If your outside space calls for tables and chairs that are durable, lightweight and easy to maintain, recycled plastic outdoor furniture seems a practical solution. That means the greyish-brown, bulky kind that’s not particularly elegant, right? Apparently not. We’re a long way from eliminating the plastic waste problem. The rate at which virgin plastic continues to be produced is to put it lightly, incomprehensible (in 2022 the world produced 400.3 million metric tons). Any suggestion that recycling plastic into new products will solve the problem is still hotly debated, yet new applications ..read more

Painting furniture isn’t just for the creatively blessed, it’s a DIY project almost anyone can tackle. It’s also an instant way to inject some colour into your space without the commitment of painting walls. If you’re eyeing that weary-looking dresser, the kitchen chair you hide when guests come, or a second-hand bedside table that no longer sparks joy, here are some colour-rich furniture painting ideas that’ll spruce them up in no time. When it comes to choosing colours, be as bold or as bashful as you like. If your freshly painted chair is going in your own home and you love the colour, go ..read more

In spite of our tendency to shop for everything online, scouring for treasures at one of the many vintage furniture shops in London, is a joy unmatched by its digital equivalent. There’s that kid-in-a-candy-store high on entering an Aladdin’s cave, a possible encounter with a unique piece and an opportunity to salvage a piece of history. Well, that’s all very romantic – I hear you cry, but finding the perfect one-off vintage item with the exact dimensions, in good condition, at the right price – isn’t that like searching for a rusty old needle in a haystack? Looking at stylish London homes fi ..read more

More of us are starting to contemplate the environmental impact of products we buy for the home. But have you given any thought to duvets? Mostly made from polyester which cannot be recycled… the reality is, it’s a heavy environmental load. So what makes a more eco friendly duvet? This is the question The Fine Bedding Company are striving to answer, by bringing sustainable technologies to duvet manufacturing that have never been seen before. The Fine Bedding Company are a fourth generation family business with a history of bedding manufacturing that goes back 100 years. In 1912 they began sup ..read more

This year, Joanna Thornhill published her fourth home interiors book and the topic couldn’t be more timely. The New Mindful Home* explores interior design through a lens of mindfulness. It delves into how conscious and mindful living can both shape and be informed by our interiors and offers a multitude of tips on how to make the home a more healing environment. Wellness has often been associated with food and fitness. With so much time spent at home throughout the pandemic however, we’ve come to realise the importance of building a home environment that also supports our wellbeing. Here, I c ..read more

During lockdown, Verity de Yong set up her homegrown business, VED Cooks – a range of linen napkins, table cloths and placemats made from vegetable dyed 100% Irish linen. Eating every meal at home, she realised just how much food waste she was generating and began experimenting with the skins of leftover fruit and vegetables from her kitchen. She soon launched her brand VED Cooks on Etsy*, a collection of table linens in beautiful pastel shades, all hand dyed with onion skins and avocado skins, blueberries and black beans. From Elle Decoration to Grazia, her products have been widely featured ..read more

Upcyclist features designers and artists who have mastered the craft of transforming furniture or indeed making it from reclaimed materials. Hopefully their work offers some inspiration to budding furniture upcycling enthusiasts too. So if you’re interested in trying a furniture makeover yourself, where do you start? Painting furniture is something anyone can do. But it pays to be selective about what we chose to upcycle and what to simply restore. Some vintage pieces will be most desirable left in their natural wood state. So the best candidates for furniture upcycling are those gloomy low v ..read more

A quick glance at the images here and you’ll see that stylist and photographer Isabelle Dubois-Dumée has an impeccable eye for interiors. After a successful career in publishing, Isabelle moved from Paris to the country with her family, drawn to a French chateau renovation that would allow her to craft beautiful spaces with a chic modern bohemian style. The project became an extension to her business Les Petites Emplettes, an online store and lifestyle brand founded in 2005, with the chateau now rented out for events, workshops, weddings and photo shoots. Cháteau de Dirac is situated in the ..read more

You can never have enough plants in the home, but what about the vessels you put them in? A stylish way to present your succulents, air plants and cacti, add an artisanal element to your shelf, window or bedside table by opting for handmade ceramic plant pots. Thousands of talented ceramicists are selling their beautiful handmade pieces on Etsy, all of which are one of a kind and make ideal gifts too. In this post we’ve selected some of their finest work. Picture above via HiTheretheShop*, header image via Freefolding*. This post contains affiliate links marked with [*]. Thanks for supporting ..read more

If you’re yearning for fresh air, country walks, stargazing and rejuvenation, you’ve come to the right place. With many of us choosing not to book a foreign holiday this year, it’s the ideal time to explore the UK’s green and pleasant land, whilst making the experience a little a bit different. From jaw-dropping picturesque views to cosy romantic retreats, these are some of the dreamiest UK cabins to rent for 2021 and beyond. Image above by Settle. N.B. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a small commission should you decide to make a booking. Thanks for supporting Upcy ..read more