Sustainability, But Make It Hot
Design-Friendly Eco Upgrades You’ll Actually Love
My friend Ryan (aka Lady K, aka Janis, aka There Was Fringe) sent me this Instagram post this week, about a brilliant solar panel installation in Wisconsin, that had me giddy. It has everything you would want in a modern installation: bold design, smart features, sustainability woven in so beautifully you don’t even realize it’s working behind the scenes.
And I thought, “Why isn’t all sustainable design like this? Why do people still think eco-friendly means beige, boring, or budget DIY gone wrong?”
At Elliano Design, we believe sustainability belongs right next to bold colors and killer statement lighting. Let’s break down some beautiful, sustainable design upgrades, from easiest & cheapest to the top-tier eco-luxury investments.
High-Efficiency Fixtures
Entry-level, Eco-Friendly Glow-Up
Brizo Vettis Widespread Faucet ©Brizo
Estimated Cost: $100–$1,500 per fixture1
Swapping out your faucets, showerheads, and toilets for WaterSense-certified models is the fastest way to save water without sacrificing spa-day vibes. Think luxury showers with less guilt.
Brands: Kohler, Moen, Brizo
Best For: Powder rooms, kitchens, primary baths
Recycled & Upcycled Materials
Trash, But Make It Luxury
Vetrazzo Bretagne Blue ©Vetrazzo
Estimated Cost: $5–$50 per sq ft (material dependent)
Upcylcing2 is the way of the future. Imagine a kitchen island shimmering with recycled glass, or tiles made from ocean plastic in that powder room everyone Instagrams. These materials reduce waste AND give you textures no mass-produced product can replicate.
Brands: Vetrazzo (glass), Fireclay Tile, Plasticiet (ocean plastic), The Hudson Company (reclaimed wood)
Best For: Flooring, counters, accent walls
Modular Furniture
Rearrange, Reuse, Repeat
Sixpenny Aria Corner Sectional ©Sixpenny
Estimated Cost: $1,000–$5,000 per set
Modular3, circular-designed furniture that evolves with your space (and life). No more tossing sofas when you move; these pieces grow with you.
Brands: Floyd, Sabai, Hem, Sixpenny
Best For: Small-space living, flexible layouts
Moss Walls
Mother Nature’s Acoustic Panel
Moss Shop Minimalist Grid ©The Moss Shop
Estimated Cost: $500 for panels, $3,000–$10,000 for custom install
A lush moss4 wall does more than just look cool, it purifies your air, controls humidity, and tells the world you’re fancy and eco-conscious. Low maintenance, high impact.
Brands: The Moss Shop, Green Wallscapes
Best For: Feature walls, home offices, restaurant design
Architectural Solar Panels
Energy Savings, Zero Eyesore
Tesla Solar Roof ©Tesla
Estimated Cost: $25,000–$50,000 depending on system size
Solar panels have had an upgrade5. Now you can have solar shingles that look like part of your roof or glass panels that double as windows. Sustainable, functional, and gorgeous.
Brands: Tesla Solar Roof, SunStyle, Mitrex
Best For: Full home remodels, new builds
Geothermal Heating & Cooling
The Invisible Energy Flex
ClimateMaster Geothermal HVAC ©ClimateMaster
Estimated Cost: $40,000–$80,000 (depending on lot size & install complexity)
Geothermal6 is the ultimate “I’m playing the long game” move. It’s all hidden underground, silently heating and cooling your home using the Earth’s steady temperature and cutting HVAC costs by up to 70%.
Brands: WaterFurnace, ClimateMaster, Bosch
Best For: Luxury homes, large lots, forever homes
Phase-Change Materials
Sci-Fi Level Insulation
ULTIMA TEMPLOK Ceiling Tiles ©Armstrong Ceilings
Estimated Cost: $50,000+ (whole-home integration)
Phase-Change Materials7 (PCMs) absorb and release heat as the temperature shifts, stabilizing your home’s climate naturally. It’s like giving your walls their own thermostat.
Brands: BASF Micronal, Armstrong
Best For: Net Zero homes, custom new builds
Wrapping It Up (Like a Linen Throw on a Recycled Glass Coffee Table)
Sustainability doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice boldness. It doesn’t mean you have to “go neutral.” At Elliano Design, we specialize in creating interiors that are both fearless and functional. Yes, I’m going to pair that low-flow, Watersense® fixture with a safari scene wallpaper.
If you’re searching for interior design firms in Minnesota with eco-friendly innovations—you’ve found us. We design homes and spaces that look incredible, work smarter, and care for the planet without a whiff of beige guilt-tripping. That’s sustainable luxury.
A fixture so fixed its like Cher on a farewell tour.
Like the Tour de France but easier. (Wow, that one was dad joke-level bad.)
No, not like Mod from the 60s.
Elizabeth Moss would also make interesting artwork.
How much longer until we can turn into the people in Wall-e?.
“Geothermal” is how my friends describe Henry Cavill.
Kinda like Plastique Tiara’s lady bits.
