LOS ANGELES, CA— The grass may not always be greener on the other side, but the kitchen and bath are two areas that certainly can be.

These are the sentiments of Alison Shoemaker, principal interior designer and owner of Alison Designs, based here, who set out to educate and inspire her clients with one simple message: Design is where your style meets Mother Nature.

Shoemaker, a native northern Californian, notes that early exposure to nature – and the kitchen and bath design process through her mother’s interior design business – paved the way for her firm’s business philosophy.

“We are a full-service design studio specializing in both residential and commercial interior design. The studio covers a vast array of projects from new construction to remodels and has a strong focus on ‘green’ interior design,” explains Shoemaker.

Specifically, the firm offers custom furniture and cabinet design, kitchen, bath, media room, master suites and children’s room design services as well as contractor referrals.

“We’ve worked on high-end residential homes and urban condos as well as commercial projects throughout the Los Angeles area,” she adds.

Shoemaker, who is LEED accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council, focuses on bringing the green architectural movement indoors by designing interiors with furniture and fixtures that maintain these same eco-sensibilities.

“Besides the humanitarian upside, and the feeling you get from participating in the green movement and helping the environment, I think there is also an advantage for any kitchen and bath designer to be at the forefront of learning about products that are as good as – if not better and more long-lasting than – non-green products,” she says.

A Touch of Green

To completely capture the green needs of her clients, Shoemaker initially consults with clients on ways they can incorporate green elements into their home, whether they want a few green touches or an entirely eco-friendly home.

“We strive to create a look for clients we refer to as “Green and Gorgeous.” To that end, we convince people that green design does not mean you have to sacrifice on style,” she explains.

To buttress this approach, the firm offers a wide variety of green products including recycled glass tile and countertops, cabinetry made of FSC-certified wood, bamboo flooring and cabinetry, quartz countertops, cork flooring, low-flow bath fixtures and Energy Star-rated appliances.