lifestyle// the foundations
in the home//
THE FOUNDATIONS
join us as we take a deep dive into every room of lauren’s home, all exclusively featured first on the home tour (watch here)
CREATING THE ESSENCE OF A HOME
we’ve been overwhelmed by the response of so many of you after we launched the home tour. we initially planned to start doing posts on the blog taking a deep dive into each room, but after so many questions regarding our paint colors, flooring, water filtration system and more; we decided to pivot and first start with a post on the foundational pieces of our home. these next few items that i’m about to share with you were truly some of the hardest decisions to make. these elements are not only what make our home clean and nontoxic–all made without the chemicals and toxins that usual staple products include–but are key pieces that create the essence of our home. the walls we look at, the floors we walk on, the air we breathe, the water we drink and bath in, each has been such an integral part of making our home what it is. i’m excited to introduce you to some of the brands that i have come to love, and will use wherever we go with whatever projects that may come our way. i hope you love them just as much as we do.
(sharing all)
PAINT COLORS, FLOORING, WATER FILTRATION
wood floors
the wood floors in our home are duchateau. they were here when we moved in; this exact flooring is not made there anymore but we love the raw feel and texture.
whole house water filtration system
one of the most important decisions we made in our home was to install a whole house water filtration system. it was top priority that the water we drink and bath in are as clean as possible. after much extensive research, CWR took the cake. president dr. roy speiser developed his passion for maintaining water quality decades ago as a holistic healthcare practitioner in new york. he was heavily impacted by seeing an increase of cancer in patients and began to study the carcinogenic effect in drinking water. CWR uses multi-stage filtration equipment to ensure the most healthy water in our homes.
non-toxic paint
paint seems to be something that is overlooked when considering toxicity in the home. i was completely dedicated to eliminate all chemical compounds in anything that i could control during our renovation this last year. traditional paints, primers, stains, paint thinner, and varnishes are full of harmful chemicals, additives, and toxins. here are some names to keep your eye on: formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, apeos, bisphenol, glycols, and solvents. and there are many more!
the chemicals in paint fumes can cause both short- and long-term health effects. during the painting process, many experience symptoms such as watery eyes, headaches, nausea, dizziness and breathing problems. vision problems, lung irritation, and throat irritation are in the line up too. isn't that wild? if you are exposed to vocs (volatile organic compounds) every day (which is present in paint) it can cause cancer as well as damage to the nervous system, liver, and kidneys.
ecos paints
all of that to say, i did not want that easily avoidable risk in our home. my sweet friends from branch basics told me about ecos paints and i couldn't believe my eyes! for 35 years, they have helped people create healthier living environments with their premium quality, eco-friendly paints, stains and varnishes. they are completely non-toxic, contain no odor, zero vocs, and are free of harsh chemicals + they are fully transparent about ingredients and have exceptional coverage. not to mention, they are so helpful and lovely to work with! their water-based products were uniquely formulated without the harsh chemicals found in conventional paints. they use a unique technology combining sustainable ingredients and a proprietary mixing process; their products deliver best-in-class appearance and enhanced durability - with no harsh fumes or odors. yay!
portola paints
their wide assortment of paints and specialty finishes are all made locally and in small batches in los angeles. portola paints blends every color by hand to guarantee color depth and accuracy, and are engineered for environmental safety; their paint formulations are low odor and contain no vocs.
colors in our home
ecos paints child of heaven in eggshell is on our walls and the color of our kitchen cabinets is ecos paints desert mirage in eggshell. the blue color in the pool table room is in the navy by portola paints. we could not be happier with the outcome and will be loyal customers for life.
STAY TUNED
(each week we’ll take a deep dive into a room from the home tour, sharing all of the details of furniture, accessories, and more// watch the home tour here)