Naturally Beautiful Design Tips

Material Matters
In the living room the sofa and two ottomans are custom-built from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood and upholstered in cotton/rayon fabrics. The master bedroom’s four-poster bed is crafted from rattan, a fast-growing, sustainable product. It can be grown in natural forests without disturbing the existing structure and balance. (For more on rattan and bamboo, visit www.inbar.int.)

Fabric Facts
The draperies are sheer cotton. Shanon says it’s always best to choose a natural, plant-based fabric, such as cotton or a cotton/rayon blend. “People don’t realize that rayon is a plant-based fiber. It is a manufactured fiber, but it comes from a plant,” Shanon says. The organic cotton bed linens in the bedroom are from Coyuchi. The bedspread is made of conventionally grown cotton.

If you have the option, choose organic cotton, because regular cotton plants are sprayed with pesticides. Organic isn’t available? It’s still better to choose cotton over a synthetic material such as polyester, Shanon says, because most synthetic fabrics are made using petroleum.

Natural leather is another good choice for upholstery. The four lounge chairs in the living room will stand up to wear and tear, reducing the need for future recovering.