By Jonathan Howkins

Green interiors: Where to by sustainable decorative materials, finishes, surfaces and flooring

Decorating homes with the environment and health in mind can be done without any loss of style Although we understand the health benefits of eating natural or organic food, perversely we have been slow to recognize that how we decorate our homes can also affect our wellbeing. Modern paints, for example, are typically made from vinyl resins and petrochemicals. These not only ‘out-gas’ volatile organic compounds (VOCs) but being non-porous prevent walls from breathing turning rooms into plastic boxes. Non-toxic, breathable finishes – using linseed oil, natural pigments and minerals, and even milk, say – rival and often surpass their modern counterparts for longevity, colour depth and finishes. To partner these, there are masses of stylish options for natural or eco floorings, like linoleum or coir and seagrass matting, and surfaces and wall coverings using recycled glass or old Wellington boots, would you believe it?

Surfaces Dapple Glass www.dappleglass.com

Shimmering accent tiles created from glass cullet to resemble crushed jewels.

DURAT www.durat.com

A tactile, solid-surface material available in an extensive range of speckled colours. Designed for worktops and tabletops it can also be cast into basins, shower trays and baths. Made with 50% recycled plastic it is itself 100% recyclable.

Eight Inch www.eightinch.co.uk

Jazzy, hardwearing composite material made from 85% recycled glass chips and solvent-free resins. Available in numerous colour combinations and aggregate sizes it can be cast into practically any shape or used as a seamless flooring screed.

Energywise Recycled Glass www.energywiserecycledglass.co.uk

Recycled glass tiles available plain or patterned in clear, blue, green or amber.

Smile Plastics www.smile-plastics.co.uk

Fun sheet materials suitable for flooring, worktops and cladding and the like, ingeniously recycled from Wellington boots, squeezy bottles, yoghurt pots, bank notes, reject toothbrushes and crisp packets.

Smith & Wareham www.smithandwareham.co.uk

Recycled glass mosaic tiles in 16 colours.

Flooring

Concept Carpets www.concept-carpet.co.uk

Luxurious tufted carpets made in Britain with Jacob wool. Free from bleaching agents, chemical dyes and insect and stain repellents, the Jacob’s Velvet comes in three natural colours – cream, pewter and dark brown – as well as five attractive marled versions.

Dalsouple www.dalsouple.com

DalNaturel is a ‘new generation’ natural rubber floor covering featuring over 90% natural ingredients (most ‘rubber’ flooring is actually made from SBR, a petrochemical by-product).

Forbo-Nairn www.forbo-flooring.co.uk

Retro-style Marmoleum flooring is made from linseed oil, chalk, wood flour, and pine resin. Available in a wide selection of plain and marbled colours, it comes as both a 200cm wide sheet and as a tile (333 by 333mm square).

Kersaint Cobb www.kersaintcobb.co.uk

Natural coir, jute, seagrass and sisal floor coverings backed with natural latex.

Panda Flooring www.pandaflooring.co.uk

‘Hardwood’ flooring made from bamboo, the most environmentally friendly plant resource on account of its growth rate.

Siesta Cork Tile www.siestacorktiles.co.uk

Insulating, noise-absorbing, flexible cork floor and wall tiles made from harvestable tree bark in numerous colours, thicknesses and finishes.

The Waveney Rush Industry www.waveneyrush.co.uk Sweet-smelling carpets and matting handmade from natural, renewable rush fibre.

Paints and Finishes Auro www.auroorganic.co.uk

Gloss and eggshell for woodwork and various wall paints as well as a huge range of wood stains, waxes, oils, decorating adhesives, fillers and even paint stripping paste, all free from petrochemicals.

Francesca’s Paints www.francescaspaint.com

Traditional lime wash (interior and exterior), ‘chalky’ emulsion, flat oil, eggshell, gloss, masonry and water-based, breathable ‘eco emulsion’ paints, all tinted with natural pigments and mixed by hand in 146 shades.

Georgina Barrow Natural Paints www.naturalpaints.org.uk

Matt, water-based emulsion and interior and exterior eggshell paints in 30 muted colours

Precious Earth www.preciousearth.co.uk Environmentally friendly, low-impact finishes and flooring outlet in Ludlow offering a specialist design consultancy.

Ray Munn www.raymunn.com

Stockists of the Beckers range of eco-friendly paints, varnishes and finishes from Sweden, which offers a computerized colour-matching service.

Contemporary furniture for the home. Storage, shelving and home office furniture, offering contemporary style and sustainability www.ottofurniture.com. Further information on eco furniture, eco designers and eco-retailers is available on this site.

About the Author: Contemporary furniture for the home. Storage, shelving and home office furniture, offering contemporary style and sustainability ottofurniture.com. Further information on eco furniture, eco designers and eco-retailers is available on this site.

Source: isnare.com

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