As parents of kids with chronic asthma and allergies, Annalise Stack and Ania Dunlop understand the link between health issues and environmental toxins. Their successful efforts to improve their children’s health by making their own homes as green as possible—replacing building materials, cleaning supplies and personal care items—evolved into the Home for Zen, a new eco-healthy interior design company with a focus on the health of children.

“We help clients create beautiful, non-toxic homes that are an extension of their healthy lifestyle,” Stack says.

People often don’t realize the air inside their homes can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside, and that many common household and children’s products contain toxins, Dunlop says. Children are particularly vulnerable to toxic exposure because their bodies are small, their immune systems are not well developed and their brains are changing rapidly. “The younger the child, the greater the risk exposure—with pregnancy being a critical time,” she says.

She and Stack help clients create “wellness sanctuaries” by eliminating toxins in food, cleaning products, furniture, décor and even toys. Home for Zen specializes in addressing the needs of families and children with chronic conditions, allergies or other unique environmental sensitivities, in both home and childcare settings.

“If your child has been recently diagnosed with a chronic condition, creating a toxin-free bedroom or playroom might be an important step toward recovery,” Stack says.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 917-533-8600, email [email protected] or visit HomeforZen.com.