Sustainable Living 101

5 Things to Know Before Tackling a Fixer Upper

updated on June 21, 2023 by Megan Kitt

As I type out my experience with fixer upper homes, my fingers are stained a deep brown—espresso, as its manufacturer named it—a souvenir from spending the last few days sanding, staining and (soon!) sealing the banister on the loft of my fixer-upper.

I’ve spent the last year slowly renovating a traditional plantation-style house in Hawaii, an endeavor that’s been both fun and frustrating, and promises to yield a nice profit. I have another year until it’s finished, a timeline established by my work schedule and by the fact that my husband is more often at sea working as a submariner than he is home, so I do most the work myself.

Fixer-upper homes are common investments these days (thanks, Joanna Gaines!), but I’ve been around them my whole life. My parents own a home-building company, and in their spare time, they flipped homes. We lived in and renovated some rough-looking houses during my childhood. Once they pristine and polished, they’d sell and buy a new one.

As a kid, this used to embarrass me. Now, it excites me.

Over the next few months, I’m going to share some of my renovating stories. I’ve built interior walls to add a new bedroom, rewired my kitchen, laid flooring, and done a lot of painting (seriously, it never ends). For now, I’m going to share what my family taught me about how to pick and renovate the perfect project home.

You want a fixer, not a fiasco

The key to a good flip house is finding one that has the cliché of the industry: good bones. As I was searching for this house, I found one intriguing property that had foundation and roof issues—and I wasn’t about to mess with that, so I moved on.

The house I settled on was an older, plantation-style home with gross carpet, an inexplicable wall blocking the fridge from the rest of the kitchen, and no driveway. I often say that if the owners had simply given the place a coat of paint before they’d listed it, I couldn’t have afforded it.

The house needed a lot of cosmetic work, but it didn’t need anything structural. I found a reliable, well-reviewed inspector who told me what to worry about, and more than that, told me what was solid. Inspectors can’t catch everything, but they can catch a lot, so make sure you get a good one, and research the list of problems they give you. Stay away from the huge problems and stick with the cosmetic, or budget for the larger fixes.

Keep it classic

It’s so easy to look at Pinterest and follow everything you see. Shiplap! Gray and navy cabinets! Butcher blocks!

If you’re planning to flip the house in only a few months, following trends isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, if you plan to buy and live in a house like I am, consider what you say when you look at houses: “Ugh, look at that recessed wall for a TV.” “That sponge paint.” “That carpet over hardwood!” The audacity!

All of those things were trends not too long ago. So when you two-tone your cabinets or spend a nice chunk of money herringbone tile floor, remember: In a few years, people might look at your house and call your reclaimed wood accent wall so 2019. They might wonder if they can negotiate down the price because of all the updates it needs.

My solution? I keep things classic with the expensive things, like counters and flooring, and follow the trends with décor. I once took a “Millennial Apartment Bingo” quiz from Apartment Therapy, and I checked almost every box—my house is decorated according to what’s in fashion, but the home itself is classic. The flooring, paint, and kitchen fixtures I chose are timeless, and won’t date the house. If people can tell when it was renovated, every passing year is a liability.

Location, location, location

Okay, it’s cliché. But it’s true. Every market is different, but on Oahu, traffic is a way of life. I’ve been stuck in traffic jams at 1 a.m. on multiple occasions. So, when I was looking for fixer upper homes, I made sure to find a house that was centrally located. In addition to its central location, my fixer-upper has ocean, city, and Diamond Head views, which will always be valuable. Sure, I could get a bigger house with fewer needs in the ‘burbs, but I bought my home two years ago, and watching how property has appreciated, I know I made the right choice prioritizing location over size. Do research to determine what matters in your market, but no matter where you are, location will always be important.

Don’t get emotionally attached

This is the hardest for me. Here comes another cliché, but when you pour your blood (literally), sweat (hello, it’s Hawaii!), and tears (of anger) into a house, it’s hard not to get attached. So, when you’re looking at finishes for your home, it’s easy to want to go with what you want, not what is rational and financially sound.

In my house, there have been times when it made sense to go high-end (as with our floors or countertops). There have been times when it made more financial sense to do something mid-range (keep an eye out for an article about how I rehabbed my custom-built cabinets!). When you’ve put so much time and money into something, it’s easy to get caught up in what you personally would like, but it’s important to always focus on your return on investment. Great floors will increase the value of your home. Expensive baseboard trim? Probably not.

Know when to DIY and when to call the pros

As I mentioned, I’ve done the bulk of my renovation projects myself, or with my husband when he’s here, but it’s important to know your limits and when to call in a professional.

My dad once told me you aren’t a homeowner until you wonder what the homeowner before you was thinking. He’s right: I’ve never been so annoyed as I was when I tore down some wallpaper and discovered someone hung the drywall in our living room wrong. You’re supposed to hang it 1/2” off the subfloor to avoid moisture issues, but there it was, brazenly perched right on the subfloor with the telltale discoloration of water damage.

One of the reasons my renovation is taking so long is that I spent months fixing incorrectly installed drywall left behind by our previous owner, and it’s thankless work because fixing it yields no cosmetic difference.

I’m all for tackling a project yourself when you can. In fact, tons of people warned me against hanging my own drywall when my husband and I were building our interior walls, though I considered that a challenge. However, I spent countless hours researching how to do it right, and when it got monotonous, I didn’t cut corners, even though mudding drywall takes forever to do right.

If you don’t have the time or desire to be so meticulous about important projects, it’s better to hire a pro. I’m grateful I caught the drywall issue when I did, because that could have been much more expensive in the long run than the cost of professional drywall installation would have been in the first place.

My parents, my professional advisory, have been very encouraging in all my DIY home improvement exploits, but they’ve also told me when I should call someone in for help. Certain things are better not done at all than done poorly.

So far, my experience with fixer upper homes has been positive. Renovating has been frustrating, and a bit more work than I anticipated, but it’s also been oddly empowering completing these projects on my own. As I mentioned, my husband is often at sea or deployed, so I’ve done a lot of the work on our house myself, with a business to run and a baby to raise. Knowing I’m capable of these things has created confidence that’s hard to describe.

Our home’s value has increased, too. We are confident in our investment and our greatest worry about the house is whether we should keep it and rent it or sell it and take our equity. Buying a home is always a risk, and not one to be taken lightly, but with work ethic, a penchant for hard work, and some vision, a fixer-upper can be a rewarding, difficult, and prudent investment.

In the coming posts, I’ll be sharing progress along with my tips for doing DIY right, keeping things eco friendly whenever we can, and as affordable as possible too.

Do you have any questions about tackling fixer-upper homes? Find more green living ideas here!

7 Things I’ve Learned from Building a Tiny House

updated on June 7, 2023 by Kate

For those of you who haven’t yet heard, yes—I am currently in the midst of building a 196-square-foot sustainable tiny house. Why would I start building a tiny house at 26, especially in the throes of a bitter mountain winter while couch-hopping myself? I have a few thoughts.

For now, the journey continues, and while it is far from reaching its endpoint, it continues to enrich. I am a vastly different human five months into this project than I was at its start, and the construction process has been nothing short of humbling.

It’s also been deeply instructive, especially in terms of what it means to be an eco-conscious, sustainably minded citizen. Here’s what I mean.

1. We’ve grown addicted to more than we need.

The idea of living tiny first drew me to compact space. Building tiny, however, has meant fresh intimacy with what it actually means to live minimally.

I’ve become deeply familiar with what some might call cramped quarters. (I know how wide most dishwashers are, for example, how much space we typically allocate to showers, how high most windows are up from the ground).

Every possession and necessity must have its own, earned space in this tiny house. I already live fairly minimally, but I’ve had to assess and reassess my belongings, letting many of them find better uses. The design of the tiny house itself has required utmost precision.

There’s nothing wrong with this. I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, and I never wish to be burdened by Stuff. But it has drawn my attention to how much our society has nursed an addiction to having more—more than what we actually need.

Space is a luxury, and not all of us have it. Creating more living space for the sake of space—well, I’m having a hard time really getting behind that. The earth can’t always accommodate that, especially when having more is often paired with other wasteful habits.

I’ve trimmed down what “necessity” truly means, and I think even Marie Kondo would be proud!

2. Fear really can stop you in your tracks.

If you let it, fear will keep you from doing something you don’t want to do, and so easily. I’ve given into the fear impulse all too easily, and building this house has been revelatory in this regard.

For example, I’ve always been a bit anxious around open flames of any kind. When I had to do a bit of welding on our rafter beam, it would have been much more comfortable to pass the torch (literally).

In fact, I almost did. But I sat there with that metal rod, turning it into a molten seam—heart pounding—and felt something: that sensation of expanding outside of yourself. Hesitation is natural, my friends, but fear is not. Fear keeps us from that delicious, revealing exhilaration that makes us growing, powerful humans.

3. It’s not all pretty Insta-stories.

Our instagram feeds never present the entire story. Mine certainly does not. It doesn’t show the late nights at the shop, the floorboard placing in negative temperatures, the mud-tromping, the screws that refuse to sink into wood.

It certainly doesn’t show the couch-hopping I’ve done while building, the receipt counting, the need-for-a-shower.

We need to remember this, and, more importantly, love all parts of our stories. I am more than social media, and so are you.

And: tiny house building is not easy. It may even be the most challenging—and also the most rewarding—thing I’ve done.

4. Nor is it about the end result (not really).

I naively assumed I would have a crude structure in place by February. Here I am, writing this in said crude structure, pausing periodically to check for leaks in the roof (spring rain!).

And this is okay. I’ve spent too long valuing end products and destinations, success stories and taglines. Life grows beyond these things, and there is much more to see—much more to learn—in the meantime. Plus, it means that I get to witness every growth stage of my future home. I wouldn’t miss that for anything.

5. There’s grace in admitting you don’t know how to do something.

The times that I have admitted ignorance—namely, every time a power tool walked onto the scene—I’ve been surprised. I expect disappointment or frustration but, instead, I’ve received compassion and an eagerness to instruct. Lucky, perhaps, but even luckier is the perspective that this is how we learn: by simply saying, “I don’t know.”

6. What it actually means to be eco-friendly.

This is one of the most important takeaways from my humble home build. I’ve wanted so desperately to check all of the eco-friendly boxes at every single stage of this construction.

I want to be zero-waste and plastic-free (meaning that I generate zero landfill waste or “garbage” and rely on materials other than plastic). I also want to be water-efficient and plant-friendly (namely by using biodegradable materials, paints, and soaps). Did I also mention I want to use alternative energy sources—like solar—whenever possible?

These are all noble and impactful desires. But I must say, it is nearly impossible to meet all of these desires at all times. I’ve chosen some building materials that contain chemicals, for example, as a means of prioritizing energy efficiency and independence; I’ve had to bring plastic into the equation for lack of alternatives.

This is okay. I’m developing a new, more forgiving definition of eco-consciousness: as long as I am choosing one aim (i.e., zero-waste), that itself is enough. It’s about the whole rather than the part in so many cases, and we aren’t superhuman.

That being said, I’m fairly proud of the decisions I’ve made throughout this project. It will ultimately be 100% zero-waste, plant-friendly, and plastic-free—at least in the lifestyle it enables!

7. Community is everything.

Creating with one’s hands is an ancient, urgent art. We need more of it in this screen-dependent society!

True creation, I believe, rides the wave of beloved community. I have had incredible support from so many loving, local hearts, and that reminds me of what this effort ultimately is about: cultivating a lifestyle that gives, to the earth and to others. That’s what it means to step into the light.

Thanks for listening, friends. I can’t wait to share more with you soon, once I’m fully living under this sweet peaked roof.

10 Easy Peasy Ways to Reduce Your Impact

updated on March 31, 2024 by Angela Hamilton

In honor of Earth Day, we’ve compiled some of our favorite easy ways to reduce your impact. Hopefully with all of the Earth Day posts, National Parks Week, and Fashion Revolution going on, you’ll feel just as inspired as us to make a difference. We all have to start somewhere and there is no shame in saying, I haven’t done any of these, but I’m going to start. My fave is #1—I go on walks everyday so I’m going to make it a point to pick up at least one piece of trash each day. Let us know what you’ll do to reduce your impact!

10 easy peasy ways to reduce your impact

Pick up one piece of trash a day. There are a lot of Instagram communities dedicated to picking up trash in the city, on hiking trails, and at beaches. You can join in or get inspired and do your own thing. It doesn’t matter how, just that you make the decision to pick up something when you see it. We all see trash every day, but it’s that decision that we’re going to do something, that makes it easy to go from just passing by to taking a moment to clean it up.

Make a meal using what you have at home. If you’re like me and not the most natural cook (anyone?) it can be tough to make a meal without a shopping list and recipe handy. But doing so means there’s always miscellaneous items that can be used for experimenting with a new meal. Lately I’ve been using my extras to make bowls with roasted veggies and quinoa. Doing this once a week when you’d reeeeally rather go pick up breakfast or lunch will save money and create less waste.

Put together a zero waste kit. Zero waste is an intimidating term, but there’s also a strong, supportive community behind it, where everyone has the same goal—to reduce your impact. As a creative person who wants to be inspired by what I do, the act of putting together my own zero waste starter kit got me excited to put it to use. Be sure to start off with what you have at home before moving on to products you need to buy!

Think of recycling as a last resort. Big brands would have us think that recycling is the first step (thanks, greenwashing), when it should be last. Designer Sivan Ilan talks about this in regard to her textile business—all it requires is a shift in mindset. Think of packaging for example. The first question is, do I need this? And if you do, you might then think how can I reuse this? Once you reuse it, you might think, can I upcycle this to become something else? Way down the road, once it no longer serves you, you can recycle it (or hopefully compost, if it can be)!

Politely decline a straw or disposable napkins at a restaurant. I know, way too much hype about straws going around these days, but it’s important to keep up the momentum until casual dining spots are ALL being more mindful about single-use. If a straw or a plastic bag has to be the emblem for the “refuse single use” movement, so be it—what’s really important is decreasing our reliance on things that stick around for way longer than they serve us.

Sign a petition. Signing petitions is a great first step for those who aren’t used to activism and don’t know where to start. It forces you to keep up on the issues—which is the only way you’ll learn where you stand/how you want to help—and it really can effect change. Don’t believe me? See why Trader Joe’s announced their decision to phase out plastic.

One less meal containing red meat. Reducing our dependence on red meat is essential to combating climate change. If you are a meat eater, this is an impactful first step in being more conscious of the effect your food has on the environment. When you write your weekly grocery list, replace one meal a week that would typically contain beef—and you’re already making a difference.

Do some green research before you travel. How many people can say they research how to go green while traveling, before they book a trip? It’s a simple thing you can google to find tons of resources on the do’s and don’ts of tourism at your destination. If you’re traveling to Thailand, for example, it would be good to have a briefing on the complicated state of elephants there, before you are faced with a decision about your potential activity, in the moment. It’s so simple and doesn’t require a major change in plans, just a little forward thinking.

Ask yourself this question before you Prime. Next time you’re about to order on Amazon prime, ask yourself, is this something I could pick up locally next time I’m out? If so, you eliminate the need for packaging, expedited shipping (transportation, more packaging), pollution, and other environmental hazards that come along with getting it to you. Sometimes convenience isn’t even about convenience, we get so used to doing something that we don’t realize it would be just as easy to do it a different way. This helps you check those impulses and ultimately reduce your impact!

Check your clothing labels. You’ll find countless ways to quit fast fashion and budget for sustainable clothing on our blog and beyond, but I think it’s more of a journey than a destination. It takes time to learn about the things you wear and the items that make you feel comfortable and confident, and how that plays into your actions as a consumer. If you’re not ready to make a drastic change, start by looking at the clothing labels on the things you already wear. Once you learn about materials, you can start to research sustainable alternatives. It doesn’t cost money to learn, and education is key to reducing your footprint.

Imagine the effect just committing to one of these for the next 30 days might have. If you’re like me, it’ll help you build up the knowledge and confidence to tackle larger goals from there. But at the very least, you’ll have made an effort to reduce your impact where you didn’t before.

Which of these 10 ways speaks to you? Use #ecoclubofficial on Instagram to share your progress with the community. Happy Earth Week!

Top 3 Myths About Sustainable Interior Design, Busted

updated on June 21, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

For us, green living isn’t just about how to reduce your home’s footprint. It’s about finding ways to live in alignment with our environment in the warmest, most comforting and inspiring ways. Today we’ve got eco-friendly designer Holly of Holly Durocher Design chatting about all things sustainable interior design. Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, renovator, DIYer, or simply interested in the ways we can all add a little more “green” to our living spaces, I think you’ll find these three myths + the rest of Holly’s tips incredibly helpful… And a whole lot easier to consider than you might think!

three myths about sustainable interior design

Myth 1: Eco-friendly design sacrifices style

A common concern my clients have is that eco-friendly interior design won’t match their style. In the past, there were limited options, but these days basically any style you can dream up has a sustainable option. If you find a piece you love, the key is to ask questions before you buy. I recommend my clients get in the habit of asking things like: what materials is it made out of? Where is it made? How is it manufactured? For example, if the dining table you want to buy is constructed of responsibly-sourced solid wood, finished with non-toxic stains, and made in America you are on your way to a great sustainable purchase, my friend!

Myth 2: Sustainable design is too expensive

It’s super sustainable to buy vintage! It’s a great way to stay on budget, add one-of-a-kind character to your home, plus the more stuff we keep out of landfills, the better it is for the environment. If you are ready to invest in high quality furniture, it can be pricey upfront (whether it’s sustainably made or not), but in the long run you will save money by having something that will last for years that you won’t need to replace after only a couple years of use.

Myth 3: Green design is only about the environment

Sustainable interior design is about the environment, but it is also about creating a healthier home and improving your well-being. I ask my clients what their priorities are when it comes to sustainable design. Are you concerned about choosing items that are earth friendly? Do you want to create safer indoor air quality for your family? Both? This helps guide the design process in a way that is most meaningful for them. There are furnishings available that meet both of these concerns, but sometimes for budgetary or other considerations clients choose items that are primarily going to positively impact their wellness at home.

What are some real-life ways your clients have incorporated sustainable practices into their interiors?
Simple ways my clients have become more sustainably-minded include: improving their indoor air quality with the addition of house plants, natural cleaning products, organic bedding, pillows, towels and air purifiers, as well as, buying non-toxic furniture.

What’s the biggest thing a homeowner can do when designing or re-designing their space to be more environmentally friendly?
In general, I recommend choosing things that are made in America with non-toxic materials and finishes to improve your indoor air quality while reducing your carbon footprint. Purchasing a non-toxic mattress is a great place to start. Most people feel good about making an investment in a healthy mattress since it will last for years and can be moved to any new home. We spend one third (!) of our lives smooshed into our mattresses so it makes sense we’d want to sleep on something non-toxic.

Plus, the manufacturing processes for conventional mattresses tends to be far more environmentally harmful than natural mattresses. I’m happy to see that there are several great brands on the market today, but my personal favorite are Savvy Rest natural latex mattresses. I’ve had mine for about 8 years and sleep like a baby. Plus, they are an awesome Certified B-Corporation based in Virginia with great customer service.

Any favorite projects that shed a light on how attainable an eco-friendly home can be?
I truly believe eco-friendly design is easily attainable for anyone. There are more sustainable products being developed everyday giving us practically endless options. One of my clients lived in this beautiful old home and we renovated her guest bathroom. We kept her lovely vintage tub, selected gorgeous recycled Fireclay Tile, non-toxic paints, and a Paperstone countertop which is made out of recycled paper. We were able to choose all sustainable materials without sacrificing her style.

Where do you look for inspiration for your work?
I find inspiration everywhere! I feel like I’m a little design sponge constantly soaking in the world around me and filing away information for later use. Getting out in nature and seeing art are my top two. My clients inspire me as well. I love getting to know people on a personal level and then work with them to create a space that is true to them. One of my goals is to build my client’s design confidence so that they feel empowered to add to their space over time. We don’t live in museums and I think everyone should have the confidence to create a home that speaks to them.

Any tips for renters that want to maintain an eco-friendly home but can’t make major changes?
I have a list of “Intentions” that I use in my approach to every project that are great for renters and homeowners alike. Here are a few ideas:

Choose natural cleaning products and soy-based candles that are scented with essential oils to improve your indoor air quality. Avoid chemicals and synthetics.
Install removable wallpaper. Look for brands that use non-toxic adhesives.
Refresh your space with no-VOC paint.
Buy used furniture (hello Craigslist!). Get upholstered furniture professionally cleaned to remove allergens. Find a local workroom to refinish wood items or reupholster sofas and chairs to give them a new look that suits your style.
Cozy up with certified organic bedding and towels.

Thanks to Holly of Holly Durocher Design for busting these sustainable interior design myths! See her design work and blog at hollydurocher.com.

The Most Important Lesson I Learned from Marie Kondo

updated on June 7, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

It’s gratitude. You can all click out now. You’re welcome.

(Did I just kill this post?)

I did watch a few episodes of Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up on Netflix. It was cute. The families were sweet. I did tear up a bit, when watching during PMS. I also realized, god forbid, that it could use like 5% of the drama that Hoarders had. Maybe a few flashbacks, you know? What I’m saying is that I didn’t learn a ton from it, though I do think her methods are effective for keeping things organized, if you stick to them. Which is her MO. My heather gray sweatshirt collection thanks you, Mrs. K.

(Photo by Charity Hestead Kubena)

But the most important lesson I learned came from one of the very first lessons in the very first episode, and thankfully again and again afterward. It was to thank your belongings. This is not new, if you followed Marie Kondo before, you’ll know that she’s always promoted this idea of gratitude.

Upon tidying up some weeks afterward, I literally thanked a rock. It was a pretty white rock I’d gathered from who knows where, but that I added to my crystal collection, even though (as it knew) it was just a lowly rock. I said, “Thank you, rock.” But then. What to do? Unlike her clients, I wasn’t about to toss everything I own into some big white trash bag, and it wasn’t because I had that big of an attachment to any of it. It was because I didn’t want to waste. (And a rock is kind of a weird thing to throw away. I’ve also had this issue with pennies in the past. Like, I don’t need you, penny. You are a silly form of US currency. I would need 99 more of you to get anywhere.) My aversion to sending things to the landfill is as strong Ron’s love of baseball cards in episode 2. Also my affinity for rocks.

Like so many green living bloggers, it was a constant eye-roll moment for me, seeing people get rid of stuff in less-than-mindful ways. (We don’t really know what happens to it all, we can only shudder at the thought.) I think it was a little shocking for a lot of us, honestly, because it revealed the tension between movements like zero waste and minimalism.

Generally speaking, minimalism concerns itself more with the idea of peace of mind via detachment, which can sometimes (yet not always) come with a decreased carbon footprint. Meanwhile, zero waste is pretty pointedly about environmental impact, but doesn’t necessarily focus on the emotional benefits of less. Neither of them really address a person’s innate desire for creative expression—neither the visions of stark white walls nor neatly lined mason jars spark joy in an artist’s heart.

But both movements, and yes, even the KonMari method, evoke some degree of care, whether mindfulness toward earth, toward your mental state, or toward your belongings and how they surround you. And so no matter which speaks to you most, it seems most important to remember: say thanks.

Thank you, clothes, for I loved you once (inside a fluorescent department store dressing room).
Thank you, modest apartment, for you allow me a nice, warm space to snuggle pets.
Thank you, trash, for at one point you were treasure.
Thank you, clearance-Target ottoman, because you’re the ultimate scratching post for my cat.
Thank you, empty candle jars that I haven’t found time to clear, yet can’t bring to throw away.
Thank you, desk dad built, that I hope he doesn’t find out I don’t sit at.
Thank you, rock, because the memory of a second grade geologist wannabe gives me joy.

No matter if you trash it or keep it, recycle or upsycle, donate or sell. No matter if you’re for her or against, prefer to fold or to hang. We have to agree: She’s right. We should all be grateful for our stuff. For the lives we have and the privileges we enjoy. Thanks, Marie Kondo, for the reality check. I needed it.

Oh, and as for the rock: anyone know the right way to donate such a thing? Or should I release it at my local park? I couldn’t find a space for it inside, but I figured, I’d just put it on the patio and let it enjoy another spring.