HomEcology Podcast – HomEcology
Transcript
1
00:00:00,0 –> 00:00:02,720
0 –> 2.72
[Music]
2
00:00:00,799 –> 00:00:06,318
you’re listening to the home ecology
3
00:00:02,720 –> 00:00:07,679
podcast with monica kaiser
4
00:00:06,318 –> 00:00:10,879
so hello
5
00:00:07,679 –> 00:00:13,439
um i’m here with monica kaiser of moneca
6
00:00:10,880 –> 00:00:15,759
kaiser design build and on this lovely
7
00:00:13,439 –> 00:00:18,640
sunday afternoon uh how are you today
8
00:00:15,759 –> 00:00:20,0
15.759 –> 20
monica i’m great thanks great great so
9
00:00:18,640 –> 00:00:22,0
18.64 –> 22
we’re at it again
10
00:00:20,0 –> 00:00:24,240
20 –> 24.240000000000002
uh however this time around we’re going
11
00:00:22,0 –> 00:00:26,960
22 –> 26.96
to uh get deeper into the conversation
12
00:00:24,239 –> 00:00:28,799
and philosophy of homoecology
13
00:00:26,960 –> 00:00:31,359
now that’s a term you have coined so to
14
00:00:28,800 –> 00:00:34,480
speak and how about we start with your
15
00:00:31,359 –> 00:00:36,719
explanation of what homoecology is
16
00:00:34,479 –> 00:00:38,878
yeah that’s a that’s a great place to
17
00:00:36,719 –> 00:00:41,760
start this
18
00:00:38,878 –> 00:00:45,0
38.879 –> 45
home ecology
19
00:00:41,759 –> 00:00:45,0
41.76 –> 45
is a
20
00:00:45,280 –> 00:00:48,879
synthesis
21
00:00:46,878 –> 00:00:51,280
of some things that are very important
22
00:00:48,878 –> 00:00:54,238
to us but we don’t really talk about a
23
00:00:51,280 –> 00:00:56,399
lot home
24
00:00:54,238 –> 00:00:58,238
home is kind of it connotes something
25
00:00:56,399 –> 00:01:01,679
about community
26
00:00:58,238 –> 00:01:03,759
and environment and it’s evocative of
27
00:01:01,679 –> 00:01:04,799
something meaningful to us we all long
28
00:01:03,759 –> 00:01:07,920
for home
29
00:01:04,799 –> 00:01:10,720
we talk about homecoming journeys we
30
00:01:07,920 –> 00:01:13,40
we we write poems about home and we all
31
00:01:10,719 –> 00:01:14,79
know what homesickness is
32
00:01:13,40 –> 00:01:15,680
and
33
00:01:14,79 –> 00:01:18,560
i wanted to
34
00:01:15,680 –> 00:01:20,159
try to study that to what is it that
35
00:01:18,560 –> 00:01:22,719
makes up a home
36
00:01:20,159 –> 00:01:25,520
and i wanted to begin a conversation
37
00:01:22,719 –> 00:01:27,519
about what those elements are
38
00:01:25,519 –> 00:01:30,319
so home ecology is about our
39
00:01:27,519 –> 00:01:32,560
interdependence and our
40
00:01:30,319 –> 00:01:32,559
um
41
00:01:32,879 –> 00:01:36,879
community i guess
42
00:01:34,560 –> 00:01:38,400
what i’m trying to do is elevate the
43
00:01:36,879 –> 00:01:41,359
built environment
44
00:01:38,400 –> 00:01:42,240
to be in harmony with the culture
45
00:01:41,359 –> 00:01:45,599
and
46
00:01:42,239 –> 00:01:48,478
ecosystem we’re dependent on
47
00:01:45,599 –> 00:01:49,759
to have more of a symbiotic relationship
48
00:01:48,478 –> 00:01:53,39
with
49
00:01:49,759 –> 00:01:55,118
everything okay and uh so
50
00:01:53,40 –> 00:01:57,118
what are those elements that you are
51
00:01:55,118 –> 00:01:59,680
speaking of
52
00:01:57,118 –> 00:02:01,840
um so i’ve i’ve
53
00:01:59,680 –> 00:02:04,399
been playing with this for a while
54
00:02:01,840 –> 00:02:06,0
121.84 –> 126
and it’s complex it’s not complicated
55
00:02:04,399 –> 00:02:07,759
but it’s complex and there’s a big
56
00:02:06,0 –> 00:02:09,758
126 –> 129.759
difference there’s an elegance and a
57
00:02:07,759 –> 00:02:10,560
simplicity to it but talking about it
58
00:02:09,758 –> 00:02:11,439
can
59
00:02:10,560 –> 00:02:14,159
can
60
00:02:11,439 –> 00:02:15,759
it can get a bit unwieldy so
61
00:02:14,159 –> 00:02:19,359
what i’ve done is i’ve broken it down
62
00:02:15,759 –> 00:02:20,959
into five elements of home ecology or
63
00:02:19,360 –> 00:02:23,40
principles
64
00:02:20,959 –> 00:02:25,280
things that we need to aspire to in in
65
00:02:23,39 –> 00:02:28,959
order to create great homes
66
00:02:25,280 –> 00:02:32,560
and the the aspirations are awakening
67
00:02:28,959 –> 00:02:32,560
acknowledging our interdependence
68
00:02:33,759 –> 00:02:39,280
adaptability like cultivating
69
00:02:35,919 –> 00:02:40,799
adaptability and embracing adaptability
70
00:02:39,280 –> 00:02:42,159
cultivation
71
00:02:40,800 –> 00:02:44,0
160.8 –> 164
um which
72
00:02:42,159 –> 00:02:46,639
i just use that word i don’t mean to but
73
00:02:44,0 –> 00:02:50,639
164 –> 170.64
cultivation is like what do we want to
74
00:02:46,639 –> 00:02:53,119
cultivate in our homes what do our homes
75
00:02:50,639 –> 00:02:55,598
want to cultivate in the world so sort
76
00:02:53,120 –> 00:02:58,239
of setting an intention and designing
77
00:02:55,598 –> 00:03:00,878
towards that intention and honoring our
78
00:02:58,239 –> 00:03:03,360
values all the time and thinking of the
79
00:03:00,878 –> 00:03:05,199
home as a living organism and something
80
00:03:03,360 –> 00:03:07,280
that propagates
81
00:03:05,199 –> 00:03:10,0
185.2 –> 190
meaning and values and
82
00:03:07,280 –> 00:03:13,39
enlightenment actually is my hope
83
00:03:10,0 –> 00:03:15,280
190 –> 195.28
and then ease we need ease we need ease
84
00:03:13,39 –> 00:03:19,840
so that so that we can give more so that
85
00:03:15,280 –> 00:03:22,80
we feel abundant and we can flourish
86
00:03:19,840 –> 00:03:26,479
so those are the elements and we could
87
00:03:22,80 –> 00:03:26,480
easily do a podcast on each of them
88
00:03:27,280 –> 00:03:30,719
the idea is that you can’t build a home
89
00:03:29,680 –> 00:03:32,879
alone
90
00:03:30,719 –> 00:03:35,39
i think john dunn said no man is an
91
00:03:32,878 –> 00:03:36,239
island and it’s and it’s and we repeat
92
00:03:35,39 –> 00:03:39,359
that and repeat that because it
93
00:03:36,239 –> 00:03:42,80
resonates so deeply and no home is an
94
00:03:39,360 –> 00:03:44,239
island either and we can’t create a home
95
00:03:42,80 –> 00:03:46,319
alone like these track builders they can
96
00:03:44,239 –> 00:03:48,878
build these terrible parasites on the
97
00:03:46,318 –> 00:03:51,199
environment and rape the land for as
98
00:03:48,878 –> 00:03:53,518
many dollars as they can have and you
99
00:03:51,199 –> 00:03:55,280
know just these places that nobody
100
00:03:53,519 –> 00:03:58,400
really wants to live but it’s all that
101
00:03:55,280 –> 00:04:01,360
they can kind of manage
102
00:03:58,400 –> 00:04:04,879
dead zones yeah and i mean they’re not
103
00:04:01,360 –> 00:04:06,0
241.36 –> 246
alive there’s no diversity there’s no
104
00:04:04,878 –> 00:04:08,399
there’s
105
00:04:06,0 –> 00:04:10,639
246 –> 250.64
they’re sanitized homogenized
106
00:04:08,400 –> 00:04:13,120
communities that don’t work you see a
107
00:04:10,639 –> 00:04:14,878
lot of box towns growing yesterday
108
00:04:13,120 –> 00:04:17,600
that’s that seems to
109
00:04:14,878 –> 00:04:19,439
really resonate with people that uh oh i
110
00:04:17,600 –> 00:04:21,359
have to own this type of
111
00:04:19,439 –> 00:04:22,478
box house instead of
112
00:04:21,358 –> 00:04:24,560
building
113
00:04:22,478 –> 00:04:26,959
and inspiring to have their own type of
114
00:04:24,560 –> 00:04:28,800
values put into their homes is that
115
00:04:26,959 –> 00:04:30,319
something that kind of relates to that
116
00:04:28,800 –> 00:04:32,879
very much so
117
00:04:30,319 –> 00:04:34,879
very much so and i think that in order
118
00:04:32,879 –> 00:04:37,600
to build an actual home we need to
119
00:04:34,879 –> 00:04:41,199
co-create it we can’t do it alone
120
00:04:37,600 –> 00:04:44,400
it’s a very intimate process of
121
00:04:41,199 –> 00:04:46,560
listening and learning so the person who
122
00:04:44,399 –> 00:04:48,159
needs this home needs to be listened to
123
00:04:46,560 –> 00:04:50,800
the way a mother would listen to a
124
00:04:48,160 –> 00:04:52,880
newborn baby and understand its needs
125
00:04:50,800 –> 00:04:54,79
and wishes and aspirations you know how
126
00:04:52,879 –> 00:04:56,79
a mom can
127
00:04:54,79 –> 00:04:59,198
you know a really good mom is attuned to
128
00:04:56,79 –> 00:05:01,38
her baby and and she knows the baby
129
00:04:59,199 –> 00:05:03,38
wants something but doesn’t know what
130
00:05:01,38 –> 00:05:05,199
but she’s wise because she’s had a few
131
00:05:03,38 –> 00:05:08,79
other children or she’s read the books
132
00:05:05,199 –> 00:05:10,80
and she cares a lot and we have to start
133
00:05:08,79 –> 00:05:12,560
approaching homemaking with a lot more
134
00:05:10,79 –> 00:05:14,639
caring and not about the granite
135
00:05:12,560 –> 00:05:16,879
countertops or the quartz countertops or
136
00:05:14,639 –> 00:05:19,600
the leather granite countertops or the
137
00:05:16,879 –> 00:05:20,959
whatever concrete countertops or you
138
00:05:19,600 –> 00:05:23,120
know and not even about how
139
00:05:20,959 –> 00:05:26,959
eco-effective those things are that
140
00:05:23,120 –> 00:05:29,918
matters but the deeper conversation is
141
00:05:26,959 –> 00:05:32,159
where is this countertop situated in
142
00:05:29,918 –> 00:05:34,478
your heart what are you going to do
143
00:05:32,160 –> 00:05:37,360
there like how is your grandchild going
144
00:05:34,478 –> 00:05:39,680
to help you roll out the cookies and
145
00:05:37,360 –> 00:05:42,80
where are you going to get the flower to
146
00:05:39,680 –> 00:05:44,79
make the cookies are you going to be
147
00:05:42,79 –> 00:05:46,879
living locally like in that you know
148
00:05:44,79 –> 00:05:48,79
trying to buy from the local people
149
00:05:46,879 –> 00:05:50,399
and
150
00:05:48,79 –> 00:05:53,198
what does a kitchen look like that cares
151
00:05:50,399 –> 00:05:55,839
more about heart and environment and
152
00:05:53,199 –> 00:05:58,0
353.199 –> 358
your grandchildren than like dwell
153
00:05:55,839 –> 00:05:59,679
magazine you know which i mean it’s a
154
00:05:58,0 –> 00:06:01,839
358 –> 361.84
bad choice because dwell is kind of
155
00:05:59,680 –> 00:06:03,600
enlightened but
156
00:06:01,839 –> 00:06:05,439
we have to stop thinking about how
157
00:06:03,600 –> 00:06:07,600
things look and talk about how things
158
00:06:05,439 –> 00:06:09,360
feel and why we want them to be that way
159
00:06:07,600 –> 00:06:11,919
and what they’re going to cultivate
160
00:06:09,360 –> 00:06:14,400
that’s great and so what inspired this
161
00:06:11,918 –> 00:06:17,839
idea like behind the values
162
00:06:14,399 –> 00:06:21,198
where where did it stem from for you
163
00:06:17,839 –> 00:06:24,560
i guess i started out i had a difficult
164
00:06:21,199 –> 00:06:26,0
381.199 –> 386
childhood i was i was pretty
165
00:06:24,560 –> 00:06:26,800
challenged
166
00:06:26,0 –> 00:06:29,680
386 –> 389.68
and
167
00:06:26,800 –> 00:06:30,560
just home was very dysfunctional and sad
168
00:06:29,680 –> 00:06:33,38
and
169
00:06:30,560 –> 00:06:35,439
i realized really early on that there
170
00:06:33,38 –> 00:06:37,599
must be more to life like
171
00:06:35,439 –> 00:06:40,478
like this is crazy
172
00:06:37,600 –> 00:06:43,199
and i wanted to find things that i could
173
00:06:40,478 –> 00:06:43,918
really believe in and hold on to
174
00:06:43,199 –> 00:06:46,560
so
175
00:06:43,918 –> 00:06:48,478
i just spent my whole life studying
176
00:06:46,560 –> 00:06:51,519
philosophy and
177
00:06:48,478 –> 00:06:53,918
initially i did it at university
178
00:06:51,519 –> 00:06:55,918
i kind of loved it but i was so
179
00:06:53,918 –> 00:06:59,38
overwhelmed by having all these concepts
180
00:06:55,918 –> 00:07:03,279
that didn’t belong to me
181
00:06:59,38 –> 00:07:05,839
so i met a wonderful teacher of um tai
182
00:07:03,279 –> 00:07:09,198
chi and art
183
00:07:05,839 –> 00:07:11,38
and meditation who is buddhist and i
184
00:07:09,199 –> 00:07:13,199
left university and i’ve practiced with
185
00:07:11,38 –> 00:07:16,240
him for 30 years
186
00:07:13,199 –> 00:07:19,360
and it’s been this just lovely discovery
187
00:07:16,240 –> 00:07:21,360
of of really aligning my life with my
188
00:07:19,360 –> 00:07:23,120
values like i wanted to have a
189
00:07:21,360 –> 00:07:25,520
meaningful life
190
00:07:23,120 –> 00:07:28,0
443.12 –> 448
and a truthful life and i chose to get
191
00:07:25,519 –> 00:07:29,680
to know myself and figure out what i
192
00:07:28,0 –> 00:07:32,720
448 –> 452.72
care about and
193
00:07:29,680 –> 00:07:34,720
i’m 51 years old and i’m so happy like
194
00:07:32,720 –> 00:07:37,199
and i didn’t you know i had terrible
195
00:07:34,720 –> 00:07:39,360
depression till i was 28 like i really
196
00:07:37,199 –> 00:07:41,840
had a lot of suffering and
197
00:07:39,360 –> 00:07:43,280
and then i spent most of my adult life
198
00:07:41,839 –> 00:07:45,679
cultivating
199
00:07:43,279 –> 00:07:47,758
not in a self-help way but being present
200
00:07:45,680 –> 00:07:50,639
in meditation and with good people and
201
00:07:47,759 –> 00:07:51,520
learning about meaningful things
202
00:07:50,639 –> 00:07:53,360
and
203
00:07:51,519 –> 00:07:55,359
i feel like i’ve got
204
00:07:53,360 –> 00:07:57,280
and then being blessed by this wonderful
205
00:07:55,360 –> 00:08:00,560
teacher who i believe is enlightened and
206
00:07:57,279 –> 00:08:03,439
has been able to impart um
207
00:08:00,560 –> 00:08:05,759
you know he always raises the bar and
208
00:08:03,439 –> 00:08:08,478
helps me just elevate my thinking and
209
00:08:05,759 –> 00:08:10,560
vision and i really want to bring that
210
00:08:08,478 –> 00:08:14,79
back into homemaking into something very
211
00:08:10,560 –> 00:08:16,79
practical and
212
00:08:14,79 –> 00:08:18,800
i feel that the reason i’m happy is i
213
00:08:16,79 –> 00:08:20,800
have aligned my life with my values i’ve
214
00:08:18,800 –> 00:08:22,639
created a business that reflects my
215
00:08:20,800 –> 00:08:24,879
values and
216
00:08:22,639 –> 00:08:27,680
i’m abundant and i’m nurturing and i
217
00:08:24,879 –> 00:08:30,240
give a lot and it’s easy it’s you know i
218
00:08:27,680 –> 00:08:31,840
remember being young and it was hard to
219
00:08:30,240 –> 00:08:34,0
510.24 –> 514
think about other people i had a good
220
00:08:31,839 –> 00:08:35,679
heart but i had no capacity
221
00:08:34,0 –> 00:08:37,519
514 –> 517.519
so that’s what i want i want to make
222
00:08:35,679 –> 00:08:39,598
good homes for people
223
00:08:37,519 –> 00:08:41,519
and through co-creation and
224
00:08:39,599 –> 00:08:44,0
519.599 –> 524
interdependence and this little bit of
225
00:08:41,519 –> 00:08:46,320
awakening these these home ecology
226
00:08:44,0 –> 00:08:49,839
524 –> 529.839
principles that i’m asking us to
227
00:08:46,320 –> 00:08:52,560
reclaim in our homemaking process
228
00:08:49,839 –> 00:08:54,560
i think people will be nourished and and
229
00:08:52,559 –> 00:08:56,319
they’ll feel taken care of they won’t
230
00:08:54,559 –> 00:08:58,239
feel taken advantage of like those
231
00:08:56,320 –> 00:09:00,640
countertops are great but they cost like
232
00:08:58,240 –> 00:09:02,399
12 000 bucks and you know who took a
233
00:09:00,639 –> 00:09:04,80
piece of that instead they’d be like oh
234
00:09:02,399 –> 00:09:05,919
i made a really good decision on this
235
00:09:04,80 –> 00:09:08,80
kitchen it works
236
00:09:05,919 –> 00:09:09,679
and and you know i’m gonna make cookies
237
00:09:08,80 –> 00:09:10,480
for the for the
238
00:09:09,679 –> 00:09:12,879
um
239
00:09:10,480 –> 00:09:15,360
whatever community event that’s coming
240
00:09:12,879 –> 00:09:18,639
up and beyond you know i mean that’s
241
00:09:15,360 –> 00:09:21,200
just the beginning yeah okay so uh um
242
00:09:18,639 –> 00:09:23,199
let’s let’s take a practical application
243
00:09:21,200 –> 00:09:25,680
here can you talk about an experience in
244
00:09:23,200 –> 00:09:27,360
which you applied homoecology principles
245
00:09:25,679 –> 00:09:28,879
to design and how it made a difference
246
00:09:27,360 –> 00:09:31,39
to the overall design of the home
247
00:09:28,879 –> 00:09:32,80
specifically like is there a client that
248
00:09:31,39 –> 00:09:32,799
you were
249
00:09:32,80 –> 00:09:36,959
you
250
00:09:32,799 –> 00:09:36,958
satisfied that way i’m sure yeah at all
251
00:09:37,278 –> 00:09:42,80
there’s a really nice one that comes to
252
00:09:39,39 –> 00:09:43,439
mind a client came to me and um you know
253
00:09:42,80 –> 00:09:44,959
them liz um
254
00:09:43,440 –> 00:09:46,240
yeah yeah
255
00:09:44,958 –> 00:09:49,119
and uh
256
00:09:46,240 –> 00:09:51,200
they wanted she she they inherited a
257
00:09:49,120 –> 00:09:52,879
little bit of money
258
00:09:51,200 –> 00:09:54,399
they told me exactly how much money they
259
00:09:52,879 –> 00:09:56,240
had and they said what they wanted to
260
00:09:54,399 –> 00:09:56,958
have done
261
00:09:56,240 –> 00:10:00,80
and
262
00:09:56,958 –> 00:10:01,518
she had this really kind of fun vision
263
00:10:00,80 –> 00:10:04,639
of wanting to do something a little bit
264
00:10:01,519 –> 00:10:06,799
over the top and very like
265
00:10:04,639 –> 00:10:08,639
um i’m sorry i’m kind of ignorant of
266
00:10:06,799 –> 00:10:10,559
decorating styles because i focus on
267
00:10:08,639 –> 00:10:11,600
something more fundamental
268
00:10:10,559 –> 00:10:13,838
but it was
269
00:10:11,600 –> 00:10:15,360
it was playful and a little bit over the
270
00:10:13,839 –> 00:10:17,360
top a little bit too much which is a
271
00:10:15,360 –> 00:10:19,919
style that i really love
272
00:10:17,360 –> 00:10:22,320
and i got to know them a little bit and
273
00:10:19,919 –> 00:10:23,919
she has chronic fatigue and
274
00:10:22,320 –> 00:10:25,920
he has a few
275
00:10:23,919 –> 00:10:29,39
health issues developing and they’re
276
00:10:25,919 –> 00:10:31,360
creative lovely people and i thought
277
00:10:29,39 –> 00:10:33,599
i think you need like a kind of peaceful
278
00:10:31,360 –> 00:10:35,839
home and i started to talk to them about
279
00:10:33,600 –> 00:10:37,519
you know maybe we could scale this back
280
00:10:35,839 –> 00:10:39,360
a bit and and
281
00:10:37,519 –> 00:10:41,440
calm down our palette because they
282
00:10:39,360 –> 00:10:42,399
talked about wanting to have
283
00:10:41,440 –> 00:10:45,120
like
284
00:10:42,399 –> 00:10:47,360
shared space but also private space
285
00:10:45,120 –> 00:10:49,120
one’s passionate about opera the other
286
00:10:47,360 –> 00:10:51,120
about jazz
287
00:10:49,120 –> 00:10:52,720
they they don’t necessarily love
288
00:10:51,120 –> 00:10:54,799
listening to each other’s music all the
289
00:10:52,720 –> 00:10:56,320
time
290
00:10:54,799 –> 00:10:57,439
that happens
291
00:10:56,320 –> 00:11:00,160
yeah
292
00:10:57,440 –> 00:11:02,560
and we moved into this you can find it
293
00:11:00,159 –> 00:11:05,679
on the website this really wonderful
294
00:11:02,559 –> 00:11:08,639
transformation and it’s kind of classic
295
00:11:05,679 –> 00:11:10,958
very minimal very calm palette but
296
00:11:08,639 –> 00:11:13,360
beautiful and elegant and
297
00:11:10,958 –> 00:11:16,159
they love it so much i do remember going
298
00:11:13,360 –> 00:11:18,320
through the portfolio for that one and
299
00:11:16,159 –> 00:11:20,879
the noticeable difference from the as is
300
00:11:18,320 –> 00:11:23,360
you can tell every piece of music
301
00:11:20,879 –> 00:11:26,78
equipment and and albums that they have
302
00:11:23,360 –> 00:11:28,0
683.36 –> 688
it’s still there but it fits and attunes
303
00:11:26,78 –> 00:11:30,0
686.079 –> 690
more to their lifestyle now you can
304
00:11:28,0 –> 00:11:32,320
688 –> 692.32
really appreciate it and they they
305
00:11:30,0 –> 00:11:34,799
690 –> 694.8
showcase their i think it’s one of the
306
00:11:32,320 –> 00:11:36,560
main pictures they showcase their their
307
00:11:34,799 –> 00:11:38,799
main artists in the kitchen and stuff
308
00:11:36,559 –> 00:11:41,679
like that but it really shows
309
00:11:38,799 –> 00:11:42,639
a piece of them in a sense
310
00:11:41,679 –> 00:11:44,719
um
311
00:11:42,639 –> 00:11:46,720
and if if i could if you go to their
312
00:11:44,720 –> 00:11:49,200
pinterest board which we should share on
313
00:11:46,720 –> 00:11:50,480
facebook it’s it’s not like that at all
314
00:11:49,200 –> 00:11:52,480
because they were thinking of how do
315
00:11:50,480 –> 00:11:55,39
they want this to look
316
00:11:52,480 –> 00:11:56,399
instead of how do i want to live and
317
00:11:55,39 –> 00:11:59,120
once we got into that deeper
318
00:11:56,399 –> 00:12:01,360
conversation of how do you want to live
319
00:11:59,120 –> 00:12:04,720
and what do you value we ended up with
320
00:12:01,360 –> 00:12:06,959
this very harmonious lovely space
321
00:12:04,720 –> 00:12:08,720
and then just to sort of take that a
322
00:12:06,958 –> 00:12:11,679
step further
323
00:12:08,720 –> 00:12:15,519
we never had a conversation about
324
00:12:11,679 –> 00:12:17,759
me or my personal beliefs or their
325
00:12:15,519 –> 00:12:19,519
personal beliefs really we were always
326
00:12:17,759 –> 00:12:21,278
talking about home
327
00:12:19,519 –> 00:12:25,278
needs
328
00:12:21,278 –> 00:12:26,639
you know couches um kitchens
329
00:12:25,278 –> 00:12:29,39
and
330
00:12:26,639 –> 00:12:30,399
interesting enough when the job was all
331
00:12:29,39 –> 00:12:32,879
done
332
00:12:30,399 –> 00:12:34,639
rio said to me she said you know i’m
333
00:12:32,879 –> 00:12:36,559
different now and i’m like what do you
334
00:12:34,639 –> 00:12:38,240
mean and she goes well you changed me
335
00:12:36,559 –> 00:12:39,199
and i said what do you mean and she said
336
00:12:38,240 –> 00:12:41,278
well
337
00:12:39,200 –> 00:12:43,360
i believe in god now
338
00:12:41,278 –> 00:12:45,120
i’m not kidding
339
00:12:43,360 –> 00:12:46,720
i don’t and she said and i don’t know
340
00:12:45,120 –> 00:12:48,480
how that’s going to manifest or what
341
00:12:46,720 –> 00:12:49,920
that means or even what religion i’m
342
00:12:48,480 –> 00:12:53,440
into
343
00:12:49,919 –> 00:12:55,360
but i’m i feel more connected yeah a
344
00:12:53,440 –> 00:12:58,160
connection a connection to something
345
00:12:55,360 –> 00:13:00,639
other than yourself or or a piece of
346
00:12:58,159 –> 00:13:02,480
furniture or a certain countertop in a
347
00:13:00,639 –> 00:13:03,200
sense yeah yeah
348
00:13:02,480 –> 00:13:05,600
and
349
00:13:03,200 –> 00:13:07,519
yeah yeah it was really neat well so
350
00:13:05,600 –> 00:13:10,240
speaking on that and i know this uh this
351
00:13:07,519 –> 00:13:13,200
doesn’t uh it fits into homo ecology but
352
00:13:10,240 –> 00:13:14,879
you’ve kind of mentioned the the term uh
353
00:13:13,200 –> 00:13:16,800
can you talk a bit about curing
354
00:13:14,879 –> 00:13:20,320
dysfunctional house syndrome
355
00:13:16,799 –> 00:13:22,240
and how that ties into ecology yeah
356
00:13:20,320 –> 00:13:24,160
that’s a really good that’s a good one
357
00:13:22,240 –> 00:13:25,600
my nephew came up with that brilliant
358
00:13:24,159 –> 00:13:27,838
concept of
359
00:13:25,600 –> 00:13:28,959
of the dysfunctional health syndrome and
360
00:13:27,839 –> 00:13:32,800
it’s so
361
00:13:28,958 –> 00:13:35,199
um apropos it’s like so many houses do
362
00:13:32,799 –> 00:13:37,359
not accommodate our lifestyle
363
00:13:35,200 –> 00:13:39,440
and the number of struggles i have with
364
00:13:37,360 –> 00:13:41,360
people about i know you’re giving up
365
00:13:39,440 –> 00:13:43,360
valuable real estate in your living room
366
00:13:41,360 –> 00:13:45,519
or your dining room
367
00:13:43,360 –> 00:13:48,480
but you have to have a closet when you
368
00:13:45,519 –> 00:13:50,799
come in the house like you just you know
369
00:13:48,480 –> 00:13:52,399
like like think about your marriage and
370
00:13:50,799 –> 00:13:54,399
your relationship where are your kids
371
00:13:52,399 –> 00:13:56,0
832.399 –> 836
putting those shoes if you don’t have a
372
00:13:54,399 –> 00:13:57,759
closet yeah and who are you going to be
373
00:13:56,0 –> 00:13:59,198
836 –> 839.199
yelling at for leaving them in the wrong
374
00:13:57,759 –> 00:14:00,799
space
375
00:13:59,198 –> 00:14:01,599
so
376
00:14:00,799 –> 00:14:04,319
um
377
00:14:01,600 –> 00:14:06,0
841.6 –> 846
and you know how many i like you’ve got
378
00:14:04,320 –> 00:14:07,680
to be able to get in the kitchen if you
379
00:14:06,0 –> 00:14:10,240
846 –> 850.24
live with a family with more than one
380
00:14:07,679 –> 00:14:12,159
person in there but maybe you want a
381
00:14:10,240 –> 00:14:14,799
certain area of the kitchen that only
382
00:14:12,159 –> 00:14:17,519
you get in there and again it’s all to
383
00:14:14,799 –> 00:14:19,599
make the home more harmonious so that
384
00:14:17,519 –> 00:14:21,679
you can live together
385
00:14:19,600 –> 00:14:23,600
that idea that good fences make good
386
00:14:21,679 –> 00:14:24,479
neighbors you have to apply that to your
387
00:14:23,600 –> 00:14:26,639
home
388
00:14:24,480 –> 00:14:30,320
and what kind of boundaries and
389
00:14:26,639 –> 00:14:31,600
and built elements can you create that
390
00:14:30,320 –> 00:14:34,720
provide
391
00:14:31,600 –> 00:14:37,839
proximity and spaciousness and
392
00:14:34,720 –> 00:14:40,480
privacy and cohabitation and
393
00:14:37,839 –> 00:14:42,880
all these different ways we like to live
394
00:14:40,480 –> 00:14:45,360
they all have to be adaptable we can’t
395
00:14:42,879 –> 00:14:48,78
just sort of plunk things together like
396
00:14:45,360 –> 00:14:49,680
families grow we grow we all evolve and
397
00:14:48,78 –> 00:14:52,399
the home has to grow and evolve and
398
00:14:49,679 –> 00:14:53,278
adapt to our different needs we can’t
399
00:14:52,399 –> 00:14:55,278
sort of
400
00:14:53,278 –> 00:14:57,198
just think well you know this is good
401
00:14:55,278 –> 00:14:58,480
like it’s good when you have little kids
402
00:14:57,198 –> 00:15:00,559
but they’re going to go
403
00:14:58,480 –> 00:15:02,639
and to school into high school and to
404
00:15:00,559 –> 00:15:04,719
university and grandparents might move
405
00:15:02,639 –> 00:15:05,919
in and kids can’t always be sharing the
406
00:15:04,720 –> 00:15:07,278
same room
407
00:15:05,919 –> 00:15:09,519
you know one usually moves into the
408
00:15:07,278 –> 00:15:12,159
basement is that going to be part of it
409
00:15:09,519 –> 00:15:14,240
at all what type of questions do you ask
410
00:15:12,159 –> 00:15:15,679
do you ask your clients when you when
411
00:15:14,240 –> 00:15:18,879
you first meet them
412
00:15:15,679 –> 00:15:21,599
um well we’ve designed this whole quite
413
00:15:18,879 –> 00:15:22,720
elaborate um series of questionnaires
414
00:15:21,600 –> 00:15:24,320
and they’re really fun and they
415
00:15:22,720 –> 00:15:25,120
overwhelm the clients
416
00:15:24,320 –> 00:15:26,480
so
417
00:15:25,120 –> 00:15:28,78
they’re going to be in the book because
418
00:15:26,480 –> 00:15:30,79
they’re they’re very relevant but i
419
00:15:28,78 –> 00:15:32,958
scaled it back because one-on-one we can
420
00:15:30,78 –> 00:15:35,278
interview and sort of intuitively attune
421
00:15:32,958 –> 00:15:37,679
to these things but what i really want
422
00:15:35,278 –> 00:15:39,439
to know i don’t want to know what how
423
00:15:37,679 –> 00:15:41,39
big a kitchen you need or how many
424
00:15:39,440 –> 00:15:42,880
people you have over for dinner i want
425
00:15:41,39 –> 00:15:44,399
to know who do you admire
426
00:15:42,879 –> 00:15:46,799
who’s your hero
427
00:15:44,399 –> 00:15:48,958
where have you felt most comfortable
428
00:15:46,799 –> 00:15:50,319
if you had to describe your ideal
429
00:15:48,958 –> 00:15:52,399
environment
430
00:15:50,320 –> 00:15:54,79
in a color what color would it be and i
431
00:15:52,399 –> 00:15:55,759
don’t mean that literally i just mean
432
00:15:54,78 –> 00:15:57,599
what color evokes the feeling you want
433
00:15:55,759 –> 00:15:59,199
your home to have
434
00:15:57,600 –> 00:16:00,399
i want to know
435
00:15:59,198 –> 00:16:01,679
you know
436
00:16:00,399 –> 00:16:04,639
what do you hate
437
00:16:01,679 –> 00:16:09,0
961.68 –> 969
what really gets your your irish up like
438
00:16:04,639 –> 00:16:09,0
964.639 –> 969
not to be i hope that’s not offensive
439
00:16:09,198 –> 00:16:12,399
um
440
00:16:10,320 –> 00:16:14,79
you’re not irish are you
441
00:16:12,399 –> 00:16:16,159
we won’t speak on that
442
00:16:14,78 –> 00:16:18,559
my teacher hopefully my mother’s not
443
00:16:16,159 –> 00:16:20,399
listening yeah well my teacher always
444
00:16:18,559 –> 00:16:22,479
said that hot blood is a sign of a good
445
00:16:20,399 –> 00:16:23,759
heart and i associate irish culture with
446
00:16:22,480 –> 00:16:26,720
hot blood
447
00:16:23,759 –> 00:16:27,919
so those kinds of questions you know
448
00:16:26,720 –> 00:16:29,680
um
449
00:16:27,919 –> 00:16:31,759
yeah those are what we need to know to
450
00:16:29,679 –> 00:16:33,919
make homes okay and then how does it get
451
00:16:31,759 –> 00:16:34,639
down to you know
452
00:16:33,919 –> 00:16:36,799
like
453
00:16:34,639 –> 00:16:39,680
how does it get down to finally picking
454
00:16:36,799 –> 00:16:43,758
the countertop then right well it’s
455
00:16:39,679 –> 00:16:46,399
almost like the countertop picks us
456
00:16:43,759 –> 00:16:48,399
in the sense that
457
00:16:46,399 –> 00:16:50,240
there there’s we’re gonna do a podcast
458
00:16:48,399 –> 00:16:52,320
someday about permaculture with people
459
00:16:50,240 –> 00:16:53,360
who are much more eloquent about it than
460
00:16:52,320 –> 00:16:55,360
i am
461
00:16:53,360 –> 00:16:57,120
but the idea of permaculture i took this
462
00:16:55,360 –> 00:16:59,199
weekend workshop once and it was
463
00:16:57,120 –> 00:17:00,959
wonderful it gave voice to these
464
00:16:59,198 –> 00:17:03,278
thoughts that i’ve always had but i
465
00:17:00,958 –> 00:17:05,599
never had a vocabulary for
466
00:17:03,278 –> 00:17:06,880
and they talk about designing in harmony
467
00:17:05,599 –> 00:17:09,359
with nature
468
00:17:06,880 –> 00:17:10,959
and allowing everything in its ecosystem
469
00:17:09,359 –> 00:17:13,359
to give from its highest level of
470
00:17:10,959 –> 00:17:15,38
capacity like we all know that you know
471
00:17:13,359 –> 00:17:16,879
you work with me so you know that when i
472
00:17:15,38 –> 00:17:18,798
do admit i set us back three weeks
473
00:17:16,880 –> 00:17:22,640
whereas when i do
474
00:17:18,798 –> 00:17:23,679
design i’m like elevating everything
475
00:17:22,640 –> 00:17:24,559
so
476
00:17:23,679 –> 00:17:26,798
um
477
00:17:24,558 –> 00:17:29,519
the idea also that i took away from
478
00:17:26,798 –> 00:17:31,759
permaculture and it’s just good sense
479
00:17:29,519 –> 00:17:34,639
and they’re modeling after nature is
480
00:17:31,759 –> 00:17:38,960
asking the question of what does this
481
00:17:34,640 –> 00:17:41,520
space or home or or program want to be
482
00:17:38,960 –> 00:17:44,400
and then to look for clues and to to
483
00:17:41,519 –> 00:17:46,960
listen so really by the time we get down
484
00:17:44,400 –> 00:17:49,759
to picking the countertop we know
485
00:17:46,960 –> 00:17:52,0
1066.96 –> 1072
ourselves and we know our team so well
486
00:17:49,759 –> 00:17:54,160
that if you know of course we want the
487
00:17:52,0 –> 00:17:56,798
1072 –> 1076.799
the concrete planet the concrete
488
00:17:54,160 –> 00:17:58,960
countertop or the glass the recycled
489
00:17:56,798 –> 00:18:00,558
glass countertop makes complete sense
490
00:17:58,960 –> 00:18:03,200
and we want the recycled glass because
491
00:18:00,558 –> 00:18:06,79
it’s in keeping with our values around
492
00:18:03,200 –> 00:18:07,840
you know sustainability and beauty and
493
00:18:06,79 –> 00:18:09,759
we want the concrete countertop because
494
00:18:07,839 –> 00:18:11,199
we want to make it ourselves right and
495
00:18:09,759 –> 00:18:13,679
even though it’s a little bit hard on
496
00:18:11,200 –> 00:18:15,759
the environment this is something we you
497
00:18:13,679 –> 00:18:17,600
know we we want this in our home this
498
00:18:15,759 –> 00:18:19,279
thing we crafted and
499
00:18:17,599 –> 00:18:21,839
and we’re going to look at ways of
500
00:18:19,279 –> 00:18:24,639
offsetting that um
501
00:18:21,839 –> 00:18:25,759
you know carbon whatever thing sorry
502
00:18:24,640 –> 00:18:27,919
yeah
503
00:18:25,759 –> 00:18:29,679
yeah no that makes sense yeah okay and
504
00:18:27,919 –> 00:18:31,200
so um
505
00:18:29,679 –> 00:18:34,0
1109.679 –> 1114
and we talked about a bit about this
506
00:18:31,200 –> 00:18:35,679
last time in the last podcast um the
507
00:18:34,0 –> 00:18:38,240
1114 –> 1118.24
whole master plan
508
00:18:35,679 –> 00:18:41,919
and how that kind of
509
00:18:38,240 –> 00:18:43,759
uh idea of having a plan for your entire
510
00:18:41,919 –> 00:18:45,840
home your entire community so that it
511
00:18:43,759 –> 00:18:48,79
relates to your community how do you tie
512
00:18:45,839 –> 00:18:50,159
in home ecology with that
513
00:18:48,79 –> 00:18:52,720
well yeah i mean that that’s what’s
514
00:18:50,160 –> 00:18:54,798
essential is i think the fundamental
515
00:18:52,720 –> 00:18:56,880
element of home ecology is it wants us
516
00:18:54,798 –> 00:18:59,759
to think in terms of systems and the
517
00:18:56,880 –> 00:19:01,919
whole and harmony and so we look at our
518
00:18:59,759 –> 00:19:04,79
home as a part of something greater and
519
00:19:01,919 –> 00:19:07,840
a part of something smaller so right
520
00:19:04,79 –> 00:19:10,79
down from that countertop out to our our
521
00:19:07,839 –> 00:19:12,399
street and our community our
522
00:19:10,79 –> 00:19:13,519
neighborhood our city
523
00:19:12,400 –> 00:19:16,80
and so
524
00:19:13,519 –> 00:19:18,240
we need to integrate a master plan where
525
00:19:16,79 –> 00:19:19,599
we and the master plan isn’t just
526
00:19:18,240 –> 00:19:21,440
where’s the kitchen gonna be what’s
527
00:19:19,599 –> 00:19:24,79
gonna happen when the kids are grown up
528
00:19:21,440 –> 00:19:25,759
and off to college what if we break a
529
00:19:24,79 –> 00:19:27,439
leg and need to live on the main floor
530
00:19:25,759 –> 00:19:29,519
it’s not only that
531
00:19:27,440 –> 00:19:30,720
it really is beginning with what do i
532
00:19:29,519 –> 00:19:33,440
value
533
00:19:30,720 –> 00:19:35,360
what what do i want my home to cultivate
534
00:19:33,440 –> 00:19:37,759
in the world what story do i want it to
535
00:19:35,359 –> 00:19:41,678
tell how do i want it to welcome people
536
00:19:37,759 –> 00:19:43,839
how do i want it to teach the children
537
00:19:41,679 –> 00:19:44,559
and um
538
00:19:43,839 –> 00:19:46,159
and
539
00:19:44,558 –> 00:19:48,79
what are the elements that are in
540
00:19:46,160 –> 00:19:49,279
harmony with all these things so that
541
00:19:48,79 –> 00:19:51,599
when i go
542
00:19:49,279 –> 00:19:53,359
decide that i need
543
00:19:51,599 –> 00:19:55,519
i don’t know like a lot of times people
544
00:19:53,359 –> 00:19:57,359
will want to develop their basement and
545
00:19:55,519 –> 00:19:59,519
they won’t realize that in five years
546
00:19:57,359 –> 00:20:01,119
they’re going to need a new kitchen
547
00:19:59,519 –> 00:20:02,639
because they’ve outgrown this one
548
00:20:01,119 –> 00:20:05,119
they’ve got the basement finished they
549
00:20:02,640 –> 00:20:07,600
have to rip out this 80 or 100 000
550
00:20:05,119 –> 00:20:09,439
basement ceiling like the ceiling’s not
551
00:20:07,599 –> 00:20:12,79
that big you know you can easily throw
552
00:20:09,440 –> 00:20:14,480
away 20 000 ripping out of
553
00:20:12,79 –> 00:20:16,558
the parts of the basement yeah
554
00:20:14,480 –> 00:20:18,480
to make the future work and yeah that’s
555
00:20:16,558 –> 00:20:20,480
what we want to avoid so you don’t hang
556
00:20:18,480 –> 00:20:21,440
a nail in my opinion without a master
557
00:20:20,480 –> 00:20:22,960
plan
558
00:20:21,440 –> 00:20:24,640
because the art has to be in harmony
559
00:20:22,960 –> 00:20:27,200
with the whole thing too that’s true
560
00:20:24,640 –> 00:20:28,720
like even uh when you were speaking of
561
00:20:27,200 –> 00:20:31,440
like they had
562
00:20:28,720 –> 00:20:34,0
1228.72 –> 1234
they had so much that that spoke to them
563
00:20:31,440 –> 00:20:36,159
their items their records and everything
564
00:20:34,0 –> 00:20:37,839
1234 –> 1237.84
but it was it wasn’t a matter of finding
565
00:20:36,159 –> 00:20:39,520
the right cabinet for
566
00:20:37,839 –> 00:20:42,158
how to showcase those it was building
567
00:20:39,519 –> 00:20:44,400
around their value of music and their
568
00:20:42,159 –> 00:20:46,80
value their values of their home and how
569
00:20:44,400 –> 00:20:47,360
they wanted to make that work
570
00:20:46,79 –> 00:20:49,599
um so
571
00:20:47,359 –> 00:20:51,439
well again monica it’s been a pleasure
572
00:20:49,599 –> 00:20:52,639
taking your brain and we’ll catch up
573
00:20:51,440 –> 00:20:54,240
next time and we’ll talk actually more
574
00:20:52,640 –> 00:20:56,0
1252.64 –> 1256
in depth about curing dysfunctional
575
00:20:54,240 –> 00:20:57,359
health syndrome because i know that’s in
576
00:20:56,0 –> 00:20:59,759
1256 –> 1259.76
itself his own
577
00:20:57,359 –> 00:21:03,399
fun little entity so thanks again thank
578
00:20:59,759 –> 00:21:03,400
you it’s a pleasure