2_1_DiscoverBenelux_10_October_2014:Scan Magazine 1
29/9/14
18:13
Page 19
Discover Benelux | Special Theme | Luxuries
Junior has allowed him to combine the heed of future challenges with the education of young children.
changes, and the flexibility that gave me naturally brought me into the world of interior design.” Outsourcing his first project to an interior architect was not as much subcontracting as it was a learning experience. Kolenik quickly understood he had an inherent passion and knack for designing sleek and sophisticated solutions for both residential and commercial spaces, and enlisted a small, dedicated team to help him out. Today Kolenik Eco Chic Design is equated with a high level of quality – in looks, materials as well as customer relations.
Other examples take green living even further; for instance the eco-based pool filtering Kolenik Eco Chic Design uses, as well as environmentally friendly air conditioning systems.
Educating coming generations Admirable as these eco-friendly measures may be, caring for our planet’s future has become a greater matter of the heart for Kolenik. Known for his philanthropic outreach through charity work, he has expressed a heartfelt concern for the environment in general, and sea pollution in particular. Being the founding father of the charity Plastic Soup Foundation
“The idea behind Plastic Soup really touched me, and I quickly realised I wanted to be part of the quest to create awareness about what we are actually doing to our seas. The foundation has created a platform to educate children about the dangers of polluting marine life, and I found that they are so open to learning,” Kolenik says affectionately. The day of 6 October will also see the designer use his skill for the greater good. Teaming up with Chairs4Charity, Kolenik has designed chairs for four noted Dutch chefs, to be sold in their respective restaurants. The majority of the revenue will go to Kolenik’s charity of choice, Plastic Soup, which in due course can continue educating future generations about the value of pure seas. www.kolenik.com
“We’ve always put great value in having one-to-one contact with our clients. I don’t want someone to see my name on our products and not be able to have a real conversation with me about their wishes,” Kolenik says, confirming his company’s down-to-earth approach to customer relations. “That’s why I enjoy what I do,” he adds, “it’s all about keeping an informal and friendly tone with your clients – ensuring proximity while still nurturing a wide, international reach.”
A dually green outlook So what about the design itself? Well, as Kolenik explains, it is best described as dual. While the Eco Chic prefix does entail a green outlook on production processes, it’s also clearly visible in the final appearance of a project. “We use raw elements of nature, creating luxury design with an eye to being sustainable in every instance we possibly can,” Kolenik says, illustrating the philosophy by an example. “Our sofas are all created using ECOboard, a material made from agricultural waste that looks a lot like fibreboard, but contains none of its glues and toxins.”
Kolenik’s green outlook on design shows both in appearance and production process, as he is keen to use toxinfree waste material to create new interior design solutions.
Issue 10 | October 2014 | 19