#374 Blima Ehrentreu on Designing with Purpose: Creating Sustainable and Transformative Spaces

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Award-winning designer Blima Ehrentreu shares how thoughtful interior design creates spaces that enhance lives while minimizing environmental impact, revolutionizing healthcare experiences and community-focused projects through human-centered approaches.

Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion

As the Founder and CEO of The Designers Group, Blima Ehrentreu combines her creativity and talent to reform the design industry. Her passion for empowering women, giving back to the community, and championing women in the workforce earned her a spot on Globest’s Women of Influence in 2020 & 2022.

The Designers Group’s diverse project portfolio spans the residential and commercial sectors, and Inc. Magazine ranked The Designers Group no.15 among the top fastest-growing private companies in the New York Metro Area in 2021.

Blima’s journey began in Toronto, where she pursued a master’s in interior architecture and design while simultaneously working at an architectural firm to understand the technical aspects of building construction. Inspired by watching her family’s home transformation as a child, she developed a passion for the construction industry.

Starting with another female designer on a few projects, she grew The Designers Group into a multi-office operation with locations in New York, Miami, and Canada. Today, the firm specializes in high-end interior spaces for commercial, residential, and healthcare portfolios throughout the US and Canada.

Breaking Ground on Better Building

In this episode, Blima revolutionizes traditional construction approaches:

Key Insight #1: Holistic Approach to Sustainability

The Challenge: Traditional sustainability approaches focus narrowly on materials while overlooking broader impacts on human experience.
The Solution: Integrating sustainability principles that address both environmental impact AND human well-being through thoughtful design choices.
ROI: Spaces that enhance lives, minimize environmental footprint, and create meaningful, transformative experiences for users and communities.

Key Insight #2: TDG Smart Building Concept

The Challenge: Technology integration in building design often lacks coordination and fails to promote long-term sustainability.
The Solution: The TDG Smart Building Concept that integrates technology to enhance well-being, improve energy efficiency, and promote sustainability long after project completion.
ROI: Spaces that continue to deliver sustainability benefits throughout their lifecycle while providing enhanced user experiences through technological innovation.

Key Insight #3: Hospitality-Inspired Healthcare Design

The Challenge: Traditional healthcare and senior living facilities feel institutional and clinical, negatively impacting patient/resident experiences.
The Solution: Applying hospitality design principles to healthcare settings, creating environments that feel more like hotels or resorts than institutional facilities.
ROI: Transformative patient and resident experiences that promote healing and well-being, improving outcomes while maintaining functionality.

Sustainable Soundbite

Your Green Building Action Plan

Transform your next project with these steps:
This Week: Evaluate how your design approach can enhance lives beyond just material selection; consider the holistic impact of your choices.
This Quarter: Explore 3D visualization and AI tools that can help communicate sustainable design concepts more effectively to clients.
This Year: Develop a strategy for technology integration that promotes ongoing sustainability and well-being long after project completion.

Connect & Learn More

Connect with Blima Ehrentreu: LinkedIn Profile
Read the transcript: Full Episode Transcript
Explore The Designers Group: Link