AIKO Lounger. All photos by MAMAGREEN.
Gertrude Jekyll, a British horticulturalist, designer and artist from the late 19th century, once said “The garden should fit its owner or his or her tastes, just as one’s clothes do; it should be neither too large nor too small, but just comfortable.”
Good outdoor design should follow this philosophy in order to create a space that is a comfortable reflection of its owner, according to Michael Toutloff, showroom manager for MAMAGREEN, an outdoor furniture design studio that promises to make a difference in outdoor design.
Headed by designers Vincent Cantaert and Barbara Widiningtias, MAMAGREEN aims to create the best hand-crafted outdoor furniture that features exciting, distinctive designs in the “smartest manner we possibly can,” says Toutloff. Cantaert, CEO and founder of
MAMAGREEN, is a third-generation furniture and from Belgium, while Widiningtias was one of the first women to graduate in wood furniture studies in Semarang, Indonesia. Together their modern, minimalistic designs that are both comfortable and sustainable, as they utilize traditional materials, such as reclaimed teak, and primarily recycled or recyclable materials. “[It] isn’t disposable design,” Toutloff affirms, “it is furniture that is made to last.”
To achieve these distinct designs, Toutloff says the key is to correctly quantify how much space you have to work with. “The biggest mistake someone makes is by trying to force the space to become something it isn’t,” he notes. With this in mind any space can get the perfect revamp it needs, from transforming a small balcony to a quaint entertaining space to installing a cabana in a large backyard to create an intimate oasis getaway.
BAIA Extending Table.
Scale and functionality are priorities when it comes to MAMAGREEN furniture. Pieces like the BAIA extending table come standard with a self-storing filler that allows you to expand to a larger table for entertaining, then downsize for maximum movement and flow.
The versatility of these pieces is what is most attractive, as each product is capable of being customized for reasons corresponding with aging, ADA requirements, mobility and more. The company’s passion for sustainability also contributes to its modern sensibilities, from leaving zero impact on rainforest to upcycling 95 percent of its production waste.
“MAMAGREEN furniture is made with love,” says Toutloff. “There are no conveyor belts in our factory. Instead, product is moved from station to station and built by hand by craftsmen.”
Recycled teak wood at MAMAGREEN workshop.
EKKA Lounger.