Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of learning about etúHOME from the founder, Stacy Borocz. I had a few of her pieces in my home — a couple of gorgeous charcuterie boards and a chic black dough bowl — but I didn’t realize how special or sustainable each item was! Though etúHOME is creating some of the most sought-after kitchen accessories on the market, many buyers don’t know that they’re also creating some of the most sustainable. (So very important, today on Earth Day and every day.) etúHOME’s wood products are created from vintage pine and hardwood that’s been salvaged from 19th century European buildings, while the glassware is handblown from recycled pieces of melted glass. No two items they make are alike, which only adds to the desirability of the brand. Finally, all of their artisans receive a working wage, benefits, and safe working conditions. In honor of Earth Day, we’re chatting with Stacy to learn more about their take on “modern sustainability” as well as the brand’s ethos: a life well lived.
Tell us a little bit about etúHOME. When did you start the company, and why? What did you want to bring to the market?
We launched etúHOME about a year ago but my background in the home accessories arena truly started in 2000. I have a classic retail background as a merchant with Federated Department Stores and the British Retailer, WH Smith. In addition to my passion for retail, I have always been an avid traveler and am particularly fascinated by the lifestyle around the design of the European kitchen.
etúHOME was founded on recreating authentic European accents centered around the quintessential European lifestyle. etúHOME’s serving pieces and kitchen accents are designed to reflect that lifestyle by weaving these utilitarian objects into one’s daily life. While our inspiration comes from authentic originals, our products are always updated with the modern home in mind. Every item in our collection tells a story of a past era, each unique in its artisanal craftsmanship. Beyond our style, we are a company committed to modern sustainability in that we greatly value the production process and the craftsmanship that goes into each and every piece we produce. All of our items are handmade by local artisans in Hungary. By properly procuring our materials we are able to create classically rooted pieces without negatively impacting the environment.
Your motto is “a life well lived.” What does that mean to you?
We believe that life is best enjoyed surrounded by family, friends, good food and better wine. We also believe that meals should be focused on conversation vs. time and that these moments are the very best gifts in life. Nothing is better when a leisurely lunch lingers into afternoon cocktails and dinner. At etúHOME we pay special attention to the feeling that this setting evokes and execute this passion through the hand of the artist as we re-create the daily objects that once filled the European kitchen- Oak Charcuterie Boards, Baguette Trays, Chop Blocks, Hand Hewn Bread Bowls, Stoneware Crocks and Olive Jars, etc. These objects boast time honored techniques and a storied past. They offer a specific sense of stability and warmth fostering the quest for connection and grounding.
Our goal at etúHOME is always to design pieces that people will treasure and pass down from one generation to the next. It’s important to us that our products can be woven into these special moments in life – whether that’s a casual dinner at home with a loved one, or a large family gathering to honor a special milestone. We aim to make entertaining more meaningful, effortless and beautiful.
How do you keep sustainability at the forefront of the brand, both in sourcing and production?
Our sourcing efforts are truly the heart and soul of the company- it’s our true passion and it’s what distinguishes us in the marketplace. Each piece we create is rooted in the classics and therefore it must be hand crafted from sustainable materials in order to be truly authentic. While we utilize precision equipment in our factory, each new piece is finished by hand in old world style, ensuring a piece of the past resonates with future generations. We utilize 19thcentury timber, recycled glass and sustainably harvested beams to craft our products and all of our products are hand crafted in Hungary by local artisans. As buildings in and around Budapest fall into demolition, we are able to salvage the beams used to support them. It’s simple really, we create classically rooted kitchen furniture and cuisine accent pieces without negatively impacting the environment.
You also prioritize your artisans, ensuring good wages, benefits, and working conditions. Could you tell us a bit more about this?
Yes, this is the where our sustainability practices come full circle and extend beyond the product’s core materials all the way to thefactory where the product is made, ensuring a safe and positive working environment, a fair living wage, and the contribution to a prosperous and healthy community. At etúHOME we call it Modern Sustainability, and it feels good.
Do you have any favorite pieces you’d like to mention?
At the moment I am truly enjoying our white mod charcuterie boards and our Provence Island Counter in natural and white. My team moved the entire unit into the middle of my kitchen for a recent photoshoot and that is where it is still living. I have not been able to part with it! I have all 6 styles of our white mod charcuterie boards hanging from the iron bar and I am constantly reaching for one. I also piled all of our dreamy, cream and white bakeware and handthrown pottery pieces on the lower level making it another easy grab and go when entertaining. There is even room for white glass storage cannisters and rush baskets and now I don’t know how I ever managed without this piece!
See some of etúHOME’s beautiful pieces, photographed by Alea Moore, in the slideshow.
