episode 023. green homeowners, tatjana luethi & mark buchheim

• in this episode, i interview homeowners tatjana & mark. we discuss the major remodel of their green home and their experience with the design process as well as the construction process. we also discuss some of the difficulties they faced with dealing with their first contractor as well as discuss some of the cool green features of their home. we also discuss some of the lessons tatjana and mark learned during the process.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

episode 022. going green and the economy

• in this episode, i’m joined by co-host eric corey freed as we discuss if “going green” is taking a backseat to the economic situation. we also discuss his recent visits to duluth and miami (one day apart) as well as his recent trip to disneyland on presidents’ day. for more information on eric, check out www.organicarchitect.com.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

episode 021. who is david doucette?

• this is a very different episode because i am the one being interviewed. i open up about me, your host for the approachable architect, and what makes me tick. i talk about how i learned to be independent  at a young age and also describe my experience in architecture school in the ’90’s. i touch on the cross country road trip i took in ‘98 and how my brother, derek and i lived in a tent for 6 weeks (happily so). i also discuss my mom’s passing from breast cancer in 1999 and my dad’s passing in 2002 (thank you hospice two times!). i also discuss when i met my now wife, wendy, and our two beautiful boys, jake and remy and fill you in on the tv shows i like to watch too. i also announce my new podcasting network, scmn.tv

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

episode 020. a discussion of the parallels of dessert and architecture with the dessert architect, robert wemischner 

• in this episode, i discuss the similarities of dessert and architecture with chef and author of “the dessert architect”, robert wemischner. we discuss how flavor becomes the foundation of dessert architecture and the amount of exploration, planning, and preparation that goes into each dessert. chef “bob’s” desserts can be thought of as both sculpture and works of arts as well as scientific experiments that lead to a fascinating and delicious feast for the eyes as well as the mouth. we also discuss some of his favorite recipes from the book as well as the benefit of using fresh produce from local farmers’ markets. this is one of my most fascinating interviews to date, so pull up some warm pie a la mode and have a listen, your senses will be delighted. you can find more information and order “the dessert architect” on chef bob’s website, www.robertwemischner.com

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

episode 019. green painting with stephen winterrowd, certapro painters

• in this episode, i discuss green painting how to’s and information with stephen winterrowd of certapro painters. we discuss the whole process of painting as well as best practices when painting green. we discuss the difference between flat and semi gloss paints as well as which kind to use for a particular application. we also discuss why cleanup and preparation is just as important as the paint job itself. you can find more information about certapro painters by clicking here.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

i am so excited for 2010! not for just me, but my family as well. oops, i mentioned my family, am i supposed to do that? it seems i’m mixing business with pleasure. uh-oh. 

i’ve always tried to keep business and pleasure as separate parts of my life. i occassionaly would share family stories but for the most part, i was very conscious of the business/pleasure line and being careful to not cross it too much. today, i’m throwing that concern out the window!

i’ve been training for the los angeles marathon the last few months and with only less than two months to go, i’ve been doing some long runs on sundays to the tune of 15 miles so far (twice) in preparation. it’s given me a lot of self reflection time lately and i’ve had more than a few A-HA moments. my biggest moment came as a result of my podcast, the approachable architect, and wanting to share more of me with my listeners. i want my listeners to know about me, know my passions, know what makes me tick. i want them to get to know me personally. AND i also want to get to know them, i mean YOU. 

i’ve also  been reflecting on my career and my decision to expand my services to the real estate market. i specialize in working with homeowners both as an architect and as a real estate broker. i’m in a customer service business. people hire me because they connect with me, they like me. they hire me for the extensive knowledge and outstanding service i provide. working with homeowners is a very intimate and personal relationship. BUT i think i’ve always kept clients at a distance a little bit, always conscious of the “business relationship”. as a result, i found myself not being as social as i used to be. 

that’s all changing. i want you, my clients, my readers, and my listeners to get to know me personally. i want you to know about my wife, wendy and my two boys jake and remy. i want you to know that our two boys are currently eating us out of house and home starting with 2 breakfasts per day. did i say they were only 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 years old? 

this is going to be the year i’m going to be putting myself out there. i’m already attending more social events and will be creating a podcasting network to allow more of a connection with my audience, and that means YOU. you will learn more about me and my family over the coming months, and hopefully years. i believe by opening myself up more and putting myself out there (and not worrying about what other people think as much), i’ll build stronger relationships that will hopefully last a lifetime. 

so, are we supposed to mix business with pleasure? who knows, but for me, i’m no longer going to be asking myself that question. i’m going to trust my gut and share myself openly and honestly with whoever wants to listen.  

best wishes for 2010!

episode 018. water conservation with co-host, eric corey freed

• in this episode, i’m trying out a new format and have invited organic architect, eric corey freed, to be my co-host as we discuss water conservation and the issues surrounding a global problem.  listen in as we discuss some of the problems and provide simple solutions that we can apply in our everday lives. for even more information, eric has generously provided some detailed information from his upcoming book  “Green$ense:  Rating the Real Payoff from 50 Green Home Projects” Coming March 2010 – Taunton Press. Also let me know what you think of the new format by sending feedback to feedback@residearchitecture.com or calling our voicemail listener line 1.800.476.5579.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

episode 017.  my new m.o. “passion” & an architect’s point of view with dennis gibbens

• in this episode i discuss my new m.o., “passion”. you’re going to be hearing a lot more “passion” in my episodes and i’m looking forward to opening up about me, david doucette, and letting my listeners know more about me and what makes me tick. as i open up more to my listeners, i hope to become less journalistic in my approach. through this, i hope to hear back from more of my listeners and the community and establish new relationships as well as strengthen existing ones. also in this episode, i interview my mentor, dennis gibbens. listen in as we discuss when i met dennis ten years ago after i moved to california. dennis discusses how he become involved in the profession of architecture as well as discusses his design philosphies and how he works with home owners. for more information about dennis, please visit http://dga-inc.com

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

episode 016. green building contractor, turk o’connor, t.h. o’connor building corporation

• in this episode i interview green building contractor, turk o’connor, t.h. o’connor building corporation. turk is no ordinary general contractor. he drives a prius and maintains a rigorous yoga practice. listen as we discuss the relationship between architect, general contractor and owner as well as turk’s personal philosophies when it comes to building and providing customer service to his clients. Turk also discusses the different ways that homeowners can work with general contractors. you can find more information about turk at http://thoconnor.com/.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

episode 015. anatomy of a kitchen remodel

• in this podcast, i read some comments from last week’s podcast including the first review left on itunes (thank you MMbot!). i also discuss the pieces involved in doing a major kitchen remodel and provide budgetary guidelines for each of the trades involved as well as an overall budget to consider. i also describe the process involved, from initial conception to final completion. this is a different format from the interviews i’ve previously recorded, so please let me know what you think as i could do more of these kinds of episodes for master bathrooms, second story additions, and master suite additions if this proves to be valuable information.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

2010 will no doubt bring many changes and challenges, but one that i am most excited about is the new company i have created, reside real estate, in partnership with keller williams santa monica. i’m looking forward to extending the reside brand and offering real estate services to first time home buyers as well as seasoned homeowners. look for the reside real estate website coming soon in january! 

i’ll be once again offering “the approachable architect” seminar series beginning with the first one in february called “anatomy of a second story addition”. i’m also proud to announce the creation of “the reside realtor” seminar series with the first seminar happening on january 30 for first time home buyers. details about both series can be found in the left sidebar and please be sure to tell your friends. 

i also launched “the approachable architect podcast” a few short months ago and have already received over 1800 plays/downloads! so i’m very excited to have found an audience and will soon be airing “the reside realtor podcast” in january to discuss real estate related issues. i have to say i love doing the podcasts and interviewing some very interesting people about some very interesting topics. it gives me great pleasure to be able to put out great content and to receive many positive responses in return. 

finally, i’d like to take a moment and thank my readers, listeners, clients, friends, and family who have supported me over the past year. i look forward to many continued relationships and welcome the opportunitues in 2010 with open arms. have a happy new year!

episode 014. best of the blog 2009

• in this special year end episode, i read 2 of my favorite articles from the approachable architect blog. the first article was posted in march as part of the get outdoors! go camping! series and is about the camping trip that i took with my son jake to leo carillo state park. the second article was posted in july and is about my dad and is appropriately titled, maybe my dad was right after all. these two articles are very special to me and i am honored to be able to share them in this podcast. i also want to thank my listeners and wish everyone a happy new year!

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

episode 013. 5 gyres and plastic pollution with anna cummins and marcus eriksen

• in this episode i interview researchers, environmentalists, and husband and wife duo anna cummins and marcus eriksen. we discuss what exactly is a gyre and the 5 main gyres in our world’s oceans and the plastic soup that is becoming more common in our oceans. we discuss anna and marcus’ amazing research work of the north pacific gyer and how they try and educate politicians, the public , and school children on the dangers of disposable plastic. we also discuss the fact that disposable plastic and recycling is not a closed loop system and why a great deal of plastic waste finds its way into our oceans endangering sea life and ultimately humanity here on land. we also discuss eric’s cool plastic boat  called “junk” that he built and sailed from long beach to hawaii to raise awareness of the plastic pollution problem. we also discuss their upcoming trip to explore the north atlantic gyre in january 2010. you can find more information about anna and marcus’ efforts at www.junkraft.com and www.algalita.org as well as follow along on their upcoming journey to the north atlantic gyre at www.5gyres.org.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

REAL ESTATE SERVICES: looking to buy your first home or move into another home? i would love to help you find your next home. contact me to schedule a free 45 minute buyer’s consultation. i can be reached at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residerealestate.com.

episode 012. the homeowner & the real estate agent

• in this episode i interview seasoned real estate agents, courtney smith and kurt wisner of nourmand and associates in hollywood, ca. we discuss the different roles a real estate agent can play, from a buyer’s agent to a seller’s agent and the differences between each. we also discuss the best way to find a real estate agent and the 3 most important criteria you should consider when looking for an agent to help you with your needs. we also discuss the importance of obtaining pre-approval from a lender before beginning the home buying process as well as discuss the home buying process in california including escrow and its requirements. finally we discuss the state of the market in los angeles and what to look for in 2010. you can find more information about courtney smith and kurt wisner at www.courtney-smith.com.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

episode 011. eco-renovating with darren moore, ecovations, part 2

• in this second part of our special two-part podcast, we continue our discussion with eco-mcguyver, darren moore and talk about the importance of the burgeoning industry of home performance inspection as well as the cost of having an inspection performed and the costs associated with a having a retro-fit performed on your existing home. we also discuss his work on television for the “alter eco” show on planet green featuring adrian grenier of HBO’s entourage, and his (hopefully) soon to be upcoming appearance on “let’s make a deal” where he will be giving some lucky audience member a mini-retrofit of their home. darren also talks about his preference to not have a dumpster on a job site as well as why everyone should install a whole house water filtration system in their home. finally, darren discusses working with ed begley’s jr’s organization, www.greenwishing.org. for more information on darren moore, please visit www.ecovations.com.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

the 5 green lifestyle modules are designed to provide information for homeowners interested in building green. they were also put together because it’s important that we look at the building as a whole, as a living breathing thing. i’ll also be rolling out some videos in the near future explaining the green lifestlye modules in further detail.

i hope you enjoy the information!

episode 010. eco-renovating with darren moore, ecovations, part 1

• in this special two part podcast, i make a big announcement about branching out and establishing “reside real estate”. i also interview darren moore, ecoxecutive of ecovations in venice, california. join us as darren discusses being born into the building industry and learning the value of hard work early in life. he also explains how he had his mid life crisis in his mid-twenties and travelled the world for two years, one of which was spent living in india after his visa expired. we also discuss the pivotal moment that happened in australia when darren discovered his true calling in life, getting involved in the green building movement in a big way. he’s eco-renovated ed begley jr.’s home, was a host on planet green’s “alter eco” with fellow eco-activist adrian grenier of entourage fame, and is currently spreading the word about the importance of retro-fitting existing homes to become more green. we also begin a discussion of  the growing business of home performance inspection. we cover so much material, it had to be split into two episodes. you can find more information about darren at www.ecovations.com.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

you can listen to the approachable architect podcast here http://residearchitecture.com/podcast/

episode 009. sustainable flooring choices with robert rickun, carpet design

• in this podcast i welcome some new facebook friends and read comments from the previous episode. i also interview sustainable flooring expert, robert rickun of carpet design in west hollywood, california. we discuss why wool is the best choice for environmentally friendly carpeting, the luxurious feeling of alpaca rugs, and the petroleum based nylon carpets and why you should avoid them. we also discuss sustainable choices for hardwood floors and discuss the different types available, finished on site, pre-finished, and pre-engineered and the pros and cons of each type and discuss those liquidator type stores as all flooring is certainly not created equal. we also discuss how to choose FSC (forest stewardship council) hardwood flooring. most importantly, we talk about the priority that should be given to indoor air quality and how to make smarter material choices for your home. you can find more information about robert rickun and carpet design at www.naturalfloorcovering.com.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

episode 008. airstsreams and the open road with uwe salwender, area 63 productions

• in this podcast i interview vintage airstream trailer restorer, uwe salwender of area 63 productions. join us as we discuss all things airstream, including how uwe became involved in the business after his rock-n-roll career in the custom guitar business and the restoration of his ‘63 overlander that started it all. we also discuss things to look for when buying a vintage airstream trailer, what’s a good trailer size for a family of 4, what the difference is between “full hookups” and “boondocking”, and the costs of getting into airstreams. and yes, they still make those. for more information about uwe salwender and area 63 productions, please visit www.area63productions.com.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

episode 007. designing interiors with celebrity interior designer, kenneth brown

• in this podcast, i interview celebrity interior designer, kenneth brown. we discuss how it all started for kenneth as well as his desire at one time to become an architect, his warm and contemporary style, the new and exciting QVC line, the babys r us line for babies, and most importantly, his new family. you can find more information about kenneth at www.kennethbrowndesign.com.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

episode 006. upcycling & repurposing with ecodiva, taryn hipwell 

• in this podcast, i interview ecodiva, taryn hipwell and her sister janell hipwell. we discuss taryn’s passion for fashion,  the concept of repurposing (which taryn was doing at 14 years old before anyone knew what it was), the concept of upcycling (the now trendy term for recycling), and her green efforts at warner brothers studios. we also discuss taryn’s ecodivas brand (which is pronounced with a long e, not eh) and the exciting future for ecodivas. you can find more information about taryn and ecodivas at www.ecodivastv.com.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

solar helicopter

my wife left (and i do mean left) me and the boys for 4 days last weekend when she travelled to nyc for her 20th high school reunion. it was actually the first time all of us boys were left alone for that long (yes 4 days suddenly became a long time). i took the boys hiking in joshua tree, but i digress. one of the presents my wife brought back from nyc was this solar powered helicopter. it is a small simple wooden toy, with a propeller that has a small “solar panel” on top of it. while it is probably overpriced at $28 (don’t expect this thing to lift off the ground, the propeller just spins) but the smile and joy on my boys’ face when they hold it up to the light and the propeller spins is priceless….look ma, no batteries (it was at night when she got home). then when you take it outside it will spin because of the sun’s rays. it doesn’t get any simpler than that.

the idea that something can move and produce energy without batteries and, simply because of the sun, is a foreign concept to most 3 year olds (and maybe adults for that matter). the fact that jake can say the words “solar power” and have some kind of understanding, however small,  brings a smile to my face. this simple helicopter is a fun and easy way to introduce the concept of solar energy to the little ones. and with the holidays just around the corner…..

episode 005. green and more green with organic architect, eric corey freed

• in this podcast, i interview organic architect, eric corey freed. we discuss how eric “enlisted” into the architecture profession, how he has zero tolerance for all things fake, why he uses all three of his names, why his firm is not called “crappy banal architecture”, and the books he is currently working on. we also discuss the term “greenwashing”, his facebook status updates AND his plan to solve the energy crisis (this you will want to hear!). you can find more information about eric at www.organicarchitect.com.

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

episode 004. the wing house and sailing with architect david hertz

• in this podcast, i interview colleague and friend, architect david hertz. we discuss david’s amazing project, “the wing house”, which is a house designed to incorporate the major components of an entire boeing 747 airplane including a main house utilizing the wings and a meditation space created from the nosecone of the aircraft. the project is located in the hills of malibu, california. we also discuss david’s love of sailing and his new “old” boat babysaan III. david is principal and owner of the studio of environmental architecture, www.studioea.com.

the wing house under construction

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

episode 003. energy efficient lighting solutions for the home

in this podcast i discuss the following topics:

• what is an RSS feed?
• energy efficient lighting soultions with steve stannard, southern california edison
• choosing the right light bulb for your home
• what’s Kelvin and color temperature?
• what’s the color rendering index (CRI)?
• compact flourescent lighting, what’s with the mercury?
• LED’s, are they the wave of the future?

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

episode 002. yoga & design 

• In this podcast, i discuss yoga & design with yogis anonymous founders, ally hamilton and dorian cheah. ally and dorian discuss their experience of developing a new kind of yoga studio, from the early design process to creating the class schedule. they also discuss their star studded cast of yoga instructors and explain what a donation studio is all about. ally also discusses the experience of having “twins” during the process. you can find more information about yogis anonymous, including the class schedule, on their website www.yogisanonymous.com.

ally & the four d's: dorian, dylan, devin, & david

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

episode 001. what does an architect do?

In this premiere podcast, i discuss the following topics:

• what is a podcast?
• what to expect from ”the approachable architect podcast”
• what does an architect do? here’s a link to the 5 phases discussed in the podcast.
• what’s the difference between an architect and a designer?
• when do you need an architect?

enjoy this first podcast and i look forward to your comments and questions!

like what you’ve heard? please submit a review to itunes.

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES: i specialize in providing architectural design services for environmentally friendly, healthy, high performance, and energy efficient homes including major remodels, second story additions, and new construction. please contact me at the studio at 310.391.9191 or david@residearchitecture.com if you would like to discuss your project.

CONSULTING SERVICES: i am also available for phone, email, and in-person/on site consultation when you need an expert opinion or advice. whether you are trying to figure out how much things will really cost, interested in bulding green, or having issues during the design or construction process, i can help you. visit the consultation page for more information.

i have a couple ideas on things to tweak further but i want to know what you think. tell me which one you like and why?

option #1 – revised                                                                                option #2 – revised                    

the thing that i am most excited about is being able to interact with the design and green building community. the first couple of podcasts will be recorded and available on my soon-to-be-released podcast page but i’m hoping within a couple of months to be airing the podcasts LIVE and allowing listeners to call in (these will also be recorderd and available on the podcast page). and these won’t sound like one of those podcasts that were produced in your friend’s basement. they will be high quality sound and i promise, a joy to listen to with lots of good information.

one of the features i set up is the “voicemail listener feedback line.” this allows listeners to call in to and leave a question or comment and i’ll be able to play these on the show. SO one of the topics i’ll be discussing in the very first episode is “what is the difference between an architect and a designer” and i’d like to know what you think the difference is. please call the voicemail listener line at 1.800.476.5579 and let me know what you think. or you can leave a comment on this post and i can read it on the air.

the interaction with the design and green building community is one of the things that will make these podcasts interesting and enjoyable to listen to, so please comment here or call the voicemail listener line at 1.800.476.5579. that number again is 1.800.476.5579. that number, once again, is 1.800.476.5579

p.s. i’ve learned from my 3 year old son, if you repeat the same thing enough times, somebody will actually listen.

look for the first show to be released the end of next week!

i’d like to hear from you, which one do you like and why? click the “comments” button above to cast your vote!

option 1

option 2

now i know this may not seem that exciting, especially since following that dramatic drumroll, but this is a very important COOL product. ECObags sells several sizes of reusable canvas bags. one of the first places i go to when visiting a website is the “about us” page, especially if i’m considering purchasing that particular service or product. incidentally, my own “about us” page at reside architecture is one of the most visited pages on my website so i’m not alone in my thinking. from the ECObags website, their mission is clear;

Ecobags Products, Inc. opened for business in 1989 with a simple goal; to produce quality bags at great prices so that “Reusable becomes a way of life.”

“reusable becomes a way of life.” Pretty smart and simple concept and one that more of us are embracing everyday. my wife and i purchased several ecobags about two years ago and have been using them religiously (assuming we can remember to grab them as we leave the house… along with two boys, sunscreen, stroller, ergocarrier, drink cups, diapers, snacks, shopping list… you get the idea). we always take them with us when grocery shopping to trader joes and many grocery stores will give you 5 cents (couldn’t find the cent sign on my keyboard so i had to spell it out) for each bag you bring in, not something we’ll get rich on but it’s nice to have the acknowledgment.

my favorite, the half size produce bag

for me, where the ECObags really shine are the smaller sizes for taking to the farmers’ market. generally speaking, i do believe that people that take the time to go to their local farmers’ markets and support local farmers are concerned about their health and the health of the environment, agreed? then why oh why do i see so many people walking around with lots and lots of plastic bags to carry their fruits and vegetables in, only to get home and throw them away (or recycle). the answer to all of that is the half size produce bags. i love ours. we have about 10 of them and they are perfect for putting in 3 or 4 sweet potatoes or a handful of plums or peaches. we usually get approached once each time out to the farmers market by someone asking about the smaller size ECObags because “they are so cute.” we’ve probably saved using over 1000 plastic bags over the last couple of years. you can buy 5 of them for $13.00 so there really is no reason to not have these in your shopping arsenal. hopefully you’ll be as excited about your ECObags as i am, then you’ll tell a neighbor, and that neighbor will tell their neighbor, and that neighbor will tell their neighbor….

yogis anonymous is a new kind of studio. rather than utilizing the standard method that involves the participant purchasing individual classes or a series of classes, yogis anonymous functions on the premise of a donation system. participants pay what they are most comfortable with. i think this will create much more of a community environment at the studio. with already over 1300 fans on their facebook fan page, i’d say the strategy is working, considering they haven’t even opened their doors yet. they will be having a big launch party this saturday evening for anyone in the los angeles area, details can be found on their fan page.

they are also putting on a “human logo contest” and accepting entries for interpretations of couples performing their interpretation of their new logo. my wife came up with the idea of entering our boys, so we created our own entry. yes it is photoshopped (getting two boys to do that pose at the SAME TIME is impossible when they are 1 and 3 years old) but they each did perform the pose and yes, jake did do a headstand, albeit with the help of wendy’s hand that is photoshopped out of the pic.

if your in santa monica, be sure to check out the studio. ally hamilton is well known in the yoga community and she has put together a powerhouse lineup of super-duper yoga instructors. makes me want to get back into yoga…

yogis anonymous logo

jake & remy do the YA logo

image appears courtesy of www.zrecommends.com

if you haven’t heard, the makers of the SIGG bottles have admitted that their bottles were made with a liner that contained the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A. at some point last summer, they quietly switched out the liners but many people who jumped on the bandwagon for SIGG did so well before that, yours truly included. we have or should i say, had, the old liner until yesterday. buh-buy SIGG.

i wrote a few months back about SIGG being the COOL product of the month and i’m very sorry for that. my family, including my two boys have been drinking out of SIGG cups. it upsets me that a corporation that it supposed to be so cool and concerned with the environment could be so deceptive. they are even part of the 1% for the planet, donating 1% of their worldwide sales to protection of the environment. how much more deceitful could they be?

i usually take things in stride,  BUT this one does upset me.  i read the article and the claim is the bisphenol-A doesn’t leech out so it’s not a problem. um, okay, SIGG but why is it in there to begin with and why did you keep quiet for so long? the whole thing just stinks.

they are even offering customers to switch out the old ones with their “new liner”. REALLY? no thanks SIGG. luckily, i  am a “the-glass-is-half-full-kind-of-guy” and will get over this, it just won’t be half full in a SIGG cup anymore.

here’s the link to the SIGG article where my wife found out about it and also a special thank you to jeremiah at zrecommends for writing the article. it’s most interesting to read the peoples’ comments at the end of the article,  a lot of upset people and rightly so.

i also just noticed zrecommends is still on it with “need a new water bottle? we have 40 ideas for you.” check it out.

in the living room, notice the new open stair and how it helps the space feel more open. also notice the new entry way and frosted glass that will allow more light into to the room but maintain the privacy.

in the master bath, below, notice the large sink, selected by the owner and double faucets. also notice the large shower and skylight. this room will be great!

i recently installed both the waterless urinal and the dual flush toilets in the westbourne project. the waterless urinal is coroma’s h2 zero model and it really is a waterless urinal. it has a “bio-seal”, a one way air-tight valve to seal the cartridge from the drainage system. it also includes a special tool that allows for hands free periodic replacement of the bio-seal. the manufacturer suggests replacement every 9-12 months. this is a great product and it will save the homeowners 4800 gallons of water a year.

the dual flush toilet is coroma’s caravelle and gives you the option of 2 types of flushes. flush #1 uses .8 gallons and flush #2 will use 1.6, a normal amount for a low flush toilet. from my understanding, a homeowner would be using flush #1 a majority of the time, so there would be substantial water savings there as well. when i combine the waterless urinal and dual dlush toilets installed in the westbourne project, the homeowners would be saving more than 7000 gallons of water per year. now, that may not seem like a lot, but water is a precious resource and every little bit helps. i’d say saving 7000 gallons a water a year without really doing anything different, is a good thing.

i’m going to be on the level with you here. you wouldn’t necessarily install these products to save money. because water is so cheap (that’s another topic) the return on investment is many years. the caravelle sells for about $750 per toilet versus $100 for a home depot toilet and $500-$600 for a nicer one piece low flow toilet. the waterless urinal will cost about $750 and the bio seal kit will cost about $115 once every twelve months. BUT, these are not  products you purchase and install to save money. you buy them to save a very precious, finite resource…fresh water.  a little bit can go along way. if a family of 4 can save 15,000 gallons of water per year,  imagine what that would mean if a these were installed in every home in your neighborhood. assuming 100 houses, that would be 1.5 million gallons of water saved per year. 1000 homes could save 15 million gallons of water. now that, is pretty COOL.

last night, as ed begley jr was speaking (he was involved with the first earth day in 1970, so ed has been in the green scene for a long time), he said his wife made the comment about his efforts to cut costs around the house,  that he doesn’t care for the environment, that he is just a cheapskate. of course everybody laughed. then i found myself thinking about my dad.

now, my dad was by no means a cheapskate. i know us four children were raised on a limited income, but i also remember having every star wars figure and toy that were on the shelf. he was from a different time when things were, well, just different. he was born in 1929 in a small town saranac, new york and spent most of his time in vermont and new hampshire. he was a french canadian whose dad was born in quebec. my dad was one of eight children and he never went farther than the eighth grade because he needed to work to support the family. he served in the korean conflict (yes, war was never declared). he was a simple man and was a member of the teamsters for 30+ years, working mostly in the local areas of new hampshire and vermont. he was also active with the boyscouts.

i’m mentioning all of this because i think my dad was green without ever applying a label to it and here’s why;

1. keep the thermostat set at 68 degrees. that was the golden rule at our house in new hampshire. i remember those cold winter mornings waking up and trying to turn the dial even an 1/8 of an inch to maybe 70 degrees and my dad would turn it back to 68 and give a scolding at the same time. if we were walking around the house and we said “it’s cold in here”, my dad’s response would be to “put on a sweater”. we weren’t really allowed to go bare feet in the house in the winter time either, “get some socks on your feet” i’d hear as i would awake in the morning and come into the kitchen. we had an oil fired furnace, and it was about not using any more oil than we needed, about keeping the costs down. sounds like he was teaching us about energy efficiency, we just didn’t know it yet.

2. take shorter showers. i was always pretty good about taking shorter showers, but my brother derek was the one who liked to take his time. i remember vividly numerous times, my dad knocking on the bathroom door, shouting “that’s enough water” and soon after the sound of the water stopping. i remember at one point in my early teen years, something was broken on the hot water heater that prevented the whole tank from being heated and my dad refused to fix it because it naturally made for shorter showers. once your shower started to get cool, your time was up, as determined by the hot water heater. maybe we should all install smaller hot water heaters. that would conserve energy and water. pretty smart dad.

3. turn off the lights. i remember my dad always after us to turn off the lights when we’d leave the room or getting up in the middle of the night to tell us to go to bed (because we had to play one more game of golf on intellivision). he wasn’t telling  us to turn off the lights because it was good for the environment, it was so we would have a lower utility bill, i.e. conserve energy.

4. eat everything on your plate. it’s no secret that most of the waste in landfills is composed of food scraps and cnn wrote an article last year that stated that 1/4 of the U.S.’s food will get tossed into the garbage. it costs the U.S. 1 billion dollars annualy just to dispose of it. now, that was probably not in my dad’s mind when he was always telling us to eat everything on our plate. he just believed in eating what you take and don’t waste it. i remember one night, when i was probably 6 or 7,  at the dinner table i had a hot dog i couldn’t finish. he had no sympathy and wouldn’t let me leave the table until it was gone. he went in the living room and sat in his chair where he could still see me. i felt like i was there forever. my sister eventually rescued me and slipped a napkin to me that i was able to put the hot dog in.

5. conserve gas. i remember when i turned sixteen, my dad wanted to give me his 1977 baby blue chevrolet monte carlo. i had been working since i was 14 at the local dog track so i saved some money and decided i wanted to buy my own car because i wanted to make my own rules (which didn’t really work). i just remember my dad always going on about the car is just to get to work and back. it’s not for joyriding or wasting gas. where i grew up in hinsdale, nh, there was nothing to do but drive around. there were 40 kids in my graduating class and no stop light in town. but he insisted that i just drive it to work and back (of course i was 16 at the time and thought he had it all wrong and i didn’t listen then).

my dad passed away in 2002.  i always knew i inherited the creative gene from him. he was always helping me make cool things for school. in the 3rd grade, he cut  two dinosaurs out of plywood and helped me paint them green, they were a t-rex and stegasaurus. one year, for halloween, he made me a mickey mouse whole head mask out of chicken wire and paper mache, all from scratch. in the seventh grade, he helped me build a castle out of sugar cubes. it’s kind of funny for me to be sitting here now calling myself a green architect. truth is, green has been around a long time, it just never had a label. i guess my dad’s words sunk in there someway or somehow. thanks dad.

my electric bill

let’s talk about your electric bill. an average size home in america consumes between 600 to 900 kWh per month. this will obviously vary depending on what part of the country you live in (and what is considered average), but it’s a good starting point. let’s break that down even further because i believe when we have an understanding we can relate to, we’re more apt to make small changes that can have big impacts, both on the environment and in your wallet.

i’m going to work with the 600 kWh usage per month and use that as a basis for our understanding. if we divide 600 kWh by # days in a month, 30, that would mean we are consuming 20 kWh of electricity per day. let’s assume we’re paying .14 cents per kilowatt hour (the rate will vary by area but generally will be between .10 and .14) so we’re spending $2.80 per day on electricity for our home. that will give us a bill of about $84 per month. if you’re consuming 900 kWh per month, your bill will more likely be $126 per month.

one note: make sure you read your electric bill correctly. it will be either based on one month or two months, just make sure you know which one and adjust your figures accordingly.

SO, you’re now looking at your electric bill and you say, “oh yeah, i see, my bill is about $100 per month and that fits within the average so that must mean i’m doing good and can keep doing what i’ve been doing all along.”  does this sound like you? let me clear up one thing here, AVERAGE DOES NOT EQUAL GOOD. just because everyone else in the country is averaging $100 a month electric bill, doesn’t mean you should too. there are simple ways to get that down. and we’ve all heard them, turn off lights when not in the room, replace bulbs with compact flourescents (which i’m not a fan of, that’s another article), run the air conditioner set at 78, to name a few.  even if you knock it down $10 a month, you’ll save $120 per year.

let’s put all of this in perspective. i live with my wife and two young boys in a modest, 1 story 1500 s.f. older home. we moved in this past january and i’ve been looking at our bills since we moved in. our power is supplied by los angeles department of water and power. we get a bill from them every two months and it covers solid resources fee, water servce, and energy service (electric). our electric bill averages about 650 kWh per billing cycle, that’s for two months. SO we are consuming 325 kWh per month, well below the national average. we aren’t doing anything special either. we have a mixture of incadescent bulbs and compact flourescents. the most important thing we do is to not leave lights on around the house and turn off lights when we leave the room. we also haven’t run the air conditioner yet and rely on opening doors and windows instead. i’m sure at some point we will turn it on this summer, which may push us into the 400+ Kwh range, but we’ll see. one important note here is that our stove, dryer (electric dryers do cost more to operate than gas dryers), and furnace are heated via natural gas.

assuming you pulled out your electric bill for this exercise, you should have been able to locate how much you are using per month, then how much you use per day, and finally how much you are spending on electricity per day. just having an understanding of this will prove beneficial to you. i have found that once we have an understanding of something, we tend to pay better attention to it. the less we understand something, the more likely we will pay less attention or ignore it altogether. did i mention my wife is a psychotherapist?

modern company's ball fan

any way you slice it, air conditioners are electricity hogs. they are the suped up SUV version of the appliances in your home and they consume large amounts of electricity. whole house air conditioners can use anywhere from 15 to 25 kWh (kilowatt-hours)  of electricity per day (assuming about 4 hours of usage). at 14 cents per kWh, that’s about $3.50 per day. considering the average home consumes about 20 – 30 kWh per day, 4 hours of  air conditioner use almost doubles the daily consumption to a whopping 55 kWh per day. now you’re at about $7.00 a day for electricity.

now, that may not sound like much, but if you’re running your air conditioner everyday, that will be an additional $105 on top of your normal electrical bill (the average monthly electrical bill in the US is about $95 for around 900 kWh of electricity). multiply that by 4 months and that is an additional $420. it adds up, especially when you don’t pay attention to the time your a/c is on or your electricity bill. so here are a few tips that may help you limit the time your a/c runs;

1. turn up that thermostat to 78 degrees. “wait a minute, what??? you mean you want me to turn my thermostat UP to 78 degrees? i thought i am supposed to turn it down for my a/c. that means my air conditioner won’t even kick on until it gets warmer than 78? i like my home to be an ice box. i prefer a nice chilly 64. i like to run my air conditioner 24/7, i can’t sleep otherwise. but i admit, i don’t like the $500 a month electrical bill.” i hear you but i challenge you to give it a try. even if you do it for a few days, you’ll save electricity and money. check out this cool website that shows you the cost of your thermostat setting when deviating from 78  http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/sponsor/save-money-save-energy

2. use those ceiling fans. “but i don’t have ceiling fans installed in the house and i don’t really like those combo things at home depot.” ugly ceiling fans are no longer an excuse, check out the modern fan company’s selection of cool, modern fans. the ball is my favorite. you’ll pay for the cost of the fans and installation in a few seasons by limiting the use of the a/c and turning these guys on instead.

3. use a programmable thermostat. along with a setting of 78 degrees, a programmable thermostat will help you limit the amount of time your a/c stays on, thus reducing your electricity bill. your savings in one year can pay for this nifty unit (it works great for the heating in the winter too).

4. open those doors and windows. “but it’s hot outside, why do i want to open the doors and windows.”  a simple concept that has been around since the beginning of time,  called passive ventilation. if you open your doors and windows, you’ll create cross ventilation and bring an airflow into your home. along with your ceiling fans, you can really start move that air around your house. this doesn’t mean you’ll never have to use your air conditioner again (unless you live near the beach), but it will help you limit the use of your a/c unit. as i mentioned earlier, every little bit helps.

5. seal those ducts. if your ductwork is in the attic or in the crawlspace under your house, have them professionally sealed and tested for leaks. the ductwork is moving that cool air through the house and you don’t want it leaking into the attic or in the crawlspace (or anywhere else for that matter).

6. eat lots of otter pops. a nice frozen treat that will help you feel cool on hot summer days,  http://www.otterpopstars.com/

jake the gardener

“let’s go water the garden!”  those are the words uttered by my almost 3 year old son, jake, pretty much daily. he loves to water the garden and loves to squat down and see the fruits of our labor. a couple of months ago, my wife and i had been wanting to start a garden in our backyard but we didn’t really have space. the only space we had was an area about 9′ x 12′ behind the garage. it seemed like the most logical place but it was already home to a pile of stuff i don’t use that often so who would want to disturb that. if it’s not in your way, don’t move it always say (not really, but i’m thinking on the fly).

so about 6 weeks ago, i picked an especially warm saturday and cleared the area, turned over the soil, got a blister, and then went to the local nursery and bought 7 bags of organic soil to mix into the existing soil. i was hoping jake would like the idea and why wouldn’t he; it’s outside and it’s dirt. needless to say, he was right there when i was planting the seeds and he was putting his own seeds down. he didn’t really seem to get the concept of 2″ apart even after i repeated 6 or 7 times. at what age can they start to read a tape measure or even eyeball????

so there we were one saturday, on our hands and knees planting seeds and plants. jake was proud to show me how his pants got dirty and he also informed me that they are his “gardening pants”. we planted an herb garden consisting of basil, chives, parsley (flat leaf, not the denny’s kind), arugula, dill, thyme and a few variety of beans including edamame (which we are really excited for). we also planted some zucchini, cucmbers, and tomatoes. afterwards we faithfully watered morning and evening for a couple of weeks and slowly tapered back the watering.

within the last two weeks, we’ve really begun seeing things grow. the zuchinni has already started blossoming flowers and small zucchini, and the tomato plants are almost two feet high. it’s pretty fullfilling to see jake run to show people the garden. last night, when his uncle seth came over, we started to walk outside and jake made it very clear to me that “i will show him, don’t you show him” meaning he didn’t want me showing the garden to uncle seth. jake wanted to be the first one there and happily ran into the backyard. at dinner, jake explained to uncle seth that we planted seeds and “rugla”, or as we adults prefer to call it, arugula.

zucchini flower

at the beginning of this article i had intended to write about how to start a garden, what kinds of vegetable to grow, etc. but i somehow got off on the tangent of starting the garden with jake. there’s already a million resources on the internet for that sort of stuff anyway. maybe the point of gardening isn’t really about growing the vegetables after all. maybe it’s more about being outside, tilling the land, and sharing the experience with close family. maybe it’s about playing in the dirt for the afternoon with your son named jake. whatever motivates you or the reasons you may have, it’s time to get outdoors and start that garden…or weed it as is my case.

westbourne roof tour from david doucette on Vimeo.

i’ve chosen to highlight the karbon faucet this month because we installed it in the westbourne project. we purchased it several months ago and i’ve been curious ever since we received it. i couldn’t wait to get it installed. it’s a heavy and substantial piece of “machinery”. it has an articulating arm that allows it to pivot and swivel in several configurations. it can also fold up to a compact little unit when not in use. a bit of a novelty? maybe. but it is a nicely, thought out, designed piece. it becomes more than just another kitchen faucet and will make a statement on any countertop and in any kitchen.

the karbon faucet comes in a variety of finishes, my favorite being the titanium which no longer appears to be an option. they’ve recently added more colors including gold, bronze, and black handles. whichever style you choose, it’s sure to be a conversation piece when you have that party and everyone ends up in the kitchen, you can say “oh, have you seen my faucet?”

we are getting ready to renovate our kitchen and are searching for contractors but i don’t know where to begin other than referrals from a couple of neighbors. what are some things i should look for in selecting a contractor?

david’s response;

hi dennis, and thank you for writing in.

there are 3 very definite things you should make sure you consider when selecting a contractor for your renovation. one note is that when we are talking about contractors here, we’re really talking about “general contractors”, these are the people who run the whole job and your contract will be with them. the general contractor will in turn hire the subcontractors to complete the work, i.e. plumber, electrician, etc.

now, 3 things to look for;

1. hire only licensed contractors. i cannot emphasize this enough. do not try and save a few bucks by going with a contractor who isn’t licensed as it will surely come back and bite you in the end. if the contractor is knowledgable and reputable, they should be licensed. be sure to check out the california contractors state license board and you can check a license online http://www.cslb.ca.gov/

2. make sure the general contractor carries a general liability policy of at least $1,000,000. for whatever reason, contractors are not required in the state of california to carry a general liability policy (strange to me, yes). however, if they do not carry a general liability policy, they are supposed to tell you but i wouldn’t count on that. ask the general contractor that you are considering hiring if they carry a general liability policy and ask them for the contact name and policy number so you can call his/her insurance company to see if their policy is current.

3. check references for projects that the general contractor has previously completed that are similar in scope to yours. general contractors tend to specialize and a kitchen remodelling contractor may not be the best candidate for a second story addition (then again, they might, your homework will let you know). take the time to check references and talk to his/her past clients. most contractors would gladly provide this information to you.

those are 3 major items i would definately recommend when searching for a general contractor. they are easy to do, don’t take much time or effort, but will go a long way in your comfort level with a contractor once you find the one you like. one final word of caution: don’t necessarily go with the cheapest bid, especially if it’s significantly lower than the rest of them as they probably left something out.

good luck dennis!

westbourne master closet from david doucette on Vimeo.

westbourne master bath from david doucette on Vimeo.

westbourne master bedroom tour from david doucette on Vimeo.

westbourne tour part iii from david doucette on Vimeo.

westbourne tour part II from david doucette on Vimeo.

westbourne tour part I from david doucette on Vimeo.

i have owned it for 2 1/2 years and this well be the first time we’ve actually used it and slept in it. very exciting! on the way back home we’ll be spending one night in sedona where the mrs. will be enjoying a stone helaing massage thing as i’ll be babysitting the boys… i mean spending time with the boys. we’ll be shooting video at the rally so check back soon for updates!

the airstream windows part 3 from david doucette on Vimeo.

the airstream windows part 2 from david doucette on Vimeo.

airstream windows part I from david doucette on Vimeo.

I’m in a pinch, perhaps you have some insight? 

My designer (working on getting her architectrual license) put two small windows in our garage design for us…and that wall is 2′ from property.  The city stamped the plans.  We framed and installed these windows last week.  inspector came out to inspect framing gave us a note that says, “take these windows down as you can only have windows on walls 3′ from property line.”   And they are right. 

I went to the city this morning and spoke with my plan checker who is very nice and appears to really want to help.  He remembers the inspector called him about this one last week..  But said his hands are tied because of code. 

My questions:

 1.  what approach can I take so I can keep these windows, if any? 

2.  if I truly have to take them down, how risky is it to put them back up after final inspection now that everyone is “aware”?  I really prefer to fly straight 100%, but I really feel keeping those windows will be important.

 3.  All and all, having these windows, designed, wall re-framed to accommodate them, purchase the actual windows….all this cost me several thousands.  And I’ve done everything I’m suppose…it doesn’t seem fair I have to absorb this cost and get no windows.  How does a situation like this get resolved?

david’s response;

I really do not like  it when this kind of thing happens to homeowners and i feel for you. Here are my thoughts; 

1. The building inspector is absolutely correct, the windows do need to be 3′ from the property line. Even if the city stamped the plans, the 3′ rule, which is code, still applies. And now that the inspector has seen it, you’re gonna have to take them out. there’s no way around that. You won’t get final inspection unless that is done. I highly doubt you’ll be able to claim these windows as existing now that the inspector has seen them.

2. I don’t know what the project looks like, but it’s expensive, dusty, and you’re tearing up work you just completed if you install them after final inspection.

3. While I agree it doesn’t seem fair you should absorb these costs, this is exactly the kind of thing that can happen when you hire an unlicensed individual (it can happen with licensed people too, but you usually have better recourse, such as the california architects board).

4. Those windows should not have been designed into the project because of the 3′ rule.

5. I don’t know what fee you paid to the designer, but you could ask her to pay for her mistake and if she chooses not to, you could file a claim in small claims court. That’s really your only recourse. You cannot file a claim with the california architects board because she is not licensed (unless she claimed she was or presented herself as an architect).

 Here’s my recommendation in a nutshell;

 1. Remove the windows and don’t put them back in.

2. Talk to your designer about having her pay for the windows (materials and labor to install).

“I’m in the process of insulating my garage roof (no insulation currently) to turn it into a playroom/TV room, a space we will use daily.  My roofer suggests 1″ rigid insulation that equal to R19 and says R30 is an overkill while my designer says we should aim for R30 value.  R30 I’m concerned about the thickness that would ruin the aesthetics as well as the additonal cost (don’t want to pay extra for overkill).”

david’s response;

even in our mild climate here in southern california, heat loss and gain is an issue. most of the heat loss in your garage will be through the roof (depending on how you insulate your garage door) so it is best to install the R30 insulation.

we’ll have some models (not the long leggy type, more the foamcore and chipboard type) on display as well as examples of our work and drawings, and of course, our charming personalities. be sure to visit us at booth #229!

area 63 productions from david doucette on Vimeo.

that's a nice dinner!

there comes a time in a young father’s life when he realizes that his son (or daughter) is all grown up and won’t be asking for advice any longer, you know somewhere around 16 or 17. for me, that day came a couple of weekends ago when i took my 2 1/2 year old son, jake, on his first camping trip at leo carillo state campground, just outside of malibu, california. jake has amazed me for some time, but this is the first real one on one time we have had in a long time. we had the whole weekend together. i felt like i was spending time with a 5 year old.

when it was time to unpack the tent, i heard “daddy, can i help you?”, when it was time to stick the stakes in the ground, “daddy can i help you?”, when it was time to put the sleeping bags in the tent, “daddy can i help you?” jake has always been a good helper but this time it just seemed different, he just seemed more mature. when i was lighting the campfire, he stood there and said “can i say a pear?” 4 or 5 times and i really couldn’t figure out what he was saying, then it hit me. he wanted to say a “prayer” because he remembered when he and  mom would light the minorah and they would recite the jewish prayer. he said ashare a couple of times (which is more than i can remember) and i think i said something about sleeping through the night, so in essence we did say a prayer. i was in awe.

then, when we were sitting across the picnic table from each other, my back was closest to the fire , i asked him if he wanted to come over and sit next to me closer to the fire as it was getting a little cold. he waved his hand around and said “no, i like to sit here and look at all this.” what he was referring to was the trees and the mountains in the background. yes, he definately had the better seat and even at 2 1/2 years old, he knew it. that, he surely gets from his mother.

he listened to everything i had to say and when i asked him to do something, he would do it. i never had to repeat myself (and for the record he is pretty good at home too, but as anyone who has had kids will tell you, they don’t always, shall we say, listen). at night, while sleeping in the tent, we both lay on our new air mattress (yes, i’ve prided myself as a die hard camper who would never use an airmatress, but what can i say, kids?), i realized jake is a real snuggler. we don’t share a family bed at home so i’ve never spent the night with him and i have to say it was one of the more special things i can remember about the weekend. i woke up at one point and he is strewn across my stomach, completely asleep. another time he was nuzzled under my arm. by the way, he is a super sleeper and this was no exception.

the point of all this, GO CAMPING! i really mean it. in that short weekend, i feel like we bonded in a way that we hadn’t before. i’ve moved up the airstream on my priority list to have it finished be the end of the summer. our whole family will be going on a camping trip at the end of april to new mexico and in october we’ll be going to the world famous balloon fiesta in albequerque, new mexico. i’m really excited about enjoying the outdoors with my family. it doesn’t get any better than that!

intro to the airstream from david doucette on Vimeo.

the romaine kitchen – final layout from david doucette on Vimeo.

westbourne – stucco 3.13.09 from david doucette on Vimeo.

this month’s cool product is sigg cups. yes they sound like you can by them at ikea right next to the dunkfurr or lack but they don’t seem to be there…yet. why am i deciding to feature the sigg cup and why is this a cool product? well, i’m glad you asked.

reason #1. unless you’ve been sleeping under a rock the past year, you’ve probably heard about the plastic bottles being made that leached bisphynol-A. i didn’t read enough of the hoopla to really find out what bisphynol-A really is, but i figured when they throw in the word “leaching” in there, it can’t be good. my wife is especially hypersensitive to this kind of stuff since we have two little boys (my nalgene bottle has served me fine for 10+ years but that’s another story).  we had made the switch to sigg cups long before the plastic scare last year, which brings me to…

reason#2. we drink a lot of water in our family, and i mean a lot. it is pretty much the only thing our 2 1/2 year old drinks with the exception of almond milk at school. he keeps trying to get us to give him some coffee but so far we have resisted. we knew by using a re-usable water bottle, we’d be saving a lot of water bottles from ending up in the landfill. I started looking around for cool re-usable bottles, ones that would be special to us and ones that we’d take the time to take in and out of our cars/home/office on a daily basis rather than toss in the back next to the baby wipes and strollers. i stumbled upon the sigg cups and read a lot about them, everything good as far as i could tell. they are an aluminum bottle with a special leach proof liner. on top of that, they have cool designs and frankly just look cool. one of the competitors, kleen kanteen just doesn’t quite have the cool factor. my wife, jake, and i each have 2 sigg cups so we always have a clean one to take with us (or when we leave one in the car and are too lazy to go out in the morning to get it, just grab the other. in fact, since we actually have 4 sigg cups between my wife and myself, i’ve been known to collect 2 or 3 in my car before remembering to bring them all in. in fairness to my wife, she does the same thing).

sigg has a great website that allows readers to read all about their products and the company. they also have an environmental message and is a member of 1% For the Planet, donating 1% of their worldwide sales to protection of the environment. sigg cups are available online as well as rei and whole foods. i’m sure more retailers will be selling them in the near future as they are really catching on. they have several designs to choose from and some very cool colors. they also have kid sizes too although we quickly found out that our son, jake, wanted the bigger size like us.

a sigg cup justs makes sense. for the environment and for your health. i remember when we used to buy the arrowhead or crystal geyser bottles, we could end up with a lot of empty bottles in the backseat in the course of a couple of weeks. now we don’t do that anymore, and that’s a good thing.

romaine master bedroom suite from david doucette on Vimeo.

romaine kitchen from david doucette on Vimeo.

we’d also like to welcome our new readers and home show attendees to the blog, we hope you keep coming back!

we’ll have some models (not the long leggy type, more the foamcore and chipboard type) on display as well as examples of our work and drawings, and of course, our charming personalities. be sure to visit us at booth #218!

westbourne roof part II from david doucette on Vimeo.

westbourne roof part I from david doucette on Vimeo.

joshua trees at sunset

ah, the desert, or is it dessert? one is sand, the other is chocolate. no matter, i love them both. joshua tree national park in southern california is one of my favorite places and a spectacular place to visit for the day or a whole week. now, don’t expect amusement rides here kiddos, this isn’t disneyland or disneyworld, kind of the exact opposite. what you will find is a desert environment unlike anywhere else in the world. Three ecosystems meet here, including the colorado desert, mojave desert, which is home to the famed joshua tree (yes, made infamous by u2’s joshua tree album), and the little san bernardino mountains.

joshua tree national park, or “jtree” as we-in-the-know like to refer to it, is located about 90 miles east of los angeles, california and lies within a 3 hour drive of some 18 million people. it is the kind of place to escape for a day or week and remove yourself from society for a little while. there are many activities within the park including hiking, backpacking, camping, and rockclimbing (my favorite activity and one i did quite often before the kiddos came along).

for the daytrippers, this is the perfect day getaway. i’ve made many trips on a saturday or sunday for rockclimbing. we’d leave los angeles at 7:00, arrive in the park and ready to climb by about 9:30 and start heading home around 4:00 and get home around 6:30. it’s also a great place for dayhiking as well, so you angelenos out there, if time is tight, just go out for the day, you’ll be glad you did.

the view from ryan mountain

a typical jtree campsite, tent not included

for the campers, there are several great camping spots including hidden valley (hard to find a spot and filled with rock climbers), ryan campground (nice and should find a spot if you arrive by friday midday) or jumbo rocks, a little further in the park and more secluded  (but bigger campground than others), are some of my favorites. there are no services within the park so you must bring all food and water with you (joshua tree, california is right outside the park and has all services) and ladies, there are no running toilets or restrooms, but pit toilets are the norm (they are what they sound like).

for the non-campers, there are several choices of places to stay. you’ll find mostly motel 6 type places located outside the park in joshua tree and nearby yucca valley. for a real weekend getaway, i recommend staying at the desert lily, a boutique bed and breakfast, located just outside the park (carrie yeager, the owner, was recently  featured in the shout out!).

i dug into the files for this one (my first rock climbing class)

for the rockclimbers (did i metion i did this a lot before the kiddos?), there are over 5,000 routes in the park ranging from super easy to super hard. for those of you who always wanted to try rockclimbing, this is one of the best places to do it. contact the joshua tree rockclimbing school or vertical adventures for lessons. both outfits run very safe and fun operations. i recommend taking a saturday and sunday class and staying in the park overnight (motels are nearby if you’re not the camping type).

the best times to visit the park are october thru may. the summers get blistering hot (this is the desert afterall) and the winters are beautiful during the day but freezing cold at night (this is the high desert, elevation 3000′+). the desert wildflower season is almost upon us and you can get a pretty good show in the park.  

so whether you want to go out to joshua tree national park  for some peace and quiet, see an amazing display of stars amongst the dark skies,  or you want to tell everyone how cool you are because you just got back from “jtree”, you should put it on your to-do-list. i assure you, you won’t be disappointed and you might even get a little dirty.

desert big horn sheep

photo: sandi wheaton

this month’s SHOUT OUT! goes out to carrie yeager of the desert lily bed & breakfast in joshua tree, california. carrie and her husband, bob, are dear friends of my wife and i. we’re very pleased to be giving them a well deserved SHOUT OUT!

carrie and bob became the proud owners of the rosebud ruby star ranch (not sure why they didn’t keep THAT name) on june 16, 2007. they had been looking around for the perfect b&b for a couple of years and looked as far north as oregon and as far east as vermont. BUT, thankfully for me and anyone reading this, they settled on joshua tree, california for their new home and b&b. when they took over, they spent the hot summer getting the b&b ready for the fall season as the ruby star already had its fair share of regulars.

the rosebud ruby star already had a decent track record, but carrie and bob really took it to the next level. they renamed it the desert lily and added on a modest two story addition (so her and bob didn’t have to live in one of the guest rooms) and re designed the living/dining area with a nice desert/southwestern feel and inviting fireplace. there are three guest rooms available and they usually book a month or so in advance especially during holidays. carrie also has a couple of guest type houses available for rent on the property as well. 

carrie is truly the hostess with the mostess. she LOVES to cook breakfast and she does it very well. some of her favorites are double-stuffed triple berry french toast, crustless crab quiche with roasted red peppers and goat cheese, sweet potato waffles, eggs santa fe, and lemon ricotta pancakes with muddled fresh raspberries. she also always has homemade fresh chocolate chip cookies, a delicious private label wine aptly named the desert lily, and a selection of port.

now i’m going to be honest with you here. route 62 is the main road that runs through joshua tree. if carrie’s b&b was located right off the highway, i’d gladly stay there and enjoy her scrumptious breakfastses (yes i meant to do that) and gladly watch the cars go by. BUT, what makes this a real gem, is the desert lily is very close to the entrance of joshua tree national park (you can see my get outdoors! post here) and located on a dirt road (fine for 2 wheel drive vehicles) and in the mountains a bit so you will get some nice views of the mountains and surrounding valley. in other words, it’s in the perfect setting. to wake up in the morning and enjoy breakfast on the outdoor patio and take in the desert landscape is pure bliss.

carrie really understands customer service and will go out of her way to make sure her guests have a pleasurable & memorable experience. she can easily recommend things to do in joshua tree national park and joshua tree itself.  so for those of you who already read the get outdoors! article featuring joshua tree national park, you have no excuse than to get your butts out to “jtree”. you’ll be glad you did and oh, they’ll leave the stars on for you.

i have 8 pairs of passes to give away, so if you would like a pair mailed to you, send me an email. you can also stop by the office and pick them up.

why do i like yolo? i first met one of the owners, virgina young, at the west coast green expo in san francisco about a year and a half ago (don’t bother calling ms. virginia and saying david doucette recommended your product because that was a well attended expo and i didn’t do anything stupid to leave a lasting impression). i liked what she had to say and really like the company’s philosophy. at the time, no one had no VOC paint, they were on the cutting edge and created yolo for that sole purpose. they also have a great and informative website that describes who they are and what they do and as well as lots of info on their product offerings.

i’ve been waiting for the right project to use the product on and finally found it in our westbourne project which just received the first coat of paint on the walls. it’s looking beautiful and i really like yolo’s color pallette. no, they don’t have a bazillion colors like the big guys, but they also don’t need it. their color palette is diverse and finding a color to suit your needs shouldn’t be a problem.

depending on where you live, finding yolo paint may be a challenge, but don’t let that stop you (we all need a good challenge now and then). if you’re in the los angeles area, you can find them at livingreen in culver city or at cox paint center also in culver city. they also have a retail locator on their website and you can order online (see, that challenge wasn’t so bad).

i’m glad to have been able to finally use their product and very pleased with the results. as i move my business forward i’m looking to align myself with companies that are concerned with the environment and have an environmental message. i’m tickled yolo with yolo and hope you’ll check them out for your next project.

2.4.09 from david doucette on Vimeo.

SO, here he is, the newest addition to our office staff, complete with phone and headset. don’t be surprised if you hear jake’s voice the next time you call the office….just be forewarned, he loves to chat on the phone

master closet floor plan

the westbourne project is entering the final stages and the most fun. it’s where everybody can really start seeing things come together. we’ve completed the design of the master closet which is really luxurious, complete with a custom built island and dresser. we’ll also be installing shoe racks and plenty of hanging space. we’re using FSC, forest stewardship council, walnut. it will be stained a dark color and is sure to look gorgeous. by the way, in answer to the title, the big deal is that we all want them and we all have closet envy…. that, and we never have enough.

  

 

 

master closet elevation #1

   

   

custom dresser elevation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

custom dresser & cubbies

you can also catch mariel hemingway on saturday discussing “how to green your life” and her new book along with other panels discussing ways to incorporate “green” into your daily life. i’ll be there on saturday with the family in tow, so if you see us, please stop us and say hi!

patricia and i want to remodel our kitchen but don’t know how to go about it. we kinda have an idea of the style we want but can’t decide on the specifics. can you help?

david’s response;

lawrence, since you’re in the los angeles area, i’ll be giving a seminar next month on kitchen and bathroom design. be sure to look for details on our website under the seminar tab. in the meantime, a couple of magazines i love for ideas about kitchens and bathrooms are kitchen trends and metropolitan home. expect to spend anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000 for a new kitchen with custom cabinets and stone countertops. moving walls and opening up spaces will increase the cost. look forward to seeing you at our upcoming seminar!

step one is installing the mesh on the inside of all the exterior walls.  

step two is cutting small holes in the mesh and inserting the vacuum hose and blowing the insualtion in. it took about three days for the complete install. 

kind of like a vacuum hose in reverse.

the second floor complete with exterior walls and ceiling

the hopper that the insulation is fed into.

this month’s SHOUT OUT! goes out to joelle reader of moxie design studios (my wife is still wondering why she’s not my first SHOUT OUT!). without joelle’s  help, I wouldn’t be writing this now, nor would any of my website been  possible. she was an integral part in developing the new look of reside architecture, inc.

I hired joelle last may but because of her always-in-demand-business, I wasn’t able to begin working with her until october of last year. joelle and her partner, kathy, schedule their work 3 or 4 months out so there is almost always a wait list (well worth the wait, I might add).

when I began looking for a website designer I knew I wanted a clean, cool, modern, and hip look but I had no idea how to get there. I looked around on craigslist and quickly realized how many “part time” web designers  there are in the los angeles area. I’m not really a betting man (okay, sometimes i  go to vegas and put my home equity line of credit on 00 on the roulette wheel), but if I was, I would bet there are almost as many of these “part-time” web designers as there are actors here. I wanted somebody who was a real pro, who did this as their career.

moxie design studios is great at creating very chic-centric themed websites. when I showed one of my clients the moxie website and said that they would  be doing my website, his response was “I don’t see anything on their website that is your style of cool and modern architecture”. I told him I agreed, but there was something about the style or hipness or freshness that moxie design studios was creating that led me to believe they could really do something cool and modern for me. another thing I really liked about them is that, they are specialists at setting up blogs and that was a top consideration for me.

I searched through dozens of architects’ websites and most of them were poorly designed and didn’t show off the work. I saw some great work from other architects, but I either had to click through dante’s inferno to get there or wait longer than my patience would allow for some flash thing to load.

with that said, I was able to give joelle a whole bunch of website links to architects’ websites that i DID NOT want. through one phone conversation at the beginning and everything else being handled via the web and email, somehow she was able to read my mind enough to come up with a layout for my website that is everything I wanted. the orange and grey are hip cool colors, the navigation bar is super easy to use, and the website overall has a very clean, modern feel to it.

joelle reeder is a top notch professional in her field. she takes pride in what she does, has great ideas, and above all is great at servicing the customer. she was always able to respond quickly to my concerns. for the month and a half she was working on my website, I truly felt I was her only client as she really paid attention to everything. thank you joelle!

speaking of los angeles, we’re blessed with sunny weather for a majority of the year and are in close proximity to the ocean, mountains, and desert. as i write this today, it’s a nice 65 degrees out (so why am i inside writing this…).  i’m not sure what it is in new hampshire where i grew up and my sister lives (i talked to her the other day and i think she was getting 8 inches of snow while we were on the phone), but there are opportunities there to strap on the snow shoes and enjoy the fresh air. right in our neighborhood are the local santa monica mountains which provide a plethora of hiking opportunities for all levels.

the attached photos are of my son jake who is 2 1/2 years old and loves to hike. he simply has to go outside and breathe the fresh air. on those weekends when we get a late start getting outside, he gets antsy and a little cranky. once we step outside, an instant change takes place (similar to when the incredible hulk changes back to bruce banner, but with a smile and without the ripped clothes). i frequently take jake hiking in the santa monica mountains and i’m committing myself to getting my wife and other  son remy out there as well. so exercise shouldn’t be looked at as a dreaded thing on your to do list, it should recharge your batteries, give your body the fresh oxygen it needs. SO with all that said, stop reading right now and go take a hike!

shaklee healthy home cleaning products.  shaklee is the number one nutrition company in the united states. YES, they are a corporation, BUT a corporation with a conscience. their web site is fantastic and full of wonderful information about their products and their commitment to the environment. from their website:

“Our mission at Shaklee is to provide a healthier life for everyone and a better life for anyone. We do it by making natural products that are so exceptional, you just have to tell your friends. Every product that goes into every Shaklee bottle is designed to improve health, work without compromise, and be gentle on the planet.”

i’ve been using their cleaning products at our home for the past year and i really love them. the best thing about them is that they do not smell. you don’t realize how great that is until you spend the afternoon cleaning and realize you don’t smell anything, no lemony fragrance, no lavender. with two young boys crawling and running around our house, this is a big plus. i especially like the basic h2 cleaning concentrate. you put a few tablespoons in a bottle and fill the rest with water, and voila! you have a safe, non-toxic cleaner for wiping all kinds of surfaces. i will admit the dishwasher detergent wasn’t as effective at getting our dishes sparkly clean so i’m still searching for that product to come along. my recommendation is to spend some time on their website and order a few products to try. most you will love, some you may not, but once you find the products you like, you’ll never dread another cleaning day.

i’ve been trying for the past couple of years to align myself with more environmentally conscious and responsible vendors, contractors, clients, and friends. i’ve also been taking steps at home to improve indoor air quality and shaklee cleaning products help my family in achieving that goal.  i don’t get anything for plugging their product, it’s not necessary, the satisfaction of spreading the word and helping others improve their own indoor air quality is enough for me. i believe whatever little steps we take, the world will be a better place. if my little steps can be multiplied by everyone i know, and their little steps can be multiplied by people they know, it just keeps going. here’s to keeping it going in 2009!

master bathroom floor plan

 when you walk into the master bathroom, you’re immediately greeted by an almost six foot wide by nearly eight foot tall built in cabinetry unit that can hold robes, towels, linens, as well as a counter for a coffee maker or espresso machine and a small refrigerator to hold milk and water.

if you move to your right, you’ll see a private toilet room complete with a dual-flush toilet by caroma and waterless urinal by falcon

if you move to the left you will enter the main space of the master bathroom. you’ll find a long vanity with dual undermount sinks. the vanity “floats” above the floor for easy cleaning and is made from FSC, forest stewardship council, teak veneer, and formaldehyde free cabinets. the countertop will be caeserstone.

the shower consists of a steam shower unit which will allow for some nice relaxing time after that long day (or a great way to start the morning for you early morning types). the shower and tub are designed to be one unit by using a caeserstone tub deck that will also become the shower bench.

master bath cabinet elevation

tall cabinetry, plan & elevation

 

floor plan

we created an open kitchen that features a large sliding window system by nanawall that will allow for great cocktail parties as the outside/inside line merge to become one. we’ll also be building a countertop on the outside side of the nanawall window system. the countertops will be caeserstone, a product made from crushed quartz and extremely durable. the drawing below is the floor plan of the kitchen (layout);

elevation looking at cabinetry, sliding window system

the drawing to the right is an elevation (as if you were standing in the kitchen looking out) of the cabinetry and sliding window system. the windows will all slide to the left allowing a gracious 10′-0 opening;

elevation of cabinetry and 4'-0" wide range

the drawing to the right is an elevation looking at the 4′-0″ wide range and cabinetry. notice we’re not installing uppers along the back wall which we’ll keep a nice open feel in the kitchen (we have plenty of storage).

elevation showing refrigerator and upper cabinets

the drawing to the right shows the upper cabinets and refrigerator wall elevation. the cabinets will be made from FSC, forest stewardship council, rift cut white oak. the cabinet construction will be 100% formaldehyde free.

“But there will also be costs: Cars could become more expensive, and Californians can expect higher electric rates as utilities increase their use of renewable energy. Homes built with energy-efficient materials could also prove more costly, as could gasoline reformulated to release less carbon dioxide.”

i thinks it’s a great idea the utility companies will be increasing their use of renewable energy, but it sounds like this may be an increase in cost to the consumer. one way to create a win win situation is for the homeowners to make sure their existing homes are as energy efficient as possible (window leaks are sealed, weather stripping around all exterior doors is installed, dual pane windows are installed, to name a few).

for homeowners considering a major remodel or new construction, it’s even more important (as well as an exciting opportunity) to consider designing and building the most energy efficient home possible, including properly sealing the exterior envelope with foam and insulation, using energy efficient windows with low e and argon filled glass, planning for open spaces to allow for natural ventilation, and planning for overhangs that keep the sun out in the summer but let the sun inside in the winter. the above items, when properly designed into the project, will add little overall cost (assuming a major remodel), but will go a long way in helping your home become more energy efficient.

we provided the architectural design services and are also providing construction services as well, which makes for a cohesive “green” project for everyone involved.

we began construction in the middle of july. I originally designed the home to be “green” but I wasn’t aware we could qualify for the LEED for homes program because I thought only new homes could qualify. however, because of the extensive renovation and the green steps I had already implemented into the design, the project qualified and we are now participating in the program.

we’ve reframed much of the interior and completely opened up the ground floor to include a much larger kitchen and dining area that opens to the backyard via a 12′-0 wide sliding door system that allows the dining area to flow outside.

we’ve also installed all new doors and windows and a “cool roof” that will aid in limiting heat gain from the sun’s rays. we’ve spent the last month patching and repairing the existing stucco as well. tomorrow we will be having most of the structure sprayed with a natural chemical called borate that termites really don’t like, so they won’t be coming around for dinner anymore.

we are now getting ready to install the insulation, the topic of my post. it’s amazing to me that the most older homes circa 1950, in the los angeles area never had insulation installed in the walls. the old walls  typically consist of a 1″ layer of interior plaster, 3 1/2 inches of air space and another 1″ of stucco material. that’s not much between you and mother nature when you go to sleep at night, especially if your bed is up against an exterior wall.

in the 60’s they began putting insulation in the walls in the los angeles area and the choice has always been a batt fiberglass insulation, the pink itchy scratchy stuff that you see in home depot in giant rolls, the ones with the pin panther on it. they still use it today but there are better alternatives that will do a much better job at sealing the exterior envelope (which should be the goal of any insulation job).

for the exterior walls on our project, we will first seal and caulk around all the doors and windows and fill all holes and gaps, any place that the outdoors could get in and vica versa. we then need to install a mesh netting on the interior of all the exterior walls. then we will use  a loose fill made of 85% recycled newspaper (it’s treated to be fire retardant) made by greenfiber and blow it in the walls. this process will completely seal the exterior envelope to leed standards.

for the interior walls, we have been considering a formaldehyde free fiberglass batt insulation made by johns manville and the now hip and trendy, recycled blue jean or cotton insulation made by bonded logic. we decided yesterday to use the batt insulation manufactured by johns manville, a company known for its formaldehyde free insulation products because it is a less expensive option. the cotton insulation is a great product but is difficult to work with and costs 2-3 times as much as the batt insulation.

properly insulating your home is one of the most important things you can do when remodelling your home. make sure your architect and contractor are aware of the different insulation types and conscious of your budget. all too aften, architects aren’t as informed as they should be about insulation and  builders just “do it the way we’ve always done it”. it may be up to you to educate your team.