What is Eco-Luxe design?

One of our specialties is ‘Eco-Luxe’ design, an approach to design that lets you have it all – luxuriant colours and textures, cutting-edge design, durable materials and the added benefits of being sustainable.

Eco-Luxe sounds like a luxury I can’t afford. Does it cost more?

When we think about decorating our homes, style and price are typically the two most important aspects considered. 

It’s incorrect that eco-luxe design is a luxury few can afford. Purchasing lower quality items can potentially become more expensive to you in the long run, both to your pocketbook and your health.  A product that is inexpensive most likely has been made using components that won’t stand the test of time and would have been made using lesser quality materials and adhesives. It’s safe to say that some of these components were not sustainably manufactured and can off-gas toxic fumes in your home.

Today, many manufacturers and stores offer quality sustainable products that are less hazardous to your health and have the potential to save you money in the long run – because you won’t need to replace and purchase items as often, if ever.

What is FSC?

FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council. Consumers and companies who buy FSC-certified products can be confident they are making environmentally and socially responsible purchasing decisions. Products that carry the FSC label come from forests evaluated by rigorous environmental and social standards. It’s reassuring that many well-known companies in Canada are using FSC certified wood products, including Home Depot, IKEA, Royal Bank of Canada and The Toronto Star.

Is eco-design an important consideration for my children?

Yes!  Let’s say you were decorating your baby’s room. While you carefully choose special colours and furnishings, there are a complete range of products for babies and toddlers that won’t compromise their health.  A baby’s developing immune system and central nervous system are more sensitive to toxins than adults. NIKKA DESIGN can recommend safe paints, flooring, wall coverings, furniture, and other items that have minimal to zero chemical compounds, so you and your baby can breathe easy.  

How can eco-design improve the indoor air quality (IAQ) at my workplace?

Ask any Workers Compensation Board in Canada – problems with indoor quality are rampant. Office workers in particular frequently complain of eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, dizziness and other symptoms that have been linked with exposure to volatile organic compounds and other airborne toxins. NIKKA DESIGN can help.

What sorts of environmentally-friendly materials do you use?

We have access to a complete range of furniture, flooring, water-based varnishes and safe adhesives, kitchen cabinetry, fabrics, cleaning products, energy efficient appliances and lighting, flooring  --  the list goes on.  Carpet tiles, shown in the side photo, are a good example of alternative flooring.  One of the benefits is that soiled tiles can be washed in your dishwasher!  These tiles are made of vegetable starches and nylon fibres and can be fully recycled at the end of their lifespan.  

I’m worried that you won’t be able to find furnishings and fabrics that will suit my style.

Certainly not with an interior designer who got into this field because she loves pretty things. No one cares about aesthetics more than Barbara Nyke, and she gets very excited by the gorgeous eco-friendly design materials on the market today, including: solid surface and recycled content countertops, heavy-metal free leathers, gorgeous non-vinyl not-your-grandmother’s wallpaper, to name a few. If you aspire to having an eco-friendly home, we assure you it can also be aesthetically divine.

How can I do my part for the environment after you have finished decorating my space?

NIKKA DESIGN can recommend eco-friendly household cleaning products for you to use. Did you know that chlorine bleach is toxic? It is a pesticide and a fungicide and contains powerful chemicals strong enough to kill fungi and molds. The safe alternative to chlorine bleach is a non-toxic, naturally-occurring bleach made from hydrogen peroxide or oxygenated bleach. It’s just as effective as standard bleach, but it’s biodegradable, which means it won’t harm the environment once it enters the water system.