What is Ecochic?

There are 3 essential aspects to Eco Chic that need to be considered in order to interpret the functionality of Eco Design and the 3 R’s into a style that’s as good to live with as it is for the environment :

1. Technology
Technology is an exciting area that is constantly developing; becoming smaller, better, faster and importantly more efficient. Embracing all that technology has to offer will allow us to make our lives less wasteful, more efficient and to gather more of what occurs naturally around us – such as renewable energies from the sun, wind earth and sea.
Technology not only refers to high performing appliances but also to cutting edge materials, be they new low impact materials, natural or even recycled.
We must trust that developments in technology are key to helping us reduce our impact on the environment and to combat climate change.

2. Nature
Nature is an essential component to our lives and one we sometimes take for granted. It should be remembered that we are not master of nature but part of it.

Interaction with nature is a grounding force in our lives, it quite literally brings us back down to earth, and reminds us that we are still part of the natural world. Think about the vibrancy of the smell of freshly cut grass, the textural feel of the bark on a tree, the flicker of the flames in a log fire- these all raise simple but sensual primeval emotional responses in us, that are essentially very comforting. Like us, natural materials often improve with age and use, developing a sense of character unique to themselves and their experience, adding individuality and a certain richness to any home.
The use of natural materials not only brings textural sensuality to the home, but also allows us to choose sustainable and naturally renewable materials – ones whose impacts onto the environments, if responsibly managed will have a reduced impact on the environment. Better for for, better for the planet…………. brilliant!

3. Vintage
The term vintage is an umbrella term that opens us up to the glamorous worlds of the antique, the ingenuity of reuse, and even the excitement of flea market finds. It’s about making the most of what we already have produced, and finding new ways of using them – offering a new lease of life for an item that someone else may well have thrown away. The pleasure of vintage is all about invention - putting a new spin on an existing object – be that through repositioning, framing, grouping or remaking.

But more than just finding new ways of using old things its about using the sense of style that the object posses, about borrowing from its past to dd to your own. In this way vintage items have the potential to add a touch of glamour to our lives, which is no bad thing. After all why shouldn’t we live like kings just because we respect the environment? Surely a good king (or queen) has a vested interest in protecting the lands they posses?

Vintage items also have a softening quality - all those knocks, scratches, wear and tear are something that can’t be simply reproduced, they have the effect of taking the harder edge off a contemporary interior. This patina of age speaks of an experience, and uniqueness that money just cant buy. In this age of mass production we yearn for objects that posses individuality, and character- aspects that in some way wear off onto us, expressing our own identities and curiosities.


These 3 corner stones of Eco Chic; Technology, Nature, and Vintage can be interpreted in a number of different ways and can help you solve style and functional dilemmas when trying to create your own eco home and lifestyle.
What we will discover is that certain rooms of the home will have a certain bias towards one aspect rather than another, due to their function and status as a public /private space or one that uses more or less resources.

– Kitchens will have a heavier slant towards technology, and possibly nature- as this is an area where many resources (gas, water, electricity) are used so we need to be as efficient as possible, whilst retaining a sense of style that may align to our tastes for organic foods, hence the lean towards nature for materials.
– Bathrooms may have a heavier slant to nature, as this is a sensual space so using natural materials to create a spa like feel will be very relaxing whilst technology will help us to reduce our use of resources.
– Bedrooms, being a private space may have a greater leaning towards the Vintage which can carry associations of romantic and nostalgic styles, whilst nature will lend a sense of simplicity and purity.
– Lounges may well lean towards nature, vintage and then technology, being a public space – thus reflecting a variety of your interests and activities (such as books, music, ornaments, photos, music, or film

In this way Eco Chic is open to personal interpretation; it is a flexible style that can help you express your own tastes and experiences whilst upholding your passions for a cleaner, greener way of living.