As a builder, I’m often asked by clients what they should look for when buying a piece of land. Here’s a quick list of some important things that should be taken into account, before plonking down hundreds of thousands of dollars: Zoning: Will local planning allow you to build, if so what requirements do they have.… -Read More

The construction industry is awash with green, from LEED through Build It Green, certifications for repurposing materials or using renewable resources, to advocating for recycling and repurposing, investing in renewable energy and finding better ways to manage resources. But some of the most progressive practices are actually found in interactions with community and customers. Sustainable… -Read More

It’s always satisfying to re-purpose a material and give it new life by turning it into something else. Right now I’m busy in the shop making a new entry door for my clients. The wood I’m using is reclaimed Douglas Fir salvaged from bleachers out of the University of Southern Illinois (credit to our friends… -Read More

There must be hundreds of these lists around and there’s plenty of opinions on what are the most important things to do to make your house cozier. Surprisingly in our research we’ve found that some of the biggest cost savings are actually the least expensive things to do. With that in mind I’ve listed 8… -Read More

Bread – it doesn’t get much simpler. Every day for lunch, my mum would pack me half a loaf worth of sandwiches. At Saturday teatime she’d butter a loaf, put it on the table and it would be gone in 30 seconds. As kids, if we ate coleslaw, smashed banana and sugar, marmite and cream… -Read More

I love concrete – it’s so permanent- so THERE when its dry. When you work with it, you have to sort of turn your brain inside out, for it’s the inside of the form you’re building that defines the outcome. This inside-out form needs to be braced and supported because wet concrete is heavy and… -Read More