BY REBECCA L. RHOADES
Today’s interior designers are redefining what it means to live beautifully and responsibly. Instead of simply incorporating the trends of the moment, they’re crafting spaces that not only reduce negative impacts on the environment, but that also increase the health and comfort of those who reside within them. From incorporating eco-friendly materials and eliminating unnecessary waste to choosing healthier, low-emission finishes and reducing a home’s carbon footprint, interior designers do more than make rooms look good.
In this article, we celebrate three of Arizona’s top purpose-driven design professionals. Whether you’re redesigning a single room, building new, or simply curious about sustainable living, they will show you how to transform your home into a space that’s functional, aesthetically pleasing, and has a positive impact on both you and the outside world.
A Happy, Healthy Home
Tanya Shively has been at the forefront of green design in Arizona for more than 20 years. In fact, if you Google “sustainable interior designers,” her name pops up on lists of the best, not just in the state but around the country.
As the founder of Scottsdale-based Sesshu Design Associates, Shively believes that style and luxury design should also be environmentally responsible. Recently, she’s moved beyond simply being eco-friendly to creating spaces that also enhance the homeowners’ well-being.
“We have what we call our ‘Well Designed’ philosophy, which focuses on wellness, well-being, eco-conscious selections, and luxury livability,” she says. “Being eco-conscious is still a big part of what we do. We’re always looking for nontoxic materials; renewable, recycled, sustainable woods; natural fibers; all of those kinds of things. But then we’re also looking at ways that these materials and products help improve your wellness, as well.”
A main focus of Shively’s approach is incorporating biophilic principles into her designs. Biophilic design is the integration of natural materials and elements into built spaces, blending architecture and the outside world.
“Biophilic design simply means taking cues from nature,” Shively explains. “Sometimes that means using patterns and textures that are natural or mimic nature, creating architecture that increases air movement, or taking advantage of natural light and views of the outside. Biophilic design can be really technical or it can just be decorative.
“It really does affect your mental and emotional well-being,” she continues. “That connection to nature can improve sleep, increase productivity, reduce stress, and improve your focus.
Shively’s work has been recognized nationwide, and she’s won numerous accolades for her approach to design. She was named Best Sustainable Designer in Green Living’s inaugural Best Of Arizona awards in 2022, an honor she repeated in 2023.
Tanya Shively’s Top 3 Tips for Creating a Sustainable Home
1. Use natural fibers: “When purchasing textiles, such as sheets, carpets, upholstery, or draperies, steer away from man-made materials, especially the petroleum-based nylons and polyesters. Instead, look for linen, wool, silk, or cotton.”
2. Bring nature indoors: “Whether it’s a live-edge wood table that gives you a hint of the tree from which it came or a natural stone wall, incorporate items that remind you of their true origins.”
3. Maximize natural light: “Natural daylight affects our body’s circadian rhythm, letting us know when to be active and when to slow down. Large windows and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors connect your home with the outdoors.”
Whole Person Design
When it comes to interior design, there are a lot of approaches that guide how a space is shaped. From Wabi-Sabi, which celebrates natural flaws, to Feng Shui, which optimizes energy flow, these concepts not only elevate aesthetics but infuse healing energy into a home.
One of the fastest-growing fields is neurodesign, which sits at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and interior design. And it’s at the core of Shannon Harris’ design strategy.
“Neurodesign is a topic that I’m very passionate about,” says Phoenix-based Harris, the founder of HomeSelf (formerly known as Fuse Living). “Every way that we experience our world and our environment is through our senses. So the neuroscience of who we are and how we behave comes through a direct association with the types of environments we’re around.”
She adds, “When it comes to designing spaces and homes, it’s really about what type of sensory experience are we providing, and how we can design it to support us in our daily functions, our current phase of life, and our cognitive load.”
According to Harris, too many people design their homes around what others like or what they think they should do based on current trends. “They’re not truly leaning into what speaks to them because they fear it’s too different or it’s not going to be accepted by others. Using science-backed information, I try to break that barrier,” she says.
For each client, Harris conducts a home analysis that assesses everything from temperature, natural lighting, and noise control to colors and patterns and even spatial flow. “You learn how to read your internal cues that say things like, ‘I always thought I would love this color, but I feel my body getting really tense in this room,” she explains.
“Home design is very nuanced,” she says. “Once you learn how those cues are really affecting you, you can begin to find ways to make your home feel better.”
Shannon Harris’ Top 3 Tips for Creating a Sustainable Home
1. Start with bedding: “A third of our time is spent in bed, so our sheets and our mattresses play a big role in what chemicals we’re inhaling. Choose natural fiber linens made without harsh dyes or softeners.”
2. Pay attention to lighting: “Lighting connects the dots in a lot of ways. It gets into home biology, human biology, and mood enhancement. Pay attention to natural lighting patterns that speak to circadian rhythms.”
3. Create a sense of permanence: “There’s something to be said about the psychology of permanence. Even if it’s not your forever home, you’re going to feel more grounded and lean into your space if it feels like it is yours rather than looking or feeling temporary.”
Function Over Form
When Stephanie Ebner first tours a client’s home, she looks for ways to reuse and repurpose what is already in the rooms.
“I try not to say, ‘Well, we’ve got to take everything out and start fresh,’” she says. “I really try to meet people where they’re at and see what things I can keep that they already have.”
In fact, one of the biggest issues Ebner sees when it comes to homes is that we all just have too much stuff. We buy things because we like the look of them, but once we get them home, we realize they don’t fit into our space or they don’t support our lifestyle or needs.
“Ultimately, the piece that we loved so much ends up not functioning in our home,” she says. “So I like to start with, ‘How does the space function for you?’ I want to make sure that the pieces I’m recommending and selecting are going to make sense for what you need them for.”
As a relative newcomer to Arizona — Ebner moved here from Philadelphia in 2023, expanding Down2Earth Interior Design to the West — she brought with her the firm’s strong belief in sustainability that includes working with what the client already has and eliminating unnecessary landfill waste. And if new products are needed or wanted, she focuses on longevity. “I don’t want you to have to always be replacing things because they don’t hold up over time,” she explains. “Any investment you make in your home should last a really long time.”
This approach earned Ebner the title of Green Living’s Best Sustainable Interior Home Designer in 2025.
Stephanie Ebner’s Top 3 Tips for Creating a Sustainable Home
1. Have a plan: “Having a plan is one of the most sustainable things you can do, because it stops you from buying things that you don’t love or don’t need. Putting together mood boards, getting correct measurements, and knowing your storage needs ensure you’re finding pieces that fit the function of your space.”
2. Look at what you already have: “You can update your home simply by repurposing or giving new life to what you already have. Move an item to another room, update the frame on a piece of art, paint your cabinetry instead of replacing it, or change out hardware for a fresh look.”
3. Recognize greenwashing: “If a company talks about sustainability and being eco-friendly but doesn’t give specifics, it’s probably not that sustainable. Look at how vendors are manufacturing their products, what their processes are, and what kinds of materials they’re using. The more specific they are, the more likely they are to be truly sustainable.”
