SquareRooms Issue 181 Mid-Year 2020

3 0 ideal homes 18 SUSTAINABILITY Treat your windows Heat-blocking window treatments that will keep you cool indoors Dark curtains PROS: DUAL PURPOSE Blackout curtains are made from dense fabric, so they prevent hot sunlight from streaming into the house. Also, dark drapes completely block outdoor light – perfect for those who need to sleep in the daytime. CONS: CLEANUP One drawback of blackout curtains is that they are heavy to carry and difficult to wash. Glass films PROS: SKIN PROTECTION Anti-glare window films hinder harmful UV rays from penetrating the room, lowering your chances of contracting skin cancer. They also significantly reduce sun glare, are quick to install, and easy to maintain. CONS: AESTHETIC Some window films make the glass appear too dark, which can make the home’s facade a tad gloomy-looking. Wooden shutters PROS: CONTROL Window shutters let you adjust the slats according to how much sunlight you want to let in. It also regulates room temperature, which means it effectively keeps the heat out when fully closed. CONS: VISIBILITY Due to the thickness of the slats, shutters obstruct your view of the outside in one way on another. PHOTO BY ANDERS NORD ON UNSPLASH IMAGE COURTESY OF TRIPLE EYELID Recycled Choosing furniture pieces made from recycled wood helps curb deforestation because it decreases the demand for timber. Not only does it gives this valuable material a new lease on life, but the resulting furniture comes out remarkably eye-catching, thanks to the blend of natural brown tones from mixing different types of recycled wood. In the local front, several design studios – such as Triple Eyelid and Roger&Sons – craft statement furniture using upcycled wood and felled trees from urban development. Reclaimed While recycled wood is typically construction site rejects, reclaimed wood comes from abandoned buildings. Old kudos houses in Indonesia, for example, provide sturdy teakwood that would otherwise remain unutilised if not for reclamation. Furniture studio Gallery278 specialises in creating furniture made from reclaimed wood, which highlights the beauty and strength of aged teak. Certified One sure-fire way to find out if a piece of wooden furniture comes from sustainable materials is by its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. FSC-certified wood means that the timber comes from responsibly managed forests (or a woodland where forestry managers plant one tree for every tree felled). Moreover, the certification prevents excessive logging and protects indigenous people’s land rights. Check out furniture shop Soul & Tables if you wish to give FSC-certified beds, sideboards, and tables a try. I M A G E C O U R T E S Y O F R O G E R & S O N S Opt for green furniture 19 1 Three types of sustainable timber that make a wooden fixture eco-friendly