What if we designed for safe moments before wow moments? Trauma-informed design considers how spaces affect the nervous system, offering safety, choice, and refuge to those who need it most.

Approaching Indigenous design projects as a non-Indigenous designer asks for humility, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. In this reflection, I explore how wellbeing design principles — environmental psychology, biophilic design, and trauma-informed approaches — align naturally with Indigenous values of place, community, and healing.

When embarking on a renovation project or designing a new home, many people often assume an open floor plan is the best choice. While the open layout has been popular for the past three decades or so, it may not be the most suitable option for everyone. A third option frequently overlooked is the partially open layout. In this article, I highlight several considerations and prompts for reflection that can help you shape your space to align with your personality preferences and lifestyle.

A concept introduced by German social psychologist Erich Fromm in his 1973 book, Biophilic Design integrates natural elements into architecture and interior design to create built environments that support human well-being and reap nature's benefits indoors.

In this article, I will uncover simple ways to apply some Biophilic Design elements to create a harmonious environment that promotes relaxation, mental clarity, calm, serenity, and rejuvenation in your home space.

While colour is a powerful design element that can evoke emotions and even elicit reactions, it is misleading to suggest that a single colour has the capability to respond to needs or solve complex societal issues such as authenticity and social isolation.

I aim to debunk misconceptions about colour, elucidate its influence and function, and provide advice on utilizing and avoiding pitfalls when working with this powerful design element.

There is the notion that a single colour can elicit a feeling of joy, a colour that supports focus or creativity, a colour for love, for bliss… This is somewhat true; for the most part, it's not. Let us turn to science for an explanation.

Can we build homes that satisfy our functional, esthetic and wellness needs while minimizing our environmental impact?

Wabi-sabi cherishes and celebrates beauty in imperfection, incompletion and impermanence. Although Wabi-sabi doesn’t translate accurately into English, today, it is translated as “rustic beauty” and “serenity that comes with age.”

It's always exciting co-creating beautiful, warm, and inviting spaces. What makes this even more exciting is using healthy and versatile products; this is a challenge I like to take on any day of the week!

Vibrant communities encourage deeper connections and add richness and meaning to people's lives. While civic leaders put much effort into forging a dynamic community through art and cultural projects, design and architecture have a fundamental role in contributing to the creation of vibrancy!