What I Love About Working with Healthy Interiors

How Healthy Design Led Me Back to Natural Materials

As I shared in my first post about the "why" behind Nature Home, my interest in healthy building materials wasn't something I set out to specialize in. It grew out of necessity.

I simply wanted to create a home that was both beautiful and supportive of my family's health.

What followed was a deep dive into a world I hadn't fully appreciated before. I started learning about the materials we bring into our homes every day—paints, flooring, finishes, adhesives, furniture, and countless other products that quietly shape our indoor environment.

At first, my focus was practical: figuring out what materials could contribute to health issues and what alternatives might be a better fit for our family. With a background in toxicology, I was fortunate to have some experience navigating scientific research, but even then, it felt like learning an entirely new language.

There were moments when I wished someone had simply handed me a list and said, "Start here."

Instead, I spent years researching products, reading ingredient disclosures, learning how different materials interact with the indoor environment, and discovering ways to either remove or safely manage materials that weren't ideal.

The surprising part?

What began as a health journey slowly became a design journey.

As I searched for cleaner options, I found myself returning again and again to materials that have been used for centuries—wood, clay, lime, stone, wool, linen, and other materials that come directly from the earth.

And I didn't just love them because they checked a box on a product specification sheet.

I loved them because they were beautiful.

They added warmth. Texture. Character. They felt timeless rather than trendy.

The more I worked with these materials, the more I became interested in something that designers, architects, and researchers have been exploring for years: our connection to nature and how it influences the way we feel in a space.

Think about how different you feel after a walk on the beach, a hike through the trees, or even a few quiet minutes spent in a garden. Most of us instinctively know that being in nature helps us feel calmer, more grounded, and more connected.

I began wondering: what if our homes could evoke some of those same feelings?

Not by literally bringing the outdoors inside, but by incorporating natural materials, organic textures, and a sense of authenticity that reminds us of our connection to the natural world.

For me, that has become one of the most rewarding aspects of healthy design.

Yes, I care deeply about understanding materials and helping clients make informed choices. But I also care about creating spaces that feel peaceful. Spaces that invite us to slow down. Spaces that support gathering, reflection, creativity, and rest.

The goal isn't perfection.

The goal is creating homes that feel good to live in.

As Nature Home grows, I'll be sharing more about healthy materials, product selections, research, and design strategies. But I'll also be sharing the beautiful side of this work—the materials, spaces, and ideas that remind us that a healthy home can also be an incredibly inspiring one.

Because in my experience, the best interiors don't just look beautiful.

They help us feel at home.

The Why Behind Our Design

The Unexpected Reason I Became Passionate About Healthy Interiors

Like many people who love design, I originally fell in love with creating beautiful spaces. The colors, the textures, the feeling a room can evoke—it's what drew me to interior design in the first place.

But a few years ago, our family experienced something that completely changed the way I think about home.

At the time, I was studying interior design and we were in the middle of renovating our house. Between choosing finishes, managing projects, and trying to keep everyday life running smoothly, I started noticing something unusual: my daughter wasn't always hearing me when I spoke to her.

At first, it seemed like one of those things parents second-guess. Was she distracted? Tired? Selectively listening? (Parents know that's always a possibility.)

But it turned out to be something much more serious.

After a lot of investigation, we discovered that the issue was connected to an environmental toxin in our home. Thankfully, once we identified and removed the source, her hearing returned. It was one of the biggest blessings our family has ever experienced.

That experience changed everything for me.

As I learned more about what had happened, I started looking more closely at the materials that surround us every day. Paints. Flooring. Adhesives. Finishes. Furniture. Products I'd previously viewed primarily through the lens of aesthetics suddenly took on an entirely new significance.

With a background in toxicology, I found myself diving deeper into the science behind the materials we bring into our homes. The more I learned, the more I realized that creating a beautiful space and creating a healthy space don't have to be separate goals.

In fact, they can work beautifully together.

Today, my approach to design is rooted in both aesthetics and wellness. I love helping people create homes that are warm, timeless, functional, and deeply personal—but also thoughtful about the materials that make up those spaces.

Because home should be more than beautiful.

It should be a place that supports your well-being, reflects your values, and quietly protects the people you love most.

As I build this business and share more of my work, I'm excited to explore the intersection of healthy materials, intentional design, and creating homes that truly feel good to live in.

I'm so glad you're here.