As the host of HGTV's Makeover Wish, Ami McKay isn't one to shy away from a decorating dilemma. And when the Vancouver-based designer saw a need in the market for eco-friendly furnishings with flair, she responded with characteristic pluck – she designed them herself. Pure by Ami McKay is a 100% sustainable line that adds glam to the green design movement, and is a breath of fresh air to Canadian furniture manufacturing.
Style at Home: These aren't the bland and boxy eco-friendly furnishings we're used to seeing – they’re very graceful and feminine. What inspired these designs?
Ami McKay: I researched alternative options to the harmful elements involved in mainstream furniture manufacturing, but I didn't want Pure to be a predictable green design company – that's not who I am. So I based my designs on the characteristics of four natural elements to appeal to different personality types. For the Fire collection, think hot and sexy with an unexpected European flair. The Earth collection is comfortable with a West Coast family-friendly vibe. Water is very Hollywood glam and cleanlined, while Air is midcentury modern inspired.
S@H: "Healthy" design seems to be one of your driving principles. What does healthy furniture mean to you?
AM: Healthy furniture is built to last a lifetime, handcrafted having toxic homes with poor indoor air quality – something that a lot of people are still unaware of. I want to inspire people to ask questions about what goes into their furniture.
S@H: Pure offers an extraordinary number of custom options, including embroidery, eco-friendly upholstery selections and nontoxic wood finishes. Why is customization important to you?
AM: Furniture is art for your home – it has to tell your story and suit you. If you're going to invest in a piece, I want you to really love it. And these options make the pieces so versatile – I have four silhouettes that are very different, and that way I can continually add more colour and pattern. I've struggled to find organic patterned fabrics – a lot of them are wacky – and I saw embroidery as a way of making my own amazing patterns.
S@H What's next for Ami McKay?
AM: I want to design beautifully printed organic fabrics, not only for upholstery applications, but also for draperies and linens.
Read more in Decorating & Design and Green Living
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1 Comment
What beautiful materials and designs! I checked out her website (from the bottom of your Q&A and the rest of her line is just as gorgeous. Amazing materials and details in products that are kind to our world, our homes and our health!