21 sustainable products that bring a fresh approach to low-impact design
on the beat | Jan 19, 2024
The season’s savviest finds take elevated upcycling to the next level.
An homage to the crackled finishes of early-20th-century French antiques, the Ayana chandelier by Arteriors is adorned in carefully applied broken eggshells—ensuring that no two are exactly alike.
Swiss desgin studio Nature Squared transformed hatchet seashells into beguiling hand-inlaid faucet handles for Dornbracht’s Mem three-hole lavatory mixer, shown in chrome.
Hand-stitched by quiltmakers at Vacilando Studios, Quiet Town’s Arco Canyon lumbar pillow is constructed from remnants of domestically milled cotton canvas retrieved for reuse from the brand’s production factories.
Display treasures atop Accent Decor’s rustic Leonora column, which is forged from aluminum waste like cast-aside kitchen cutlery and abandoned automobile scraps.
Sunbrella’s ReMade line boasts a bevy of outdoor-ready designs, including the geometric Table Runner 276, assembled from leftover pieces of the brand’s performance fabrics.
Don’t let its playful look fool you—the Luisa table by EcoBirdy, available at Goodee, is a real multitasker. Not only is it constructed of upcycled plastic toys, but it transitions from a side table to a coffee table to a kid-friendly workstation with ease.
Fyrn’s Keyhole table is reinforced with the brand’s patented exposed metal brackets, which allow it to be broken down—and replaced—in parts.
Crafted from recycled sari silk and dyed strips of banana tree bark, Omexco’s striped Seraya SRA1403 wallcovering is available in three versatile colorways.
Sabai’s Essential sofa, shown in Amber, is outfitted in buttery soft recycled velvet and can be replaced in parts over time thanks to the brand’s circular-minded Repair Don’t Replace program.
With the help of Le Point Visible, designer Gillian Gillies transformed castoff fashion fabrics from brands like Ralph Lauren into reversible patchwork quilts, including the square-and-arch-filled Indigo Stripe throw.
Composed of centuries-old terra cotta reclaimed from the roofs of farmhouses and chateaus throughout the South of France, the Parefeuille field tile by Ann Sacks features a naturally weathered patina and comes in four distinct shapes, including hexagonal and square.
Nice kicks! Particle’s stone-inspired Swirl round placemat and coaster are composed of recycled sneaker soles.
Nature’s beauty takes center stage in the Oyster Shell mirror by Lowcountry Originals, available through Wendover Art Group. Its pine wood frame is embellished with shells foraged off the coast of Georgia.
Woven by artisans in Rajasthan, India, the Manchaha LE-114 rug by Jaipur Living is made entirely of hand-spun yarn left over from completed carpets.
You can admire more than the looks of Studio Laurence’s Stem vessel. Made from reengineered recycled paper composite, it supplies an eco-friendly—but equally textural—alternative to traditional metal and stone vases.
Proof that the sky’s the limit when it comes to good design: Frisoli repurposes aeronautical materials into sleek carbon-fiber-based furnishings such as the Sfoglio side table by Domenico De Palo, available at Artemest.
For the Upholstered nightstand by Double R Design, Rachael Rosenblum wrapped a salvaged chest of drawers in a graphic linen fabric from Antoinette Poisson for a fresh, of-the-moment look.
A color-flecked herringbone twill weave with an eco-conscious twist, the Heath fabric by Thibaut, shown in Straw, is woven using 100 percent recycled fibers (including wool, cotton and linen) from discarded garments.
Aloka swathed Edward Wormley’s iconic Long John bench in an eye-catching antique patchwork quilt made from upcycled saris.
The delightfully bulbous Vendor chair from Bobo Intriguing Objects is comprised of hundreds of hand-sewn, foam-filled balls fashioned from vintage silk fabric swatches.
Each piece in Loloi’s customizable Basketweave art collection is hand-made from a medley of repurposed textile offcuts, guaranteeing that it’s truly one-of-a-kind.
» Related reading: Circularity is the next big thing in green design. Here’s what you need to know
A new class of furnishings aren’t just made from earth-friendly materials and processes—they’re designed to last more than a lifetime.
This article originally appeared in Winter 2024 issue of Business of Home. Subscribe or become a BOH Insider for more.