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 ...
Aug 30, 2023•30 min•Ep. 56
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...
Aug 15, 2023•30 min•Ep. 55
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....
Jun 21, 2023•38 min•Ep. 54
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 s...
May 16, 2023•35 min•Ep. 53
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 tim...
May 03, 2023•27 min•Ep. 52
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, sustainab...
Apr 18, 2023•29 min•Ep. 51
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 ne...
Apr 11, 2023•30 min•Ep. 50
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 sto...
Mar 28, 2023•56 min•Ep. 49
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.
Mar 20, 2023•24 min•Ep. 48
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...
Oct 25, 2021•35 min•Ep. 47
Andrew is founder and managing partner of Havelock Wool . He has a passion for all things New Zealand, where the company procures its wool, that is mirrored by a desire to affect positive change in the built environment. He has lived and traveled around the world and seeks to leverage those experiences in bringing a biophilic, best practice to an industry known to contribute excessive waste to our world. What You'll Discover: How does sheep wool insulation work? Is it a healthy choice for your h...
Jun 29, 2021•53 min•Ep. 46
We have a special guest interview today, from a company I love to recommend, but first I have a quick, fun announcement. If you've tried visiting my Balanced Home Balanced Life website lately, you probably noticed that it's no longer there! I decided to combine my two websites into one, and now everything I do can be found at Balancedarchitecture.com And it's been totally revamped! You'll find all the latest podcasts episodes, resources, the different ways I can help you create your renovation o...
Jun 04, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 45
There is a lot to discover about the Living Building Challenge and how you can create a Living House. This month's podcast episode is bringing you an overview of the concepts and how you can bring the ideas into your own home design. You'll Discover: What the Living Building Challenge is and who it's for The 7 'Petals' that make up the core concepts of the LBC How to use the LBC framework without having to go all in on certification How to apply the LBC strategies to your upcoming project whethe...
May 04, 2021•28 min•Ep. 44
Have you ever started searching for a healthy product and then found yourself three hours later even more confused than when you started? I have been there. Searching for healthy and earth-friendly building materials for your home renovation or new home build is hard! It's exhausting and confusing. This episode is meant to help you narrow down your choices and guide you to the best websites to find the information you're looking for. You'll Discover: What product certifications are Which certifi...
Apr 08, 2021•42 min•Ep. 43
We spend a lot of time in our kitchens, but do you know what’s in the air when you operate your stove or cook food? It sounds a bit silly, but cooking can actually be dangerous! Cooking puts a lot of toxins into your air, so whenever you're cooking, those toxins are releasing into your air and you're breathing them in. With proper ventilation, you're curbing a lot of those toxins from getting into your air, which is why a ventilation system is so important for a healthy home! Today's podcast epi...
Feb 02, 2021•31 min•Ep. 42
Can you live in a small house? Now, we’re not talking about tiny houses, which are wonderful for the planet, but a small house relative to the number of people and how those people live their lives. Being comfortable in a small house, or any house, is all about the design. You can walk into a 3,000 square foot house and it can actually feel smaller than a 1,800 square foot house. Creating a spacious feeling in a small house is about the layout, design elements, and organization options. This wee...
Jan 19, 2021•30 min•Ep. 41
Starting a renovation or a new home build can be daunting and there are often a lot of questions at the beginning. Everyone always wants to know how much the project will cost, how long it will take, and if they should phase the construction. So what should you consider when asking these questions, and what information can you provide to your contractor to prepare them as much as possible? This week’s episode walks you through three of the most common questions contractors receive and how the va...
Jan 12, 2021•32 min•Ep. 40
We’re spending a lot more time in our homes and as work and family responsibilities merge, we’re finding ourselves more distracted and less productive. With January being the time we set goals and figure out how to make our lives better, I wanted to share some ideas that can make your new home or renovation help you become more productive and healthy. These 10 design ideas will help you work efficiently, get more done in less time, and reduce stress for a healthy, productive home. What you’ll di...
Jan 05, 2021•28 min•Ep. 39
This might be bad timing, with it being 3 days before Christmas, but I've been meaning to talk about this subject for a while, and finally had the chance. So here we go... Who's really affected by all the things we buy (and then throw away) in this country? Who's primarily dealing with asthma and other serious illnesses because of where they live? Who takes the brunt of the extreme weather events caused by climate change? It's generally not the people that are buying all the things, or jet-setti...
Dec 22, 2020•34 min•Ep. 38
How well do you know your site? If you're planning a renovation or building a new home, you need to know it REALLY well. You need to spend time on your property conducting a site analysis. A site analysis is probably one of my favorite things to do. I realize I say this for a lot of things when it comes to design, but this one I love because I get to be outside and just look around. Imagine if your home was filled with beautiful, warm sunlight all day long. Imagine if it felt like an extension o...
Dec 15, 2020•38 min•Ep. 37
Notes coming soon...
Dec 01, 2020•28 min•Ep. 36
Choosing a contractor can be a tricky task! Not all contractors are created equal. Some contractors are much more experienced in building durable, energy efficient, healthy homes than others. The best way to find a contractor that will build your healthy home correctly is to ask lots of questions! It is a good idea to interview up to three contractors before hiring the team that will build your home. You want to make sure they are going to build a quality healthy home and that they are willing t...
Nov 10, 2020•30 min•Ep. 35
“…the enjoyment of scenery employs the mind without fatigue and yet exercises it, tranquilizes it and yet enlivens it; and thus, through the influence of the mind over the body, gives the effect of refreshing rest and reinvigoration to the whole system” -American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, 1865 Olmsted describes the benefits of nature perfectly. At once, being in nature relaxes the mind and enlivens it. It's pretty amazing. I know it's not possible to always be outside surrounded...
Nov 03, 2020•33 min•Ep. 34
Ventilation is at the top of everyone's minds these days thanks to COVID. And while a lot of attention is being focused on commercial ventilation systems, there is less talk about home ventilation systems. We're in our homes more than ever before. And there's more people in the home at one time than ever before since so many of us are working from home and our kids are schooling from home. There has never been a more important time to understand and incorporate proper ventilation in homes than r...
Oct 27, 2020•44 min•Ep. 33
We did it! It's finally done. Three years later, my husband, Pieter, and I finished our DIY healthy home renovation. There were good times, bad times, you know we had our share. .. And I'll be getting into all of it in today's Healthy Home Design Podcast episode. We had A LOT of lessons learned, so I put together my top 8 most important lessons learned to share with you. What You'll Discover: Why it's so important to take your time buying a fixer-upper Financing and budgeting mistakes to avoid H...
Oct 20, 2020•32 min•Ep. 32
Who doesn't love a wood floor?! It's comfortable to walk on, it looks beautiful, it can come in so many different styles, and it can last a very long time. But what is the best type of wood floor for a healthy, sustainable, wellness-focused home? What types of finishes are safe? Do you need an underlayment? I'm digging into all things wood flooring in today's Healthy Home Design podcast episode. What You'll Discover: The 3 different types of wood flooring Pros and Cons of each type ...
Oct 13, 2020•38 min•Ep. 31
This week wraps up the Components of a Wellness House series, and we're going outdoors. A wellness house merges the indoor and outdoor environments, so it's important to consider all the outdoor spaces early in the design process. What You'll Discover: Best materials for your driveway, walkways and patios Important things to know about choosing concrete How to keep critters out of your house naturally What xeriscaping is and why it's important Ideas for outdoor play area surfaces Helpful Links: ...
Sep 23, 2020•25 min•Ep. 30
In part 3 of the Components of a Wellness House series, we're digging into systems: mechanical, lighting and water. In this episode you'll discover: Most efficient heating and cooling systems Water heating systems Mechanical ventilation strategies Net zero design Lighting for circadian rhythms Water efficiency techniques
Sep 16, 2020•21 min•Ep. 29
In Part 2 of the Components of a Wellness House series, we're digging into what it feels like to live in a wellness home. We'll explore daylighting, ventilation, and how the essential spaces of a home designed for sustainability, health and well-being should feel and function. We'll look into wellness kitchen design, entryways, spa like bathrooms, fitness spaces and more.
Sep 08, 2020•25 min•Ep. 28
What goes into make a home that's healthy for you and healthy for the planet? Find out the components of a wellness house in this 4 part podcast series. This week, we're starting at the beginning, and talking about site selection, building orientation, construction types, and healthy and sustainable material choices. Image of North and South facing bedrooms
Sep 01, 2020•31 min
