STYLE AND SUBSTANCE
The latest eco-conscious homeware is a celebration of innovative design and considered colour, from dazzling Mediterranean blues to nature-inspired earthy greens and playful mustards
Just in time for summer, the latest home furnishing collections embrace bold design, tactile textures and uplifting hues – along with sustainable credentials. Take the new ‘Grand Designs’ collection of stylish sofas and chairs from furniture specialist DFS. Generous proportions, deep, super-comfy seats and inviting fabrics (velvets, weaves, chenille) in a grounding palette of green, blue, terracotta and mustard all combine to create contemporary statement pieces. The ‘Kent’ range, for example, is available in eight shades and marries an architectural aesthetic with opulent quilting; while the clean lines and wing detail of the indigo ‘Padstowe’ accent chair will ensure that even the most minimal of modern living spaces feels serene.
Not only do the nature-inspired colours of the collection help to bring the outside in, each component is also designed to reduce the impact on the environment, in keeping with a shift towards more conscious consumer habits. Back cushions that keep their shape are filled with 100 per cent polyfibres made from plastic bottles, responsibly sourced timber frames are free from synthetic chemicals and lacquer finishes, springs are created from reusable high-carbon steel, and the fabric uses recycled polyester yarns.
Also adding a splash of colour while championing recycled materials is Devon-based homeware brand Nkuku. Its latest pieces
GENEROUS PROPORTIONS, DEEP, SUPER-COMFY SEATS AND INVITING FABRICS IN A GROUNDING COLOUR PALETTE ALL COMBINE TO CREATE CONTEMPORARY STATEMENT PIECES
include the gorgeous Mediterranean blue ‘Yala’ glassware, made from crushed and melted glass, which captures the cerulean shades of the sea. Then there’s GoodWaste, founded by three Royal College of Art graduates, which repurposes industrial materials into decorative lighting and patchwork furniture. The striking, linearpatterned ‘Slot’ lamp, for instance, is made from reclaimed perforated steel previously used for a display in Selfridges.
Textiles are another easy way to introduce colour and pattern into even pared-back homes. Designer Jennifer Manners’ new ‘Scallop’ rugs for her ‘/re/PURPOSE’ collection (made from waste plastic that would otherwise find its way into the sea or landfill) feature stunning crescent-detail borders in rich shades such as lemon and ocean blue. Meanwhile, zero-waste weaver Maria Sigma has collaborated with The New Craftsmen on ‘Ariadne’, a handmade, caramel-hued range of cushions inspired by a traditional Greek Cycladic crocheted lace motif. This is homeware that transforms your space in more ways than one.
To discover more about the ‘Grand Designs’ collection at DFS, visit dfs.co.uk/content/grand-designs