![Livingstones by Stéphanie Marin at the Toronto Interior Design Show.
You may have recently seen these cushions from the South of France floating around the blogosphere, but did you know that they’ve actually been around since 2004? And that they’re eco.friendly? In a year when “modern organic” reigns supreme, Livingstones certainly made a splash at this year’s Interior Design Show. There were at least three companies featuring soft pebbles at the show, but Stéphanie Marin and Ronell Jordaan were the ones with sustainable versions.
Marin’s Livingstones are made with 100% wool. From what I understand, the stuffing is made from a “natural material” referred to as “hypoallergenic polysilicone fibre” [waiting for more info on this]. What is clear is that they don’t use any chemical dyes in the wool’s mineral tints and that’s definitely a good green thing.
Given the nature trend in design this year, I can’t say that I’m surprised that these pebbles have suddenly soared with popularity. I can see these working beautifully in a variety of settings – from a Cape Cod style living room to a children’s play room. I’d even love to see them in the middle of a raw and spacious industrial loft. They could add some softness to an edgy urban space, but more importantly, they would inject a huge element of fun. These would be amazing for a loft party.
::more Stéphanie Marin products here::](http://27.media.tumblr.com/JEVcJTTe662q8wje0PkLUfS8_r1_500.jpg)
Livingstones by Stéphanie Marin at the Toronto Interior Design Show.
You may have recently seen these cushions from the South of France floating around the blogosphere, but did you know that they’ve actually been around since 2004? And that they’re eco.friendly? In a year when “modern organic” reigns supreme, Livingstones certainly made a splash at this year’s Interior Design Show. There were at least three companies featuring soft pebbles at the show, but Stéphanie Marin and Ronell Jordaan were the ones with sustainable versions.
Marin’s Livingstones are made with 100% wool. From what I understand, the stuffing is made from a “natural material” referred to as “hypoallergenic polysilicone fibre” [waiting for more info on this]. What is clear is that they don’t use any chemical dyes in the wool’s mineral tints and that’s definitely a good green thing.
Given the nature trend in design this year, I can’t say that I’m surprised that these pebbles have suddenly soared with popularity. I can see these working beautifully in a variety of settings – from a Cape Cod style living room to a children’s play room. I’d even love to see them in the middle of a raw and spacious industrial loft. They could add some softness to an edgy urban space, but more importantly, they would inject a huge element of fun. These would be amazing for a loft party.
Livingstones by Stéphanie Marin at the Toronto Interior Design Show.
I love the red and grey combination. If you happen to know the designer of the gorgeous tables featured in this photo and the next one, please drop me a line.
Livingstones by Stéphanie Marin at the Toronto Interior Design Show, seen here with Marin’s Mobileshadows, which filter light and can either function as space dividers or can be freely suspended in the frame of a window.
Pebble Cushions by Ronel Jordaan + AfriCharisma at the Toronto Interior Design Show.
At IDS08, Ronel Jordaan’s delicate collection of wool felt accessories was featured with AfriCharisma, a collective of South African women that Jordaan trained in the art of felting. These women have produced Jordaan’s designs with her before and are now creating their own designs with Jordaan’s help through AfriCharisma.
Ronel Jordaan has been a textile designer for 28 years and cites nature as her main inspiration, with pure wool being her preferred medium. Her whimsical cushions and pebble carpets are eco.responsibly fun, created using sustainable wool felt.
Thanks to the felt’s malleable nature, Jordaan has occasionally combined it with other natural fibres such as silk and cotton when designing a variety of products in her collection — from etheral screens and curtains to warm scarves and throws.
Rock Cushions by Ronel Jordaan + AfriCharisma at the Toronto Interior Design Show.
