Did you know that there are set ethical standards for Interior Designers? As a member of the Ethics committee for ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), I am proud to say that we hold our members to high professional standards, both in design standards as well as ethics and professional conduct ASID's code of Ethics has a healthy emphasis on the designer's responsibility to the client as well as the public. As we travel down the path of Healthy Homes, Sustainable Materials, Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency, it becomes apparent to me that the role of interior designers, in fact the definition of the industry, is going through some changes. As interior designers we specify every material used in the indoor environment. You may be surprised to learn that many materials that are quite legal to use in residential interiors are actually extremely toxic to your health (Think FEMA trailers.) I believe (as ASID does), that as an interior designer I have an ethical obligation to my clients to design with their health in mind.

Interior Designers have the knowledge, experience and training to design and specify products that are safe for both your family and the environment. Next time you refer to me as your interior designer, you might as well call me your 'interior health advocate.'

ASID's written code of Ethics can be found http://www.asid.org/about/ethics/