INSIDER’S VIEW
Alicia Ruach
Centring her clients’ well-being and the health of the planet elevates this designer’s work. TEXT KARL LOHNES | PHOTOGRAPHY ALICIA RUACH DESIGN + CO.
Alicia Ruach is an interior designer whose work goes beyond aesthetics – she wants the rooms she creates to bring her clients peace, calm and positive emotions. As owner of the Torontobased Alicia Ruach Design + Co., her goal is to help clients create unique spaces that reflect their personal style and improve their physical and mental well-being, as well as make design choices that are healthy for humans and the planet. With such a unique focus, we wanted to learn more about how she designs beautiful, personal homes that feed the soul.
KL: What is holistic design and what makes your practice unique?
AR: Holistic interior design is about creating authentic spaces that connect to the identity
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of the end user to support their physical, spiritual and mental well-being. It involves understanding their aspirations, lifestyle, and emotional and health needs. Holistic design creates a sensory stimulating, visually inspiring and healthy environment that’s also aesthetically pleasing.
reducing waste. Second, add greenery to enhance your decor and instantly liven up your space with colour and texture. The right houseplant will not only look good, but it can improve air quality by absorbing harmful gases and dust. Finally, try to rearrange items or move objects to different rooms of your home for a fresh look.
KL: What are three simple ways we can create a holistic healthy home?
KL: It’s easy to think of a modern home as
AR: A lot of the time, it’s a matter of seeing
the perfect candidate for your decorating practice. How would you handle a traditional maximalist…a.k.a. cluttered…home?
things in a new light, which can instantly freshen up your space. First, repurpose and upcycle old furnishings that can be painted, reupholstered or changed in some way. Not only will you have a unique piece, you can also feel good about giving it a second life and
AR: We should think of our home as a place that reflects our identity, family and way of living, and a place where we feel happiest and most like our true selves. It’s only natural for
