In Harmony with Nature: Sustainable, Judgement-Free, Vegan Home Design

When considering eco-friendly home design, interior and architectural designers recognize that our clients seldom seek to achieve environmental perfection but rather hope to make an increased commitment to sustainability, health, and wellbeing through home design. While there is a consensus regarding individual actions to minimize ecological harm (recycling, limiting single-use plastics, and reducing our meat and dairy intake), there are instances where it may be challenging to weigh some benefits over others. For example, is it better to ship a sustainable material from far away or use a less sustainable material sourced locally? Should recycled, upcycled or vintage leather be used if it means not replacing an item as frequently, or is it preferable to entirely avoid animal products? 

Painting by Karrie Ross

With our studio's focus on wellness and sustainable home design, many of our clients ask for eco-friendly and vegan design that aligns with their values. Veganism has become increasingly popular. GlobalDate reported that between 2014 and 2017, the vegan population in the US increased by 500%. (1) An additional study by Nils-Gerrit Wunsch found that about 50% of millennials were interested in a primarily plant-based diet. (2)

Similar to vegan eating, there are many approaches to vegan home design. While some people may want zero animal products in their home, from avoiding beeswax finishes to adhesives made from animal bioproducts, many people are just beginning to consider vegan home design options. As with all our design clients, our goal with vegan clients is to understand their values, priorities, and needs and offer well-researched options that align with their ethics and design goals. 

Weaving by Aneesa Shami

One of our studio's core beliefs is that one size fits one. While there are numerous positives to adopting a vegan lifestyle, there are many reasons that veganism is not entirely suitable for everyone. Acknowledging and respecting cultural practices, dietary restrictions, accessibility of food and resources and health choices, it is vital to avoid alienation and sweeping judgment. While we strive to offer vegan home design options to all of our clients, it is crucial to consider ranging beliefs and personal needs, including options that acknowledge a wide range of views.

When we do use materials such as wool or leather, our studio takes extra considerations into the sourcing and use of these materials. Researching these items enables us to make conscious selections in the options we share with our clients and offer alternatives when appropriate. We can also ensure that these products are well crafted and enduring to sustain generations of use. 

We frequently work with local artisans and small businesses to create custom items directly suited to our clients' home design needs. By fostering close relationships with craftspeople, we can participate in every element of the process and ensure that we know where and how materials are sourced. Working with artisans also gives us flexibility when designing for vegan clients, making it easier to communicate and customize to avoid animal products. 

Painting by Renae Barnard

In our online shop, Kale Tree, you will find our design philosophy reflected in our product options. While every product offers a vegan option, we will occasionally incorporate materials like wool, which we find offers many benefits as a natural, biodegradable, and durable home decorating material. Additionally, most of our products are highly customizable and can be tailored to our client's needs, no matter how they choose to incorporate their values into their lives. 

With a non-judgmental approach, our studio hopes to reach the widest number of people, whatever their relation to vegan design, and leave the door open for vegan options and materials that a client may not have previously considered. We welcome clients to be open about their preferences to support them in creating personalized, sustainable home design for their specific lifestyles and needs. 

Sarah Barnard is a WELL and LEED accredited designer and creator of environments that support mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah’s work has been recognized by Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Real Simple, HGTV and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was recognized as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).   

1 – https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4959853/top-trends-in-prepared-foods-2017-exploring-trends-in-meat-fish-and-seafood-pasta-noodles-and-rice-prepared-meals-savory-deli-food-soup-and-meat-substitutes.html

2 - https://www.statista.com/statistics/875526/share-alternative-diet-us-generation/

Sarah Barnard is a WELL and LEED accredited designer and creator of environments that support mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah’s work has been recognized by Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Real Simple, HGTV and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was recognized as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Sarah Barnard Celebrates Over Ten Years of LEED Accreditation

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) designers bring their expertise to every project, creating healthy and environmentally responsible spaces for their clients. LEED certified buildings and homes provide lasting benefits for users, the surrounding community, project stakeholders, and the environment at large.

Photos by: Brad Nicol

A sustainably designed, constructed, and maintained LEED-certified building positively affects the health of its employees or residents by improving air quality, reducing exposure to toxins, and ensuring adequate levels of natural light. LEED buildings yield lower operating costs and higher resale values and lease-up rates for property owners. They also consume less water and energy, reduce carbon emissions, and divert waste from landfills.

LEED-certified homes benefit not only their inhabitants but the community and environment. Green homes offer year-round comfort and healthy indoor environments. They, too, use less water and energy, which is a win for homeowners’ wallets but also reduces strain on the community’s resources. LEED-certified homes are known to sell faster and for more money, which can raise property values for the entire neighborhood.

Sarah Barnard is an interior designer, WELL AP, and Legacy LEED AP who recently celebrated the 13th anniversary of earning her LEED credentials. Legacy LEED AP is the title given to early participants in the program who passed the LEED exam before 2009 when the U.S. Green Building Council introduced specialties.

“I care about the future of our environment and work to ensure that my home design projects support wellness for people and the planet,” says Barnard. “The Legacy LEED AP credential demonstrates my long-standing commitment to healthy, sustainable design.”

As a leading expert in her field, Barnard has given lectures at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), California State University, Northridge (CSUN), Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), and SCALE: The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) National Student Summit. She has presented at the LA Home and Garden Show, Pacific Design Center, California Preservation Foundation, and Textile Arts LA. Most recently, OM Chats hosted Barnard and fellow design leaders Adaeze Cadet (AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Vice President at HKS) and Julie Smith-Clementi (AIA, ISDA, Product Designer and Architect, Smith-Clementi) to take part in a multi-speaker conversation around the role of empathy in home design.

In 2017, Barnard was recognized as an ASID Ones to Watch scholar in the program’s inaugural class. ASID created the leadership development training program to promote diversity and propel the industry forward. Barnard confers with a national network of her fellow interior design scholars to share research and feedback.

While the LEED rating system focuses on the design, construction, and operation of buildings, the WELL Building Standard emphasizes the health and wellness of the people inside of them. The LEED and WELL programs are complementary and receiving accreditation with both has informed Barnard’s holistic approach to healthy, sustainable home design.

Barnard is an advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process. Through her speaking engagements, pro-bono work, and writing, Barnard hopes to draw attention to these critical design objectives. Barnard is creating a future that includes greener buildings, healthier interiors, and enlightened home design.

How to Design Your Home for Conscious Living

Living consciously means embracing what you love. It’s living in alignment with personal values and making choices accordingly. As a philanthropist and former first lady, Michelle Obama said, “I have learned that as long as I hold fast to my beliefs and values – and follow my own moral compass – then the only expectations I need to live up to are my own.” However you express it individually, it’s what you appreciate and brings you joy. Being aware of what nourishes you, be it animal kindness or human welfare, awareness can offer you a clear path toward designing your home more consciously.

Our values are as unique as each of us. It’s evident in our daily lives that our taste in food, color, and careers vary, but more subtly, our ethics are just as diverse. Whether you prioritize being healthy, sustaining our planet, and equality for all, living consciously is well within reach.

Wherever you are on this journey, there’s no right or wrong way to do it. If you’re beginning, consider making future purchases aware ones. If you’re buying a pillow or rug, find one from a cruelty-free source or a craftsperson who is conscious of their impact on the planet. If you’re ready to embark on a deeper level of commitment, assess an entire room or your whole house. If that seems daunting, hire a designer who aligns with your values to make substantial changes to transform your home into a sanctuary. An experienced home designer will work to express what lights your imagination on fire. A home designer takes the stress off your plate so you can focus on the beauty and big picture while they take care of the minutia. They can help push your bravery into the limelight, so your house can be what you envisioned.

Conscious living requires little to no sacrifice. For example, being vegan does not mean trading in personal luxury. You can bring quality and opulence into your home while honoring the welfare of the person fabricating your sofa. By making informed decisions, we can improve the conditions of workers of Vietnam, and help a single mother supply artisan handcrafted goods to anyone in the world, while supporting her children financially and emotionally. However, with such freedom and availability, we also have information overload. In design, it takes knowledge and experience to create a harmonious space that matches your preferences. Look for designers and artisans who specialize in handcrafted goods, or sustainable products. Because there are so many options, it truly helps to have a skillful designer evaluate the myriad of choices and to verify legitimate sources.

As you design your life intentionally, you convey to those around you what you love, which then draws more of what you want into your life. Being intentional in your home design choices will be reflected in all areas of your life. “You are your choices,” according to German philosopher Sartre. Generously expressing personal truth brings abundance to your life. A home that resonates with positivity brings more vitality to the physical body and uplifts family and friends. A home with thoughtful design works symbiotically to achieve goals and allows energy to flow into projects with passion. For those who are clear about what brings them joy, their spaces radiate it.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.