Everybody poos. You know it, I know it, Queensland Health knows it. And so does Morgan Appleby, the founder of Melbourne-based “funky fresh” squat stool brand Hunker.
When Appleby couldn’t find a chic poop stool that was also sturdy, she decided to make one. “I wanted something that was equal parts functional and beautiful – something I was happy to leave out in my bathroom,” she tells Broadsheet.
Squat stools (sometimes called a “squatty potty”) help by raising your feet while on the toilet, which can put your anatomy in better alignment for easier bowel movements. But they’re often quite clinical-looking or made from cheap timber that doesn’t always stand up to the job.
Hunker’s colourful stools are handmade in Sydney out of 100 per cent recycled post-consumer plastic by Defy – you might notice similarities with chopping board brand Fat Tuesdays, which works with the same team for manufacturing.
“The idea of a circular economy is really important to me. Getting the stools made in Australia with Australian plastic that’s otherwise going to landfill is part of my ethos – even if it means the final product is a bit more expensive,” says Appleby. Each stool uses about two kilos of plastic in its production, she adds.
There are currently four colourways to choose from: Butter, Forest, Peachy and Fairy Bread. “People are a bit upset that there’s no neutral, but in my brain the yellow is quite neutral.”
Appleby leans into colour to combat the millennial grey epidemic plaguing many Australian bathrooms, she says. “It brings me joy each morning … My bathroom is quite ugly and bland. But I also think [the stools] work well in architecturally designed spaces that might already be filled with colour.”
The stools are shaped to “hug” your loo with a curved middle that wraps around the base of the toilet when you’re not using it. Appleby intentionally kept the design as slim as possible so the stool can be tucked away as needed. “I had a bit of a concept drawn up, but [Defy] helped me fine-tune it … I knew it needed to have curved edges on both sides.” Each stool is finished with rubber feet for added stability.
Hunker’s design can also double as a step stool for little ones who are learning to brush their teeth or need a leg up in the bathroom (or anywhere around the house).
“I see [the stools] as a design piece. And they’re really quite multifunctional. Someone could use one as a plant stand if they were gifted it and really didn’t like it.”
