The pandemic has highlighted the desire for healthier living. More than ever before, designers are tasked with selecting products that are better for people and the environment. They must create interiors that enhance our physical and mental well-being — with the floor as a starting point. “Flooring is the foundation of a room, it sets the tone,” said Zuni Madera, design director at Foley & Cox, a New York-based firm.
For Los Angeles-based designer Kishani Perera, the focus on health and wellness started as a personal journey and extends to her work today. When she became ill and experienced an array of symptoms, she sought out specialists for a diagnosis. “I was getting sicker and sicker. I started having breathing problems and developed multiple chemical sensitivities. No doctor could figure out what it was.”