Tour a Houston Home That Prioritizes Wellness
A designer outfits a house according to WELL building standards
One of these homeowners is an endocrinologist who treats thyroid cancer, and she was very aware of the toxins that can come into a home through rugs, upholstery, paint and other finishes. So after the new home she and her husband were building was under construction, she searched for an interior design team that was committed to advancing health and wellness through design.
She found Britt Design Group, a firm that’s diligent about designing to WELL building standards. In fact, principal designer Laura Britt had designed her own home to those standards. WELL is a movement fostering a performance-based system for certifying features of the built environment that impact health and well-being, according to the International WELL Building Institute. This includes advancing wellness through design and eliminating the use of materials that contain heavy metals, formaldehyde, PVC and volatile organic compounds.
She found Britt Design Group, a firm that’s diligent about designing to WELL building standards. In fact, principal designer Laura Britt had designed her own home to those standards. WELL is a movement fostering a performance-based system for certifying features of the built environment that impact health and well-being, according to the International WELL Building Institute. This includes advancing wellness through design and eliminating the use of materials that contain heavy metals, formaldehyde, PVC and volatile organic compounds.
An important factor in designing for wellness is feeling connected to the outdoors. The living room, dining room and kitchen run along the back of the house, where large expanses of glass open up the views to the garden. Sliding doors provide seamless transitions between indoors and out. Visible in the back left corner is a light-filled window seat nook Britt added for reading or meditating.
“The blue and terra cotta in the painting were jumping-off points,” Britt says. She stuck with natural materials such as wools, silks and vegetable-dyed fibers whenever possible. She was careful to vet every bit of paint, finish, upholstery and furniture to make sure they wouldn’t bring toxins into the home. She also used LED lighting for energy efficiency.
“They have extended family over often,” the designer says. “This table extends to 12 feet to accommodate larger groups but is smaller and more intimate when they don’t have company.” The wooden chairs have leather upholstery.
“The blue and terra cotta in the painting were jumping-off points,” Britt says. She stuck with natural materials such as wools, silks and vegetable-dyed fibers whenever possible. She was careful to vet every bit of paint, finish, upholstery and furniture to make sure they wouldn’t bring toxins into the home. She also used LED lighting for energy efficiency.
“They have extended family over often,” the designer says. “This table extends to 12 feet to accommodate larger groups but is smaller and more intimate when they don’t have company.” The wooden chairs have leather upholstery.
Sliding doors create a seamless connection between the kitchen and garden. “They cook a lot and grow a lot of their own vegetables and herbs in the garden,” Britt says. “The family eats fresh organic produce from their garden daily.” There’s also a beer-brewing shed with a bar in the backyard.
A fountain in the garden provides the calming sound of splashing water. “And the fountain helps mitigate the surrounding noise of the urban environment,” Britt says.
The overhang not only protects the low deck from the elements but also keeps direct sunlight from heating up the kitchen too much during Houston’s hot summers. Britt also added motorized shades from The Shade Store to help reduce the heat where needed throughout the house.
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A fountain in the garden provides the calming sound of splashing water. “And the fountain helps mitigate the surrounding noise of the urban environment,” Britt says.
The overhang not only protects the low deck from the elements but also keeps direct sunlight from heating up the kitchen too much during Houston’s hot summers. Britt also added motorized shades from The Shade Store to help reduce the heat where needed throughout the house.
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“This is a real working kitchen, not a showplace,” Britt says. The galley style works for the homeowners, and they enjoy the view of the garden while working at the island. “Natural light pours into this space,” Britt says.
The backsplash is a glazed ceramic tile, and the cabinetry is walnut, which provides richness. Britt wrapped the island in lightened-up walnut for contrast. “We avoided oil-based finishes, which are toxic when curing. Instead we used water-based finishes,” she says.
Off the kitchen is a butler’s pantry-utility room that provides additional storage. The designers included a large utility sink, and the homeowners use it as a potting station and growing area for seedlings for their garden.
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The backsplash is a glazed ceramic tile, and the cabinetry is walnut, which provides richness. Britt wrapped the island in lightened-up walnut for contrast. “We avoided oil-based finishes, which are toxic when curing. Instead we used water-based finishes,” she says.
Off the kitchen is a butler’s pantry-utility room that provides additional storage. The designers included a large utility sink, and the homeowners use it as a potting station and growing area for seedlings for their garden.
Browse counter stools in the Houzz Shop
The homeowners’ painting on the left inspired the color palette in the living room, including warm grays and terra cotta. “And I love the combination of warm colors with blues,” Britt says. She added a blue-and-cream wool-silk area rug, reminiscent of water and the sky. Other rugs in the home are also wool-silk blends, along with cotton and jute.
One of the most important things the homeowner wanted to avoid was flame-retardant fabrics, which have been linked to negative health effects. Britt also specified down and formaldehyde-free foam for the upholstery.
One of the most important things the homeowner wanted to avoid was flame-retardant fabrics, which have been linked to negative health effects. Britt also specified down and formaldehyde-free foam for the upholstery.
In the homeowners’ bedroom, the designer created little relaxing moments. For example, this corner offers a comfortable lounge chair for reading, a favorite piece of art and a console with a warm patinaed finish.
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Natural light fills the homeowners’ en suite bathroom thanks to a clerestory window. LED lighting reduces energy consumption. Britt had the cabinets finished with a water-based sealant. “The quartz countertops are easy to clean and they don’t have to be sealed or resealed,” she says.
The wood finishes and more greenery add a biophilic feel to the space. The large soaking tub is a favorite spot for relaxing and rejuvenating after a long day.
Though Britt came onto this project once construction had begun and things worked out, she recommends hiring a designer trained in WELL building standards at the beginning of the design process.
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The wood finishes and more greenery add a biophilic feel to the space. The large soaking tub is a favorite spot for relaxing and rejuvenating after a long day.
Though Britt came onto this project once construction had begun and things worked out, she recommends hiring a designer trained in WELL building standards at the beginning of the design process.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about promoting health through design
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: An endocrinologist, her husband and their two youngest children
Location: Museum District of Houston
Size: 3,738 square feet (347 square meters); four bedrooms and 3½ bathrooms
Designers: Laura Britt of Britt Design Group (interior design) and StudioMET Architects (architecture)
Builder: Modern Concept
“Design can impact how we’re feeling directly,” Britt says. The design of this house has strong indoor-outdoor connections that let in light and provide views to the outside. The entry has a large sidelight. A vertical louvered screen inside the house maintains privacy while letting light through.
The priorities in the design were using healthy and natural materials, maximizing natural light and creating visual and physical connections to the outdoors. “Using plants inside also furthered these connections,” Britt says. The homeowners also have an extensive art collection they wanted to display. These pieces provided starting points for the color palettes in some of the rooms.
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