Current Inspiration #16
Another change of seasons is here, which routinely marks the newest edition of MAREDI.ism, our periodic newsletter!
And here it is - Current Inspiration #16! As we love to do, we are sharing some of our latest bits of inspiration with all of you. This round up includes an exciting European adventure that brought new products from a favorite brand on our radar, why you should opt for this rug brand that we swear by, the importance of connecting to culture through creation in the kitchen, and celebrating an anniversary at MAREDI Design by launching a new service!
Let's jump right in!
MAREDI Design: A new service marking our 5 year anniversary
It's hard to believe that this month (October) marks the official 5 year anniversary of the founding of MAREDI Design. Though it has technically been 5 years since we established our LLC, it took about a year for things to feel actually official and real, so it's sort of only the 4 year anniversary. However you count it, this has been a journey. We have grown and evolved exponentially, and we have never felt more convinced, humbled and determined on our path forward. Sustainable design has always been at the root of our practice, though it wasn't always officially labeled with that term. As we have cultivated our own knowledge, skills and experience in this field, we are excited to finally be offering a new service to industry peers: MAREDI Sustainability Consulting. As more people become aware of the importance of sustainable and regenerative design and understand the vital human health component that is at risk, we see that our industry peers need to lean on the knowledge of other experts and professionals. That's where we come in! We are really looking forward to working with fellow designers and architects to help them make their own projects as sustainably-focused as possible. And don't worry, we're not going anywhere - you'll still continue to see our very own MAREDI Design projects sprinkled throughout the world.
A sustainable stone maker
In June, we had a really unique opportunity where we were invited to go to the south of Spain to visit the production facility and campus of an all-time favorite brand, Cosentino. This is not the first time we have mentioned this sustainably-focused stone slab producer and likely not the last. Their manufacturing facilities are impressive and immaculate, as far away as possible from the dated images evoked of dirty, dark, air-lacking factories. The campus is certainly state-of-the-art, from an incredible R&D lab, to seamless and automatized lines of production, to 99% water reuse throughout (they can't quite count that 1% extra that evaporates). While we were excited to get a sneak peek of upcoming product launches in their quartz Silestone line, we were particularly amazed by one product: Dekton. This virtually indestructible material, ideal for a range of applications from surfaces, wall cladding or even facades, also holds sustainability labels, like Declare, identifying it as Red List Approved. Essentially, the material is very well rated in terms of its toxicity levels and the harm that it can cause to human health (if you're just waking up to this topic, we share more here). This makes it a great choice if you're on the lookout for a material for your home that is healthy materials approved.
Rug for life
If you ask us, selecting a rug is the anchor of any space. A decision that should not be taken lightly, but also something that should be an investment, almost like a piece of art. What we will point out, as we always do, it to pay attention to materials, ingredients and fabrics for anything you purchase and bring into your home. So when it comes to rugs, we prioritize natural fibers as much as possible (and try to avoid harmful synthetic fibers). That's why Armadillo is really one of the best rug options, using carefully sourced natural fibers including jute, wool, silk, and linen. Not only is this a women-owned business, B-Corp certified, but most importantly, their products have a Declare label making them Red List Free (the ultimate certification for healthy materials). So do yourself a favor, and next time you find yourself rug shopping, opt for these beautiful, classic pieces that can stay in the family for generations, while knowing that you are contributing to healthier interiors for yourself.
Food for thought (and heritage)
We like to take things out of the context of pure design and the built-environment and evoke other thoughts and musings that we've been contemplating. We talk a lot about culture, heritage, traditions and preservation. It's something that is deeply rooted in what we do in our professional lives, but also something of profound significance on the personal side. As creatives, we are also creators in different realms. The kitchen is no exception. We've discovered the magic of connection to culture through recreating recipes of our ancestors (respectively from both the French and Serbian sides). The passion and patience to mimic and eventually master the tradition and ritual nature of preparing the dishes of one's heritage is one of the most beautiful ways to honor culture. Shown here is a traditional Serbian version of pita with cheese (found across the Balkans, not always by the same name). A recipe passed down by a grandmother and refined with the help of an aunt, where the delicate dough is homemade and hand stretched across your work surface and lovingly filled with your stuffing of choice. A beautifully articulated podcast on the Balkan specialty, burek, that is a close cousin to pita, is what really began to inspire this journey of ours - check it out!
They talk about us
We've been busy since our last edition! Here's where we’ve been featured in the meantime:
MAREDI Design’s Multicultural Approach to Midwestern Style (Custom Builder)
Global Luxury Landscape Report 2023 - Sustainability Section (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices)
10 ways to renovate more responsibly (Business of Home)
17 Blue-Green Paints Colors that are Refreshing, Lively and Moody (The Spruce)
Bring These Fall Decor Trends to Life with Secondhand Items (Auction Ninja)
Design lessons that had to be unlearned (Business of Home)
We’ve also joined Matriarchy Build and the Latitude Network
Don't forget that we launched a podcast this past summer!
You can listen to all of the episodes wherever you stream your podcasts, and don't forget to sign up so you never miss a future episode!