LIFESTYLE INBOX: Groovy Designs
Whether you love the great outdoors or just enjoying the comforts of your home, the pandemic should not lock you down to get into the groove of pampering yourself in style, or transforming your place from dreary to a lively atmosphere.
From waste to stylish stool
With millions of discarded face masks that end up in landfills or in the ocean every month because of the Coronavirus pandemic, British designer Joe Slatter has created an outstanding masterpiece - turning waste into a stylish stool. This is his innovative way to help address the problem of health-hazard wastes polluting the environment.
Making use of over 4,000 disposable face masks gathered from the streets of London at the height of the pandemic, Slatter sanitized all of them using ozone spray and exposed them to sunlight for four weeks. He then discovered that the three-ply face masks could be transformed into a soft, wool-like yarn. When melted, they produced a thick polypropylene structure.
Source: https://www.behance.net
With this discovery, the Veil Stool was created - “a curved structure with threaded yarn body that is knotted with a Smyrna technique, this sits on top of a base with [three] supporting legs.” (Reference: https://www.behance.net/gallery/118196653/VEIL-STOOL)
Spruce up those minimalist walls
“Less is more” is a design principle that has never been truer and more relevant than today, as more and more people have gone back to the basics, adapting a more minimal lifestyle in their home.
With no major renovation required, you can transform your walls from drab to totally fab with these few handy tips and tricks:
⦁ Mirrors dazzle. Mirrors make small and narrow rooms look bigger and wider because reflection creates an illusion of extra space. But don't settle with the typical square ones - mix and match various shapes and sizes to truly reflect your style.
⦁ Vertical greens. Lift some of your small and light plants from the floor and hang them on floating shelves or from the ceiling. Not only will this save space but will also add life and greenery to help boost your mood and productivity.
⦁ Shapes on your wall. Just simply measure your wall and draw lines using a pencil, and once you are okay with the outline, trace it with a metallic paint marker or foil tape (if you opt for easy redesign).
⦁ Paint a mural. Gather your art materials and create a wall mural to add a bit of color in your blank space. If you are a bit iffy on the idea of painting directly on your walls, you can paint on a canvas, frame it, and set up your own gallery wall instead.
⦁ Install wood look light panels. Add a natural feeling to your home with a free-form ambient lighting fixture to create a minimalist wall decor and consider Nanoleaf Elements Wood Look Hexagons. Without having to drill into your walls, add dimensions and create a one-of-a-kind art installation by arranging these panels in any layout you desire. Elements come with unique preset lighting Scenes like a crackling “Fireplace” or “Calming Waterfalls.” With its proprietary app, you can easily adjust the lighting, create Schedules to automatically turn lights on and off, and even paint panels individually as well as each panel's corner for truly dynamic effects. Voice command is also a viable option as they are compatible with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT integrations.
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Outdoor, military-inspired footwear
To those who love the great outdoors and looking for fun and comfort in footwear, Crocs, Inc. and BEAMS have collaborated to come up with two distinct collections and four unique styles, taking the Classic All-Terrain Clog and adding military-inspired and outdoor-inspired details.
Designed so you can step out in a style play or slip them on after the adventure, the Classic All-Terrain Military Clog features rugged outsole, functional storage and molle webbing on the vamp. Available in two colorways, the style also includes a large, removable pocket with a buckle closure, a synch system that allows for an optional pocket on the top vamp and nylon details.
Similarly, the Classic All-Terrain Outdoor Clog adds outdoor-inspired details that combine form for the street and function for utility. With a more rugged outsole, multiple pockets for functional storage, buckle and webbing synchs on the vamp, and two colorways, you can step out in a style play or slip them on after the adventure.
Together, this latest collaboration derives inspiration from a timeless classic styled in Tokyo. All four styles retail for P5,495 and available at commonwealth-ftgg.ph.
For more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.