Liz Uy fashions sustainable space outdoors
B&B Italia Outdoor pieces are made with polyester fibers from recycled materials like PET bottles, and wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
That people wanted to make their homes more comfortable during the pandemic did not come as a surprise since many of us were forced to stay indoors. There were other obvious gainers including electronics, pharmaceuticals and personal care categories, but there was also a rise in purchases of gardening supplies, furniture and household items.
A New York Times article published in November 2020 noted how store chains like Home Depot and Williams-Sonoma “that sell stuff to make home life more pleasant” saw their sales climb.
Those who were fortunate to have a balcony, patio, garden or yard to escape to made their space homier with the addition of a few plants, a table, chairs.
Stylist Liz Uy was tapped by Italian furniture brand B&B Italia Outdoor to fashion a space using items from the existing collections. She chose sage green armchairs made of woven polypropylene, a deep sofa made of interlaced polyethylene both by Antonio Citterio, and two chunky ottomans— again made with woven polypropylene—by Studio Upizzo. Anchoring the pieces was a low coffee table of gray cement by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby with intriguingly designed legs. The result was colorful and inviting, which was exactly the look she was aiming for.
Lounge-like appeal
“I chose these pieces because of their lounge-like appeal. I also really like these ottomans because they’re light and kid-friendly,” Uy said.
All of the pieces on display at the B&B Italia showroom in BGC share a similar vibe: relaxed and easygoing. They’re by different designers like Patricia Urquiola (Canasta and Butterfly collections), Citterio (Mirto Outdoor, Ribes and Erica seating systems) and Piero Lissoni (Borea).
During the brief tour of the showroom, this writer noticed the deep and comfy seats whether they were armchairs or loungers with retractable awnings. One of the loungers with woven mat design was light enough to be swiveled with ease. There was also a daybed perfect for an outdoor or indoor siesta, and several woven details that mimicked natural materials like rattan or cotton cord.
“During the pandemic, we experienced exponential growth but we also had to deal with delays in the supply chains,” Wanda Rottstegge, B&B Italia regional head of sales, told Lifestyle. “Instead of just a few months for special orders to arrive, the lead time extended to eight months. This was because our production facilities hadn’t developed to accommodate the increase in orders.”
Despite this and other setbacks, the brand has stuck to its commitment to its sustainability efforts including the use of polyester fibers from recycled materials like PET bottles, and wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Their efforts were recently recognized when Lissoni’s Borea collection received the 2022 Green Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Milestone
To mark the 15th anniversary of B&B Italia Outdoor, exclusive distributors Focus Global relaunched the showroom housed on the ground floor of Twenty-Four Seven McKinley building in BGC.
“Focus Global is a very strong team. They’re in line with our brand standard and brand expectations,” Rottstegge said.
To keep up with new developments, senior staff undergo training, and visit showrooms and trade shows in Italy. “They’ve met the designers so they are very much aligned with our brand and the inspirations behind the products. They are equipped to suggest pieces and point out relevant features to potential clients,” she added.
The pieces currently on display are only a fraction of what’s available. They’re arranged in vignettes that can be changed to provide people with ideas on how they will look on one’s patio or deck. Pieces can be purchased singly and not necessarily as a set.
“The team from Focus Global selects products that are very much on trend but they also take into consideration the country’s climate before placing any orders.”
While all the pieces are made for outdoor use and are designed to weather harsh sun or strong rains, they still require some care to last a long time.
“They’re obviously a lot more durable than furniture made using indoor materials and fabrics. We use aluminum for the frames since it doesn’t rust but we always tell our clients to cover them up when they’re not in use. Each piece comes with a custom cover— use it,” Rottstegge said.