On the eve of opening our furniture store, I called the dumpster company to set up the trash service for our facilities. While I was speaking with the account representative, Jean, she asked me what kind of products we were going to be selling? I explained the concept of how when you build an energy efficient home, you must pay extra careful attention to the indoor air quality of its contents because so many furnishings and interiors are filled with poisonous chemicals. She responded by saying…”oh, you mean like my blue couch!” She went on to explain that every night her family would go to the living room and sit on this couch to watch tv, and every night, everyone would get a headache. She soon figured out that it was because of the chemicals off-gassing from it. It’s no wonder since 85% of couches contain chemicals linked to cancer, and neurological and reproductive harm, among other illnesses.

In fact, upholstered furniture can poison you in six different ways. Dangerous chemicals can be emitted through the way that the furniture frame is made, the finish on the frame, the cushion material and the fabric that is wrapping it, the fabric or leather it is upholstered with as well as the flame retardants and stain repellents that are applied after production! Flame retardants and other chemicals have been used for decades in the production of commercial and residential upholstered furniture as a method for achieving fire protection. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has classified formaldehyde, and other VOC’s, as Toxic Air Contaminants based on their potential to cause cancer and other adverse health effects.

One of the biggest misconceptions that I see people have is that buying a certain popular brand or style from one of the designer chain stores is the same as buying heirloom quality low VOC furniture. These companies often replicate the styles of other brands, while building them with cheaper toxic materials, to maximize profits without the public’s knowledge. One of our staff was an upholsterer and would often do repairs to people’s furniture. She explained that whenever she took apart one of these big chain store pieces, she would find inferior parts and pieces, including the use of cardboard!When a furniture piece is built healthy, or to heirloom quality, it is inherently built sustainably, positively impacting the environment.

Most of the furniture on the market today is made to have a usable life of 5-7 years, whereas healthy, heirloom quality furniture is built to last generations. Key components to consider when shopping for healthier furniture is whether the frame is solid wood, if there is an option for a natural latex or soy-based foam cushion instead of petroleum-based foam, are the stains low or no VOC, are the glues water based, and is the fabric an organic natural material. A popular ask from shoppers is for stain repellent fabric because of pets or children in the home. There are many stain resistant fabric options on the market now that are made from natural fibers and have a plant or water-based stain repellent applied to them, providing a healthy alternative to chemical stain repellents.

Conclusion

Knowledge is power. Now that you are aware of these hidden dangers, pay special attention to everything that you bring into your home, especially the furniture and furnishings.

You know it’s going to be an amazing project when the homeowners come to their architect with not only a vision but a name. Enter “Hollywood Hills of Western NC.” Complimenting the natural views, the contemporary architecture opens over downtown Asheville in the distance, eliciting a wooded version of the LA neighborhood.

The homeowners wanted the home to feel connected to the outdoors with large amounts of daylight, and a focus on biophilic design. Over a backdrop of clean lines and a minimalistic approach, there is a theme of natural elements. This included wooden finishes, like the built-in beds and nightstands, that appear to be floating in the bedrooms, the cedar closet, and natural finishes on the case goods. That organic theme ties everything together to create a home that is minimalistic and modern, but still warm and inviting.

We’re heavily focused on health, the healing power of beautiful spaces, and creating homes without using toxic materials. This was one of the main reasons the homeowners chose to work with us. They’re both pediatricians, and wanted to “minimize the toxins and chemicals in the building process, in the paint, and in the furniture.” This home was built and furnished using low VOC and organic materials. It is also Aging in Place Certified.

“It feels phenomenal when the client moves into their home and everything has been finalized,” said Patrick Backes, a Living Stone Design + Build superintendent. “They are very happy when they can actually visualize the space that they’re going to be living in. We strive towards exceeding our client’s expectations and creating happier healthier lives for them.”