Luxury Baths

Tyrell and Laing's line of large and lovely tubs evoke the timeless allure of natural stone, yet the material that makes these sensual and curvaceous tubs is decidedly modern.




To look at each of the tubs in Tyrell and Laing’s latest line, one would think they were constructed of solid stone, such is their beauty and bulk. In fact, the luxury tubs are not made of pure stone but rather a natural composite—“ a hard wearing smooth composite stone material with the appearance of natural stone without the drawback of excess weight.”



The difference is no small shakes as T and L’s luxury tubs look and feel like stone but are less expensive, less extractive, and, of course, lighter and thus easier to install (or move, should that unpleasantness become inevitable).



The line includes six models, each available in different colors and each possessed of their own special allure. The flagship of the bunch is the Imperia, a massive number in a range of colors and your choice of a matte or polished finish. Other models include the versatile Oceanus, the single-serve Petit, and the earth-friendly Eco, all of which evince a comfortable synergy between utility and indulgence: “warm and sensual to the touch and non-slip—our luxury baths are extremely comfortable to enhance your bathing experience. They are also easy to keep clean and come in a range of colors with a matte or polished finish.”

Bicycle Furniture

"Walking around New York City, I see bicycles in all forms chained to anything and everything", states Andy Gregg. From a beautiful new bike, to a lone rusted frame, the City is littered with this 2-wheeled transportation wonder. Bicycles are, in many ways, the greenest form of transportation around. The frame, although made from metal (usually aluminum with some steel), is a minimal amount of material. The wheels are also modest in their consumption of natural resources, especially when compared to a car tire. All this combined with human provided energy sounds like a perfect machine for moving around the city.

Andy Gregg of Bike Furniture (BFD), has taken the sustainability of the bicycle one step further. Now those battered remnants of a once loved bike can be made into innovative modern furniture. Since the original Bike Chair in 1990, BFD has expanded its collection to include tables, bar stools, loveseats and chairs. “These designs use train and automobile windows for tabletops, and surplus automotive seat-belt webbing for seating upholstery.” The company takes donations of used bikes in return for a discount on a piece of furniture. Their website reads, “We can use a lot of stuff. If you would like to send us some of your stuff, we would be happy to give you a discount on our stuff.”

This Table Rocks

Beginning in 1998, Domingos gathered local artisans together into a cooperative known as Gente de Fibra to join him in the manufacturing of his pieces. Based out of Domingos family farmhouse and banana plantation, the cooperative has subsequently helped transform the struggling agrarian-based economy into one focused around skilled craftsman and local artisans. In an almost tribal way, the pieces are created collectively by a group of craftsmen.


As seen on Contemporist, Domingos Tótora’s latest creation is a glass table that rests on a set of three rocks. The design is well balanced with a Zen-like aura that could calm even the craziest of New Yorkers. Whats surprising about this table are the rocks, which appear to be the most natural, smooth rocks imaginable, but in reality are man made from recycled cardboard. While Domingos is known for his natural fiber creations, this is the most unusual use of the materials I have seen. The process of making the cardboard rocks can be likened to many traditional manufacturing processes, with an unexpected finished product that looks identical to a raw material. It is a perfect testament to our backwards approach to sustainability, where an organic form is created from man made waste.via