We had a conversation with Raini Peters, founder of her own Interior Design and Styling company, about the importance of responsible design and incorporating environmental ethics into your home.
Why were you drawn to interior design and styling?
To me, there’s always been something magical about envisioning a new space and then transforming it into reality. As a child, I always loved to be outside in the Australian bush, where I spent most of my time growing up. I used to spend hours making cubby houses from things we found in the wild.
I’ve also always been fascinated by seeing how a space can affect the emotional state of a person. We have the power to heal, uplift, inspire and soothe through design and I’ve always found myself very drawn to that.
What’s the story behind your business?
After working as a graphic designer for many years for companies and brands which neither resonated with me nor aligned with my ethics, I decided to take the leap into the field of Interior Design. I knew that, through design, I would be able to have a positive impact on the world, and that’s something that’s very important to me.
I went back to my roots and rekindled my childhood passion for creating beautiful spaces that people feel good in. It’s funny to think about it now, but as a child, one of my favorite games was rearranging furniture in my house and adding little decorative touches like a beautiful piece of driftwood found at the beach or bunches of wildflowers. I guess I was destined to be a designer. Today, the core of my business stems from what I truly believe in; conscious eco-living within a biophilic design scope.
Spaces fundamentally change the way people experience their lives so, when I design, I always focus on enhancing human happiness and health and making sure that my work has minimal impact on mother earth.
Talk to us about one of your favorite projects?
One of my favorite projects was Grimmstraße here in Berlin. My clients trusted me completely and, after discussing what they wanted from the space, pretty much gave me full creative reign over the project. All products were sourced locally and I got to custom design a lot of the pieces. I was able to tune into their needs, while also being able to surprise them with a space that was beyond their expectations. To me, that’s the mark of a successful design.
Walk us through your creative process.
Before I even think about design, I make sure I fully understand what my clients want and need from a space. From there, I create a clear project brief and always guide my clients towards making more conscious choices. During the brainstorming phase, I try not to place any limitations on myself. I don’t worry about the practicalities of a design but instead focus on allowing my mind to run free and create a genuine dream space.
Next, I make sure that the concept created meets all of my clients wants and needs while staying true to my business model and ethics. Finally, I take on the task of turning the dream space into a reality.
What does it mean to be a sustainable designer?
In terms of my work, sustainability in design means always thinking about the life cycle of the products I use. It means looking into the supply chain and thinking about how I can reduce the environmental impact.
I always ask myself: where is the product made? How is it manufactured? How is it transported? I also consider what will happen to a product in the long run: can it be recycled? Can it be upcycled? It’s a huge loop and sustainable designers need to consider every stage.
