Sustainability and Ethos
I manage all stages of the build - layouts and design, planning, structural work, any permissions, the build itself, etc. and I take sustainability into account at every stage. It’s surprisingly easy to do if you break it down - and it’s possible at every budget.
Your choices
Start by thinking about what you can re-use from what you already own - a piece of furniture moved to a new room, or repurposed, can feel completely different.
On the other hand, clutter can be overwhelming so if there’s anything that doesn’t bring you joy then take it to a charity shop so someone else can enjoy it.
When it comes to layouts, think about the kinds of things that make you happy in a space. You should be able to move around easily and enjoy every corner of your home without wasting an area. Clever storage is key.
If your space reflects you rather than trends then you don’t need to worry about anything becoming dated and throwing it away because this isn’t what drives your decisions. If you back your fundamental tastes, you’re more likely to hold on to what you have and enjoy them for years to come.
Having natural elements is not only better for the environment but it lowers your cortisol (our stress hormone) on an evolutionary level. This can be in wood, stone, natural fibres, plants - even the shape of arches that appear in nature. A few beautiful pieces that make you feel good are better than a lot that don’t.
Choose colours that speak to you. If white gives you peace then that’s great. If vibrant colours and patterns do then go for them. Or you could go for a combination so that different rooms make you feel good in different ways. I love pulling this together and making each home unique to my clients’ tastes and needs for their spaces.
Lighting has a huge impact - not only natural light but being able to create different moods with your lighting. It can also affect how you can use a space – such as having good lighting in your kitchen so you can see what you’re cooking! Changing halogen bulbs to LED bulbs will help the environment and reduce your bills. You can get warm white LEDs too.
Whilst I try to suggest environmentally conscious suppliers, it is always the client’s final decision and the build industry has a way to go in this respect. Many suppliers are on their own journey to reduce their waste, use more sustainable materials etc. Still, change is happening in the industry and there are some great companies that I recommend. I ensure the suppliers I work with treat their workforce and customers well - the whole way through the supply chain. I also check that diversity and inclusion is a core value - this includes my build teams as well.
During the build
My mission is to make builds as enjoyable for everyone as possible. I work with trusted build teams who care about their work, their workforce and their clients. Most importantly, they are teams who have always found a solution to any problems we’ve come across.
If you already have a build team you’d like me to work with then that’s great (you don’t need to use mine) and we can try to spread our sustainable, problem-solving ethos further.
My philosophy is not to re-do good work, to plan well and build it once and just enjoy.
A lot of build materials can also be re-used such as reclaimed bricks or just modernising - or making the most of original features.
I like to plan ahead so once the decisions are made, I can order everything in the right quantities, at the right time, so the build can move along smoothly. This keeps you and the build team happy – chocolates are also always welcome on site!
Disposal
Did you know the metals in white goods can be reused multiple times or that mattresses are made of 17 components and 90% can be recycled?
Disposal and recycling is very important for me so I work with responsible teams who ensure that each item you don’t want is taken to the best place for it.
Certain London boroughs are better at recycling than others and a number of them use the waste that can’t be recycled to make energy (as long as it’s safe to do so).
Some build materials can be dangerous when they break down so it’s really important to dispose of your products safely.
Spreading our ethos
I’m a proud supporter of Foodcycle, whose vision is to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past for every community. See if you can help at a community meal near you: www.foodcycle.org.uk
My most important team member is of course my dog Toothless. She was a rescue Staffy who started life abandoned in a cardboard box and really shows the joy of a good bit of recycling!
Thanks,
Ruth Stolerman
