Put slow design to work in your home to save money and enjoy the benefits
We know about slow food. Its the pleasure of a sourdough loaf or the health benefits of seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables. It's the satisfaction of a home-cooked casserole at the end of a long day. Slow design is similar. It provides an approach to everyday objects that like the slow food movement makes life more enjoyable and is better for us and the planet. READ MORE: * Five crucial questions to ask before you renovate * Moving house creates so much waste. Here's how to be greener about it * Former PM Jacinda Ardern's Trade Me habit is so real * Local vintage travel gems and where to find them Slow designs basic aim is to build and furnish our homes in more sustainable, long-lasting and meaningful ways. It helps us to avoid wasting money on things that break easily or are not fit for purpose in the long run. Ultimately its about creating spaces we love and that are healthy to be in. We can apply core slow design principles and make it work for us, whatever our budget. Investing in decent home wares doesn't have to mean spending top dollar. Buying second-hand, or even whats offered for free in our community, can be ways to source items of far higher quality and character than what is new and mass-produced. Nicole and Richard Stewart are the couple behind the epic Junk and Disorderly stores in Auckland, Christchurch, and for a time New Plymouth. Over 32 years in the business they have helped thousands of customers find treasures. In the process many warehouses worth of home wares, crazy amounts of stuff have been diverted from landfill. Nicole says this is a big motivator behind their work. Junk and Disorderly goods can come from movie set pack downs, business closures or members of the public simply turning up with a boot load of goods to sell. Having seen many interior trends come and go, theyre skilled at recognising well-made items, collectables and designs of enduring value. Even if those items have been discarded by others. We go to many deceased estates, and often we get more out of the jumbo bin outside, that we really want, rather than the normal stuff inside you see at every deceased estate, says Nicole. Turn chairs upside-down to check for sturdy interlocking joints, rather than the glue or staples typical of cheap, modern furniture. Does an item have a classic style that will last? Look for clues as to age and origin. Is the item made of strong metal, solid wood, retro-style veneer, or flimsy chipboard? After the January floods, the Stewarts bought a few items from people selling flood-damaged furniture. Nicole says: Of the things t hat were still reusable, they might have been damaged at the bottom. But they were old, they were solid wood. It wasn't that new chipboard, MDF, or kitset rubbish, that just fell apart and which you saw it every rubbish pile. Slow design can be as simple as investing in better everyday items. When basic objects like can openers or salt and pepper grinders are poorly made, they can be frustrating to use. If we end up repeatedly replacing them it can ultimately end up costing us more. Some items of furniture just need a decent clean, a fresh coat of paint or a fabric recovering to give them a second life. Its about engaging in the circular economy and making the most use out of every item , says Collectors Anonymous publisher and sustainable style advocate Rose Jackson. Im really interested in giving things a second, third, forth life, keeping things in the system and never letting it go to landfill, says Jackson. When it comes to building or renovation projects, if things are well-designed you can make them a lot more efficient, says Alister Kitchen, architect and director with Leuschke Group. Even really basic stuff that doesn't cost, like where to put a window to maximise light, or where to put doors leading into a lounge that allows enough space for furniture and flow. Putting a bit of thought into where these elements go can make a big difference to the quality of the space, says Kitchen. A building that is well-designed is nicer for the people that live there. It will also have more value than something badly designed, so when you go to sell it will also be worth more. For expert advice, tips and tricks on sustainable building and renovating, follow the progress of the Forever House . Over the coming months, the Ara Education Charitable Trust {AECT}, Stuff and our sponsors are turning a derelict house into a warm, dry, eco-friendly and low cost home. AECT is a collaboration between industry, government agencies and schools to create work and training opportunities for South Auckland school-leavers. Click here to donate .