Green Building Methods and Materials: Integrated Approach
The contractor stared at me like I'd suggested we build the foundation out of marshmallows. "You want to use what for the wall insulation?" He was holding my material specification…
Best Eco Friendly Furniture Brands Worth Your Investment
I was sitting in my friend Sarah's living room last month, admiring her new dining table, when she mentioned it was made from reclaimed teak. Beautiful piece, don't get me…
How I Learned That Interior Design Choices Were Sabotaging My Energy-Efficient Buildings
Back in my early days of getting serious about sustainable design – this was maybe 2018 or so – I had this wake-up call that honestly embarrassed me as someone…
Why I’m Done Fighting Architects About Local Stone (Spoiler: The Numbers Don’t Lie)
So there I was last Tuesday, standing in this quarry outside Spokane, trying not to slip on wet basalt while Jim – the foreman who’s probably been doing this longer…
When Buildings Actually Fight Back Against Climate (Instead of Just Sitting There Taking It)
Three months ago I found myself in a materials lab in Tucson, watching concrete change colours like some kind of mood ring for buildings. I’d driven down there expecting another…
Eco Friendly Furniture Paint: Non-Toxic Refinishing Guide
You know what drives me absolutely crazy? Walking through a furniture store and getting hit with that chemical smell so strong it makes your eyes water. Yet somehow we've normalized…
Biophilic London: How the City Embraces Nature-Inspired Design
Walking through Borough Market last Tuesday, I couldn't help but notice how the new glass canopy wasn't just protecting vendors from London's perpetual drizzle – it was doing something far…
Restorative environment design: How Nature Restores Wellbeing
# Why Some Spaces Make You Feel Like Crap (And What I Learned From Fixing Mine) Yesterday morning, I was messing around with my little tabletop fountain again – you…
Biophilic environment: Creating Healthy Natural Spaces
The other day I was reorganizing my testing lab – okay, fine, my apartment – when I knocked over this massive jade plant that's been thriving in my east window…
Eco Friendly Sustainable Furniture Built to Last
You know what really gets me fired up? Walking into someone's home and seeing that gorgeous dining table they bought three years ago already showing wear, or worse yet, hearing…