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

A modern Brizo Vettis Widespread Faucet in a sleek, matte black finish, showcasing high-end, contemporary design perfect for luxury bathroom and modern home plans.

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

A close-up of a Vetrazzo Bretagne Blue countertop, showcasing a unique pattern of large and small recycled glass pieces in varying shades of teal and blue set in a neutral background, ideal for custom home plans and high-end interior design.

Vetrazzo Bretagne Blue ©Vetrazzo

Estimated Cost: $5–$50 per sq ft (material dependent)

Upcycling2 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

A comfortable and stylish Sixpenny Aria Corner Sectional in a light, neutral fabric, featuring deep cushions and a modular design, perfect for luxury living room design and modern luxury interiors.

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

A minimalist gallery wall featuring nine square framed pieces of vibrant green preserved moss, creating a striking biophilic art display above a neutral-colored sofa, ideal for luxury interiors and modern home decor.

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

A diagram showing a blue, two-story custom house with a hidden geothermal HVAC system buried underground. The system's pipes are illustrated below the lawn, highlighting energy-efficient heating and cooling for a custom home design.

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

A modern office with Armstrong ULTIMA TEMPLOK ceiling tiles for advanced climate control. The high-end, minimalist design with linear lighting and glass partitions highlights a modern luxury interior ideal for custom home architects and builders.

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.

Sustainability, But Make It Hot