Make a natural habitat of your home with these beautiful accessories inspired by the outdoors

In an ideal scenario, all our windows would look out over woods and hills. Where that’s not possible, a nice landscape painting addresses the need for leafy horizons. All of this comes under the heading of biophilic design, a multi-faceted design philosophy. “If design doesn’t focus on aspects of the natural world that contribute to human health and productivity in the age-old struggle to be fit and survive, it’s not biophilic,” wrote Stephen R. Kellert, professor of social ecology and biophilia advocate.

That’s the theory. The fun part is that creatives are forever coming up with interesting ways of bringing nature into the home. Chicken-feather lampshades, anyone? Coldharbour Lights is a London-based company run by Lottie Davies. It all began in 2016 when Davies was working in a studio next door to a milliner. “She gave me a bunch of feathers to play with and I never looked back,” she says. “One of the things I love about working with feathers is I’m not really on my own. I’m working with Mother Nature. She’s my greatest collaborator. There’s a wildness in the design.” Her feathery creations are a link with the barnyard and all that happens there. They’re also stylish accent pieces for interiors and a clear reminder that biophilic design does not have to look earthy. It can also be full-on glam.

Being handmade in London by a craftsperson using responsible sourced and sustainably dyed poultry feathers, the lampshades from Coldharbour Lights are not cheap. They range from the Juliette (€443), a pendant shade of hen and goose feathers with a bouclé trim and a hanging dome of brass ball chain (47cm diameter) to the fantabulous Coco (€3,478). This is three-tier feather lampshade that descends from a top tier (115 cm diameter) through a 150 cm drop with a subtle scattering of slinky chains and sparkly crystal drops. “The first Coco was designed for a couple who lived in a converted church,” Davis says. “It’s not the sort of work that will fit into any home. The Juliette is much tamer and it sells a lot.” All her designs are sold as shades, rather than complete light fittings. “It’s easy to put them up and take them down. There’s no installation process and this makes them suitable for someone who wants something extraordinary in a rented home. But we can also supply the fittings on request.”

Davies’ shades are designed in collaboration with her clients. Each takes its name from the person that helped her develop it. The Akynos shade (€984) was designed for an American plus-size stripper, living and working in Berlin. “Akynos is her stage name,” Davies explains. “She’s black, so she wanted black feathers as part of the design, and also hot pink and rose pink because she loves the smell of roses. She has her shade hanging above her bed.” Like all the shades in the Rio range, it’s made with cockerel tail feathers. Biophilic design typically engages as many senses as possible. “I encourage people to touch them. It’s part of the appeal. If I’m at a trade show and a bald man who seems friendly approaches, I encourage him to stand under a lamp and feel the coolness of the chain base and the softness of the feathers.”

Back in Dublin, former cybercrime investigator Paola Di Legge has left office life behind. Now, she runs Ninfa Studio where she makes wall art and decorative objects from preserved moss. “I’m Italian, living in Dublin for 20 years,” she says. “For most of that time I was working at an office desk under artificial light and far away from a window.” Eventually, she took a career break. “I’d discovered preserved flowers and moss. They’re a natural product, they look vibrant and beautiful, but they last for a very long time.” She began to research biophilic design. “Having nature in the home helps your wellbeing — it’s good for your mental and physical health — and as I started to work with moss frames, I really felt the difference.”

Not everyone can turn their career-break project into a successful career, but Di Legge has done precisely that. Her wall art (from €75 to €870) is made of natural moss arranged within a frame. “I never thought I would become an artist,” she says. “I started making the frames because I enjoyed working with nature but my family and friends encouraged me to try selling them as artworks. And it works!” The moss comes from Scandinavia and is preserved in France. “I’d rather leave the moss-gathering to the experts. It’s not my area of expertise. Reindeer moss is actually a lichen and grows very slowly. It’s also eaten by animals so it’s very important that it’s sustainably harvested.” The preservation process is also subject to checks and balances. “They replace the natural sap of the plant with natural preservatives, like glycerine, which keeps it vibrant and flexible. And the dyes are food-safe colourants.”

Moss frames from Ninfa Studio last for several years and do not require maintenance. “They need to be kept indoors, so they wouldn’t work in a conservatory. They don’t like direct sunlight and they prefer low humidity. They’d be fine in a guest bathroom but not in a main bathroom where people are having showers every day.” While most art is to be seen and not touched, the tactility of these pieces is part of their attraction. “It’s a sensory experience. The moss is delicate, but you can touch it gently, and I also make sensory frames which are made to be touched.” The frames are a useful way of bringing nature into a home office or a space that may be low in natural light, but some clients commission larger pieces for open plan spaces in newly built homes. “They’re a great conversation starter!”

Biophilia is not a look. In a home of neon-bright plastics, living plants can lift the spirits and bring nature into the ensemble without compromising the aesthetic. Green plants go with absolutely any interior. There’s convincing research to say that artificial plants carry some of the same benefits, but everyone has their own level of tolerance. I draw the line at artificial greenery — it leaves me feeling deceived — but I’ve heard it brings joy to many.

coldharbourlights.com, ninfastudio.com