We are going to come right out and say it – we have a love/hate relationship with Gumtree and various other selling platforms. On the one hand, it’s like getting free money when you sell something you no longer use but on the other, you have to endure low-ball offers and more ghosts than a haunted house. Thankfully, there is an alternative courtesy of IKEA’s innovative buy-back scheme. more
Despite being more connected than ever before, loneliness is on the rise. Right now in Australia one million adults are living with depression and over two million with anxiety (according to Beyond Blue). Rather than become statistics themselves, Gold Coast locals Rosa-Clare Willis and Andrew Ford made the decision to get out of their heads and into their hands by dabbling in a little at-home pottery. The result was something unexpected – not only did they connect over a shared (sober) experience but there was a real sense of achievement having created something from nothing and just like that, the idea for Crockd was born. more
Let's talk about sleep deprivation for a moment – it's a very real and merciless form of torture that sadly, many us know all too well. Without a decent night's shut eye, it feels like you are existing in a state of permanent jet lag that no amount of green juice can remedy. If you are currently sipping your third latte for the day or feel like you're in desperate need of a really good sleep, it's time to ditch your current bedding and say hello to the life-changing benefits of CleanBamboo from Ettitude. more
Reusable bottles are great – not only are they better for the environment than single-use plastic ones, but if you carry one, you're ten times more likely to drink more water than if you weren't carrying one and are one thousand times more attractive! Okay, we made those last two up but the point remains that reusable bottles are pretty darn great. In fact, the only real downside to reusable bottles is having to remember to actually clean it from time to time. If you've been known to be a bit lax on the old maintenance regime, say hello to LARQ. more
Whilst most of us have well and truly jumped on the reusable coffee cup and water bottle bandwagon, there's always new eco-friendly products popping up that we had never even given a second thought to when using its one-use, wasteful comparisons. One of these instances is when you've just recited a long, multi-coffee order to your local barista for your co-workers or friends. Whilst you may have brought along multiple reusable coffee cups, they still have to place these in a disposable tray for you to carefully transport back to the office. Enter Stay tray, a reusable drink tray made from made from 100 percent recycled materials and the answer to our eco-friendly pleas. more
It may be hard to believe but there was once a time when camp gear cost a pretty penny because it was made from rugged materials and built to last. These days, you can pick up a two person tent for as little as $12. The availability of low-cost camping equipment coupled with the rise in summer music festivals has created a perfect storm with a report from Green Music Australia revealing that one in five attendees at Falls Festival, Party in the Paddock and Unify purchased a new tent for the festival and that punters were four times more likely to abandon it if their friend did it too. While it's indeed a bleak scenario, there is a glimmer of hope – Melbourne's E tū is turning the tide on festival waste and transforming discarded tents into everyday bags. more
Unless you've been living under a gigantic rock for the last decade, it's pretty likely you're across the devastating impact single-use plastic is having on the world, from chocking our oceans to harming plants and wildlife. Something has to change and if you're on board and keen to rid your home of single-use plastic, say hello to Zero Co. The Australian-based start-up is calling on all Aussies to help fund the first production of a range of planet-friendly, plastic-busting household products. more
After you've stuffed your face upstairs at Phat Boy or one of Brisbane Quarter's other amazing eateries, you can now get your fill of a different kind at the newly opened art space called The Gallery on Podium 1, across from W Brisbane Living Room Bar. more
Cool blues, wild florals, earthy tones and a healthy dose of boho style make up the new collection from this innovative homewares haven. more
A local artist has handcrafted an eccentric range of unique pieces perfect for stashing the snacks and surprising the guests at your next dinner party. more
Clear your credit cards, folks. Bendo’s range of homewares will have you snapping up all sorts of sleek sculptures, from paper-clip-inspired coat hooks to elevated dog bowls (even if you don’t own a dog). more
With the advent of renovation and redecorating-focused reality television, we’re more conscious of interior aesthetics than ever. Home is where the heart is, and if your living space isn’t up to snuff then it becomes a real mood dampener. Overhauling your entertaining space can cause a bit of a sting on your finances, but redecorating on a budget is easily achievable if you know where to look. If you’ve got $50 you can spare, jump in the car and get a closer look at these five pieces that’ll fit right into your interior scheme without you having to take out a second mortgage. more
Look, we’re going to level with you. The planet is in a bad way, and it’s our fault. Non-biodegradable materials are clogging waterways and landfill in record amounts, which is playing havoc with our ecosystems and the environment at large. The high use of plastic is partially to blame, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Loads of companies across Australia and the world are fighting the good fight by creating plastic-free variants of regular household items. These reusable goods are functional and stylish, while also reducing the amount of plastic waste we produce. We’ve made a quick hit list of plastic-free essentials you should own to help do your part in saving the environment. more
When you think about some of your most treasured possessions, it makes sense that they deserve to be stored somewhere that is both safe and beautiful. Whether it’s an heirloom ring that was handed down, a little shell you brought home from a beautiful holiday or your favourite necklace, the sentimental pieces that we collect throughout our lives really should be kept with care – but that’s no reason to lock them away in a vault. Exclaimed Kate is a Brisbane-based brand that has just launched a stunning range of unique jewellery boxes designed to store your trinkets and treasures while looking damn good doing it. more
If you're pitching a tent on the beach somewhere remote with sand between your toes, you would have come to terms with the fact that you're not going to find a barista-quality flat white, piccolo or long black any time soon. Consider that (first-world) problem solved – a travelling coffee machine is here. more
Let’s be honest – there’s something pretty damn seductive about the dark side. From the chic aesthetic to the mysterious aura that surrounds darkness, it is often its contrast to the light that makes it even more beautiful – it’s all about balance, right? Brisbane-based brand Nocturna has channelled this energy into its range of stunning luxury candles, using the beauty of nature and the mystery of night as its muse. more
For ocean-loving design guru Jamie Phillips, confronting statistics about mass plastic production, use and (lack of) recycling drove him to think of a creative way to reduce the use of plastic in everyday products. Determined to be part of the solution rather than just talking about what was wrong with the world, he created Yesēco. more
As card-carrying members of the desk-bound generation, most of us have at least mild neck and back issues – hey, it comes with the territory of office life. If you’re the sort of person who is putting your physio’s kids through uni due to your frequent visits, we’ve found something that might ease the strain (literally). The C-Rest is a quick, painless and effective tool designed to loosen up the areas that suffer the most from living la vida desk-a. more
When you look at a perfectly crafted piece of woodwork, it can be easy to forget what it started out as. Odds are you’ve eaten a delicious piece of cheese off a wooden serving platter without giving much thought to its origins, but it’s Turner + Turner’s business to know these things. The West Australian homewares company is shining a light of the natural beauty of its source material, all while paying the utmost respect to the environment from which it comes. more
Whether you need an extra layer at bedtime, want to rug up more when binging Netflix on the couch, or even if your office air-conditioning it too cold, it’s always handy to have a blanket handy. This feel-good blanket can keep you comfy while also warming a refugee in need. more