Knocking on wood

This green glass square ring by John Healy is one of Rebecca Snelling's favorite things. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

With a focus on sustainable and ecologically minded furniture design, designer Rebecca Snelling and her father Doug create a range of one-off pieces made from recycled New Zealand wood and other materials.

The idea of sustainability is an important one for Snelling, who is also in her final year studying for a bachelor of fine arts.

"I'm a great believer that we look through a rear view mirror into the future. Our practice values the hands-on approach - we use recycled New Zealand timbers wherever possible to create something new that has an ongoing story." The father-daughter team work together from their Clevedon design store, Workroom, which celebrates its first birthday in early August.

"With Dad's background in building and woodworking and mine in art and design, it seemed quite natural to work together and open the store. The discovery of our site in rural Clevedon has contributed to our practice with its barn nature and country aesthetic," says Snelling, who is often inspired by her great aunt, Helen Brown, a celebrated artist in the 1960s and 70s.

"History flows over into my design and my artworks ... I appear to have a certain fondness for nostalgia."

10 FAVOURITE THINGS

1 Green glass square ring by John Healy

This is my new ring made by a new friend. I love the simplicity of the design with the use of multi-materials, and I had an instant attraction to the use of wood which is a European beech wood.

2 Workroom-RS floor tripod lamp

This is my own tripod design made from recycled New Zealand tawa. I love the glow that comes through the linen. I love lighting. This is probably why I make lamps!

3 Hany Armanious untitled (hair series)

I have followed Australian artist Hany Armanious since his Year of the Pig Sty show at the Michael Lett gallery in 2007. This work is from a group show at the Michael Lett gallery, OK. The work uses hair and glue and as it dries 'drawings' of faces emerge. It has been described as a kind of psychic automatism.

4 Hourglass by Seletti

I love scientific materials and also loved the beginning of Days of our Lives when I was little. I was fascinated! This is a beautiful merging of the two.

5 Inherited book collection

Left to me by great aunt, Helen Brown - I finally received it about two years ago. The richness of these books is so precious to me and I guard them like treasure.

6 White leather wingback chair

We have had wingback chairs in my family since I can remember. This one has been several different colours and fabrics. I love the studded dome detail. It has always remained the same chair just with a new outfit on.