Recycled war remnants can turn fragments of historic events into strong statement pieces.

Mati Karmin, an artist who uses a distinct material for his works, generates solid furniture pieces using discarded metal husks that were left behind from Russia’s withdraw from Estonia in the 90’s. He has created a series titled MARINEMINE: The Mine Furniture.

Chairs, cabinets, beds, bathtubs, swings and grill ovens are just a few of the solid productions. Recycling these colossal naval bomb shells into furniture is definitely an original and conversational concept.

Ezri Tarazi has designed an installation of furniture from reclaimed materials gathered from war torn and politically volatile areas. Using wood, aluminum, steel and other salvages as well as objects like ammunition boxes, living room structures are assembled as furniture. Pieces like tables, shelves and sofas formed from sandbags bring the discarded to the forefront, a bit uneasily representing comfort and function reproduced from the origins of war.

A bright collection, From War to Peace turns weaponry into wearable art. Jewelry pieces made from items like recycled copper taken from deactivated nuclear weapons were used to create their Peace Bronze line.

From War to Peace’s Mission Statement:

We turn weapons meant to destroy us into art meant to restore us,
swords into plowshares,
bombs into beauty,
hate into love, &
war into peace

Though not contrived from recycled war scraps, a series known as Guns by Leaves and Flowers and Plants can induce reflection.

Designs from unexpected materials have the capability to implement pause and contemplation for where the original objects came from. Propelling thoughts about significant events through physical creations and reinventing, yet still remembering the past, takes a skillful balance.

Image Source: Mati Karmin

The problem with modern times is that we are all hyper-connected, doing multiple things at the same time and frankly, a bit stressed out.

In response to this issue Marie Dessuant and Margaux Keller created a great flexible space to read, relax, hang around and be with oneself. Developed within the Fabrica experimental center, Soft Fold Cabane gives people a stress-free time.

Soft Fold Cabane consists of a wooden structure that can be folded and unfolded and fits in just about any corner of the house. The long square section of wooden bars, found at a local flea market, are bolted together creating a flexible space inside.

Within the pop-up space, one can find a small simple lecture table made from wood and painted pale blue. There is also a lamp for reading until early hours and a small soft seat.

Also, various blankets can be found within this unique piece of furniture, to make the stay cozy, warm and happier. These blankets have multiple uses: they could be hang from the wooden structure creating temporary walls, make a soft tatami-style floor, fold as cushions or just used to cover oneself if it gets a bit chilly.

A space that is flexible, austere and comfortable, Soft Fold Cabane was designed to pop-up when it’s needed and can be stored in the wardrobe or underneath the bed. It is a space to meditate, relax or drink tea over a chat with a friend. It is a space within the house where one can find calmness and good quality time avoiding daily life commitments.

Dessuant and Keller’s space is minimal and has only a few important items. It is made entirely using pastel shades and soft warm materials that create a sense of tranquility that nowadays is a real luxury to have, all within your own home.

Image Source: Marie Dessuant 

With the aim of incorporating nature into our everyday life, Spanish designer Martín Azúa created a collection of useful objects which can host life, both animal and vegetable.

On of the most surprising objects from his collection is a seat entitled “The Inner Life”, which serves different purposes as well as offering a comfy place to sit down and relax.

An adaptation of Azúa’s 2008 “Sillón Om”, his latest design “The Inner Life” is also made from 100% recyclable polyethylene. Polyethylene is the most common plastic and its primary use is in packaging, plastic bags and bottles among other items.

Made using the rotomolding technique, the seat boasts an organic shape and clean lines. Comfortable and stylish, this Spanish designed seat will look great in any home.

A waterproof piece of furniture,  “The Inner Life” can be used in the garden or patio and will not wear out easily. Easy to clean with a wet cloth and easy to maintain, it will sure last a long time.

But if the idea is to use it indoors, it could be dressed up with a biodegradable felt cover that comes in different shades.

But the most unique and sweet aspect of this seat is that incorporates plants and animal life to its design. It’s got a plant pot on its side that allows people to grow their own plants or herbs, which can be enjoyed at dinner or just, admire their beautiful scents.

A delightful surprise hides at the back of the chair. There is a tiny hole, an entrance door to a secret shelter that can accommodate a small animal like a tortoise, mouse or even a rabbit, unfolding “The Inner Life” that hides within an object.

Image Source: Martín Azúa

It is easy to handle, can be found everywhere, it is extremely versatile, recycled, recyclable, light and very affordable. It can be cut with scissors, a craft knife and even laser-cut. And to stick it together, it simply needs a bit of non-toxic water-based glue.

Chilean designer Paloma Agliati is well aware of the humble material’s properties and decided to only use cardboard for her latest design.

Plamp! is a pop-up lamp made entirely from cardboard.

Shaped like a flower when it’s open, Plamp! looks like any other cardboard box when it’s closed. It doesn’t need any packaging and thanks to its hexagonal shape and lightness, can be shipped anywhere taking only little space.

Once opened Plamp! blooms like a flower and can be hang from the ceiling or place on the floor, it just need a standard LED light and to be turned on!

A clever design, the lid used for the box when the lamp is closed doubles as a ceiling rosette hiding all the messy cables behind it.

Foldable, minimal and biodegradable, this brilliant lamp has DIY easy-to-follow instructions engraved within its design. Waste-free this lamp has no extra packaging elements so there is no rubbish left after installation. Magical, Plamp! can be turned from a single cardboard box into a surprising lamp that will look great in any space.

Plamp! adpats to different tastes, it comes simple and plain or with an intricate lasercut design that lets the light shine through it.

Apart from that, it is a great object for modern times, because it is really easy to fit and doesn’t weight much it is perfect for taking it with you when you move to your next house. Otherwise, if you feel the time has come, you could recycle it with other paper-based materials and Plamp! will degrade in no time!

Image Source: Paloma Agliati

Wooden Pallets are an example of an object that can be used in endless ways.

Their fairly sturdy structure and versatility make them an ideal starter base for projects. They can be painted, stained, decorated, stacked, drilled and nailed into creative, usable items.

For example, wooden pallets can be turned into the perfect desks. With only a few materials, tools and securely attached table legs you can create an instant work space. The pallets open middle allows necessities to be easily accessible.

In addition to a desk, this design can also be adapted into carts, kitchen islands or other portable tables. Castor wheels can be affixed on the bottom of the table legs if a mobile version is needed, however be sure to use wheels with a locking mechanism.

A table made from a pallet that has an energy efficient twist is a solar lamp table. By inserting solar lights into the pallet it creates instant, free outdoor lighting and a table surface.

Design Rulz lists 35 incredible ways to upcycle pallets. Furniture, planters, fencing, swings and storage are just a few examples of ways to reuse them.

Repurposing pallets evolved into a comprehensively applied model for two visionaries, Andreas Claus Schnetzer and Gregor Pils, who designed the internationally acclaimed Palletten House. An amazing live illustration of how basic materials can be used as functional mediums, this house turns the salvaged wood into a livable work of art.

Made from 800 recycled wooden pallets, the design makes use of the pallet’s support and construction, incorporating their open areas with housing needs like insulation, electrical systems and plumbing. The designers are teaming up with members of the government in South Africa to develop affordable housing. They estimate that their model can be made at an economic building rate of $11.00 (USD) per square foot.

Projects that combine sustainable materials with efficiency have the potential for endless designs.

Image Source: Palletten House from designboom

Created by British designer Freyja Sewell, Hush is a soft cocoon for retreat and finding oneself.

Hush is a pod, a warm tiny space, a dark place to unwind and relax in comfort and solitude.

Hush is shaped like a womb and it is said to inspire different feelings on different people.

It is a soft micro-space for people that seek to escape into a secure natural space, meditate, watch a film, work alone or just take a break from daily life and stress.

Made entirely from biodegradable grey felt, this great piece of eco-design was water jet cut from a single piece of felt and sewn by hand using a wool string. Compostable and hairy, the cushions inside are filled with recycled wool, a by-product from the carpet industry.

Made in the UK from local wool, the designer was eager to use felt as it is currently not widely explored and a lot of it goes into waste, so she hopes to increase the demand for it through her designs and is already thinking about new uses for the versatile material. Local, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, breathable and fire retardant, felt is a great material with infinite possibilities for sustainable design and interiors.

Another important fact from wool is that it is multi-climatic, meaning that it adapts itself to different climates: when outside its warm, it keeps coolness inside and when it is cold outside, will keep the warmth in.

A multifunctional object, Sewell’s design can be used closed as a pod or unfold into a sofa, completed with soft cushions and ready to accomodate a few people on it.

Image Source: Freyja Sewell

Knowing how to incorporate energy saving strategies in a home is a useful way to mix purpose with design.

Color, an integral part of the decorative process, is one application that can be used for an energy conserving advantage. Painting an area with lighter colors can reflect heat from other objects in the room that gather it, like fireplaces, furniture pieces, ceilings, surrounding walls or other materials conducive to storing heats.

Applying darker colors in a room absorbs some of the heat and can make the space feel warm. Colors with warmer hues like reds, yellows and oranges can be used in rooms that do not get a lot of sunlight.

Flooring and countertops are another area where saving energy can be accomplished with the right materials. Concrete can reflect the temperature and is able to absorb heat and keep it warmer longer. When temperatures are cooler it will release the trapped heat. Also, materials like bricks, rocks and ceramic tiles can all collect and release heat according to the temperature in the room.

This natural process, called thermal mass, allows objects to accumulate heat during the day and redistribute it in the evening. Some materials are better at retaining the heat from sunlight than others. This table from Michigan State University Extension shows the heat level absorption capabilities in percentages from varying materials.

The layout of a room can also determine how efficient it will be. Windows and doors should be positioned where they allow natural light to filter in during the daytime. Window treatments like draperies, panels and some blinds are available lined with an insulating material which helps to maintain a stable indoor temperature at night and during cold weather.

Additionally, lighting fixtures containing energy efficient bulbs should be placed where they will provide appropriate lighting levels for the space. Rooms with dim lighting require the use of lamps or other illumination which uses extra power.

Thinking beyond just the visual outcome, green design concepts can also incorporate energy efficiency as part of the package.

Source: Michigan State University Extension. 2003. Home Maintenance and Repair. Retrieved from: Energy Efficient Interior Design

Image Source: Google Images

Several inventive and ecological choices are progressively springing up around the globe.

It is nice to know that the numbers of environmentally responsible cloth options are continually growing, and some in places you might not expect.

Organic materials, like the fibers from pineapples and bananas, can be successfully used for an assortment of textile products. What would normally be discarded from these natively grown plants is being considered for use as fabrics to make everything from clothing to home furnishings.

The fibers from the plants are ideal for textile use considering their ability to be manufactured into an abundance of sustainably made items. Unlike traditional synthetic textiles, plant spun fibers are also completely biodegradable.

Techniques like these are of interest to the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Textile Research Institute, whose objective is to utilize local assets and help farmers equitably produce globally smart materials. Their research shows the promise of already existing pineapple and banana farms for their fiber use. By combining local resources and skillsets, viable business opportunities and products are made available for the community.

The textile field is also more readily applying innovative recycling techniques like unwasting which can transform, for example, what were once product wrappers into other things like fabrics. Also, natural substances like cork are being thought of differently, too. It is flexible enough to be turned into all types of fixtures, furniture and even upholstery. Cork also provides good insulating sound when used in designs like flooring and wall coverings.

A prolific approach is an examination into air enhancement properties and the potential for building portions and clothing to actually filter the surrounding air. Developments like automatic cleaning tiles and cements using nano-structured titanium dioxide particles placed within the objects can decrease nearby air pollution. Another interesting venture looks into how fabrics can be made with materials that purify the wearer’s nearby air. (Sustainable Textile Trends).

From unconventional ways of producing environmentally friendly fabrics to smart thinking on how to use the already made, the textile industry is coming up with a world of resourceful concepts.

Image Source: Google Images

However, cardboard is being used for some neat applications. It turns out that it is a fairly versatile option and can be artistically turned into some unexpected objects.

Sustainably made furniture is important to eco-conscious designers and homeowners. However, cardboard may not be the first thing that pops up when considering functional furniture material.

Ingenious designs by students from the University of Idaho make cardboard chairs that more resemble art-forms than cardboard boxes.

The inventive products, which utilized discarded or recycled cardboard, were made for a resourceful project entitled “Re-Furnished” and look surprisingly sturdy.

Taking cardboard productions a step further, the cardboard house definitely provides an interesting blueprint. Going beyond furniture or containers, this open house plan is constructed almost entirely of cardboard. It is made of 85% recycled elements forming a house that is 100% recyclable. What is not made of cardboard for obvious reasons is the roof, which is formed with a number 2 plastic, and is also used for water storage tanks underneath the home.

If you are up for a crafting challenge, before throwing out another round of cardboard boxes check out instructables.com for cardboard-made furniture and shelf tutorials. There are instructions along with visual inspirations that will have you doing a double-take to make sure it is really cardboard. Durable and practical, these structures with elevated style will make you want to hone your inner crafter.

These are a few examples of how cardboard can break out of its box and become much more exciting. It is hard to believe something so seemingly simple can be turned into such amazing objects. When looking at what can be done with normally tossed aside materials, inspiration to reuse is sure to follow.

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Whether you’re a DIY expert, or a city-slicker looking to save a few bucks on energy costs, these five project ideas are perfect for you.

Build A Sun Dial: It’s time to take a trip to several hundred years in the past, before the invention of gear-driven clocks and watches. The people of that era used sundials to tell the time, though they’re limited to daytime hours only. This tutorial by eHow will help you setup and design your personalized sundial, for recreational and/or educational use.

Build A Compost Bin: Rather than waste all those vitamin enriched banana peels, why not put them to good use in a compost bin? This will save space for the trash can, and help promote conscious and conservative living. The University of Missouri has a few blueprints of different types of bins that help speed up the biological process of decomposing natural waste.

Build A Treehouse: This is an excellent way of encouraging your children to live in mutual benefaction with nature. Popular Mechanics came up with these DIY treehouse sketches and instructions to go along with them. From extravagant designs to a simple rope ladder and wooden platform, it’s relatively simple to create a treehouse, provided you have a compatible tree and children to use it.

Build A Terrarium: These miniature art-meets-nature display pots are great for livening up your residential space with an eco-friendly option. The best part is that they’re simple to make, and don’t require many tools or resources to create. Plus, they look beautiful when done correctly, and go a long way to promote living with nature. Storm The Castle has instructions on how to make one.

Build A Greenhouse: For approximately $50, you can build and own a self-sustaining greenhouse. These are perfect for growing your own fruits and vegetables, flowers, etc. The Door Garden blog has picture examples and instructions on how to make your own.