How to Turn a Health Crisis into a Dream Home

I've been working as a designer for 17 years now, and it has been incredibly rewarding.  Creating beautiful and functional spaces for clients that reflect who they are is a labor of love for me. Over the years, I had spent time and effort making my own home beautiful- but something wasn’t right…

I began to develop headaches, food sensitivities, joint pain, neuropathy, brain fog and lots of other symptoms. After some research, I discovered these symptoms could be related to my indoor air quality- so I tested for mold. The results revealed a score of 19.2 on a scale of 20 for mold spores and mycotoxins (dangerous levels). I had a difficult choice to make…invest tens of thousands of dollars to remediate or move out.. Ultimately, I decided to use this opportunity to start fresh. So, I disclosed the mold and listed my home for sale.

My partner and I looked at many properties during 2021 and 2022, but everything smelled strongly of mold. Few of us understand how to prevent mold growth in our homes and we live in a humid climate. It takes 24-48 hours for mold to grow if humidity levels are above 50%. And anything can be food for mold, including dust. The last place I would feel safe would be another moldy home, even after careful remediation.

We were made aware of a home on 4 acres that might be available and we contacted the owner. When we went to look at the property, we fell in love! It is 4 acres of woodland with a house that started out as a horse barn, and was converted to a home back in 1983. But without permits, an architect or proper building experience, the person who built it left a mold factory in his wake. It wasn't even safe for me to go inside.

But what designer and general contractor couple could turn down the potential that this diamond in the rough was offering? We decided to purchase the property, tear it down to the foundation, and rebuild. Searching for a builder that understood non-toxic and mold resistant construction proved to be a challenge… and then we figured- who else would take as much care to build a healthy home as we would? So, we are acting as our own builder to create the home of our dreams.

There is a total lack of information to homeowners on how to keep their home microbiome healthy. Prioritizing indoor air quality, proper humidity levels, using construction methods that prevent future problems, purchasing materials that nurture health instead of eroding it- these are the ideals that we are bringing to this build, and we want to share all of it with you. My hope is that our journey to build a healthy, non-toxic home will inspire you to think about your own home's microbiome and how it affects you.

I'd like to take what we are learning and doing and change the way people renovate and furnish their homes. We all want to have healthy bodies, and a healthy home supports that. Wellness isn't just what you eat and how you move, but where you live and how you engage with your environment.

Join me as we build our home from the ground up! Will we find the right contractors that support our vision? What do we think we know but really have no idea about? What kind of construction drama will we get mixed up in? (Because we know from experience, it happens on every project!) In the end, we will be living in our dream house: Light filled, trees all around, non-toxic and supporting good health. I hope you come along and learn something that might just enrich your life, too.