Today I want to introduce you to one of my favourite home interiors brands of the moment – Happy + Co. If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen their black and white striped cushion popping up in my photos. It’s a piece that has in many ways inspired the design direction of my living room – focusing on a monochrome colour palette and lots of simple, clean lines. Now I want to delve a little deeper and tell you more about Happy + Co’s back story and socially responsible ethos.
‘We believe happiness starts at home. It’s a philosophy that informs all that we do and every product we design.’
Happy + Co creates smart, sustainable furniture and home accessories that are designed to brighten up the home and be noticed. There’s hand screen-printed cotton cushion covers with bold, eye-catching patterns, handcrafted mugs stamped with the brand’s signature cross, and best-selling monochrome tableware.
The designs are inspired by the team’s travels, whether it’s Bondi palms, Bogong butterflies or Palm Beach. But more than just taking from a place and presenting nothing in return, Happy + Co seeks to make a difference and give something back. I think as consumers we should all be aware of where our homeware comes from, how items are made and the impact our purchases can have on the world.
Happy + Co is a inspiring example – in 2014, co-founder Gary Elton established the Happy + Co Farm in the Cambodian province of Siem Reap after looking for ways to create employment opportunities for young people, particularly the children of rice growers whose options were once limited. After two years of construction work, excavating dams and erecting buildings, the farm started selling chemical-free fruit and vegetables to locals.
Today the farm employs over 40 people who plant, harvest and market its increasingly varied produce, in addition to building and equipping greenhouses for year-round harvesting. For every Happy + Co product sold, 10% of profits are invested back into the farm and community. ‘It’s still early days but we hope that, cushion by cushion, vegetable by vegetable, we can have a positive effect on the lives of people less fortunate than ourselves,’ they say.
Happy + Co have just added a few new products to their collection. Here you can see the thick, tactile Pebble cushion made of recycled materials (in pure white and steel grey, £50) and the soft, shaggy Angel cushion (in pure white, steel grey and midnight black, £50). Their sculptural, organic surface appeals to the senses, giving texture to a contemporary sofa and cosiness to a bed made up in naturally crumpled French linen. The black and white cushion is the Brighton.
Happy + Co’s mugs, handcrafted in the UK, are new too. They’re big and generous, perfect for a decent cup of tea, and come in pearl white (seen here), natural grey and midnight black. I love how the glaze just stops short of the bottom of the mug, a finish that’s striking in its simplicity. The tiny black plus sign and Happy + Co stamp are lovely little details too.
Below, are there white beaded boxes (£20-40), which can be bought on their own, in three different sizes, or as a stacking set. I’ve taken the lid off mine and used it as a handy place to store magazines. You might also spot a little white bunny rabbit. Happy + Co’s Happy Bunnies are handmade in Bali and come in three sizes (£10-25). They’re delivered in a little tote bag, making a delightful, unusual gift for friends or loved ones.
From cosy cushions to minimal mugs, Happy + Co’s designs add a little happiness to those everyday moments, whether it’s savouring your morning coffee or sinking into the sofa at the end of the day. Even better, is knowing your purchase has contributed in some small way towards making someone else on the other side of the world a little happier.
This post was written in collaboration with Happy + Co. All images Cate St Hill
