New Leaf Interiors, a company that EnviroCitizen.org discovered located in Chicago, Illinois, is a design firm that specializes in creating environmentally sustainable interiors for their residential and commercial clients. New Leaf Interiors is a member of the United States Green Building Council, The Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance and the Sustainable Furniture Council.
Karen Kaplan, founder, owner and principal at New Leaf Interiors, has more than thirty years of interior design, home furnishings and visual merchandising experience. Kaplan is also an artist and muralist. She obtained her degree in Interior Design from Northern Illinois University. Kaplan believes in remaining continually conscious of the well-being of all living organism. Her concern for the state of our environment (and how human activities are affecting it) led her to found New Leaf Interiors and provide environmentally conscious services.
Kaplan has an eclectic group of interests—travel, nature, alternative energy, green building and sustainable environmental design, yoga, spirituality, progressive politics, her dog, fine dining, wine, gardening, world music, biking, hiking, animal rights and creating a better world. She is associated with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
New Leaf Interiors has been involved in many events and associations, such as the Greenfestival, the Women's Resource Fair and EnviroMode. Previous customers of New Leaf Interiors consistently offer rave reviews for their services. Handling a broad range of large and small projects, they offer many innovative alternatives such as the use of soy and corn oil based upholstery foam rather than petroleum-based upholstery. Kaplan has a knack for de-cluttering and goes above and beyond the typical green home consulting services. She'll even go shopping with you and design custom, energy-saving light fixtures!
Kaplan has been involved with green design from very early on in her career. She has experience working with a variety of design firms and furnishing companies and offers products that she personally stands by. As she once stated in an interview, “My knowledge of how furniture is made got me thinking about the origins of the pieces. So, when I started my own design business, I wanted to make sure I was recommending items for my clients homes and businesses that were made responsibly".
Kaplan is changing the misconceptions about green design. Many people think that in order for furniture to be green, it has to be a boring beige color and uncomfortable to sit on. She works with vendors who source natural materials that, unless told otherwise, look and feel exactly like conventional materials. She also refurbishes older pieces from decades ago, noting that older furniture was built better and harmful chemicals weren't used in furniture until the 1950's. Older furniture that is refurbished also comes with a very small carbon footprint, because no resources or energy are needed to create them.
If you're in the Chicago, Illinois area and are looking to transform your home into an eco-friendly sanctuary, EnviroCitizen.org suggests that you contact New Leaf Interiors. Indeed. You won't regret it. |
