What sustainable design means in everyday life
A conversation with Rita Farrell, Associate Director at DO+CO
Sustainability has become one of the biggest conversations in home design, but for many homeowners it still feels confusing. Between changing technologies, conflicting advice, and rising costs, it can be difficult to know what sustainable design actually means in practice.
For Rita the answer starts with something much simpler.
“Good design is the most sustainable thing you can do.”
Sustainable homes should work for real life
“For us, sustainability starts with how a home supports everyday life,” Rita explains. “We’re not designing for one moment in someone’s life. We’re designing for how that home might support them over the next 10, 20, or 30 years.”
That means focusing on flexibility, natural light, ventilation, and connection to outdoor space before thinking about technology.
“Bringing in daylight, improving natural ventilation, and creating a stronger relationship with the garden has a huge impact on wellbeing. Those decisions also reduce energy use naturally.”
At DO+CO, we approach sustainability through a fabric-first design strategy: improving insulation, carefully selecting materials, and designing homes that perform well over time.
Do sustainable renovations cost more?
Rita is honest that some sustainable upgrades can increase upfront costs, but believes the long-term value is often overlooked.
“Your home shouldn’t just be something to sell later,” she says. “It should support your wellbeing, your family, and your future.”
Rather than treating sustainability as an all-or-nothing exercise, we focus on what is appropriate for each property.
“Not every house needs to be stripped back completely. We look carefully at where changes will make the biggest difference to comfort, energy use, and longevity.”
Why sustainable design decisions need to happen early
“One of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking about sustainability too late,” Rita says.
On each project, we work with specialist consultants to assess insulation, heat loss, ventilation, and renewable technologies such as air source heat pumps.
“A lot of the fear around heat pumps comes from poor specification or poor installation,” Rita explains. “If they’re properly sized and designed for the building, they work incredibly well.”
Older homes also need careful consideration.
“Victorian houses need to breathe. Sustainable renovation isn’t just about adding insulation everywhere. It’s about understanding how the building works as a whole.”
Creating homes that feel warm, calm, and sustainable
For Rita, sustainability should never feel clinical.
“A lot of sustainable materials are naturally warm and beautiful,” she says. “Timber, brick, and natural finishes bring texture and calm into a home.”
Daylight and connection to nature remain central to that feeling.
“If you have a strong connection to your garden and good natural light, a home immediately feels more welcoming.”
Ultimately, Rita believes the best sustainable homes are simply the ones that feel good to live in.
“In many ways, we don’t think of sustainability as a separate layer,” she says. “It’s just part of making good decisions.”
Get in touch with Rita if you would like to find out what sustainable design could mean for you and your home.