleaning fluids and product you use and, just for a moment, appreciate the number of chemicals that are used in one bottle. Ditch your usual products, opting for those that are known to be environmentally friendly or, better still, consider how some everyday natural ingredients can create just as an effective clean in your home.

Swap to LED bulbs

If you still have the traditional bulb in some light fittings, now is the time to make the change to long-lasting eco-friendly ones. LEDs are also an option. As well as reducing your carbon footprint, you’ll save money on energy too.

Use cloth towels for cleaning

Wave goodbye to paper kitchen towel and wipes and replace with cloths that you can wash and reuse time and again. When they are no longer fit for use, recycle them as they can be made into insulation and all manner of other things.

Buy local

Small, independent shops need your custom more than ever, but you will find that some of these delicatessens, butchers and grocers will source their products from local producers. That means a lot fewer food miles, so you’re not just supporting your community, but helping that footprint be just a little bit smaller!

Fix it, not throw it!

With the birth of rampant consumerism, came the ‘throwaway culture’. Too often we hear from manufacturers that something ‘isn’t worth fixing’ and we’re all guilty of the same habit. This is being challenged and so rather than throwing something away when it malfunctions, fix it or upcycle it.

Buy reclaimed wood furniture

The epitome of upcycling, reclaimed wood furniture is made from hardwoods that have been salvaged from buildings and other areas, such as railway lines, old industrial buildings, barns and so on. Beautifully and lovingly crafted, reclaimed wood furniture is growing in popularity. From reclaimed wood dining table or rustic coffee table to an industrial dining table made from reclaimed wood or kitchen sideboard, aged wood repurposed for today’s way of life adds character and warmth to a home.

Compost food scraps

Minimise food wastage by buying only what you need but when you do have kitchen scraps, compost them in the garden. The heat from the breaking down process makes it into a rich fertiliser for the garden. If you have a glut of it, why not share it with your neighbours?

Turn off electronic gadgets

From TVs on your rustic TV stand left on standby to gadgets being plugged in for longer than they need to be, tempering our use of electricity will have a major impact on the environment. It will also save you money. If we all did this, the earth would thank us for it!

Bonus tip: plant a tree!

Your garden, patio or yard is a great tool to offset your carbon footprint and to also help the earth. Plant a native tree – great for soaking up carbon dioxide but also great for local and native wildlife too.

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Make the World a Brighter Place with Ju de Paula

With a passion for colour and a love affair with flowers, interior designer and founder of Blueberry Living & Co, Ju de Paula, is a joy to behold. We spoke with Ju at her technicolor home to talk colour (naturally), pattern and bold designs.

We just love the way you embrace colour and pattern! When did you first discover you had such a bright interior eye?

I was raised in Brazil and grew up surrounded by colour. My mum loved bright colours. Our house was very colourful, so it’s been in my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve always loved interiors. I used to create furniture for my Barbie doll house when I was child!

What’s your philosophy when it comes to good interior design?

Be true to yourself and create a space that reflects who you are. I think interior design is about a feeling. When I work with a client my overall goal is to create a space that makes that person feel good. This can only be achieved by understanding the personality of the person.

You’re from Brazil. How has that influenced your interior style?

My love for strong colours definitely comes from Brazilian roots. We are a colourful nation and embrace colour. We are also blessed with an abundance of sunshine and I love the sun. I always try to add yellow into my designs as, for me, it’s a way of bringing the sunshine in.

What’s the key to getting colour and pattern right?

If there is a colour and pattern you like then go for it, there is no key to getting it wrong if it’s something you love. Decide on how you want the space to feel or what mood you want to create and then choose a colour and combination of colours. Understanding the colour wheel is great for bringing shades together. Pick different tones of the same colour and layer them or contrasting shades, such as blue and green or green and pink can look fantastic together.

We’re as passionate about reclaimed wood as you are about bright interiors. What advice would you give to combine your colourful style with reclaimed wood furniture?

I love mixing aged and reclaimed wood furniture with colour. For me it’s a wonderful combination. Reclaimed wood adds soul and character to a piece, which is how I feel about colour too. If you’re working with a new or modern space, reclaimed wood and colour gives it an instant personality.

Name three Modish Living products you are lusting over and how would you style them?

1. I love the simplicity of the Chelwood Reclaimed Wood Dining Table. It’s all about the beautiful wood. I would style it with some large plants inside jewel coloured crackle glaze pots.

2. I also like the Portobello Oak Console Table. I would style it with a pair of colourful ceramic table lamps, some plants and add a large ottoman upholstered in a floral fabric under it.

3. The Sabrina Curved Velvet Chair in canary yellow is gorgeous! I would style it with a patterned fuchsia cushion and a floor lamp beside it.

How important is sustainability and eco-friendly principles to you and how do you aim to incorporate them into your designs?

I’ve spent my life upcycling, repurposing and reusing old furniture and fabrics, so it comes naturally to me. I believe we should reuse what we already have and change it to fit with the space or room. Sometimes you look at a piece and it just isn’t right, but that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of it; you can change it. This principle is not only good for design, but the environment too.

What makes you happy?

Simple things make me happy. Like holding a hot cup of tea, eating ice cream on a summer’s day or carrying a bunch of flowers.

Talking of flowers, what’s your favourite flower?

Dahlias! They have such a beautiful shape and I love the different layers and colours.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

To see your fears as arrows pointing you in the direction you should go. Many of the good things that have happened to me in my life have been as a result of following this advice. It’s how I got a place on Interior Design Masters. It was a cold February day and I had just launched my new online interior design course. I looked up at the sky to ask the universe to give me a sign to help me get my course in front of people. I picked up my phone and an advert popped up on Instagram asking for interior designers for a new TV show. Now, I’m an introvert and the thought of putting myself out there on TV was frightening, but I didn’t want to be ungrateful. I had asked for direction and been given it, so I had to follow the arrows.

Being on the show opened up so many doors and opportunities for me professionally. I can now do what I love and help more and more people learn how to design homes that make them happy.

If you could be anyone for one day, who would it be?

This is a tricky question! I try not to compare myself with others, so there isn’t really anyone I’d rather be. I quite like me.

What’s your mantra for life?

It’s a quote from Brazilian poet, Mario Quintana – ‘Don’t chase the butterflies, look after your garden and they will come to you!’

See more beautiful images on instagram @blueberrylivingco

Fall Back in Love with Your Home

Sweet home written on green card with white flowers

We’ve all been there and it’s more common than you think. Falling out of love with your home or feeling a little lacklustre over what it can and does offer you is a sign you need to bring back a loving feeling to it. Here are some ideas to help you see you home with a loving gaze once again.

Have a good ‘sort out’

You may be glad to see the spring sunshine streaming in through the window but not so much the dust and the clutter that seems to have accumulated in your home. Set time aside to de-clutter and re-purpose items. If you feel that clutter becomes a problem due to lack of storage, consider how you can improve this, such as wooden sideboards or rustic coffee table.

Rearrange the furniture

With clutter gone and ‘stuff’ tidied away, you may feel like now is the time to have a move around. Don’t be constrained by traditional ways of arranging furniture. For example, in the living room, don’t assume the sofas and the leather armchairs have to revolve around the TV – place them in ‘sociable’ positions instead.

Clean from top to bottom

It may not be your favourite pastime but, with the vigour of spring comes a wave of new energy, so ride this crest by spring cleaning from top to bottom. You’ll be surprised how cathartic it feels! As well as recycling items you no longer need, move furniture, vacuum in corners, clean the windows and give the surface of those reclaimed wood shelves a good dusting.

Sort out lighting in the home

There are many reasons why you may have fallen out of love with your home, even if it is only an occasional and temporary feeling. Shadow, shade and darkness contribute to a space feeling small and closed in. Layering light is the solution – ambient light for a soft, gentle glow but functional light for when you need to ‘see’. Just changing the light bulbs from bright white to soft white will make a difference and add a table lamp or floor lamp to dark corners.

Refresh the walls

Even if you haven’t got time to sand down for glossing and doing a very thorough decorating job, simply taking a brush and emulsion paint to the walls will give any room a vibrant kick. Choose light but warm shades to lighten the space and your feelings about it!

Artwork and photos

Surrounding ourselves with items that we find ‘nice’ or pretty is sure to help our mood and how we feel about a space. Within the ancient art of Feng Shui, there is an ethos that surrounding yourself with personal things that are uplifting will nourish your mind and soul. So get out the old family photos, invest in artwork you like and create a wall of magical memories that are personal to you.

Get creative

Also known as DIY, trying your hand at something new for your home can be one way of helping you fall in love again. There are thousands of ideas online but one great idea is to create a reading nook (that awkward, unused space under the stairs could work) or making a window seat complete with wooden blanket box and homemade cushions for sitting and watching the world go by. Or if you’re feeling more adventurous, how about making your bed into a four-poster style long with a piece of fabric…?

Let’s Hear it for Feel Good Furniture!

There are some items of furniture that ooze the feel-good factor. Every time you use it, it makes you feel good. It could be the old-faithful sofa, for example, that just gets better with age. But what other feel-good furniture items are there?

The leather armchair

From the traditional wing-backed leather armchair to a modern silhouette, the leather armchair is very much like its sofa cousin – is there anything better than being cocooned in its familiar warmth? We like it best with a cup of tea and biscuit or a good book.

The large rustic dining table

The dining table sees all of home life and that’s why the dings, the dents, marks and scrapes both infuriate us and make us feel warm inside. The family gathers around the table for everything from every day catch-ups and household disagreements to Christmas dinners and is the place where memories are made.

A coloured footstool

It doubles as an impromptu coffee table, the ‘something to stand out’ and, of course, a comfy platform for elevating your tired feet at the end of the day, a coloured and comfortable footstool is a must. As the feel-good factor goes, it’s at the top of the scale!

A large wooden bed frame

Along with a sumptuous, supportive mattress and high-quality bed linen, is there anything more heart-warming than a solid wooden bed frame? Strong, sturdy and the type of furniture you can always rely on, a high quality reclaimed wood bedframe will provide almost endless service for years on end.

The Welsh dresser

A large Welsh dresser solves a myriad of storage problems in the kitchen/diner in one swipe, but its grand stature in a room gives it a matriarchal presence. Its familiar shape is a nod to yesteryear, even if has a modern edge and design, that we instantly find comforting and familiar. Again, like a wooden bedframe, the Welsh dresser will instantly become part of the family, if not the head of the house, for years to come.

The dressing table

So far, we have looked at pieces that everyone will have a connection to, such as the dining table or the leather armchair, the place of comfort that the household often turns to. You may not have thought as the dressing table as being an obvious piece of feel-good furniture, but it is a truly personal space. From a slimline console table to a larger tabletop, this is a place in the bedroom where you can sit and reflect and spend time making yourself look great and feel good. Dress it with personal items and framed photos of your precious family to give a high-level feel-good factor about it.

Anything made from reclaimed wood…

The beauty of reclaimed wood furniture never tires and the range of choice is staggering – from coffee tables with storage to reclaimed wood large sideboards, open shelving display units and more – there is something for every style home. The feel-good factor is not just about choice and design but the fact that reclaimed wood gets better and better with age and use.

Reclaimed from its original use, the grain and patina of hardwood mellows and develop with age. Smooth to the touch, there is also a warmth to wood, a natural material that is nothing short of elegant. When it comes to the feel-good factor in our eyes, anything from reclaimed wood has it – but what’s your favourite piece of feel-good furniture?

Why an Industrial Home Office Never Goes Out Of Style

Wooden desk with cup of black copy and notebook

The home office should be a comfortable, productive place to work. Style is, therefore, important. There are many schemes you can choose for your home office furniture, but the industrial style never loses its cool. Functional, practical and hardworking, it is a timeless choice that will last for years to come. Here’s how to give your home office an industrial-chic vibe.

Start with a neutral colour palette

The industrial style has a wonderful neutral backdrop to not detract from the typical industrial features that set this style apart from others. If you don’t have brick or steel work to leave exposed, opt for warmer but barely-there shades of very light cream or off-white. You could also stick with crisp white as this also helps the light in the room.

Choose reclaimed wood furniture

The industrial style is a sublime combination of reclaimed wood with cool steel and exposed brick. And so opting for reclaimed wood home office furniture, such as a reclaimed wood desk is a must. However, this doesn’t always mean a rustic or unrefined finish. It means opting for furniture styled to give it the ‘industrial’ edge that you are looking for. For a beautiful reclaimed wood table to leather office chairs, to storage solutions and display units, there are many options.

Get heavy with the metal

Metal is an important element in any scheme but whilst we are used to it being shiny and reflective, in true industrial furniture style you want matt or black metalwork. From the steel legs for a reclaimed wood industrial desk to an all-metal office table or storage item, the use of metal is a must.

Choose office storage that works for you

It is easy to be lulled into thinking that the storage solutions seen in the glossy pages of magazines and websites will be perfect for your home industrial office. Think through what storage solutions will work for you and then set about finding what suits your working needs best. From wooden storage cabinets to open shelving with baskets and wooden boxes, there are many solutions. But they only work if they work for you.

Play with materials

Brick is the obvious choice for channelling an industrial feel, but if you don’t have a red brick wall to expose, you can opt to showcase other industrial materials. Concrete is not just for car parks. And it doesn’t have to be grey and unfinished. Concrete, providing it is the right mix, can be buffed and smoothed to give it an industrial edge. Or why not cheat with concrete effect wallpaper? Add some wood touches and elegant lighting to warm the space.

Opt for pendant lighting

Lighting is key in any space but has extra importance in your working environment. That doesn’t mean you have to opt for harsh lighting or modern fittings. Choose a minimal pendant light fitting – the large metal bowl shade is ideal – and have them clustered or hanging individually in key areas of your home office, such as over your white desk chair or storage cabinets.

Stylish and functional, you won’t regret choosing the industrial style for your home office.

Take Another Look at the Industrial Dining Table

Industrial dining table with matching wooden bench

The industrial style is a décor scheme that shows no sign of falling out of favour any time soon. But for many people, the belief that the industrial style is only about exposed brickwork and dark metal, which is not always true. When it comes to the industrial dining table, for example, they assume that there is a choice of one style and one only. But take another look as you’ll see that there are many choices to inspire the industrial dining room.

The classic industrial

Firstly, topping the list of our best-selling industrial dining tables is the classic industrial look.

This is the look that many people associate with the style – that is, the classic black steel leg frame with rustic reclaimed wood furniture top. It is a classic combination and one that epitomises the industrial style which is why the marriage of reclaimed wood and steel is still favoured by interior designers and style hunters looking for the archetypal industrial dining table.

Maintain simplicity around it too, so that the underlying principles of this style can shine. Opt for leather upholstered dining chairs, another classic staple that sits easily alongside all manner of industrial furniture. Choose chairs that have a classic simplicity about them to produce the streamlined clean look associated with this style.

The glamorous industrial look

The original industrial look was born from loft living in old, industrial buildings that have a long heritage in the industrial world. And so it’s no surprise that the raw materials left behind from this bygone time were – and still are – embraced.

That doesn’t mean that the industrial look, and industrial furniture itself, can’t enjoy an injection of glamour every now and then.

The glammed up industrial look has become popular in recent seasons with homeowners looking to add their own spin on this beautiful style. And so switching up the metal finish from black steel to polished chrome or gold-coloured metal is the perfect solution.

The combination of high shine metal finishes with a rustic reclaimed wood tabletop is sublime and gives a more polished and grown-up spin to the industrial look.

Match upholstered dining chairs with the same high shine finish as its industrial dining table counterpart or fabric chairs with studded detailing for a glam-rock vibe and you have a dining table and chairs combination good enough for the dance floor.

Industrial spider leg detailing

And finally, another notable change that is popular with our customers is extra detailing in the shape of spider leg industrial dining tables.

Sometimes it is the updating of the smallest of details that has the biggest impact. When you want something different but don’t want to leave the principles of the design scheme behind, then the spider leg table will be top of the list.

It is super practical too – you have more leg space beneath the small dining table, for example, as well as it adding extra notes of interest without cluttering the space or the eyeline.

Take a fresh look at industrial dining tables to relish the choice

From a round dining table to an imposing industrial dining table that commands attention, the choice of this style of table is much bigger than you may think. Time to take a fresh look, perhaps…?

The Beauty of the Small Dining Table

Small dark wooden table with linen cushions

If you dream of a large welcoming dining room complete with a substantial reclaimed wood dining table taking centre stage against other pieces of reclaimed wood furniture, you are not alone. It’s a fantasy many of us harbour, but the reality is often a lot different. And this means that when it comes to choosing a dining table for a small space, we have to make sure we make a clever choice. That said, the range of options when it comes to small dining tables is not limited. Just how do you make the most of your dining space with the beauty of a small dining table?

1 Opt for a foldaway or extendable table

If you use the dining table occasionally, a foldaway table gives the best of both worlds – you have a dining table when you need it but plenty of floor space when you don’t. A round extending table could offer the same benefit in that you have a smaller table for most days, but more dining space when you need it.

2 Go bright

The temptation to maximise the feeling of space is to go with white walls and reflective surfaces but, some designers are of the opinion that if the space is small, you should embrace it. Bright colours with a hint of pastel shades are right on trend at the moment. As well as pastel shades for the wall, opt for jewelled coloured upholstered dining chairs for your small round dining table or add coloured table covers to brighten up and make a feature of your reclaimed wood dining table.

3 Opt for a bar table

For homes where space in the kitchen really is very limited, opting for a dining table, especially if it’s just for the two of you, could swallow up space you can ill-afford to lose. There is another option and it comes in the shape of a bar table.

There are many stylish bar tables and so you are sure to find something that fits with your style whether that is the industrial style or the farmhouse look. Add some comfy bar stools and you will be happy to while away an evening supper, linger over a long lunch or catch-up with friends over a quick morning coffee.

4 Opt for streamlined dining benches

You don’t just have to think about the dining table but the chairs too. When you have little space to play with, no matter how small or bijou your chosen industrial dining table or round dining table is, with dining chairs added it can all feel too much and too cluttered.

Stools can make for a handy seating solution at a dining table when space is limited. That said, they aren’t suitable for everybody, but as an occasional seating solution, they are perfect.

The solution may lie in a streamline dining bench. No clutter and no fuss, when not in use, simply pop under the table or push up against the wall.

5 Think outside the box

If you have plentiful space in the hallway or corridor, for example, but limited space in the corner of your kitchen diner, who says that you can’t think outside the box and utilise this space as your dining space?

With the right accessories and choice of dining table, it may be more comfortable all round to move the table into an area where there is more space for the table and for diners. Maybe not the bedroom (or bathroom!), but a living room, walkway or long hallway could be ideal. Give it try!