Enriched Homes & Wellbeing

07/08/2022

This TedTalk on "A different approach to sustainable housing" has my heart on fire this morning 💚

It's easy to see why we focus on energy efficiency, says architectural designer Craig Jarvis -- but that's the symptom, not the problem. It's time for a new ...

16/04/2022

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Easter is here and the season is changing..

The leaves are turning yellow and the nights are getting cooler. Autumn is a time to be grateful for the abundance around us and to nourish ourselves before the cold winter arrives.

Our energy starts to slow, the warm blankets come out and the hot chocolate starts to brew ☕ At the same time, there is still plenty of opportunity to soak up the sun and take advantage of that last warm sunlight.

❔Do you embrace the changing seasons?

Living with the seasons allows us to feel present, balanced, in flow and connected with nature 🍃

Although an eternal summer is a dream for most of us, we need to allow space for the other seasons too and to transition your home, below are some tips to ensure it is ready to adapt to the changing weather and support your physical health:

🍁 Inspect external doors and windows to ensure they close tightly to prevent water ingress

🍁 Clean the gutters and check that downpipes are connected to storm water drainage. At the same time, look for cracked or broken tiles on the roof

🍁 Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary

🍁 Create a cosy, dust-mite free bed; make the most of the opportunity of the sun's UV rays and wash all bedding. This includes mattress protectors, pillows, quilts & blankets

🍁 Check your clothes dryer exhaust and vents for lint and debri. If it exhausts externally, make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use

🍁 Schedule servicing for your heater now (don't wait for winter)

🍁 Clean your ceiling fans and switch the direction of the blades to rotate clockwise to circulate the warm air around the room

🍁 Clean all vents including exhaust fans, range hoods and air purifiers to ensure adequate ventilation in the home whilst the windows are closed more often

🍁 Prepare your dehumidifier for use in areas of condensation or when drying clothes indoors

🍁 Declutter your wardrobe by donating items you no longer wear, pack away summer clothes and inspect winter items ready to wear

Life is always evolving and to live with the seasons will make you feel alive, connected and whole. Wishing you all a beautiful Easter 🐣

22/02/2022

Building Biology (known as "Baubiologie" where the philosophy originated in Germany) is considered to be a science of holistic interactions between life and the living environment. This includes the study of the relationship between us, as human beings and the buildings in which we spend time in, in addition to the relationship between a building and the environment.

The purpose of Building Biology is to help occupants identify the health hazards that may be in their homes and workplaces, and bring awareness to the fact that ignoring the potential hazards could have a negative impact on the quality of their health.

As Building Biology evolved, 25 main principles were established which are essential to our philosophy. These embody the elements to be considered when constructing new buildings, renovating or simply improving the current space that you live in. The principles include the following categories:

🧱 Building materials and noise control

💧 Indoor climate

🌏 The environment, energy and water

🎨 Interior design

🏠 The building site

I will share these principles over the coming weeks to help you on your healthy home journey and I am confident that by applying the strategies to the best of our ability, we can create a happy, sustainable and healthy environment to live and work!

24/12/2021

Are you going away these holidays?

My #1 Healthy Home tip is to turn the water off at the mains before you leave so that you don't risk coming home to water damage, which results in mould and bacteria growth 💧💧💧

Indoor water events like burst pipes, leaking flexible braided water hoses, a dripping tap or malfunctioning water sources (like a water filter) can have devastating effects on the health of our home, so it's a great habit to get into!

Thank you for your support this year and I wish you all a happy, healthy Christmas! 🎄🎅

04/11/2021

I am so humbled to be joining the team at the Women's Village as a service provider for the Wellness Wednesday chats 🥰 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2109485175857564&id=100971384852559

24/10/2021

The ritual of smudging our homes is traditionally a ceremony for cleansing the soul of negative thoughts of a person or place 🧘‍♀️ During this process you may use incense or smudge sticks and whilst this is a beautiful practice which can bring a sense of calm to the home, it can come at the detriment to our health ❗

Burning incense emits smoke containing up to 4 times more particulates than cigarette smoke into the air 💨 hence there is no "safe" or "natural" incense because it is the particles in the smoke itself that is toxic, regardless of what fragrant gums, resins, wood powders, herbs, spices etc is used. Where there is smoke, there is gas products and other volatile organic compounds.

👃 If you can smell incense inside the home (even when you're not burning it) this means that the particles and chemicals have permeated into the building materials, furnishings etc. Which is recirculating into our breathing zone indoors.

So what should we do to support our health but still enjoy smudging our homes or burning incense? Ventilation! Open the doors and windows 🚪Use the fresh air as part of the purifying ritual, this will also dilute the pollutants from the smoke and reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses and other related health problems. Keeping the ritual to an occasional ceremony and letting the space air out between sessions is also recommended to reduce your exposure.

02/10/2021

Are you interested in the reality of mould in your living environment? This is a concise story about "how your house can make you weak"

A good friend emailed yesterday and said, “I don’t get it. My wife just got diagnosed with either Lyme or an unspecified inflammatory condition. What should I do?” I asked a few questions including, “Did you have a water leak in your house in the last year?” The answer was “yes.” Witho...