San Francisco Design Studio Redefines Sustainable Furniture Perfect for Small Spaces and Urban Living - AHN Media Group
Contact
  • HOME
  • / MEDIA /
  • San Francisco Design Studio Redefines Sustainable Furniture Perfect for Small Spaces and Urban Living

Stories

December 1, 2023

SHARE:

In a world where living spaces are getting smaller and furniture quality is declining, one entrepreneur is striving to make a difference.

Yvonne Hung, a city-dweller who has lived in some of the world’s largest metropolitan areas, knows firsthand the challenges and constraints of living in small apartments. It can be difficult to have friends over because there isn’t enough space or seats.

For this reason, she founded Otelier in 2020, a San Francisco-based furniture studio with a focus on sustainability, and providing innovative products that are useful even for small spaces.

Yvonne believes that the home is the most intimate social space, and people shouldn’t have to sacrifice that due to a lack of space. Her latest project is called the Quartet, a multi-functional side table that unstacks into four stools.

While the retail industry and consumers have embraced fast furniture with low prices, poor construction, copied designs, and single usage, Otelier is committed to changing that. Yvonne and her team are determined to create sustainable, high-quality furniture that will stand the test of time. With Otelier, urban dwellers no longer have to choose between comfort and the environment, and Quartet is just the beginning of a new era in furniture design.

Quartet, a side table that transforms into four stools.

OTELIER STRADDLES BETWEEN A DESIGN STUDIO AND AN E-COMMERCE BRAND

I’ve always had an obsession with cities—the way they develop over time, how they are shaped by their geographies and industries, and of course how culture and way of life make each city unique.

In fact, I started my career in urban planning, which is what I studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. My goal, as cheesy as it sounds, has always been to make the world a better place to live for all. With Otelier, I’m trying to do it at a much smaller scale—the home—because that allows me to get up close and personal with users, and also be hands-on with the creative process.

So much of my design principles still go back to urban planning. For example, I chose to focus on apartment living because higher-density housing is a much more efficient and sustainable way to accommodate a growing population, as compared to single-family homes which encourage urban sprawl. Likewise, sustainability and the cradle-to-cradle approach is always a huge factor in the product design process because protecting the earth is always top of mind.

This generation is going through a lot of changes—higher housing prices, more frequent moving, and smaller apartments are some trends that make life different from what it was 20+ years ago. Activities that used to take place in person, such as work and meetings, now happen online. Social media is both hastening new ideas and increasing anxiety. I think there are many opportunities to address these issues. For me, it’s starting with the most intimate space, the home, and how we can make it a happy experience.

Otelier straddles between a design studio and an e-commerce brand. It’s rare to be both. Most consumer furniture brands aren’t strong on design—there’s a lot of copying of whatever’s trending—and most design studios don’t follow through with the manufacturing and sales process. 

I aspire to do both under Otelier. As a designer, I want to explore and experiment, whether it’s with product ideas, new materials, or collaborations with little constraint. And as an entrepreneur, I want to create an e-commerce brand whose products make an impact at scale.  I’m still figuring out how to do both with very limited resources as a solopreneur.

BIGGEST CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE DESIGN

It seems there’s a race to the bottom in the consumer furniture industry—make it as cheap as possible, sell more, and maximize profits. It’s no wonder why the EPA says the US produces 12 million tons of furnishing waste a year. Not only are these items going into the landfill, but they also contain a lot of non-recyclable and/or non-biodegradable materials. The challenge is that now consumers are trained to believe their furniture should be dirt cheap and don’t realize these problems, similar to the case of fast fashion. 

There’s also a lot of greenwashing everywhere. For example, using recycled plastic bottles is great, but turning them into something that cannot be recycled again is worse than just making another plastic bottle from it because it could then be recycled several more times.

One of my pet peeves is when companies call plastic leather vegan leather. It’s just plastic! Otelier is far from perfect, but I am committed to being honest and looking for the best alternatives that are currently available and financially feasible.

Fortunately, I do think there is a subset of mindful consumers that want high-quality furniture that’s sustainably produced. There are several smaller independent brands, like Otelier, that are trying to address this problem in the furniture space, and a lot of material science and manufacturing companies exploring more sustainable alternatives.

That said, when it comes to innovation on the sustainability front, it’s easy to design or prototype a concept, but much harder to make it commercially viable. I’m fascinated by a lot of the new materials that are currently in development, such as bioplastics. I’m also interested in blockchain for tracking supply chains. But in reality, these ideas are far from being commercially available, especially to small companies like Otelier.

My long-term goal is to have two areas of focus: one for blue sky explorations, including the use of new materials, and a second for producing durable and commercially viable products for the masses. For now, since I’m bootstrapping, the current focus is more on commercially viable products using what’s available today.

There’s plenty we can do now to improve the furniture industry. Taking a methodical approach, I typically break down a product into its materials, manufacturing, logistics & transportation, usage, and end-of-life condition, and then minimize the footprint for each factor. 

MAKING SURE OTELIER PRODUCTS ARE SUSTAINABLE

I use materials that are biodegradable and/or recyclable and minimize the use of petroleum-based plastics for both our products and packaging. The Quartet, for example, uses wood and suppliers that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to ensure that we’re sourcing from sustainably managed forests. I also use hardwood because it’s more durable since longevity is key to sustainability. Metals are also great for durability and recyclability. My hope is that we create zero landfill waste.  

Otelier is not perfect; I still rely on the existing transportation and energy systems that are available today. For what I cannot control, I use carbon offsets so that our products are carbon neutral. And I also plant trees to compensate for the wood used in our products.

If all businesses take responsibility for their own environmental footprint, we’d be in a much better place.

THE GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS AT HOME

I’m still at a very early stage with Otelier, but I have so many ideas! It takes me a lot of time to develop each since I work alone. 

I think the way this generation lives, post-COVID, requires more flexibility from our home, no matter if you’re living alone or have a family with kids. Some recurring themes in my furniture are multi-functionality and space-saving features. I also am fascinated by objects that are interactive. In a way, I enjoy designing experiences enabled by an object rather than the object itself. For example, the Quartet is a side table that unstacks into four stools. But the goal is to encourage friendship and bonding at home. The furniture is a means to that end.

Eat-Work Table, designed for people working from their kitchen or dining rooms. The height-adjustable table can be used as a dining table.

LONG-TERM GOALS FOR OTELIER

The ultimate goal is to build a brand that creates beautiful and useful furniture that enriches the lives of urban citizens, while also being sustainable and accessible. I hope Otelier will be an international brand, given that apartment living is relevant everywhere. 

From a service perspective, my vision is to create a platform that sells both new and used Otelier furniture.Resale is really a key to countering the fast-furniture problem. Although our furniture is heirloom quality, I think most people of this generation would prefer to just sell their used furniture rather than passing it down to their kids and grandkids. So making resale easy is a service that could benefit everyone.

Innovation is really important to me. I’m not here to create what already exists. I really hope that Otelier can pioneer commercializing some of the sustainable materials that are currently in development. It’s still early days, so there are lots to explore, learn, and create.

CONNECT WITH YVONNE

Website: https://otelier.com

Instagram: @otelier_home

Facebook: @otelierhome

Tiktok: @otelier.com

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/otelier/quartet-a-side-table-that-transforms-into-four-stools?ref=8rnt6m

Related Articles

99-jpg

Stories

From a Childhood Dream to the Red Carpet: How Elenor Mak’s Two-Year Mission to Give Michelle Yeoh a Personalized Doll Finally Happened

What started as a small tribute from a mother turned into a two year journey filled with patience, rejection, and hope.

Elenor Mak simply wanted to honor Michelle Yeoh and show her daughter that Asian girls can be the hero of the story too.

No one expected that the journey would end on the red carpet at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Image source: Elenor Mak

The Childhood Inspiration

Elenor Mak grew up watching Michelle Yeoh on Cantonese VHS tapes at home. Seeing an Asian woman lead films and command the screen made a deep impression on her as a child. It showed her that someone who looked like her could be strong, fearless, and at the center of the story. That belief stayed with her for years.

When Michelle Yeoh won the Academy Award for Best Actress, Elenor listened closely to the speech. Michelle spoke about being a beacon of hope for children who were waiting to see themselves represented. The moment felt personal to Elenor. That was when she decided to create a doll that captured that historic win.

Image source: Elenor Mak

A Two Year Mission

Creating the doll was a careful process that took five months. A professional stylist in Los Angeles helped shape the look, while a supporter in Hong Kong hand sewed the detailed feathery gown. Each part was made slowly and thoughtfully. Everyone involved wanted the doll to reflect Michelle Yeoh’s iconic Oscar moment.

At the center of it all was Elenor’s mother. She sat at the kitchen table attaching the final accessories with crazy glue and steady hands. When the doll was finished, the real challenge began. For two years, Elenor tried to find a way to get the doll into Michelle Yeoh’s hands.

Image source: @jonmchu (Instagram)

The Hollywood Moment

When Michelle Yeoh’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony was announced, Elenor knew she had to try again. She flew to Los Angeles with her friend Dion Lim, an Emmy Award winning journalist, hoping for one last chance. They waited behind barricades for hours as the crowd gathered. After hearing no from security several times, they almost gave up.

Then something unexpected happened. Janet Yang, a producer and former head of the Academy, stepped in and helped make the moment possible. Soon after, Michelle Yeoh lifted the doll on the red carpet while Sandra Oh and Awkwafina cheered nearby. For Elenor, the moment meant more than giving a gift. It was for the little girl who once watched Michelle Yeoh on old VHS tapes and believed she could belong too.

  • 3 min read
IMG_9529-jpeg

Stories

Jonathan Quach Was Told He Was Too Young and Too Asian to Lead—Now He’s Built Team Quachro Into One of California’s Largest Youth Basketball Platforms

At 19 years old, most people are still trying to figure out who they want to become. Jonathan Quach, who also goes by Johny, was already thinking about how he could create space for others to grow.

He did not have investors backing him or access to elite facilities. What he had was a deep love for basketball and a growing frustration with how many talented kids were being left out of high-level programs simply because they lacked money, connections, or visibility. 

The name Team Quachro (TQ) was originally created just to enter his first eight kids into a local youth league. What started as a play on words from his last name, ended up becoming a staple in the Orange County Basketball community, competing with the other heavy hitters in the industry.

Starting at 19 with Nothing but Belief

Starting a program at 19 meant stepping into rooms where almost everyone was older. Johny had to lead coaches and speak with parents who had decades more life experience than he did. When he had only 50 kids in the program, a handful of larger, established programs recognized the early growth and tried to buy him out from the start.

As Team Quachro began gaining attention and players began leaving other programs to join his team, some competing coaches sent negative emails to others behind his back. Instead of responding with arguments, Johny chose to respond with action. He focused on developing his athletes and strengthening the culture of the program.

Now 26 years old, Johny has built one of the largest basketball programs and tournament operations in California. By remaining consistent and treating every family with respect, he gradually turned early skepticism into long-term trust. Team Quachro now serves more than 300 athletes, with thousands of families having come through the program over the years.

Carving a New Lane for Asian Leadership

Building one of California’s largest platforms by age 26 is a feat in itself, but doing so as an Asian founder carries even more weight. In the youth basketball world, Asian founders are rarely seen in leadership roles. Johny understood that reality and wanted younger players to see someone who looked like them leading from the front.

Representation, for him, was not about making statements. It was about building something real and lasting that could create opportunity for others. Every partnership and every opportunity had to be earned through persistence and relationship building.

Over time, that work transformed a small training group into one of the most respected sports organizations in California. Johny proved that leadership is not determined by age, background, or stereotype. It is shaped by commitment, integrity, and care for the people you serve.

Leaving a Legacy Bigger Than Trophies

What began as a handful of local training sessions has grown into a thriving ecosystem of teams, tournaments, and mentorship. The results of that dedication are visible at the next level, with TQ athletes playing at the Division I college level, as well as at JUCO and NAIA programs.

Despite that growth, Johny has worked intentionally to keep the heart of the program intact. He continues to cover costs for athletes who cannot afford to participate and organizes free clinics to make the game more accessible. He believes that financial limitations should never be the reason a child cannot pursue their potential.

Johny did not inherit a platform, and he did not receive a head start. Today, the program stands as more than a basketball organization. It stands as a family built on loyalty, mentorship, and shared belief. For him, that culture is the greatest achievement of all, far greater than any trophy or tournament win.

Discover more from Johny Quach here:

📍Instagram

Learn more about Team Quachro Basketball here:

📍Website

  • 4 min read
image (1)-png

Stories

Taiwan Heir Andre Koo Jr. Steps Beyond a $6.3B Dynasty to Build the Future of AI in New York City

Andre Koo Jr. was born into one of Taiwan’s most influential business families, where legacy and leadership have shaped industries for more than a century.

As a fifth-generation heir to a $6.3 billion empire, he had every reason to remain within the comfort and stability of an established dynasty.

Yet instead of staying home, he chose to build something new in New York, placing a focused bet on the future of artificial intelligence.

Image Source: NYU Stern

Honoring a 130-Year Legacy While Charting His Own Path

For generations, the Koo family has played a defining role in Taiwan’s business landscape, building institutions that span finance, infrastructure, and beyond. Growing up within that environment meant understanding both the privilege and the responsibility tied to the family name. Legacy, in this case, was not just inherited wealth but a long-standing commitment to growth and impact.

Still, Andre Koo Jr. believed that honoring tradition did not require standing still. While remaining actively involved in the Koo Family Office, he set his sights on expanding the family’s global footprint. His move to Manhattan marked a deliberate step toward independence, signaling a desire to test his vision in one of the world’s most competitive markets.

Image Source: Private Wealth Institute

Building K8 Capital for the AI Era

That vision took shape through K8 Capital, a firm designed to invest in artificial intelligence and enterprise software. Rather than following typical venture capital models, Andre structured a hybrid strategy that blends private credit with venture investments. This approach allows him to pursue innovation while maintaining disciplined risk management.

The strategy is already delivering results, with gains of over 50 percent achieved through carefully structured short-term loans. K8 Capital has secured five major investors and is actively deploying capital into promising technology companies. By combining the prudence of established wealth with the speed of modern tech investing, Andre Koo Jr. is building a bridge between a historic dynasty and the next generation of innovation.

  • 2 min read
image-png

Stories

Asia’s First Person to Reach Space Was Vietnamese Fighter Pilot Pham Tuan, Who Continues to Inspire a New Generation

In 1980, a Vietnamese fighter pilot from a small rural province made history by becoming the first person from Asia to travel into space.

Long before rockets and research labs, Pham Tuan grew up in the rice fields of Thái Bình, far from the world of astronauts and orbiting stations.

Today, his journey beyond Earth remains a powerful story of courage, discipline, and possibility for young people across Asia.

Image Source: Saigoneer

From Rural Fields to the Edge of Space

Before he ever saw space, Pham Tuan built his career as a fighter pilot in the Vietnamese Air Force. His skill and discipline eventually led to his selection for an international space program, a rare opportunity at the height of global political tension. It was a dramatic shift from flying combat missions to preparing for a journey beyond Earth.

The transition demanded years of intense physical and technical training. He had to master new systems, adapt to life in zero gravity, and prepare for risks no one from his continent had faced before. Each step brought him closer to a milestone that would place his name in history.

Image Source: Saigoneer

Seven Days That Changed Asia’s Story

On July 23, 1980, Pham Tuan launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft and became the first Asian to reach space. He spent seven days aboard the Salyut 6 space station, conducting scientific research and observing Earth from orbit. During that time, he captured images of Vietnam from above, offering a view of his homeland few had ever seen.

After returning to Earth, he resumed life in Hanoi with his family, carrying memories of a journey that reshaped regional history. He continues to reconnect with former crew mates and remains one of only three people of Vietnamese descent to have traveled beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Decades later, his achievement still stands as a symbol of how far determination can take someone, even from the most humble beginnings.

  • 2 min read