One of the first things, of course, is bringing in as much
natural light as is possible in an environment.
Natural light is just something we respond well to.
We get a good emotional response to natural light.
And I think we kind of noticed that with the change of seasons
and now that we're in, you know, heading from fall into winter
and it's getting dark earlier, I think we all have an emotional
reaction to that. And so bringing in as much
natural light, especially during the daylight hours as possible
is really important. And lighting to enhance natural
light is important as well. You're now listening to Design
Curious, a place where you creative one, are here to learn
about what it really is like to be an interior designer.
And I'm your host and mentor, Rebecca Ward.
If you're worried about how to succeed in a creative career, if
you're ready to learn your next steps to become an interior
designer, and if you want the satisfaction of doing something
you love every day, you are in the right place.
Grab a coffee, a notebook, and let's dig into today's episode.
Hello and welcome to episode 180 of Design Curious podcast.
Today on the podcast, we have returning guest Martha Laurie.
She was back in episode 14, way back when, and in that episode
she shared. Her start?
In how she got into design and switching over careers but let
me give you a refresher kind of a little bit about her she has
over 3 decades of experience in residential design.
Martha has put in the time to know what's what and honoring
both hemispheres of the brain. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in
mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in interior design.
She is also in my international design group.
We call ourselves a design leaders collective and we meet
every month. And so she's just a joy to get
to know and to continue to see her to work in North Carolina
where she's at, and I love her projects.
Today she's talking about biophilic design, which is
something I'm learning more about.
So I think you're going to enjoy our conversation with Martha
today. Let's get into it.
Hi. Martha, welcome back to Design
Curious Podcast. It's great to have you on again.
Thank you so much, Rebecca. I appreciate you having me on.
Yeah, I always like having my friends back to talk and I know
today is going to be an interesting topic about
biophilic design, so. Let's get.
Right into it, because maybe someone who's listening isn't
even aware of what biophilic design is.
So could you describe it to? Someone who's never heard the
term before. Certainly.
So it's a somewhat new focus in the world of design and interior
design, and it's really a focus on bringing the outside
environment inside because of how we react to the outside
environment in such a positive manner and how comforting and
calming and creative bringing that outside can be into the
interior of a home in particular.
So it's, you know, it's a focus on plants, but also light, the
correct lighting, bringing in things that you know, release
good oxygen and things like that.
So with plants and things looking at color very
intentionally and what is calming color as opposed to
jarring color. So things along that line.
OK. And what initially drew you to
this area of design? I think just the focus on
nature, looking at what really provides the best environment
for my clients. I have a lot of older clients
and they are really looking for that peace and calm in their
environment. They still want a comfortable
home, but they want a real emotional response to their
environment. And biophilic design kind of
goes along with this whole study of neuroaesthetics, which is
really how we react to beauty in the environment and how we want
beauty in our environment and what is beauty and how it's
subjective. So all of those things come into
play. OK, OK.
So what kind of changes are your clients looking at when you come
in and you're like, do they, they might not specifically ask
for a biophilic design, right, but you're going to bring it to
them anyway. So what kind of changes maybe
are you looking to make in their homes that would resonate with a
biophilic design? One of the first things, of
course, is bringing in as much natural light as is possible in
an environment. Natural light is just something
we respond well to. We get a good emotional response
to natural light. And I think we kind of noticed
that with the change of seasons and now that we're in, you know,
heading from fall into winter and it's getting dark earlier, I
think we all have an emotional reaction to that.
And so bringing in as much natural light, especially during
the daylight hours as possible is really important.
So that's that's one of the big changes.
So maybe in some respects, not a lot of heavy curtains, not a lot
of heavy window treatments. Those have lightened up over the
last decade or so anyway. And lighting to enhance natural
light is important as well. Yeah, for sure.
Yeah. I agree that lighting is so
important. And especially because as we're
recording this, it's, you know, heading into winter and we're
like getting those short days. I I just love having as much
natural light as possible come through the windows.
And it definitely does take an effect on you.
Some people don't recognize it consciously, but, you know, as a
designer, you kind of have a responsibility to make sure
whether they're asking for it or not, right?
To improve their mental health by by bringing in that natural
light. Yeah.
Right. Exactly, exactly.
That's all very true. And and I would say too, changes
in color. So as I mentioned before,
looking at colors that are calming, not necessarily just
pale colors or real neutral colors, but colors that we
respond well to. And, and there's a whole
psychology of color where we respond well to, particularly
right now, Blues and greens, again, pulling nature in into
the interior, especially with the greens and things some of
the Berry colors are, you know, are important right now.
I'm trying to think what the new Pantone color of the year is,
but it's, it's a warm, if I'm remembering correctly, it's kind
of a warm neutral color. And, you know, really focusing
on that and bringing color in so that you don't just have stark
white environments. That's not as calming as I think
some people think it is. It comes across this being
sterile and institutional. And so I think if we can warm up
our environments with some color, we're all better off.
For sure. Yeah.
Good. So what about looking at the
plants aspect of it? Is it necessary to have actual
live plants? Can we achieve anything by
bringing in some silks? Or, you know, some people have
strong opinions either way, but what's your opinion about?
Well, I, I think if you can do live, you know, but I think
silks, silks are fun, especially a good quality silk plant.
Just anything and that leafy natural feel and I think to
bringing in materials from outside, like I'm looking at the
background of your wall and that beautiful wood and bringing in
wood tones and, and real wood into the environment is also
really important. You know, not not just solely I
focus on plants, but yes, I I would agree.
I think if you can do live plants, that's the way to start.
And they came off for good vibe. Yeah, it's making me think of
that practice. I think they do it in Japan
where they have like forest bathing or something like that
where they, the doctors were actually prescribed this to
people because being in a natural environment can be so
healing to to your body. Absolutely, Absolutely.
I think we all feel sense of peace and calm when we walk
through a beautiful outdoor experience.
You know, whether it's a nature walk or in a garden that just
makes you feel really, really good.
And I know I was in Victoria, BC back in the fall and went to
Bouchard Gardens, which is just a phenomenal garden and
different types of gardens. So there was a Japanese garden,
there was a sunken garden, there was a beautiful Rose Garden,
dahlias, and just walking through that, you just felt so
good. And the color responding to the
colors and and everything. And then you hit the Japanese
garden, which is all very green and serene, and you just feel
that peace come over you, and it's a really, really great
feeling. Yeah.
And I guess that's also a recommendation for bringing
home. Fresh flowers every.
Week trying to bring some of that inside, like build it into
your budget to bring some fresh flowers.
It's a small thing but I think it when I go I always get
excited in the fall because I love tulips and and my local
grocery store starts having tulips at a good price in the
fall and all through winter. So every week I bring home
tulips. Nice.
And it just makes me feel good to walk past evasive tulips.
Yeah. You know, especially in the dead
of winter and I like forcing amaryllis bulbs in the winter
and especially having those right after the holidays where I
just get a lot of bloom of color.
And as a post holiday Doldrum sets in, it really lifts your
spirit. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Yeah. All those bright colors during
the holidays is so fun when it's a little drab out.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, January can feel a little
drab, So, yeah. So yes, I think fresh flowers
are bright. And you don't have to be an
expert flower arranger or anything, you know, just to put
a bunch of tulips in a vase. They're so pretty.
And so many flowers are just so pretty.
Just put them in a vase of water.
There are a lot of really good indoor plants that require very
little maintenance. You know, water maybe once a
week. Sometimes some can go twice a
week, like Spedophilia, which is a really pretty indoor green
plant and it requires very little attention.
And succulents require very little attention.
They only have to be watered like every three weeks maybe,
and even air ferns. They're just fun and they
require no attention. So yeah, it doesn't take a whole
lot of work to bring some of that inside.
Nice. Is there anything to think
about, like in shapes mimicking nature in our furniture or
artwork or bringing in Wallpapers or anything like
that, that we should consider? Absolutely.
You know, I'm seeing in a lot of the trade publications,
obviously we've had a resurgence in interest in wallpaper over
the last few years and I'm seeing more floral patterns in
wallpaper and I think it's exciting.
You know, we, we got away from that for a long time, but it's,
it's nice to bring that back in. And you don't have to use it in
large doses. You can just do an accent wall
or do it in a powder room that you're not necessary in all the
time, but you go in every is every so often and there's a
bright cherry floral paper. And I think, yes, in terms of
shape, an emphasis on organic shapes as opposed to real hard
line geometrics is also important.
Curves are a little more interesting than boxy squares,
and they appeal to us because, well, we have curves.
Right. You know, and, and so we, we
tend to like curves. So yes, I think that's important
to deal with organic shapes. And I would say to bringing in
artwork. You can see behind me, I know
it's, it's not going to be shown, but I have a lot of
artwork. Almost every wall in my house
has artwork. I love to support local artists
as much as possible, but also when I travel I like to pick up
art and a lot of it is inspired by nature.
Absolutely. So, you know, some florals, I'm
looking at a picture that my sister painted for me of a
Hummingbird, which is beautiful really to me brings the outdoors
in. And so yes, all three of those
things are very important in terms of an emphasis on bio
filling design. Yeah, for sure.
If I'm trying to create a space that is more calming for my
clients, like if they have a busy schedule all the time, you
know, I do like to bring in landscapes and things of nature
and especially if it isn't a local artist because they'll
have landscapes that are familiar, that are of the
surrounding area. You're like, oh, that's yeah,
that's a California hills and, you know, whatever in my area.
And so I think that is beneficial because you can't
always get out. And then I think also people who
work from home, maybe in home offices, if they can't get out
all the time, they're just stuck in their house.
And then having that nature scene will help keep them calm
and grounded. Yes, they're, you know, maybe
working on the computer all the time.
Yes, I, I think that's really important because so many of us
are working from home these days and as you said, we're we're
stuck in front of a computer for a lot of, lot of the day and
having other things to look at really makes that more workable.
I am currently sitting in my den.
I like to sit in here a lot because I have two French doors
and a large window in between that look out on my patio, and
to me, that's just really bringing nature in.
And I have a beautiful red Japanese Maple right now.
When I look at that, it just makes me feel really, really
good to see that space. So yes, like I said, supporting
local artists and as you said, things, familiar scenes can
really make a difference. I grew up in West Virginia, so I
have some art of the mountains and things and rhododendron that
is the state flower and all, and it just makes me happy to see
those things. It's a personal emotional
connection. Yeah.
And, and I think that that too is a lot of what biophilic
design is about. It's about that emotional
connection or emotional connection to nature, to our
environment. And I, I don't think we can
downplay that at all. I think we really need to step
into that and and recognize that we do absolutely have emotional
connections to our environment and then those connections are
very important. For sure, yeah.
So how did you go about learning more details about biophilic?
Is there resources that we could reference for people who might
be interested in exploring this area a little more?
Yes, there are obviously is a lot more information online now
about it and there is a group called Science of Design and
they talk a lot about biophilic and neuroaesthetics as a science
and really with application to interior design and that's a
good resource for information. OK, Yeah, great.
Good. OK.
I love that. Is there any other
recommendations you would make to designers listening who want
to start being conscious of and designing with biophilic design
in mind? Obviously, learning what it is,
how to incorporate it into your design work, and just being
conscious of that as a focus can be really a game changer in
terms of your work and how creative you can be.
So yes, I think just, you know, doing a little research, making
sure you understand what it's all about, but again, using your
creative abilities to explore those different avenues that
we've talked about like light and plants and bringing nature
inside in many different ways through materials and things
like that. Yeah, really good.
And it's just another level of expertise and, you know, insight
that you can bring to each project that just makes it even
more valuable to the client in areas that they might not even
realize. So that's great.
Absolutely, absolutely. And again, I would stress never
forgetting that not only do we have emotional attachments to
our environment, our clients especially have emotional
attachments to the environment. And we need to understand what
that is. We need to have a lot of
communication with them about that.
What pieces of furniture, what pieces of art, what accessories,
what colors, all of that, what materials are important to them
that make them feel good and at peace and calm and and happy in
their environment? Yeah, because everybody might
resonate with a different type of nature environment.
Maybe some are drawn more towards the mountains or the
beach or desert, right. So there's going to be different
colors and shapes that you bring forward in each of those
scenarios. So probably exploring it with
your client and seeing, you know, what it what did you grow
up with or what really makes you happy when you're starting to
the design process. Yeah.
Absolutely, Rebecca. I think that's so important And
yes, looking at what we grew up with, because a lot of that
place into how we feel currently about our environment is, you
know, what are we bringing from our past and into the future?
We can never discount that. Yeah, yeah.
Like someone who, you know, visited the beach every summer
growing up, but they maybe they lived in the mountains or
something, but you, you might not have known that, that they
had, you know, an Infinity for the beach.
And they wanted to see those ocean colors in their home, you
know, because it just meant so much in the memories of them
growing up. So, yeah, it's good, good things
to explore. Yeah.
Great. Well, thank you so much, Martha,
for sharing your expertise on biophilic design and getting us
thinking about how to bring that to our clients.
Absolutely. I'm happy to share that
information and I'm exploring even more about the subject
myself. So, you know, I think we just
need to always continue learning.
For sure, yeah. Anytime we're at market and
different events that you know offer CE us and different things
and biophilic and those areas would be good to sign up for it
so we can expand our knowledge on that.
Absolutely. Well, great.
Thank you for coming on again today and we'll, I'm sure talk
with you again soon. OK.
Thank you so much, Rebecca. I appreciate it very much.
So if. You'd like to reach.
Out to Martha or see her website itsdesignofthetimesinc.com and
go ahead and get to know Martha a little bit more.
I'm sure you'll enjoy it. And don't forget I have.
Great things for you, freebies, downloads in the show notes, and
my design mentor is always there if you're needing some coaching
or mentoring in the interior design career.
All right, that's all I have for you this week.
Next week we'll have another great episode and until then,
stay creative. Thanks for listening.
If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review.
This helps me reach other curious creatives like you.
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