Here for good: design that’s smart, sustainable & stylish

When we began planning our installation for the HIX 2024 event in London last month, we were keen to bring sustainable materials into our design, and excited to work with some new products as we created bespoke furniture for the hotel interiors exhibition. The installation features bespoke furniture that we created for the event, plus pieces selected from our collection.

Beginning with the structure for our stand, we opted for Oriented Strand Board (OSB), with the engineered wood chosen for its colour, texture and warmth - the recycled material creates a simple blank canvas into which we added furniture, accessories and other design details. Although it’s possible to polish or paint OSB, we really enjoy its raw appearance which added to the aesthetic of our space, inspired by a Japanese kissa listening bar.

We welcomed guests onto the stand and into Our Place - somewhere to relax, catch up with friends and colleagues and enjoy a drink while listening to some of our favourite tunes. Tables were important, giving guests somewhere to set their drinks or to jot down some notes using our bespoke branded pencils. These side tables were made by our team using bases from our collection, with bespoke table tops made using Foresso. This smart recycled material was chosen because it allowed us to create some really beautiful pieces which are made from unavoidable waste material with minimal impact - all sourced within the UK with an average travel distance of just 43 miles. Foresso gives the feel of terrazzo but in a unique way that works so well with the natural wood finishes of the stand and furniture - we’re sure to see it in bar and restaurant design, for hotel reception areas, lounge and lobby design and in contemporary offices too.

Sustainable materials also featured on our stand in some distinctive seating from BlackCork - a sphere stool and side chair all made using expanded black cork. The manufacturing process behind these pieces is impressive - truly ecological and without waste, it’s 95% energy self-sufficient. We love the look of cork and love that it’s really a ‘super material’ - with amazing insulation properties for both heat and sound, it’s also a CO2 sink. As our event photos show, these pieces work so well because they combine practicality with great design - easy to move around, comfortable to sit on and they look fantastic.

We’re driven by creativity, design and innovation, so when a product brings together all three and is sustainable too, it’s worth a closer look. As the UK’s leading contract furniture supplier, we’re excited by the potential to use innovative, sustainable materials wherever possible to create furniture that combines great design with great functionality.