Based in Sacramento, California, Studio Connolly is an award-winning residential interior design firm that puts sustainability and human health at the centre of every project. Founded in 2020 by Leah Connolly, a Certified Interior Designer and LEED Green Associate, the firm specialises in whole-house remodels and home furnishings that look beautiful without compromising on environmental responsibility.
A Different Kind of Design Firm
Leah Connolly spent several years working for other interior design firms in the Sacramento area before launching her own practice. During that time, she saw firsthand how little attention the design and construction industry paid to sustainability. Materials were chosen for aesthetics or cost, with limited consideration for their environmental impact or the health of the people living with them.
That experience motivated her to do things differently. Studio Connolly was founded as a deliberate step in a new direction: a firm where sustainability is embedded in every decision, not treated as an optional add-on. “Most interior designers can make pretty spaces,” Connolly has noted, but few take the time to consider what those spaces are doing to the air their clients breathe, the energy their homes consume, or the waste that ends up in landfill after a remodel.
Full-Service Design With a Sustainable Edge
Leah Connolly, Owner & Principal Designer, Studio Connolly. Photo: Connolly Portrait Co.
Studio Connolly offers a range of services spanning interior design consultations, full-service room design, furniture selection and placement, colour consultations, and even houseplant styling. The firm works with homeowners through every stage of a project, coordinating with contractors and suppliers behind the scenes to keep the process as smooth as possible.
What distinguishes the studio is the sustainability lens applied to each of these services. Connolly specifies sustainably sourced wood, natural fibre rugs, LED lighting, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, and insulating window treatments as standard. Flooring selections prioritise Greenguard Gold certification, and paints are consistently low or zero-VOC to minimise volatile organic compounds in the home. Energy-efficient and water-efficient fixtures are specified on every remodel.
The firm also considers the less obvious aspects of sustainable design. Connolly has built a curated list of high-quality, sustainability-focused furniture and rug vendors, ensuring that the products entering her clients’ homes meet a consistent standard. Where possible, she partners with local donation organisations to divert reusable materials from landfill, requiring contractors to demolish spaces carefully so that cabinets, appliances, and plumbing fixtures can be donated and repurposed rather than discarded.
Health, Functionality, and the 90 Percent
The EPA estimates that most Americans spend around 90 percent of their time indoors, a statistic that informs much of Studio Connolly’s approach. Beyond selecting non-toxic materials, Connolly pays close attention to the flow and functionality of a space, considering how layout, natural light, and colour theory contribute to better productivity and mental health.
Live houseplants feature in nearly every project. They act as natural air filters while also improving mood and softening the visual palette of a room. It is a detail that reflects the firm’s philosophy: sustainability and wellness are not separate concerns but two sides of the same design decision.
Connolly is also transparent about the limits of what she can control. Not every client arrives ready to go fully green, and she respects that. Her approach is to educate, always letting clients know when a healthier or more efficient option is available, even if they choose differently. Over time, she finds that this openness builds trust and shifts habits more effectively than rigid mandates.
Business-Minded, Detail-Driven
One aspect of Studio Connolly that sets it apart from many boutique design firms is its operational rigour. Connolly describes herself as business-minded and process-driven, maintaining detailed checklists, weekly client check-ins, and structured project management systems. The result is fewer errors, fewer re-dos, and less waste, which, as she points out, is itself a sustainability factor.
The firm’s Letter of Agreement is reviewed word-for-word with every client before a project begins, setting clear expectations on process, pricing, and timelines. It is the kind of transparency that builds long-term relationships and repeat business, and it reflects a founder who understands that running a sustainable business means running a well-organised one.
Looking Ahead
Studio Connolly continues to push the boundaries of what sustainable residential design can look like. Connolly is actively seeking better alternatives to commonly used building materials, particularly in areas like waterproof flooring and stain-resistant fabrics, where truly sustainable options remain limited. She is also working with her existing vendors to improve their own sustainability practices and expand their product offerings.
Beyond her own projects, Connolly sees education as a key part of her role, encouraging fellow designers and clients alike to raise their standards and demand better from the industry. With a LEED Green Associate credential backing her technical knowledge and a growing portfolio of thoughtfully designed Sacramento homes, Studio Connolly is proving that high-end interior design and environmental responsibility are not just compatible, but inseparable.
To learn more about Studio Connolly, visit studioconnolly.com or follow them on LinkedIn and Instagram.
This is a contributed article.
