Eco-friendly furniture and homewares brand, Eco Chic, has recently opened a store at The Strand in Coolangatta.

Eco Chic joins The Cabin Store, Abode Interiors and Styling, Sun & Sea, Salt Living, Montego, and Johnei & Jo at The Strand, offering boutique homewares and furnishings.

Eco Chic, founded and created by interior designers Cris Bucknall and Paula Breckman, started out as an online furniture shop showcasing eco-friendly furniture and homewares throughout Australia.

Bucknall and Breckman said they decided to open their eco friendly furniture business because they wanted to fill the gap in the market that ‘no national furniture company was filling.’ “We saw a demand for eco friendly products and sustainable furniture growing.”

“People want quality furniture that is responsible,” Bucknall said.

“When sourcing furniture and homewares for Eco Chic, we look for eco friendly, recycled, non-toxic, handmade in Australia, or fair trade products. We want people to fall in love with the piece, and also feel good about the fact that it’s green furniture and an earth friendly product.”

Bucknall and Breckman said the eclectic style of Eco Chic reflects their international backgrounds. Bucknall started out as a set designer in Hollywood before travelling to Fiji and then Australia designing interiors for hotels and resorts. She began Eco Chic as an offshoot of her interior design company, MEI Mannigan Edwards International. Breckman studied art and architecture and travelled all around the world as a music promoter before settling in Australia and turning her hand to interior and display home design.

“Our furniture and homewares range run from modern lines to vintage furniture, but everything works back together and different pieces are meant to be mixed and matched,” Bucknall said.

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