Kindred Made Home

We go beyond just offering products. Our blog guides you to sustainable choices for timeless, fun, eco-living! Join us in crafting your green dream home!

Our Purpose

Hello, kindred spirits! I’m GiGi, and after a decade in the design field, I’ve embarked on an exciting new journey. It’s all about blending my passion for design with a commitment to sustainability, dedicated to followers like you! For years, my professional life was entrenched in crafting products for the market, each creation adding to the immense pile of environmental challenges we face today with plastic waste and disregard for all product end-of-life. And that was when…

I realized I wanted more out of my college degree.

Once that seed of change was planted, and after years of searching for a one-stop-shop for sustainable products and guidance to combat every-day greenwashing, I decided to take matters into my own hands and started educating for good.

My Climate Designers Profile

Starting Somewhere

Back in 2020, I started Kindred Made Home with just a simple idea: to share the crafts I was making while stuck at home during quarantine.

As time went on, I noticed people really resonating with my work, and suddenly, what started as a hobby became a big part of my life. With years of experience in design, I’ve always believed in putting the environment first, both as a consumer and a designer. That’s why I’m all about creating and promoting sustainable products that align with my values.

Making the Leap from Etsy to My Own Website

Embarking on a fascinating journey, I find myself navigating what might seem like a contradiction. Armed with a degree in Product Design geared towards mass production and a minor in Design for Sustainability, merging these two realms has proven to be a challenge. Yet, I persist!

Ever since I embarked on my design career, I’ve been fully dedicated to seizing every opportunity to learn, grow, and push the boundaries of conscious design. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to be done since sustainable and ethical products rarely exist on the mainstream market.

This realization prompted me to make a significant transition from my Etsy store to launching a blog dedicated to sharing my knowledge of the small, yet good, side of the product industry. With this leap, I’m embracing full-time blogging, delving into topics that resonate with my vision—a vision focused on uniting a community of followers and empowering them to make informed choices amidst the vast array of sustainable and eco-friendly products available.

Starting My Business: Facing Common Challenges

Am I passionate enough to keep this dream alive?
Will people actually want to buy my products?
How do I get my voice heard when everyone is starting their own business?
What resources do I hold close during my store development?
Do I have a market for my products?

Everyone has a different journey and that depends on discovering your market, defining your purpose, and unraveling much more—perhaps you’ve already sensed that while exploring this page. In every twist and turn of my career, my passion has been a constant source of solace. Amidst the peaks and valleys, I hold firm to the belief that there are fellow kindred spirits like you, seeking better products for their lives.

Whether you’re already knee-deep in the world of zero waste, eco-conscious living, or just dipping your toes in, eager to learn, this space is for you. Let’s cultivate a community that celebrates creativity, mindful living, and the shared aspiration for a sustainable future.

If you’re wondering…

Yes, every product produces waste. But it doesn’t have to end up in a landfill; it can transform depending on company values or even personal values when you’ve already made that purchase! I’m perpetually discovering ways to repurpose my scraps, drawing inspiration from my Pinterest and Instagram community to creatively upcycle crafting remnants that have no success in a market journey. This commitment is my gift to my followers and future customers. I stand firm in my belief that larger corporations could learn valuable lessons from this approach—an unwavering commitment to circling back, starting anew, and perpetually seeking improvement with pre-existing resources at hand. I’ve coined the term “slow-design” on my Climate Designers profile to describe this practice and strive to live it through my crafting and professional-life every day.

Larger corporations, with ample resources, can adopt a ‘slow-design’ approach. Fortunately for them, it’s not about building from the ground up; it’s about restructuring. Let that sink in.

Principles I Blog & Design by..

As a starry-eyed college student, I leaned on Dieter Rams’ 10 Principles of Good Design to infuse my creative process with a thoughtful approach to every detail. Today, these principles remain close to my heart, shaping my work through the lenses of functionality and purpose. Whether tackling projects for my full-time job or nurturing my small home-grown blog (and soon to be re-vamped business), I turn to these principles as guiding questions, ensuring my details are anchored in purpose.

10 Principles of Good Design

” 1. Good design is innovative
2. Good design makes a product useful
3. Good design is aesthetic
4. Good design makes a product understandable
5. Good design is unobtrusive
6. Good design is honest
7. Good design is long-lasting
8. Good design is thorough down to the last detail
9. Good design is environmentally friendly
10. Good design is as little design as possible “

Dieter Rams, Industrial Designer

Welcome to your Kindred Community!

You’ve embarked on the humble beginnings of Kindred Made Home, where your trust in my mission to pursue what’s right and good is deeply appreciated. This platform is a sanctuary for community and discovery, offering refuge from the fast consumerism that pervades our world. Your trust in this journey means the world to me. If you resonate with my vision and crave more content like this, join our community! Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and explore our blog posts below! I’m thrilled you’re here!

Latest Posts

Inspiring Resources

If you’re embarking on your sustainable journey, don’t worry! We’re here to support you every step of the way. Take a look at some of our favorite videos to kickstart your journey without the hassle of searching for where to begin. Don’t hesitate to comment below if you align with our mission and share our page to inspire others to join the movement! Remember, positive change is most impactful when embraced collectively.