305.793.0005
sheila@sfreed.com

Real Estate News

Make Decorating Choices That Are Kinder To Animals


Written By: Connie Adair
Thursday, December 1, 2016

Animal lovers will be happy to know theres another way to be kinder to their furry friends. And it all starts at home.

Many people arent aware that they can opt for cruelty-free products when decorating their homes, says Sasha Josipovicz, creative director of Studio Pyramid in Toronto.

You can start by simply choosing manmade, cruelty-free options instead of wool, fur, leather, down and exotic skins, he says. And were not talking polyester -- manmade fabrics have come a long way since the 1960s. French and Italian companies are creating fabrics that look like the real thing and offer extra benefits as well.

For example, silk is expensive and disintegrates in the sun. Manmade silks, on the other hand, dont break down in the sun, says Josipovicz, adding that he cant remember the last time he used real silk in a project. Faux suede and leather require less maintenance, are more durable and come in larger sizes than their animal counterparts. Its the same with manmade wool, which is just as pleasing to the eye but comes in wider widths and is less expensive. The wider widths make it more practical for interior design uses, because items such as drapes for large windows can be made with fewer seams, he says.

Many furniture manufacturers, both low and high end, are offering alternatives to animal skins and hides, including faux leather couches and canvas chairs.

The Compassionate Closet has a cruelty-free fabric guide that can help when selecting materials.

For some people, like real estate agent Eva Szczepanek of Re/Max Realty Specialists in Mississauga, Ont., being vegan is a way of life. She decorates her home with vegan products but also carries her belief to her work world. When she has clients homes staged, she says she insists that only vegan materials -- "no feathers, wool or leather, no animal materials -- are used, and I dont use faux fur because it promotes the use of real fur."

Even working on a tight timeline, she ensures homes are staged with vegan products because it "brings a good energy into the home."

The best way to find vegan products is to read labels to ensure that they do not contain animal products or are not tested on animals. Sometimes it can be tricky, says Josipovicz. He once designed an entire home with cruelty-free products. Then he went with the client to a china shop and suggested she buy fine bone china. The client was outraged. Josipovicz said it took him a few minutes before the "ah-ha" moment. He had always thought of "fine bone china" as almost a brand name, not realizing the china contains ground animal bones. It was a lesson learned.

But as long as youre honest and open minded, and try your best, theres no harm done, he says.


The winning entry from the Cruelty-Free Home of the Year Contest. Photo by Mary Summers Photography

People dont have to start big and throw all of their possessions away. Start small and when you replace items, buy cruelty-free products, Josipovicz says. "People feel good when they can make even a small contribution. If you give them the option, the majority will say, lets try. Every little effort is recognized and applauded. Its a reasonable approach."

You can start small with decorative items such as a selection of super cute pillows from Velvet Moustache in Montreal or vegan candles from Two Blooms in Victoria.

In an effort to spread the word about cruelty-free decorating, Josipovicz came up with the idea for a Cruelty-Free Home of the Year Contest. Interior design magazine Objekt International of which Josipovicz is the honorary editor-in-chief Objekt USA-Canada and PETA People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals teamed up to launch the competition and recently announced its winner: the peaceful home of life>

To be eligible, homes had to be 100-per-cent vegan, meaning no wool, fur, leather, down or exotic skins were used in the designs. Interiors could be enhanced by faux fur, canvas, linen and other cruelty-free fabrics.

Tuttles entry stood out, Josipovicz says. "It met all my esthetic thresholds of visuals and practicality. Its an eye-popping house done on a not serious budget."

The principles of good design -- layout, colours, materials and practicality were met, with the added restriction that everything had to be cruelty-free a kinder choice, he says."The real highlight of her vegan life>

Copyright© 2024 Realty Times®. All Rights Reserved

 

Friday, March 29, 2024

Copyright ©2024 - Realty Times®
All Rights Reserved.

Facebook linkedin instagram