Interview with Rachel Winokur of eTTa designs

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March 12, 2010 by Megan S. | Comments (0)

We love decorating and shopping, which means that being an interior designer would be a fabulous job! Interior Designer Rachel Winokur, owner of interior design boutique eTTa designs does this and more. Her firm showed us how eco-friendly design could fit any budget and style for both commercial and residential projects like the eco-friendly nail salon, Mani Pedi Cutie they recently planned. We spoke with Rachel and learned about incorporating eco-friendly design as much as possible to help preserve our beautiful environment. Read on for her perspective, and click here to check out her website!

What makes a beautiful home?

For me, a beautiful home means more than just beautiful aesthetics.  It means a home that’s inviting, comfortable, relaxing, balanced and functional with stunning design elements, both visually and to the touch.

In what ways do you practice living green? Why is living green important to you?

I promote living green with my clients by first looking for eco-friendly and sustainable design solutions as long as it satisfies the client’s needs like look/feel, function, budget, and timeframe.  I also live green myself whether it’s recycling, minimizing electricity, reducing water usage, re-purposing furnishings I already own vs. replacing, multi-functional items (like a sofa console that’s also a desk), printing my business cards on recycled paper with non-toxic ink, or speaking to groups educating them about ‘green’ design.  Living green especially makes sense since my middle name is Carson, and thus named after Rachel Carson, the Naturalist and author of Silent Spring, which essentially started the environmental movement!

What is your indulgence?

I love beautiful and sumptuous fabrics and could be drawn to them by color, texture and pattern.  A great way to inexpensively indulge in fabrics is to add lots of toss pillows on a bed or sofa since most toss pillows only require about a yard to make….or even less if you use a plain fabric on the back side!

What has been your most fulfilling project?

I just completed decorating a room pro bono at a new family shelter in LA for Upward Bound House.  It feels so good to be part of a solution to eradicate homelessness and to provide a shelter that not only will be safe, but also beautiful, inviting, comfortable and special.  In addition, it was accomplished by the collaboration of at least 50 vendors and individuals who donated their product, talents, and time to decorating this room. 

What do you CRAVE? In business? In life?

I crave dining at Gjelina in Venice, chai with soy, dark chocolate, fresh organic produce from local farms, the beach and ocean (I love to sail and surf!), skiing, beautiful fabrics, fresh flowers and plants, and enjoying time connecting with friends and family in a properly appointed space topped off with candles, proper lighting, scents, and music through a good sound system.

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