Longevity has become one of the biggest conversations in wellness right now. Everywhere I look, people are talking about cold plunges, supplements, glucose monitors, red light therapy, sleep tracking, and optimizing every possible health metric. Some of it is fascinating. Some of it feels overwhelming. But I keep coming back to the same thought: What…
Ask most people what luxury means, and the answer often involves price tags, prestige, or excess. According to Merriam-Webster, luxury is defined as: “a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort,” or“something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary.” But the longer I’ve worked in the home design world—and the more homes…
When we moved into our home two years ago, induction cooking wasn’t something I specifically chose. It came with the house—part of the developer’s vision for a sustainable, all-electric home. At the time, I was curious but neutral. I had cooked for years on a gourmet-style gas range, along with traditional electric burners and smooth-top…
Cross-laminated timber—often called CLT—is one of the most exciting building materials to show up in residential design in years. It offers the strength of concrete, the warmth of wood, and the sustainability that today’s homeowners and designers want. The good news? You don’t need to be an architect or an engineer to understand it. Here’s…
When people imagine their retirement dream home, the picture looks different for everyone. For some, it’s a cozy cottage near the water. For others, it’s a modern condo in a walkable city or a home near children and grandchildren. There’s no single version of the dream—it’s deeply personal. But one thing is universal: moving toward…
Healthy Pets Start with a Healthy Home When people talk about sustainable or healthy homes, they usually think about the benefits for us—cleaner air, better lighting, lower energy use. But the truth is, our pets feel those same benefits every day, often more than we realize. Living in a healthy home isn’t just about our…
When we were searching for our home in the Arizona desert, we didn’t just want it to look beautiful — we wanted it to perform beautifully, too. Comfort, health, and sustainability were at the top of our list. Now that we’ve lived in our all-electric, energy-efficient home for over a full year, the results are…
If you’ve shopped for a new home recently, you’ve probably seen the words healthy, sustainable, and environmentally friendly plastered all over builder websites and brochures. These are powerful claims, and who wouldn’t want a home that’s better for your family and the planet? The problem is, many national builders throw around these buzzwords without doing…
In my last post, I talked about how a beautiful kitchen only truly shines when it’s being used—intentionally and often. As a former registered dietitian turned kitchen designer, I’ve seen firsthand that efficient kitchens support healthier, more joyful lifestyles. Today, I want to dig into a part of the kitchen we all use daily—but may…
After spending over two decades as a registered dietitian, I learned that food choices—big and small—add up to shape how we feel, function, and thrive. Today, as a kitchen designer, I see first-hand how the right kitchen can either support or stall those choices. One of my guiding beliefs is this: A kitchen isn’t just…
Why I Love HDPE: The Low-Maintenance Material That Just Makes Sense When I first found out Loll Designs made outdoor furniture from recycled milk jugs (HDPE), I was impressed—but after using it through years of Arizona sun and Minnesota snow, I was sold. It’s one of the few things I’ve bought that truly lasts, looks…
Sustainable living can feel overwhelming sometimes—so many materials to compare, products to research, and decisions to make that impact both our health and the planet. But what if the key to simplifying all of that… is a little help from artificial intelligence? I use AI tools almost every day to support my sustainable lifestyle and…
As someone who deeply loves good design, I often get asked about my favorite furniture brands. And honestly, it’s an easy answer. Two names always come to mind: Room & Board and Blu Dot. What makes it extra special? Both of these companies are proudly headquartered in Minnesota, the place I once called home for…
If you’ve ever struggled with food waste or kitchen odors, the Mill Food Recycler might just become your new favorite appliance. I’ve been using ours for months and it’s honestly one of the most useful, sustainability-minded additions to our home. The Mill grinds and dehydrates food scraps overnight—quietly—so by morning, all that waste has been…
When we moved into our home, we experienced our first European-style kitchen. With its sleek minimalist cabinetry and highly efficient appliances, I loved the look immediately. After cooking in it for a year, I can honestly say it works brilliantly. The design and layout not only maximize space but also improve our kitchen’s functionality, making…
When we moved into our two-story townhome, we were told by our realtor that many prospective buyers chose not to purchase these homes because of the stairs. The thought of climbing stairs multiple times a day was apparently a deterrent for some. Having lived with stairs in most of our previous homes, we didn’t see…
Made from 100% sheep’s wool, Havelock Wool Insulation is not only sustainable but also offers incredible benefits that align perfectly with our eco-conscious lifestyle.
Biophilic design is all about connecting our living spaces to nature, enhancing our well-being by bringing elements of the natural world into our homes. The core principles of biophilic design include incorporating natural light, air, plants, water, textures, and materials that remind us of the outdoors. It’s about creating a sense of harmony between our…
When we moved into our sustainable home, we discovered Richlite—an eco-friendly material used for kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Made from recycled paper, it’s durable, heat-resistant, and easy to maintain. Richlite is eco-friendly, non-toxic, and versatile, offering a unique natural look while prioritizing hygiene. It’s a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing choice for long-term use.
When we moved into our sustainable, healthy home, one of the materials that immediately caught my attention was the Accoya wood used for our siding, decking, and even our window and door casings. Sourced from Delta Millworks, Accoya wood was a completely new product to us, but it has quickly become one of our favorite…
From the street, our townhome looks as though it has very few windows. This minimalist exterior often prompts visitors to ask, “How do you live with so few windows? Isn’t the house dark?” It’s a natural assumption, but the reality couldn’t be more different. Our home is flooded with natural light throughout the day, thanks…
8/23/24 When we moved into our sustainable home, we knew we were stepping into something special—a place designed not just for energy efficiency but also for seamless smart living. One of the most exciting features of our home is the Loxone smart home automation system. It coordinates everything from heating and cooling to lighting and…
8/22/24 One of the changes we’ve experienced since moving into our new home in the Arizona desert is the switch to an all-electric setup. For most of our lives, we’ve lived in homes where natural gas was an option for everything from heating to cooking. We’ve had gas ranges, furnaces, gas dryers, and even gas…
8/21/24 One of the most fascinating—and beneficial—features of our home is the Energy Recovery Ventilator, or ERV, which I’ve come to think of as the “lungs of the home.” An ERV is designed to constantly breathe fresh air into the house while expelling stale indoor air. What makes it special is that, while it exchanges…
8/20/24 When it comes to healthy home building, most of the articles you’ll find are filled with facts and figures—performance standards, certifications, and energy efficiency data. And while I have a great respect for all of that information, my focus here is different. I want to share what it’s like to actually live in a…