Our Wellness & Sustainability Strategy

We prioritize the use of natural, sustainable and non-toxic materials in order to maximize the health and wellness of our clients and their interior spaces, as well as to minimize the impact on our planet. We ask for transparency from our suppliers and contractors, and factor in not only the initial purchase price, but also the cost to live with, maintain, replace and dispose of the materials used. We also think carefully about how long our interior spaces will be used for and by whom, and design with longevity in mind, so that when updates and changes in living arrangements are needed, they can happen as easily and affordably as possible.

The systems that create the backbone of any interior are key to ensuring our clients' wellness. We aim to ensure that air quality is refreshed and purified; odors are mitigated; temperature and humidity can be regulated; lighting -natural or artificial- meets the needs of each task; water is safe and filtered where needed; and acoustic levels ensure privacy and an ability to focus. Our designs -in collaboration with specialists when needed- factor each of these systems, together with evaluating the best and most sustainable sources of energy to ensure our interiors function to the best of their potential.

It has been said that ‘the greenest building is the one that already exists’ (Carl Elefante, former AIA president). The same can be applied to interiors and products of any kind. So our first step is always to reuse or adapt existing spaces, materials and furnishings where possible. Where possible we opt for recycled materials, and eventually, when we do have to use new materials and products, we choose those that are the healthiest, most durable, easy to repair, and which ideally are already part of a circular economy.

As we spend ever more time indoors, we must ensure that our interior spaces allow us not only to perform our key tasks effectively and efficiently, but also allow us the flexibility to use our spaces in a multitude of ways. Our designs aim to create a balance between private and public spaces that encourage both moments to engage or reflect, to create or learn, or to connect with nature or "hybernate". Technology  has an important role to play in maximizing wellness and sustainability when used intelligently, but we like to see it as a behind-the-scenes tool that instead of taking over our lives, simply enhances it. 

Clients' needs, budgets and square footage are always the starting point of any design. Working within a set of limited constraints always results in the most creative solutions to space planning and organization. Whether our clients have a specific list of needs, or whether they are looking to us to help them think through the issues, we work collaboratively to ensure that every inch of space not only has a purpose and a long and flexible lifespan, but also addresses sustainability issues (like composting, avoiding plastic, etc), maximizes value and makes our clients' lives easier and better.

Wellness cannot be fully addressed without discussing our clients' fitness, wellbeing and nutrition needs and goals. Interiors can have a big impact if these issues are designed in from the beginning. Together we analyze the options that will encourage the best and healthiest habits, like a kitchen that is organized to encourage hydration and healthy home cooking and eating; or a flexible space that can be used for meditation, exercise, study or music, with lighting, technology and soundproofing that can be adjusted to meet each need; ergonomic furniture; bedrooms that encourage deep sleep; lighting that works in tandem with our natural circadian rhythms; interior biophilic and water elements, etc..