Your Home, Your Heart: Transforming House-Building with Personal Passion

5 Key Takeaways: Composting reduces waste sent to landfills, lowering methane emissions from decomposition. Compost acts as a natural weed suppressant and erosion control measure in gardens and landscapes. Adding compost improves soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient content for healthier plants. Compost can help revitalize degraded soils in sensitive areas like wetlands. The time invested in starting and maintaining a compost system pays off in numerous environmental benefits. Have you ever wondered what happens to those banana peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds you toss in the trash? They end up in landfills, where they decompose and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. But what if there was a simple way to keep that organic waste out of landfills, and use it instead to supercharge your garden? Enter composting – the age-old practice of transforming kitchen and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil amendment. Composting not only diverts waste from landfills, but also o

Introduction In our fast-paced, digital world, the intrinsic human connection to nature is often overshadowed by the concrete jungles we inhabit. Yet, beneath the surface of our daily lives, lies an innate affinity for the natural world—a concept that has not only shaped our past but holds the key to our future. This concept, known as "biophilia," introduced by E.O. Wilson , suggests that humans possess an inherent tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. It's an idea that resonates deeply, especially as we navigate through the complexities of modern living. Why does this matter for architecture, particularly custom home design? The answer lies in the profound impact our environment has on our well-being, creativity, and overall happiness. Biophilic design transcends traditional aesthetics, offering a blueprint for homes that not only exist in harmony with their natural surroundings but also nurture the souls of those who dwell within them. As we

Energy efficiency is something we simply cannot ignore. With technological advances in recent years it is becoming easier than ever to conciously design using energy efficient principles. One requirement of a house is that it should be comfortable to live in.  It goes without saying that if it is not habitable, a house cannot be comfortable. To make a house comfortable, certain aspects of civilization are required. We need to have the benefits of technology within the house for us to live in it. Let’s face it: few of us can live without the benefits of technology. Only by having the conveniences of our times available do we stand a chance at having comfortable lives. However, comfort does have a price. To have these technological conveniences we need to consume energy. Energy costs money and, as people will tell you, money is not easy to come by. People try to find ways to save money when possible (at least, the smart ones do). Evidence of this is the way a sale can make a product im

Choosing to build a house is something many of us find overwhelming.  We ask ourselves: ❓where do we start? ❓what do we want? ❓how much is it going to cost?  ❓are we brave enough to think big?  In today's world it can be intimidating to sit down and begin the process of designing your dream home. When I begin anything new I always remember the ancient Chinese saying, “A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step” The first step is to look at how you are feeling about the adventure you are about to embark on. People will feel a multitude of emotions, apprehension and perhaps a little fearful of the journey ahead are very often very present when we choose to begin the process of creating our dream home.  At the same time, there is excitement about starting something you have spent days, months, even years dreaming about.  You are looking at a pristine blank canvas of your dream home.  The first thing to do is clear all preconceived ideas of what a home is and how it is cre