7 Interior Designers With a Passion For Sustainability And Biophilic Design
The pandemic made large changes across the globe in where we work, spend time, and live our daily lives. The stress of people being stuck inside over the past couple of years are well researched to be detrimental to our general physical and mental health. As more and more people realize the importance of our connection to nature, sustainable interior design has never been more important. Not only for improving our general health and wellness but also for protecting our planet and the environment. Sustainable design grew in popularity over the last couple of decades, with a new wave in Biophilic design coming to the stage. This style of interior design combines nature with design highlighting the importance of natural lighting, eco-friendly materials, neutral colors, and large spaces that intertwine with the natural world.
Sustainable design is also about maximizing the efficiency of materials and ensuring that the home being designed is often eco-friendly. This means utilizing the home with things such as bamboo, plant life, various stone, and wood pieces as well as other recyclable materials. “Green designers” hope to heal the environment while still ensuring people have safe, comfortable, and luxurious spaces. Below are 10 of some of the most emerging eco-friendly, luxurious sustainable designers. They are all creating their own spaces of art while still being mindful of our planet!
7. Bespoke Binny Home & Lifestyle
If you are looking for a colorful home influenced by West African culture with responsible and sustainably sourced materials, look no further than Bespoke Binny Home & LifeStyle. Founded by Natalie Manima, a former London-based CBT therapist, Natalie found through her experience working with patients how much of an impact our environment influences our mental health. A safe, inviting space can help decrease stress and even help those struggling with anxiety or depression. Natalie grew up in Ghana, where she reflected on how West Africa’s use of colors and bold prints would uplift her. One can find all the necessary materials and pieces for their home including lampshades, pillows, mirrors, furniture, and more. While Bespoke doesn't provide full-scale home renovation, people looking to do some more simple decorating and incorporation of sustainable pieces into their homes can consult Natalie for her expertise. Her pieces are filled with bold colors that elevate the mood and bring a touch of West African spirit. For DIY people who are more on the creative side, Bespoke also provides lampshade and pillow-making classes. Check out her Instagram for new pieces and updates @bespokebinny.
Natalie segments her products by broad collections, making it easier for customers to find the products they need. Her aprons, oven gloves, and oven mitts collection offers numerous kitchen accessories with minimal environmental impact. For instance, her aprons come fully lined with thick cotton twill, while her oven mitts use natural materials to protect the hands. Also available from Bespoke Binny are various lampshades designed to protect the environment while offering Ghanaian-inspired aesthetics. Each lampshade looks stunning and is handmade from scratch.
"I created Bespoke Binny because I truly believe ‘home is where the heart is’ and having a home that is a reflection of you is essential to your well being." - Natalie Manima
6. Oliver Heath
Designs made for the well-being of people and the planet, Oliver Heath is a global design company with a strong foundation in Biophilic design. Not only do they provide clients with beautiful, sustainably sourced materials. They lead research, run media campaigns, and advocate for the planet. Their mission is to bring us back to the natural environment and reconnect our social systems with our natural systems. Founded by Oliver Heath who carried a post-grad degree in Architecture from Oxford, he is an industry-recognized expert in the field of Sustainable Design. With a background in architecture, his design practice explores his passion for evidence-based design that promotes well-being and healthy communication. He has been featured on the Discovery channel, BBC, and ITV where he speaks about sustainable design, and advises people looking for sustainable home DIY projects. On top of this, Oliver has even worked for the Department of Energy and Climate Change where he gained tons of knowledge about sustainable urban design. Working on both commercial and residential homes, Oliver Heath and his design team are currently some of the most trusted voices in the interior design world.
Oliver Heath has undertaken projects from across the world. For instance, the company recently reinvigorated the Taisei Workplace in Japan, implementing its “Borderless” design concept. Project leaders wanted the interior to reflect the company’s organizational ethos while also reducing physical boundaries that could make people feel separated from each other. According to Oliver Heath, the Taisei Workplace embodies its biophilic vision by taking inspiration from borderless natural landscapes. Designers hope the interior will facilitate greater connections within the organization.
Oliver Heath has engaged in extensive work re-imagining post-pandemic office spaces. As such, the company is assisting numerous businesses transition to the hybrid workplace, helping to make remote working more seamless. Teams in the Rural Solutions unit aim to make returning to the office more inviting and fun for employees. They also aim to create multifunctional workspaces that align with weekly working patterns and offer a diverse mix of furniture to facilitate tasks.
Follow their Instagram @oliverheathdesign.
5. Sesshu Design
Founded in 2005 and based out of Scottsdale, Arizona. Sesshu design works in homes across the Western United States including California, Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming. Sesshu design champions building homes free of toxic materials which can influence negative health problems. Sesshu is led by team architect and designer, Tanya Shively. Growing up in the mountains of Wyoming, Tanya’s mission is to create a healthy home that acts as a natural sanctuary. Her spaces are influenced by South Western desert-style homes that provide feelings of rest, relaxation, and fun. Tanya is an accredited designer and professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers. Her philosophy is more of a modest approach compared to some other designers on this list, yet still maintains quality. Sesshu comes from the Japanese artist in the 15th century who promoted modesty and restraint, these principles guide Tanya in all of her projects. Sesshu design deals primarily with residential spaces. They can help with everything from conceptualization to last-minute decorating. Not only is this SouthWestern design team making conscious efforts toward our health and the environment, but they also are involved with numerous philanthropies: National Park Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.
Sesshu Design offers various services for home builders and renovators. Its new construction arm lets designers create biophilic and eco-centric properties from blank canvases. The goal is to create sanctuaries that offer peaceful retreats for their owners. Sesshu Design also offers renovations, be they of single rooms or entire dwellings. The company aims to transform spaces, helping them energize occupants and make them feel alive again. As with new builds, the outfit focuses on using sustainable and natural materials that look and feel great.
Sesshu Design’s philosophy is that well-designed homes improve well-being. The firm believes it is possible to respect nature while being utterly uncompromising regarding luxury and livability. To achieve this end, Sesshu Design leverages its network of suppliers to source materials that are hard to find elsewhere. Careful planning combined with exquisite execution allows this design house to do what others can’t.
Give her a follow @sesshudesigner.
4. Mariangel Coghlan
With a degree in architecture and a specialization in interior design, Mariangel Coghlan is an award-winning designer, photographer, and lecturer aiming to spread awareness of sustainability, while still creating beautiful spaces. She has a keen eye for bold colors and timeless interiors with a passion for leaving an impact on her community which is influenced by her Mexican roots. Her design firm can be found in the Mexico City area but she works on projects throughout Latin America, and some even in the South Western parts of the United States. Graduating college with honors, she quickly became a part of Harvard's Innovation and Entrepreneurship program. This sparked her passion for interior design that is sustainable, and eco-conscious. Coghlan's design firm is made up of a medium-sized team that specializes in both residential and commercial spaces including but not limited to: homes, restaurants, offices, hotels, city buildings, and more. Her projects are influenced by biophilic design, yet still keeping bold colors that reflect her Mexican heritage and luxury taste.
Mariangel is willing to take on projects of any size if it means reinventing spaces to make them more environmentally conscious. Whether it’s a sofa or an entire hotel complex, her team is game. One of Mariangel Coghlan’s fortés is her reimagining of city house design. She finds these projects interesting because of the challenge of resolving them. Clients require livable spaces that meet their needs while aspiring to greater environmental standards. Furthermore, they also need spaces that enable them to achieve a genuine sense of well-being, despite minimal available floor space. In total, Mariangel Coghlan has designed more than 978,000 square feet of real estate space and won over 37 awards for her work
For more timeless spaces created by Mariangel, check out her Instagram @mcoghlan.mx
3. Pure Design Inc
Pure Design Inc is a small to mid-sized design firm based out of Vancouver, Canada. Founded by Ami Mckay, this team is an award-winning interior design studio known for their passion and vision for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. Ami founded pure design with the passion to take her hobby of Upgrading homes to be more eco-friendly while also creating spaces that create a sense of joy and harmony. Her love for global design and sustainability was sparked by her time spent volunteering in India during her early 20s. Her love of creating and giving spaces makes her a genuine, and high-spirited interior designer ready to help with any home project. From designing women’s safehouses made out of eco-conscious materials to advocacy for more sustainable textiles, Ami is a true pioneer in sustainable interior design. Her company's mission is very much people over profits and that creating spaces should be more about making someone feel good than making money. “Numbers come and go, but you never forget how someone made you feel”-Ami Mckay.
According to Chatelaine Magazine, Ami McKay is one of “Canada’s Top Five Interior Designers.” Her secret lies in her ability to listen to a client’s vision and purpose, and then deliver what brings them joy. The design house is famous for creating beautiful and distinctive elements that reflect customers’ aspirations and desires, again transforming their homes into sanctuaries.
Be sure to follow her Instagram @puredesigninc.
2. Ariel Arts By Ariel Magidson
Ariel Magidson is a young, emerging and dynamic interior designer with a passion for providing sustainable interiors for everyone -literally everyone-. She works with clients by their budgets and approaches each project with extreme empathy for both her clients and the planet. Her design dreams were influenced by her belief that most of the people who dominate this industry are wealthy individuals or corporations and wanted to make the luxury, green design more accessible to everyday people. Her passion for sustainability comes from the fact that the interior design industry is one of the largest contributors to landfills. Although she takes a more modest, and budget-friendly approach, her spaces are still fresh, beautiful, and absolutely timeless. Ariel mainly specialized in residential interiors, providing services such as custom floor plans, interior/exterior paint palettes, full makeovers, or just refreshers. She also offers “space therapy” on her website where clients can meet with her virtually to discuss quick and easy advice on redoing any space in their home, without breaking the bank.
Ariel has worked on numerous projects across the country to bring clients’ visions to life. From the decadent East Hamptons in NY to the spacious country homes in Boulder, CO, her work is lifting interiors out of mediocrity and breaking new ground. A running theme of Ami’s work is her ability to initiate bold new takes on interior spaces without sacrificing classiness. Her designs incorporate traditional elegant elements with modern design features that help spaces remain relaxing, calming the senses. She’s also able to take unassuming spaces and transform them into something memorable for property owners looking to maximize unloved spaces.
To see more of her work as well as free advice and DIY hacks be sure to follow her Instagram @arielarts
1. Jessica Helgerson Design
Based out of Portland, Oregon, Jessica Helgerson has over 20 years of experience in both environmental advocacy and conceptualizing design. Jessica sat as the president on the board of the Sustainability Project for years while also championing the 1 percent project through her design business, which helps combat homelessness. Her commercial and residential interiors can be described as functional yet luxurious, while still being extremely eco-conscious. Jessica definitely has a green thumb for utilizing plant-based materials and thoughtful resources that were influenced by her upbringing, where she spent lots of time outside on her family's many acres of land. JH designs pride their mission on beautiful yet sustainable interiors-utilizing natural lighting, open spaces, and uncluttered spaces. They combine their respect for historical architecture with an appreciation for more modern and playful designs. With over 20 years of practice, this team of designers and architects helps clients with the whole design process. From conceptualizing to contracting to furniture installation.
Jessica’s designs also embody a distinctly relaxed feel. Her interiors feel like spaces where families could live, not manicured showrooms. Part of this approach comes from her work with commercial enterprises. Jessica is a master of generating useful spaces laid out for daily use. She thinks in terms of systems, not just aesthetics, allowing her to create genuinely functional rooms
lthough a majority of JH’s projects take place in the Portland area and surrounding midwest, she works across the US and even throughout Europe as she is fluent in both French and Italian. Follow their Instagram @jhinteriordesign.
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