“If trash service was never going to come to your house again, how would you consume? How would you change your buying behavior?”
Kashew interviewed me on my design philosophy and expansion from interior design to furniture design, I am grateful for the opportunity to share my vision for building heirlooms while minimizing waste and harm to the environment. I want to share a few thoughts from the interview:
After moving to Carmel on the California coast, and giving birth to her daughter, Ashley had a pivotal moment, a turning point in her design career. She describes it as a shift from a “Texan way” of going bigger and larger, to a more mindful philosophy of less noise and simplified design that is appreciative of the natural environment and that leaves a positive footprint on people and the site.
This new philosophy led Ashley to create her own furniture company aimed at combating the fast furniture industry’s issues: immense waste, toxic products, poor quality builds, uniform designs, and overseas manufacturing driven by aggressive corporate marketing. Ashley challenges herself and her clients with a thought- provoking question: “If trash service was never going to come to your house again, how would you consume? How would you change your buying behavior?” Ashley’s work now reflects a commitment to quality and sustainability, aiming to build pieces that last for years while being charming and environmentally friendly. Her design ethos revolves around slowing down consumption, valuing what we own, and ensuring that each piece tells a story, thus reconnecting people with the items they choose for their homes.
Thanks Kashew, hoping to inspire others to think twice before buying mass produced items. We can shift an industry one purchase at a time in ways everyone benefits. Let’s go backward to move forward, making non-toxic products by hand and enjoying them to the point they are a part of our story and passed on to preserve the memories. Buy right, buy once!