Healthy Home Design

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 get designed and built. So let's break down all the potential professionals that may need to get involved in your project, and when they typically need to get involved. Helpful Links: Balanced Architecture (my website) Designed For Wellness Course Waitlist What is a Healthy Home Consultant  

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 found that the Core Green Building Certification is one of the best programs that encompasses all aspects of health, well-being and planetary health in a realistic, achievable way.   So if the idea of having goals and metrics to ensure you really are creating a home that supports your health and well-being, along with the planet, then this certification program is a great one to consider. I'm going to discuss the 10 imperatives that combine to create the Core Green Building Certification requirements, and why I love this certification so much that I  plan to follow this framework when I build my home.

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.  

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 to spend a lot of time working on the plans for your home renovation or a new build.   Even if you plan to hire an architect, I recommend spending time up front on your own working through your ideas and trying out some floor plan layout options.  This will allow you to have more meaningful and detailed conversations with your architect.   What you'll discover: 5 key steps to get your home design right The most important thing to figure out for your new home or renovation How to create a program of spaces What a bubble diagram is and why this needs to be done before creating a floor plan The best tools for sketching floor plans   Link to Blog Post that has ALL the links I mention in the eposide!!

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  

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.  

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 Wellness kitchens and biophilic design Simple ways to connect to nature with kitchen design   Links: View post with images. More on Wellness Kitchens Intro to Biophilic Design

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 building materials that are designed to replace conventional, toxic materials.” I am super intrigued by hempcrete construction, and I'd love to build out of hempcrete someday. I have a feeling by the end of this episode, you'll love the material too! Mattie provides an in-depth understanding of what hempcrete is, how it works, and why it's so good for you and the planet!   Here's what we cover: How hempcrete is made What the sustainability and health benefits are of hempcrete What the difference is between cast-in-place hempcrete and hempcrete blocks How the cost of hempcrete construction compares to a more standard high-performance wall assembly The benefits of hempwool insulation and where to install it   Links: Hempitecture.com buy.hempitecture.com  

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.

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

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 home? Is it good for the environment? How much does it cost? Is it easy to install? Plus a lot more! Helpful Links: Episode Link Havelock Wool

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 or new build, and just lots of great info about making a healthy and sustainable home. So make sure you check that out!   Ok, now on to my special guest. I recently had the opportunity to interview jay Watts who is VP at AFM Safecoat. you might have heard me mention this company before. They specialize in making healthy paints, stains, coatings, sealants, and pretty much all other liquid coatings you'd use in a building project Jay has been with AFM for 25 years, and through his time there he's be counselling consumers, especially those with chemical sensitivities and allergies, on strategies to building or remodeling safer homes and offices. We dive into all things indoor air quality in this episode. It was a really fun discussion. I hope you enjoy it! www.balancedarchitecture.com/045  

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 whether it's a renovation or a new build   Helpful Links: The Living Building Challenge International Living Future Institute Loom House Project Spotlight

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 certifications you should look out for The best websites to search for healthy materials My process for researching healthy and earth-friendly materials   Healthy Materials Guide: This Easy-To-Use Guide Will Help You: Save time and avoid frustration - you can stop the endless internet research for healthy and sustainable materials Feel good about the materials you're selecting for your home Share your material ideas with your architect and builder so they have a head start on understanding what you want to use in your home balancedhomebalancedlife.com/healthymaterials Helpful Links: Declare: https://declare.living-future.org/ Healthy Materials Lab: https://healthymaterialslab.org/material-collections/ Mindful Materials: http://www.mindfulmaterials.com/ Declare Label Image: https://www.balancedhomebalancedlife.com/043    

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 episode dives into the kinds of toxins found in your kitchen air and the best ventilation options to help minimize and remove them. What You’ll Discover: How a mechanical engineer can help keep the air in your home healthy Why it’s important to ventilate your kitchen What you can do to mitigate the dangers and toxins in your kitchen air What particulate matter (PM) is and how it’s released into the air through cooking Why an induction stove is healthier than a gas stove The best practices for using range hoods What makeup air is and why it’s needed with a range hood Links:Rocky Mountain Institute's study on gas stoves

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 week’s Healthy Home Design podcast episode digs into ways to design a small house without sacrificing your comfort or flexibility. What You’ll Discover: The benefits of living in a small house What to consider when designing your small house Tips and design ideas for making your house flexible, multi-use, and organized How to make your house feel comfortable and spacious Why a smaller home doesn’t necessarily affect the resale value Links: Episode 37 // What is a site analysis and why do you need one before designing your renovation / new home build?

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 variables of your site, design, or materials might affect the answer. What you’ll discover: The three most common construction questions How different variables can affect the answer to your questions Why a square foot cost analysis might not be helpful in determining the overall cost What to provide to a contractor for them to answer your questions

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 discover: What designs you need to consider for a productive home How to increase natural light and decrease noise Why colors and the right furniture matter How the layout of your home and rooms can increase productivity and wellness   Helpful links:Baux Acoustic Wood Wool PanelsEpisode 34: Biophilic Design and How To Design Nature Into Your Home To Reap Wellness Benefits Episode 16: Choosing Paint Colors For a Calm and Stress-Free Home with Mehnaz Kahn Wellness kitchen:An Architect’s Tips For Getting Your Wellness Kitchen Layout Right 8 Tips for a Healthy Kitchen Makeover Episode 9: Healthy and Sustainable Countertops for Your Healthy HomeEpisode 14: 5 Reasons To Create A Kitchen Designed For Wellness Pure Living Space - Promo code BALANCED  for 10% off    

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-setting around the world, or building mansions. It's the country's low income and African American, Latino, and Native American populations. This is what's known as environmental injustice, aka environmental racism. This week's Healthy Home Design podcast digs into environmental justice and what we can do when building a new home or renovating to start fixing the environmental health disparity. What You'll Discover: What environmental injustice is What you can do in your day-to-day life to help end the consumerism cycle How to use less when building a new home How to choose healthy materials for your home   Have a safe and happy holiday season, and I'll see you in the New Year! Take care, Kate P.S. It's my New Year's resolution to do better at my own consumerism habits. What's yours?   Helpful Links: Cancer Alley Louisiana:  https://www.propublica.org/article/welcome-to-cancer-alley-where-toxic-air-is-about-to-get-worse Recycle Building Materials:HFH ReStore: https://www.habitat.org/restores EPA guide to recycling building materials: https://www.epa.gov/smm/best-practices-reducing-reusing-and-recycling-construction-and-demolition-materials

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 of the outdoors. Imagine if in the winter time, ice didn't constantly build up along your walkway, and in the spring the threat of water coming into your basement wasn't a concern. Imagine if the neighbor's blaring music wasn't waking you up in the morning, or the street light outside wasn't shining directly into your bedroom window.   To make sure these dreamy things become a reality for your home, you need to conduct a site analysis. It's the first step to make sure your home is going to be comfortable, healthy and safe.   The sad thing is, it's rare for a new home being built to go through a site analysis before it's designed and plopped onto the site. This is why most homes have annoying issues like bad daylighting, neighboring noises, ground water concerns, views being blocked, over heating etc. etc. etc.   So what exactly is a site analysis and how do you conduct one? make sure to listen to this week's episode of The Healthy Home Design Podcast to find out.   What You'll Discover What is a site analysis? When do you conduct a site analysis? Why is a site analysis so important? What do you need to do before you begin? What should you be observing? What should you be recording?   Helpful Links: Climate Data Website: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/

Notes coming soon...

 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 to learn some new tricks along the way.  Here are 10 great questions to ask your potential contractors to make sure they are comfortable building your healthy home.

“…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 by nature, especially when living in a city. But the benefits of being in nature are so powerful that the lack of living close to nature cannot be an excuse for avoiding it.  Humans need that natural connection.  It's how we thrive. Biophilic design is design that reconnects us with nature.  Biologist Edward Wilson popularized the term Biophilia in the 1980s, saying that humans have an innate desire to connect with nature. Biophilic design is at the core of a wellness house.  Today's podcast episode dives into how to design your home and spaces within your home to bring nature to you and to reap the benefits that nature provides. What You'll Discover: What biophilic design is The health and wellness benefits of nature Simple ideas to incorporate biophilic design into your home now Holistic design strategies to get the most out of biophilic design for your new home / reno project Design tips for making your home office a productive, happy and creative space Helpful Links: Check out examples of biophilic design here. Learn more about the psychology of color with expert Mehnaz Khan.

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 right now.  With proper mechanical ventilation in your home, you're protecting your family now and for all future viruses. Today's Healthy Home Design Podcast episode is going to cover all the basics on home ventilation systems. What You'll Discover: Why the air in your home is less healthy than the air outside Why having an air-tight house is so important for air quality What Air Changes per Hour (ACH) actually means All the benefits of having fresh, healthy indoor air The best type of ventilation system for your home The cost of good (and bad) ventilation  

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 How to be realistic about time frame Why being clear on your goals and intentions will prepare you for challenges How to keep yourself sane and healthy when living through a renovation project Helpful Links: Before and After photos Purpose Statement

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 of wood floor⁠ What types of finishes to choose for a healthy wood floor⁠ What underlayment is, why it's needed, and what the healthy options are⁠ What you need to know about your subfloor BEFORE choosing and installing new flooring⁠ Questions or comments about the episode? Email Kate at Kate@balancedarchitecture.com

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: Belgard Permeable Pavers Vertical Veggie Garden - Garden Tower Project  

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

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.

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  

Survey Link   I began this podcast to help families create healthier environments for their families, for others, and for the planet.  And I want to make sure I'm delivering on that.   As a health-conscious environmentalist myself that has experienced the power of a healthy home, the hope for future episodes is to have more balance between healthy home design and sustainable home design education.    Another hope for future episodes is to have the education be geared more towards major renovation / addition and new build projects.  As an architect, this is where my passion and expertise lies.  It's what I love to talk about and what I love helping families create.   But I know how important it is to make steps towards creating a healthy and sustainable home even if you aren't planning a renovation or new build, so I plan to continue sharing tips for healthy home upgrades to you current home in at least 1 episode a month.   But before I make any changes to this podcast, I want to hear from you.   Click here to access the super quick survey so you can let me know what you want from this podcast and what I can do to make it better.   Thank you so much for your help and your support of this podcast!    The Healthy Home Design Podcast Survey

Do you have hesitations about building or renovating a health and wellness focused home?  If so, you're not alone!  The most common hesitations I hear involve affordability, stress and overwhelm, and feeling a bit hopeless about the endeavor.  In this episode, we'll tackle each of these hesitations and show you how you can create a home that supports you family's health and well-being without breaking the bank or sending your stress levels soaring. Helpful Links: The Healthy Home Planning Workshop 10 free ways to improve your indoor air quality blog post   Sixclasses.org

On this week's Healthy Home Design podcast episode, I'm diving into what makes a sustainable home and how it relates to a home designed for health and wellness. Are sustainable homes the same thing as wellness homes? The answer is: Not necessarily. Listen to the episode to learn: What it means to design and build a sustainable home What the differences are between a wellness home and a sustainable home What you can do to make sure your home is healthy for you and the planet   Links: The Healthy Home Planning Workshop: This is a live, online workshop hosted by Kate Hamblet (licensed architect) designed to prepare you for the journey of creating your health and wellness focused home.

What you'll learn: What are the major milestones of the design process of a healthy home What should happen when Who needs to be involved in the design process What costs are involved in the process Healthy Home Planning Workshop: https://www.balancedhomebalancedlife.com/workshop/

Everyone needs a little escape sometimes, especially these days!  No place in your house to call your own?  Learn how to transform your bedroom into a healthy retreat, a place you'll be able to escape to and focus on self-care. You will learn: Why a healthy bedroom is so important How to create a calm bedroom How to improve bedroom air quality How to improve bedroom light quality Ways to protect against EMFs Pure Living Space Discount Link (This is an affiliate link): https://purelivingspace.com/discount/Balanced Building Biology EMF guide: https://buildingbiologyinstitute.org/free-fact-sheets/healthy-sleeping-sanctuary/

Designing homes for health and well-being may seem like a new design trend, but creating healthy homes is a concept that's been around for thousands of years thanks to the practice of feng shui. After learning more about feng shui I was amazed at the correlation between the healthy home design principles I follow and the principles of feng shui. That's why I was so excited to talk with feng shui expert Peg Donahue on this week's Healthy Home Design podcast episode.   Peg gives us the feng shui basics we need to start including the principles into our homes.   I learned so much from our conversation together, and I can't wait to start implementing these strategies into my future home designs. What You'll Discover: Principles of feng shui How feng shui relates to healthy home design The most important areas to focus on from a feng shui perspective when designing a home What a bagua map is and how it relates to your home Connect with Peg: Download Peg's feng shui Bagua Map Visit Peg's website: Feng Shui Connections Email Peg: peg@fengshuiconnections.com Peg's newest book, Money is an Energy Game is soon to be released in print!  Order an advance copy now and save 20%.  Click here to learn more. More about Peg: Peg Donahue is a feng shui consultant, personal empowerment coach, teacher, speaker, and author.  She has an MBA from Boston University and a BA from Georgetown University, along with three professional feng shui certifications and certifications in coaching, intuitive development and healthy buildings. In 2015, she received Southern NH University’s 2015 Excellence in Teaching Award as an Adjunct Instructor. After a successful database marketing career, Peg founded Feng Shui Connections in 2001 out of a strong desire to help people succeed and easily achieve their life desires and dreams. She co-authored Money is an Energy Game in 2020, contributed to Success Manifesto with Brian Tracy, in 2016, and co-authored Dorm Room Feng Shui in 2005. Peg enjoys helping people to live and work in healthy and vibrant spaces, to master the art of thriving with ease and joy.

This week's episode is a helpful guide to choosing healthy paint for your home interior painting projects.   What you'll discover: Why it's so important to focus on healthy interior paint What you want to avoid when buying paint What to look for in a paint The best non-toxic and natural interior paints Tips for being safe while painting

Starting a big project like renovating or building a new home can feel very scary.  Of course it's exciting, or should be exciting!    But for many people, it's daunting.    Where do you even begin?  How do you turn all the ideas floating around in your head into something cohesive that you can pass along to your builder or architect?   This could be especially true if you have an idea in mind, such as green and healthy living, but you don’t know how to articulate it. Feeling like you won’t be able to explain what you want for your home may be holding you back from making progress.    So today I want to help you over come the overwhelm and get your project started on the right path.   The very first thing you need to do when starting a renovation or new build is to figure out your purpose.    We are going to fine tune the vision and goals you have for your project so that you have a clear path to follow throughout your design and construction journey.   Download the worksheet and the video version here.   Schedule your clarity call with me here.

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed by the idea of creating a home that will enhance your family's health and well-being?   If so, I can definitely relate.   When I started transforming my house into a healthy home back in 2015, I was completely overwhelmed from all the research I did online.  I was full of information, misinformation, and conflicting information.     And I had no idea where to start.     Finally, I just dove in, and through extensive research and lots of trial and error along with my expertise as an architect, I worked through creating my own health and wellness focused home.     If you're at this point of information overload and lack of direction right now, then this week's Healthy Home Design podcast episode will be exactly what you need.   This week, I'm sharing 10 easy, high-impact ideas to start creating your healthy home today.   Whether you are transforming your existing home or designing a new home, these ideas will help you focus on what matters most.   At the beginning, it's really important to focus on easy, high-impact changes because this will give you the momentum to keep going.   By making the changes I recommend in this episode, you'll be able to see and feel the changes you're making to your house pretty quickly.   I'm covering ideas that will: Improve air quality Improve water quality  Improve light quality to align your circadian rhythms Make your home more thermally comfortable Make dinner prep easier Create a calm environment Keep your family safe   Listen to this episode to end the overwhelm and gain clarity on where to start your healthy home journey. Helpful Links: Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Water filter resource Kitchen layout video Bedtime Bulb for circadian rhythm alignment ​Blog post on bringing nature into your bedroom to improve sleep 

It's the season of heating, which means you might be feeling the lack of insulation in your house, both because you're cold and because you're energy bill has gone way up.     Insulation is one of the main factors affecting your comfort in your home.     If you're planning to build a new home or renovate your existing home, it will pay to get the insulation right.   In today's Healthy Home Design Podcast episode, we're diving into all things insulation.  This episode is packed with good information to get you started on making informed insulation decisions for your home.   Here's what we'll cover: Why you need insulation on your house Where on your house insulation needs to go The 4 main categories of insulation The best way to insulate your healthy home The healthiest insulation options out there The insulations you should try to avoid in your home   Do you have an insulation question?  Email me at Kate@BalancedArch.com

Have you ever picked a paint color for a room and then realized you didn't enjoy being in that room anymore?  I have (more than once)!  When I was in college (early 2000's, yikes!) it was trendy to paint a single wall of a room red.  Although, to be honest, I can't remember if it was actually a trend, or if I saw it in a Sex and The City episode and mistakenly thought it was a good idea.   Either way, the color didn't work for my bedroom, and I never enjoyed being in the room.     This week on The Healthy Home Design podcast, color expert Mehnaz Khan explains why red probably isn't the best choice for bedrooms and so much more.     Mehnaz talks about how the colors you choose for your home will affect your emotions.  This is fundamental when creating a home designed to help you reduce stress and improve well-being.    Mehnaz also goes into the color traits of many colors, helping you figure out what color will be right for the different rooms in your house.  Having this information is a great starting place if you are planning on making over any rooms in your home.   To get you started on choosing colors, Mehnaz created a color workbook that'll help you understand your color preferences.     Links: Mehnaz's helpful tips for a better sleep. Learn more about the psychology of the color blue! Mehnaz's color workbook.

Is this your year for creating a home that will allow your family to thrive? Find out how teaming with a healthy home consultant for your renovation or new home build will elevate the success of your project and have you living in a home that keeps you healthy, makes you happy and encourages living your best life. In this week's episode, I'm switching things up a bit, and providing information on what a Healthy Home Consultant is and how working with one on your renovation or new build will be a game changer for your project. https://www.balancedhomebalancedlife.com/services/ Email Me:  Kate@Balancedarch.com  

Did you know that you can design a kitchen that will help you eat healthier? This may sound too good to be true, but it's not!  The way a kitchen is designed plays a huge role in how we eat.  We know that eating organic fresh fruits and veggies is best for our bodies.  We are paying more attention to the fact that we shouldn't be eating processed and packaged foods.  And we might even try to prep our meals or at least our veggies ahead of time to make our weeknights easier. But unfortunately, right now kitchens are hindering our health!  They are keeping us from nourishing our bodies and our minds the way we know they need to be.  This week's episode is going to take a look at how we can design kitchens that make it easy to nourish ourselves and that align with our healthy lifestyles. Extra Credit: If you are ready to start creating a more wellness focused kitchen, check out these eight tips for creating your own wellness kitchen.   Questions/ Comments / Ideas for new episodes? Email me at Kate@balancedarch.com

We are talking about something a little bit different from my usual topics on the Healthy Home Design podcast this week, but it's something that is equally important.   This week's topic is about creating an energy efficient home that in turn produces a comfortable, healthy home for you and your family.   Since it's the first of the month, this is another 10 in 20 episode. I run through tens steps for creating an energy efficient, comfortable healthy home in 20 minutes.   I only have two minutes to spend on each step, so this is not an in-depth guide to net zero energy homes, but instead a good overview if you have been wondering what goes into making an energy efficient home.   (FYI, if you are building a new home or doing a major renovation and would like to create a more energy efficient home, I can work with you to make that happen!)   I think this is an important topic because there are some misconceptions about what an energy efficient home is and what the best practices for creating one are.  (Have you thought about putting solar panels on your roof?  Find out why that's the last thing you should do for energy efficiency.)    It is also important because we can't have healthy people on this planet if we don't have a healthy planet.  Reducing our energy consumption is an important piece of creating a healthier planet.   Email me: Kate@Balancedarch.com

Back with us today is Mehnaz Khan.  Mehnaz is a fine artist and color consultant.  She was on the show last week giving us an introduction on how color can affect your happiness and well-being.  If you haven't listened to that episode yet, please do!  You will learn a lot about the basics of color psychology and why it is so important to understand how color affects your mood before you do any upgrades to your home!   This week Mehnaz is diving into the topic of seasonal affective disorder, known as SAD or the winter blues.  If you live in a place where the sun is now setting at 4pm and there are more gray days than sunny days, you may notice a change in your mood and energy levels.  I definitely have!  I live in New England where the winters are long, dark and gray.  (But they're also a lot of fun, so I wouldn't trade it up!)  Mehnaz is going to explain what the winter blues is all about and how we can combat the low energy feeling by strategically using color in our homes.   Link to Coupon Code for Mehnaz's Art: https://www.mehnazkhanstudio.com/color-is-joy   Connect With Mehnaz: Website: https://www.mehnazkhanstudio.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mehnazkhanstudio/ Email:  Hello@mehnazkhanstudio.com   Connect With Kate: Kate@Balancedarch.com

Did you know that the color you choose throughout your home plays a big role in your happiness and well-being?  Color has the power to affect your emotions, so the colors you choose for your home really matter!    I learned so much from this week's guest, Mehnaz Khan.   Mehnaz Khan is a fine artist and color consultant who helps overwhelmed mothers turn their home into a sanctuary through art and colors. She uses the power of color to positively impact their feelings, emotions and behavior.    Her work as a color consultant is incredibly important when you are creating a home that focuses on health and well-being.    This week we dive into color psychology and how you can transform your life through color!   So if you are thinking about painting or redecorating your home, hang on!  Make sure you listen to this episode first!   Connect with Mehnaz:   Website:  https://www.mehnazkhanstudio.com/   Email: Hello@Mehnazkhanstudio.com   Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mehnazkhanstudio/   Coupon Code: Mehnaz has generously offered 20% off one of her paintings or a commissioned piece to all our listeners. Click here to get the coupon code, and make sure you check out her beautiful art!   In this episode you'll learn: What color psychology is Why it is so important to understand color before you add it to your home How to use color to improve your happiness What colors to stay away from if you are trying to create a feeling of calm and happiness If you have color questions for Mehnaz, you can email Mehnaz or Kate: Kate@Balancedarch.com Hello@MehnazKhanstudio.com  

Today we are going to live in luxury because I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Rochelle Maize, Beverly Hills leading luxury realtor that specializes in wellness real estate.    Rochelle is the executive director of the luxury estate division of Nourmand and Associates and she recently sold the Wellness House in Beverly Hills.  Rochelle has been a pioneer in the luxury real estate sector turning average homes into smart technology and wellness residences.  From infrared saunas and cryotherapy, to private yoga studios and spas, she has found that luxury real estate buyers want their self-care regimes in their homes. “We’re seeing a lot of millennials, athletes, hedge fund investors and dot-commers flock to these wellness homes, “This is not just a house, it’s a lifestyle.”   So today Rochelle is going to be sharing with us current wellness trends she is seeing in the luxury real estate market and where trends are headed in 2020 for wellness in our homes.  She also shares some trends she is seeing in the non-luxury market as well.  So there are some great ideas in here that we can all incorporate into our wellness homes.     Connect with Rochelle: Website: https://www.rochellemaize.com/ Email: Rochelle@RochelleMaize.com  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rochellemaizeluxuryestates/   Wellness features Rochelle mentioned: Oxygen Beds:  https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/do-hyperbaric-oxygen-chambers-work/   Cryotherapy chambers:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1FPxhs8_H0   Vertical Veggie Gardens:   https://www.pinterest.com/ankemet/vertical-gardening/   Delos System:   https://delos.com/solutions/residential   Alkaline Water:   https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-alkaline-water#1

Are you sick of Googling the best healthy and sustainable countertop options for your kitchen renovation?    I have you covered.    On today's Healthy Home Design podcast, I am sharing my ten favorite countertops for a health and wellness focused home.  You will also learn what countertops I recommend avoiding in a healthy home.   This is another 10 in 20 episode, so I share ten countertops and talk about the pros and cons of each countertop for 2 minutes each.   Here is the criteria I use when determining whether a countertop belongs in a healthy home: Durable (doesn't scratch or crack easily and can handle heat) Doesn't require sealant and yearly maintenance Non-toxic Hygienic Can be mechanically fastened Is made of sustainable materials Cost   Here are my top ten countertops.  Listen to the podcast to learn the pros and cons of each option!   Engineered Quartz Granite Solid Slate Soap Stone Stainless Steel Porcelain Tile Concrete Recycled Paper Recycled Glass Linoleum     Links I Mention: Natural Stone Institute list of accredited stone manufacturers Article on Porcelain slab countertops

We're continuing our healthy materials mini-series by answering listener questions specific to healthy building materials and finishes.     Here are the questions we're covering this week: I am doing a renovation to my house and have spent so much time searching for healthy building products.   It's confusing because there is so much greenwashing, I don't know what I should believe.  Now I'm frustrated and overwhelmed.  Is there a place I can go to find out if a product is safe to use in my home? I have to replace drywall and insulation due to mold remediation.  What should I be choosing for healthy drywall and insulation for the new walls? We are replacing the vinyl flooring in my house that was installed about 25 years ago with a floating wood floor.  We pulled up a small section of it and it has a terrible toxic smell.  What can we do to get rid of the smell before installing the new floor? It seems like everything in our lives need to be non-toxic for us to be safe.  From food, to clothing, car seats, shampoo, building materials.  Is this really possible?   Helpful Links: Email me your health and wellness home questions at: Kate@balancedarch.com   Declare Label: Living-future.org/declare   Drywall: US Product:  USG EcoSmart US Product:  National Gypsum GoldBond New Zealand Product: Winstone Wallboard   Drywall Joint Compound: Murco M100 Drywall Joint Compound   Mineral Wool Insulation:  Owens Corning ThermaFiber UltraBatt FF   Sealant for toxic odors:  AFM SafeCoat Safeseal     Healthy Home Design Podcast episode 7: Why Choose Healthy Materials   Sixclasses.org

You know the saying 'You are what you eat'?  Well, there's a new saying that goes 'You are where you live'.  We now know that our indoor environment has a major impact on our health.  So, when we live in a healthy home, we are going to be healthier people.  When we live in an unhealthy home, we are going to be less healthy people.   We also know that healthy air quality and water quality are fundamental to a healthy home environment.  And building materials, finishes and furnishings play a major part in the quality of your home's air and water.  This week we are getting into the 'why' behind choosing healthy materials for your home.     You will learn: The six major classes of toxins we should all be avoiding What's at stake when we don't choose healthier materials  Tips on how to stay clear of unhealthy options Helpful Links: Six Classes 10 ways to easily improve the air in your home  

  Have you thought about building a home that encompasses your health and wellness goals, but figured it would be too expensive to build?  A healthy home must cost more to build than a typical home, right?    Guess what?!   It doesn't have to!   This podcast episode breaks down the myth that a healthy and eco-friendly home will cost more to build than a typical home.  There are certain items that need to be included in a healthy home that will cost more than a typical home, but those costs can be balanced out by cost saving strategies that take place when designing a healthy home.     In this episode you will learn: The two main items that will cost you more in a healthy home than a typically (code minimum) built home What you and your designer can do in the design phase of your project to ensure that your house will be built as a healthy home without adding cost How aligning your goals with your budget with help you offset the few high cost items of a healthy home The areas where a healthy home will cost less than a typical home   Helpful Resources:   I mention the Eight Healthy Home Elements when talking about the design of a healthy home.  Click here to listen to the Healthy Home Design episode that breaks down each of the healthy home elements.   Here is a link to the Facebook Live video where I talk about setting goals and determining your purpose for creating your new home.