About Elken

Elken is a curated home for natural and reclaimed interior products. We find the makers, check how and where everything is made, and bring the best of it together in one place, so you can choose with confidence.

Why?

Buildings account for around a third of global emissions, and a growing share now comes from the materials used to build and furnish them, not just the energy they use. In the UK alone, around 22 million pieces of furniture are thrown away every year, most of them never made to last.

At the same time, we live surrounded by materials few people can explain. We breathe whatever they release into the rooms where we work and where our children sleep. Data sheets often say very little, and how things are actually made is rarely clear.

The people who design and build our homes already know this. The problem isn't awareness. It's that choosing better still takes more time than most projects have.

  • Hands weaving natural rattan by hand
  • Natural Materials
  • Designer selecting natural materials

How?

Anyone who has tried to source genuinely sustainable materials will recognise the routine: hours spent comparing certifications, suppliers unable to explain where raw materials come from, and greenwashing presented as evidence. The materials that are good for the planet and for the people living on it do exist. They're simply difficult to find.

We came to believe that sourcing responsibly should not be a research project, so we made it our job instead.

Elken does the research once, thoroughly, so every designer, homeowner and architect doesn't have to do it again. Every maker on this platform is vetted against the Elken Standard.

  • Icon - Natural or Reclaimed

    Natural or Reclaimed

    Made primarily from natural materials or thoughtfully reclaimed resources. No toxic materials.

  • Icon - Origin Verified

    Origin Verified

    We meet the maker, understand how pieces are made, and trace the material back to where it was grown, harvested or recovered. Vague provenance is not accepted.

  • Icon - Built to Last

    Built to Last

    Materials and pieces designed for decades, not trends. The most sustainable product is often the one you never replace.

See how we verify every maker

The Elken Standard

For Whom?

For homeowners creating healthier homes. For designers and architects who need trusted specifications. For project teams working to tight deadlines. For anyone who believes materials matter.

The promise is the same for all of them. We've done the research. You choose with confidence.

Our Founder

Elken was founded by Elif Oztimur after eight years spent working across architecture, project management and sustainable design. On every project she saw the same thing: everyone wanted to build more responsibly, but finding trustworthy materials took too much time and guesswork. That gap between good intentions and practical decisions is where Elken began: one platform for makers you can trust and materials you can specify with confidence.

Elif holds a diploma in Sustainability Leadership in the Built Environment from the University of Cambridge and trained in Architecture and Construction Project Management.

Alongside Elken, Elif runs Elken Design Studio, offering interior design and project management for clients who want the same thinking applied to a whole space.

Elken Design Studio

Responsible by design. Considerate for the planet, crafted for you.

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