Features

Deco's A to Z of natural fibres

ALPACA. It's wool taken from the South American llama-like alpaca. It is soft and warm, naturally water-repellent and fire-resistant and has no lanolin, making it suitable for those with allergies to sheep’s wool. There are two breeds, Suri and Huacaya which have slightly different wool. 

EVs: what's holding us back?

Electric vehicles have been around for a very long time. As fossil fuel driven climate change is resulting in a hotter world, EVs are positioned as the future of transport - yet the switch to them isn’t happening fast enough to hit our net-zero targets by 2050.

The electric revolution is underway - but not at the speed we need

Salvage and reclamation - it's a woman's world

Using salvaged and reclaimed products is an inherently eco friendly way of doing up a house because you're using what's already there, even if it does have to be sanded, polished or painted. Choose reclaimed bricks for construction projects, while reclaimed baths, radiators, lighting and garden furniture are all readily available. Check out Retrouvius, Lassco, Masco, Skinflint Design and Trainspotters - the latter two do reclaimed lighting.

 

Moral fibre: choose organic cotton

Fashion industry organic cotton products for  underwear and babyclothes. In general, where fashion goes interiors are sure to follow, for  ethical and healthy choice for their furnishing fabrics still face an uphill struggle. Organic cotton fabric cover chairs, cushions and lampshades. Conventionally produced cotton can be bad for environment.. New fabric in sustainable wool and stinging nettle fibre. Ethical revolution public is generally becoming more eco-conscious. Hard-to-find items such as organic lace. 

 

Wooden sheds remain top choice for garden storage

a wooden shed can be very eco friendly and sustainable. Sheds are perfect for storing garden equipment and can even be used as a room to work or exercise in. Make sure it's made from timber sourced from sustainable forests

Sustainability: switch to more eco friendly household products

I would like to vouch for certain products that I've switched to in a bid to being more eco friendly.

Rugs and runners: an easy way to enhance your home

Find lovely rugs for your home, at all prices. Choose wool/jute/linen rugs as these are sustainable material. And depending on the backing used for of these rugs will be biodegradable. Find great rugs at Roger Oates, Jennifer Manners, Ptolomy Mann, Nani Marquina and Gandia Blasco, as well as British designer Anna V

Beds for blissful nights - organic, natural, eco-friendly

Unless you have small children for decades on end, the odds are that you will spend around a third of your life in bed. Which means it is well worth thinking about the healthiness and eco-friendliness of something you'll be spending so much time on and in.

When around eight hours of your day is spent in bodily contact with a surface, you want to know that surface isn't awash with chemicals that may well off-gas for some considerable period and cause skin irritations.

Eco warriors as well as workhorse worktops

Eco worktops and environmentally friendly worktop materials include Eco by Cosentino, Resilica recycled glass, and Richlite. All are hard wearing and intended to last for at least 30 years. Environmentally friendly choices. good for kitchens and bathrooms. Swiss CDF by Kronospan is another good eco option being made from FSC-certified wood fibre.

Changing your floors: eco friendly materials to consider

Laminate

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