30 Eco Homes
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Tips and tricks to upcycle your home Take old furniture and transform it into unique one-offs It might be that we’ve all been staring at the same walls for the past year, or we have been influenced by programmes such as Grand Designs and the rebooted • Changing Rooms. Whatever the reason, it’s probably high time your • interiors had a shake-up. More and more people are looking for ideas on how to upgrade their homes while still saving money – and just as importantly – the planet. • Welcome to the regeneration game, the cheapest, smartest and most sophisticated way to refresh your space. Upcycling takes old objects like furniture and gives
them a new lease of life by reviving and repurposing them. An old China tea set might be made into a collection of ornate candle holders, or used baked bean tins could be transformed into a herb garden. The idea is not just to utilise already stylish pieces, but also to use artistic fl air along with plenty of elbow grease to create something
Upcycling reduces the amount of waste that is produced, giving a renewed purpose to existing items unique and timeless. The results are as individual as the creator, and no two pieces are ever the same. For many, it is a straightforward passion project, a way to make-do and mend – and make yourself feel better in the process. While for others, it brings fi nancial reward. Derbyshire-based interiors expert Elaine Penhaul fi rst turned her hand to upcycling nearly 10 years ago, when she started her home
staging business Lemon and Lime in 2020. She believes beady eyes and a can-do attitude are all you need to get started. “Furniture that boasts upcycling potential can often be cheap to buy or even sourced for free from • people who are unaware of its possibilities,” said Elaine. “While asking family and friends to pass on their preloved furniture is a great starting place, if you are looking • for something more, then specific local charity shops or Facebook marketplace will have a plethora to choose from – you’ll be amazed at what gems you can uncover.” For anyone interested in taking on their own upcycling project, Elaine advises starting off simple. “Choosing a larger item that takes a long time may put you off doing any more upcycling projects,” she said. “To help keep your costs down, sanding and painting your item of furniture will give it a new lease of life under a limited budget and time. Just a tin of paint is needed to create an upcycled masterpiece – you could even use leftover paint that is lying around in your garage. Similarly, you could use half a roll of wallpaper, left over from a room
redecoration project, to transform the inside of a cupboard or the panels on the front of a wardrobe.” While Elaine adores the personality upcycling can add to a home, she believes the best part of upcycling is the eco-benefits. “Upcycling reduces the amount of waste that is produced, giving a renewed purpose to existing items,” Elaine said. “By changing our interior habits and reducing the need for more new furniture to be made, we can cut down on air pollution, landfill use and greenhouse gas emissions. Plus it allows furniture to survive – a unique canvas for self-expression.”
Something to think about If you decide to buy an item through social media, make sure you request the measurements so that you can check the item’s size and location. The key is to always be quick! Items are often snapped up if they are listed at a cheap price and have the potential to be upcycled. As upcycling becomes more popular, there is a large market for selling your one of a kind furniture too. by Kirsty McKenzie
Design-led, modern, prefabricated homes and cabins Prefabricated architecture – sustainable by necessity Koto was founded by a team of award-winning architects and designers to redefi ne the modular housing industry. Drawing inspiration from Scandinavian design and culture, Koto aims to create the opportunity for people to escape into nature and shelter in the comfort of unique and beautiful, eco-friendly buildings. Combining uncompromising sustainability, Koto delivers
Uncompromising sustainability, Koto deliver bespoke, beautifully crafted, innovative, energyneutral buildings and offer full architectural services
bespoke, beautifully crafted, innovative, energy-neutral buildings and offers full architectural services. Koto partners with leading UK modular manufacturers to craft and deliver design-led, sustainable homes, and cabins to estate owners, hoteliers, developers and private clients.
Addressing climate change Climate change is intensifying at a rapid pace, and although some trends are irreversible, the Koto team seek to deliver all of their projects in the most sustainable way they can fi nd. They believe it is the construction industry’s responsibility to respond to the current climate crisis by building sustainably and holistically. This means reducing the use of high embodied carbon material like steel and concrete to a bare minimum.
Bespoke modular – redefi ned Koto’s design-led modular buildings are built off-site, using primarily British grown timber and ecological building materials. The
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team design and construct with exceptional levels of insulation and airtightness in their low-energy homes. Prior to delivery, services are tested at the factory giving clients complete reassurance that their Koto building arrives on site as a complete turnkey solution.
Embodied carbon Koto buildings focus primarily on timber construction with wood sourced from FSC sustainable forests. This means that for all the timber that is used in the construction, new trees are planted in managed sustainable forests. The
amount of carbon that’s locked up or sequestered by growing trees is effectively carbon dioxide which has been removed from the atmosphere.
KOTO Find out more Visit kotodesign.co.uk to fi nd out more.
