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Tips and tricks to upcycle your home
30 Eco Homes 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 infl uenced 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
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 specifi c • 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 o 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-benefi ts. “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, landfi ll 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
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 bespoke, beautifully crafted, innovative, energy-neutral buildings and off ers 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
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 eff ectively carbon dioxide which has been removed from the atmosphere.
KOTO
The future of sustainable water heating is here
Electricity will play a key part in the UK’s sustainable growth, especially when it comes to providing hot water in the country’s homes
Fortunately, Ariston Group are highly committed to sustainable heating technologies, having already invested heavily in developing heat pumps and hydrogen boilers. In the UK, the company are also the market leader in electric water heaters, off ering everything environmentallyconscious homeowners need.
Did you know that in a typical UK home, heating water accounts for 10-12% of the average energy bill?1 Most properties usually rely on either a boiler or immersion heaters for hot water; however, with sustainability high on the government agenda, a greener option is required. Homeowners seeking a more economic and sustainable option should look no further than Ariston electric water heaters.
Why electric?
Sustainably sourced electricity is a cleaner, greener heating source. It is already being employed in many industries to reduce carbon emissions – just look at the emergence of electric vehicles. With the government investing heavily in renewable energy, as well as a reducing reliance on coal-fi red power stations en route to a net-zero future, this trend is set to continue.
But what about electric water heaters instead of gas? Well, they are becoming more widely installed, particularly in extensions, standalone buildings and properties in off -gas areas. Indeed, Ariston’s units are quiet, clean and easy to operate, plus they don’t emit any harmful greenhouse gases or nitrogen dioxide* – so are perfect for homes of all ages. The revolution has begun
Ariston off er a whole family of sustainable electric models, from their Nuos Plus Wi-Fi heat pump water heaters, through to more compact instantaneous units such as Aures Slim. But leading the way is the award-winning, fl agship unit – Velis Evo Wi-Fi. This revolutionary electric water heater is slim, smart and superfast. It has a ‘twin tank’ design for up to 16% more hot water availability and is shower ready in less than half an hour. This state-of-the-art unit is the fi rst and only electric water heater of its kind currently certifi ed for the UK market with Wi-Fi controllability. This is achieved via the innovative
Aqua Ariston Net app, which enables homeowners to adjust modes and heat their water remotely from their smartphones.
Commenting on the groundbreaking product, Victoria Gutierrez, marketing manager at Ariston, said: “The days of only being able to manually set water heaters are a thing of the past. Everything can now be done via a smartphone without even needing to be at home! Not only does this guarantee a hot shower will always be ready when needed, it also o ers incredible energy savings, which can be up to 25%!”
Such precise levels of connectivity and control mean there is always enough hot water, while Aqua Ariston Net’s advanced functionality also allows homeowners to closely monitor their energy consumption, off ering further opportunity to reduce electricity bills.
Additional energy savings
But that’s not all. Velis Wi-Fi units boast a wealth of additional sustainable features, including Ariston’s renowned ‘Eco Evo’ function; this learns from a household’s daily usage, only heating water during periods when demand is high. This ensures the unit does not use any electricity when a home is empty – such as 9am to 5pm on workdays, for example.
In addition to its energy-saving credentials, the Velis Evo Wi-Fi is also extremely compact. Measuring just 27cm in depth, it can replace cumbersome immersion heaters and cylinders to create more storage space. And, as all water is stored inside the unit, there is no need for a separate cylinder.
Velis Evo Wi-Fi is simple to install and requires only a connection to the electric circuit and mains water supply (plus any required safety devices). Available in capacities of either 45 or 80 litres, units require little maintenance and are extremely effi cient, as all the energy used is converted into heat for the water.
With renewable energy an essential part of the UK’s sustainable future, electric water heaters will have a key role to play in keeping household emissions – and bills – low. Thanks to the Velis Evo Wi-Fi, Ariston is truly leading the way in sustainable electric water heating, producing a unit that benefi ts both the environment and homeowners alike.
Find out more
Visit ariston.com/uk to learn more about Velis Evo Wi-Fi and Ariston. Follow @AristonUK AristonUK AristonUK
