Bright, Rich and Organic

By Andrea Bernstein

Photos by Shawn Carson

Summer is a time when everything is in full bloom. It is also a great time to perk up a room in your home. If you’re thinking about redesigning, you probably want to use as many organic products as possible. Not only are organic materials better for your health, they are also better for the Earth. And, best of all, you have many options now that the organic market has expanded in more ways than one.

Los Angeles eco-designer Kelly LaPlante has dedicated the last year to finding the newest and most luxurious organic materials on the market, many of which come in vibrant colors and textures. Kelly recently transformed a bedroom using organic products to create a striking look in client Sydney Shapiro’s bedroom. Using touches of color and texture, Kelly created a bright, rich atmosphere, with an east-Indian influence.

Before

Design process: Kelly and Sydney tested a handful of paint colors for the walls. They decided on an organic paint made of 99% food grade products (Anna Sova Healthy Wall Finish) in a color called Blue Bell. Sydney wanted a blue bedroom for summer because it reminded her of the beach nearby. The color blue is known for its calming, tranquil tones.

“I love this paint because it is completely non-toxic and contains no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). It actually smells like brownie-batter when it’s wet, and it’s completely odorless when dry,” said Kelly.

“It’s great that it doesn’t smell up your house,” Sydney said. She was surprised the paint produced no fumes. I thought I’d have to sleep somewhere else tonight, but I’m thrilled that I get to stay here instead.”

Kelly was glad the bedroom had hardwood floors already. “If there was carpet in here, I would have suggested we remove it,” she said. That’s because most carpets harbor dust mites, and can release toxic chemical emissions into the indoor air.

Kelly’s preferred flooring option is bamboo because it is one of the most sustainable crops in the world. “It is easy to grow and plant, and when it’s installed in the home, it is very durable. Often it’s more resilient than traditional hardwood floors,” she said. Bamboo can look just like a normal hardwood floor, but is so much better for the environment.

Kelly chose window treatments made of organic sink, and vegetable-dyed in a color called Marigold. “This is such a rich, sunny color, and I thought it would brighten up the room, but also give it sophistication with the texture of the sink. I also wanted the curtains to hang long, so we could create this puddling effect,” she said.

She found the curtain rods second-hand. “Recycling is an important part of sustainable interior design. We all remember to recycle cans, bottles and newspaper. But, we don’t always think to re-use furniture and other fixtures in the home. It makes for less waste going into landfills, and often times, older pieces add something unique to a room,” Kelly said.

Sydney chose a mattress by Vivetique that is made of organic rubber latex and organic cotton. “She wanted a mattress that would conform to the shape of her body. These are very popular, and they make for a very restful sleep, but most are horrible for the environment and do a lot of outgassing,” Kelly said, adding “You spend so much time in bed; you want it to really be a healthy place.”

That’s why Kelly suggested an organic latex mattress. It is a perfect alternative. These organic varieties can sometimes be more expensive than normal mattresses, but they last longer. Vivetique mattresses are built to last 20 years, and are guaranteed by the company for ten years.

Kelly chose bedding by Anna Sova in a rich blue print. “I like using Anna Sova products because the company is committed to the same thing I am,” she said. “We are both devoted to finding products that are beautiful and also sustainable.”

The sheets, bed skirt and duvet cover are all made of 100% organic cotton, and are colored with all-natural vegetable dyes.

“This is just one example of how organic products are evolving,” Kelly said. “So many products are soft, rich and luxurious. Many people think of organic fabrics and furnishings as coarse and plain. They might assume the fabrics only come in white or tan. But, some very ingenious designers are coming out with fabrics and furnishings that are beautiful. The best part is there are a lot of options now.”

Kelly chose from a number of duvet colors and sheet in a range of prints and colors. She chose this print from Anna Sova’s Jaipur collection because Sydney liked the Indian look of the print. For summer, Kelly and Sydney both liked the cool blue tones.

During

Kelly recycled the furniture that was originally in Sydney’s bedroom. She scanned the home, and found wall art in the living room. Kelly repositioned the bed, against a corner, so that the bright window panels framed the bed on either side. She bought a few picture frames, which are made of recycled wood from old sailboats.

“This is a bright, sunny look that is also grown-up, and luxurious,” Kelly said. But, the best part is, it’s organic, and we’ve taken the extra steps to be Earth-friendly as well.

To buy some of the items featured in this organic transformation, call Organic Interior Design in Venice Beach, CA at 310.581.6450. Or go to organicinteriordesign.com to learn more about Kelly LaPlante’s firm.

Bio: Kelly LaPlante’s passion has always been creating beautiful interiors that are also environmentally sustainable, using organic fabrics, sustainable materials, and creative recycling.

She began her design business in San Francisco after working for top design firms there. Early in her career, she developed the popular Interior Transformation (tm), a process designed to utilize a client's existing furnishings to create fresh new atmospheres in the home. 

Kelly moved her business to Southern California in 2000, and shortly after, partnered with designer Paul Trent. Last year, they created Organic Interior Design, a design firm and store in Venice Beach, CA. Their mission is to help clients find the most beautiful and luxurious sustainable furnishings available, and educate the public about the benefits of sustainable and organic products. Many of their customers are chemically sensitive. Others are choosing sustainable furnishings to help protect the environment. Organic Interior Design also designs and produces their own line of sustainable furnishings. They recently created one of Southern California’s first all-sustainable sofas, and are now working on a line of tables and chairs.

Tips for Summer: When summer rolls around we tend to experiment with brighter colors, and flowing fabrics, both in our clothing and in our home. If you’re nervous to try something drastic, consider adding just one or two bright pieces to a room. The bright yellow in these curtains can be easily combined with more traditional colors, like blue.

Paint is one of the least expensive and quickest ways to change the look of a room. Now with organic paint available, it’s healthy and earth-friendly too. Try an accent wall in orange to spice things up, or in sea blue to cool things down. For a truly tranquil room, Anna Sova’s Healthy Wall Finish can be infused with the aromatherapy of your choice. Choose from all-natural flavors like fresh lemons, orange and cloves, vanilla, and exotic (sandlewood and spices).

An old piece of furniture can be given new life when it is simply placed in a different part of your house. For summer, bring a favorite chair from the living room into the bedroom and place it by an open window where you can sit and enjoy the breeze. Move an old family photo from the fireplace mantle to your bedside table or dresser, or move your heirloom trunk out of the bedroom and into the living room where you can use it as an under-the-window bench or a coffee table.

Toxic materials in the home, and why you should avoid them

PAINT: Housing built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Most paint available now does not contain lead, however, there are other dangers associated with latex wall paint, one of the most common types of paint available in hardware stores. Harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often released in the air after latex paint is applied. Other chemicals in paint include petrochemicals, solvents, mercury, formaldehyde, and benzene, some of which have been known to cause cancer, allergies and aggravate asthma. Consider using a paint that is made with food grade ingredients, such as the Anna Sova brand Kelly used in this organic transformation.

CARPET – Carpet, especially new carpet is known to release toxic chemical emissions to the indoor air.  Not only does new carpet itself emit harmful gases, but the adhesives used to tack carpet down emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) , from chemicals like toluene, xylene, benzene, and formaldehyde. Toxic chemical emissions are highest following carpet installation, but it can continue for years afterward.  The health effects associated with new carpet installation can include eye, nose and throat irritations, headaches, skin irritations, shortness of breath or cough and fatigue. There are better flooring options, including tile, hardwood, or bamboo flooring, or carpet that is made with natural fibers, low VOCs, and natural backing and adhesives.

LINEN DYES: Many dyes used in bedding and towels contain herbicides, pesticides, carcinogens, volatiles, and compounds such as benzene and heavy metal pigments. This constant stream of chemicals on our bodies can result in an elevated sensitivity to these chemicals. We are often unaware of these sensitivities because the symptoms occur from chemical levels that are far lower than what is generally accepted to cause harmful effects. Today more than 70,000 synthetic chemicals are in commercial use with an estimated 1000 new chemicals being introduced each year. Only a handful of these chemicals have ever been adequately tested to determine their effect on humans and other forms of life, so there is little data to show how most chemicals effect humans. 

Kelly LaPlante