The ottoman is a pretty odd-ball piece of furniture. It can be used for storage, as a coffee table, or as an accent piece that operates more like throw pillows than permanent furniture.

Something about the move-ability of the ottoman makes it seem more transient than a couch or even a coffee table. A certain level of luxury is suggested when one can purchase an object strictly for foot resting. There is also something gratifying about putting one’s feet on the furniture as a snub to Mom who always scolded the practice.

Upcycle Ottoman. Designed by Gus* Modern.

Aside from the restrictions of height and required surface area for two feet, the ottoman is a very flexible piece of furniture. In the combination chair/ottoman design, the ottoman is typically the more stylized object in the pair. In a New York apartment, the ottoman can add exponential seating without taking up loads of space. In my apartment we have nesting ottomans, which hide a mini-ottoman inside of a slightly larger one.

A recycled content ottoman seems like an obvious step in the evolution of the breed. Gus* Modern furniture makes the Upcycle Ottoman from repurposed fair trade coffee bags. Each design is unique, featuring a screen printed logo of the original product. The bags are made of jute which is the natural fiber used for burlap in North America. While the disposal of jute bags is probably low on the totem pole of detrimental waste, reuse is always better than the landfill. The Gus Upcycle Ottoman is a limited edition product and a must have for any modern coffee drinker.