Today we’re talking about who to have on your project team as you design and build your new home, renovation or addition. When you’re ready to build a custom new home or renovate your existing home, you have options on who you want to help you complete the project.   If you’ve never gone through the renovation or new build process before, you might be feeling a bit clueless on who will be involved.  Do you need an architect, engineers, surveyors?  I’m sure all these questions are swirling around in your head as you begin to plan out the steps to how your house is going to g ..read more

The living building challenge is a program created by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI).  It is about creating buildings that improve the planet and people by being built.  It's very aspirational and pretty hard to achieve.  That’s why ILFA created a second certification program called the Core Green Building Certification that makes achieving a super healthy and sustainable home within reach.   I love the concept of building certifications because it provides goals and metrics to keep everyone accountable for creating better buildings.  And I’ve fo ..read more

What makes building a house so expensive?   Rising construction costs have put a lot of projects on hold or have sent the design team back to the drawing board.   How can you renovate or build a new home in these expensive times without compromising your sustainable and wellness-focused design values? In this eposide, I talk about the main factors in controlling building costs so that you don't get to the end of your design journey only to find out that you can't afford to build it.   ..read more

Link to Blog Post that has ALL the links I mention in the eposide!! Are you ready to start designing your dream home, but have no idea how to get all the thoughts and ideas you have floating in your head down on paper?   If you’ve been thinking about your house design for a while, and have been saving Pinterest images and making inspiration boards, you have any idea of what you want, but you may be feeling lost on how you turn those ideas into a floor plan. If so, I’m going to walk you through 5 steps to get all the ideas out of your head and into a floor plan. It is soooo important ..read more

In Part 2 of the How to design a durable house episode, we’re covering all things interior.  There are some great ways to make sure the inside of your home is easy to maintain, will keep you safe and healthy, and will last a long time.  We’ll get into materials, ventilation, lighting, and even storage! What you’ll discover: Why ventilation is key for a durable home and what kind you need Low-maintenance and durable flooring options Ways to make sure your floors and flooring systems last a long time How to make your home easy to clean   ..read more

Creating a durable home is a big part of creating a sustainable and healthy home.  A durable home means that the house will last a long time and be relatively low-maintenance.  This will help save you money in the long run, so it’s well worth it.  It also helps maintain a healthy indoor environment and makes you more comfortable.   In this episode we’ll break down some of the big picture design strategies that you can incorporate into your renovation or new home design to make it a durable, sustainable, long-lasting, healthy, low-maintenance home.   ..read more

Looking to create a kitchen that brings the beauty and tranquility of nature into your home? Tune into this week’s episode all about biophilic kitchen design! We’ll explore the benefits of incorporating natural elements into your kitchen, and learn how to design a space that's not only functional, but also calming and rejuvenating. This is  an insightful conversation about the intersection of nature and design in the heart of your home.   What you’ll discover: What biophilic design is and why we need it How to avoid fleeting trends and design something that you’ll love forever Wellne ..read more

Hempcrete is an amazing alternative building technique that fits into the category of natural building methods.   In this episode, I interview Mattie Mead, the founder and CEO of Hempitecture, a public benefit corporation that supplies hempcrete building materials and makes hempwool insulation. “Hempitecture was founded with the idea that healthy, sustainable materials can help build a better world. These materials can help build a better world by contributing to our health, saving energy, and storing carbon dioxide. They’re achieving their mission by focusing on biobased, natural bu ..read more

And we're back! This week we're exploring 10 sustainable design strategies that you can incorporate into your home renovation / addition or new build project ..read more

And we're back! Today's podcast episode is an interview I had with Greg Yeutter from Restful, the company that created the Bedtime Bulb. We're diving into all things sleep, lighting, and circadian rhythms.   What you'll discover:   Why is sleep so important, and how can your living space influence your sleep? What are circadian rhythms? What is blue light? Do blue light blocking glasses really work? What kind of light do we need for better sleep and how do we get it?   Episode Link ..read more