Safe & Sound
“THE BEST STARTING POINT FOR HEALTHY CHOICES IS KNOWLEDGE.”
—ANNIE FALK
a few blocks south of Worth Avenue, tucked in a tropical oasis fronting the Intracoastal, sits the Mediterranean-style gem Annie and Michael Falk call home. With its traditional detailing, silk-covered furniture, and subdued elegance, it’s a study in softness and light. But what’s most impressive about the property is what it lacks.
The Falks renovated their home and the grounds to be completely free of chemicals, from the simple banning of pesticides, commercial household cleaners, and certain scented candles, to the more complex installation of a natural alternative to fiberglass insulation and a state-of-the-art water filtration system.
Despite its unwieldy name, environmental exposomics (the scientific study of the cumulative effects of chemicals and contaminants on humans) is becoming a critical field of study in a world that increasingly demands cheap mass production. The Falks have committed to reducing their own exposure to environmental toxins and to spreading public awareness by donating $1 million to Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment for a new facility bearing their name. According to Heather
