I’m a firm believer that your home can be both luxurious, comfortable and people, pet and environmentally friendly. If you’re thinking about remodeling or redecorating your home and are passionate about your family’s health, animals and the planet, it’s easy to take steps toward creating an environment within your home that aligns with your philosophy and lifestyle.
You might be asking, what is people, pet and environmentally friendly design? There are a lot of terms – vegan, green or eco-friendly interior design — but they basically mean the same. The companies that produce the products you choose to decorate your home aren’t involved with animal cruelty or polluting the earth in manufacturing. In turn, it makes these products healthier for your family too. Fabrics that are sustainably manufactured and aren’t derived from animal hides or fur are non-toxic, gentler and cleaner.
One of our company goals at Eileen O’Neill Interiors is to educate. Here are a few disheartening facts that you may not know. Now, I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. My purpose is to educate and make homeowners more aware of the choices within the home furnishings market. Did you know:
- It takes 32 geese to make one down comforter
- It takes 8 cows to make one sofa
- It takes 15 sheep to make one 8×10 rug
Sofas, pillows, and drapery:
Dedon Sectional
Leather sofas are always popular and don’t seem to go out of style. However, there are plenty of eco-friendly companies now coming on the market. You can’t even tell the difference by touch or sight. Some of my favorite companies producing quality faux leather and fur are:
There are great companies that offer environmentally safe upholstery as well. Sunbrella (sunbrella.com) offers a variety of fabrics, colors and styles to fit any room. This company also sells fabrics that are amazing for pillows and drapery.
Bedding:
We all love a good night’s sleep! For me, knowing that the bedframe, mattress and/or bedding I’m using are people, pet and planet friendly is healthy. Many people don’t know where to find these kinds of products. That’s where I come in! I often refer products from Rawganique (rawganique.com). Their mission statement says it all, “We handcraft organic cotton, linen, hemp products. We grow, weave, knit, and sew for true purity and environmental sustainability.” Another great thing about this company is that they manufacture a variety of products, including clothing, footwear, and so much more!
Rugs:
Perennials Upholstery Fabrics & Rugs
When shopping for rugs, there are many options available beyond using wool, silk or hides. Vegan designers prefer to recommend rugs that are woven with plants such as bamboo jute or sisal, which is a rough fiber made from tropical plants. Other options are acrylic yarn or faux fur, which is synthetic. One of my favorite designer rugs that I can stand behind and recommend often is Perennials (perennialsfabrics.com).
Home Furnishings, Finishes & Décor:
Looking for eco-friendly home furnishings, finishes and décor? There are a lot of companies that say they are eco-friendly and/or cruelty-free cruelty-free but you need to do your homework. Many companies offer both traditional and eco-friendly products. You need to decide if you still want to continue supporting these companies. It’s a personal decision and I’m here to help you weigh out your options and decide. If you decide you prefer to support and stand by companies that only offer sustainable products and don’t use animals or toxins, then here are some companies that I would standby and recommend:
Changing your home environment to become cruelty-free and eco-friendly is a process. It often doesn’t happen overnight. I don’t recommend my clients throw everything out that doesn’t follow these standards. Again, it’s a choice to what level of living a sustainable lifestyle you want to commit to. If you’re looking for a strategy to help transform your home into a person, pet and planet friendly environment that is also luxurious, please contact me. I would love to sit down with you and start planning for your newly designed spaces – concept to completion or room by room!
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