The Complete Guide is mostly about preparation, understanding what to expect, and how to approach each phase. That’s the foundation for helping a construction project stay on time and on budget.
Category Archive: Build Livable
I Believe (in Build Livable) 🏡
Today, I feel like I’m on the right track and learning as I go. I’ve been able to address most of what I wanted to do, but there are always going to be ways to improve (like using a dSLR camera). My goal right now is to look professional without spending thousands of dollars.
Home Studio Tour 🎙 🔊 🎥
Today, I feel like I’m on the right track and learning as I go. I’ve been able to address most of what I wanted to do, but there are always going to be ways to improve (like using a dSLR camera). My goal right now is to look professional without spending thousands of dollars.
We’ve Got Worms 🪱 – How to Subpod
The idea is pretty simple: You put thousands of earthworms, like red wigglers, into an outdoor container with food waste. The worms eat the food and turn it into gold in the form of castings. That’s the beauty of this system. It converts waste into fertilizer for the next round of crops. Win-win!
Livability and Laundry 🏡 🧺
The post below was sent as an issue of my newsletter, Ready for Rain. The idea of helping homeowners understand the construction process has been on my mind for about a year. As I wrote chapter after chapter, I was looking for some kind of unifying theme. While...
At a Crossroads ⤲
The post below was sent as an issue of my newsletter, Ready for Rain. My friend Tony asked, when we had just purchased property on Orcas, “What’s next? You’ll build a house and move in… then what?” Sometimes Tony’s questions seem like challenges, but I think he’s...
Designing for Dogs 🦮
Builders and architects can work wonders, but they won’t live in the house. They won’t use it every day. They don’t have access to the daily rituals and events that fill the day. That information is the domain of the homeowner, who must explain what is needed, a few times, to make sure the house fits with these routines.
Another Man’s Treasure 🏴☠️
I’m sure that my first reaction was a subtle roll of my eyes or at least an imagined one. Two twin-size box springs had sat in our garage for a while and Sachi was formulating a plan. She asked around and no one needed them and she didn't want to just take them to the...
The Westward Wind
Despite all the watching and planning, we still didn’t know why the westward wind was happening. That all changed a couple of weeks ago when we hosted a small dinner party that included a retired Coast Guard officer. We talked about the wind and he said, “Oh, that’s a land breeze”. I had heard of a sea breeze before, but never a land breeze. I had to learn more.
Free Online Event: The Visual Jam
This will be a good time! Two lively Brits, Grant and Paddy, host a live show called The Visual Jam. I will be their guest on July 8th to discuss The Art of Explanation and Common Craft videos. Register for Free. More Info: Have you ever had a great idea for a...
Oh, Deer – An Island Sized Pandemic 🦌
The post below was sent as an issue of my newsletter, Ready for Rain. Our part of Orcas Island is called Deer Harbor and in the harbor, you’ll find Fawn Island. On the other side of Orcas is Doe Bay and in between, there is Buck Mountain. These names are well...
Storytime #2: Cooperating with the Competition
Storytime is a series of videos that are usually brief and focused on a single idea relating to my work and/or personal life. This episode of storytime is about how we worked with our competition to grow the market for our services while remaining a two-person. I...
I Can Recommend: Gardening Edition
Monty Don I sometimes wonder what it is about British TV that we find so entertaining. Sure, there are charming hosts with funny aphorisms and accents. But the sheer abundance of quality shows that are unlike anything we see in the US is confounding. My guess is that...
Bringing Life Back to the Rocky Ground 🌱
The post below was sent as an issue of my newsletter, Ready for Rain. I clearly remember watching my father in his tunnel-shaped greenhouse on the hill behind our house in Kernersville, NC. On my frequent visits, I’d wander around in the humidity as I inspected his...
Storytime #1: Publishing Big Enough During the Pandemic
Storytime is a series of videos that are usually brief and focused on a single idea relating to my work and/or personal life. This episode of storytime is about publishing my book BIG ENOUGH during a pandemic. https://youtu.be/fhQYfqq4NYk ➡️ Go to all Storytime...
Catching Spot Prawns 🦐
It didn’t take long to hear about spot prawns after moving to Orcas Island. Like the fishers at Emerald Isle, islanders here are always aware of what’s in season and how to catch them.
Podcast Interview with Jenny Blake at Free Time
Jenny Blake and I had a wonderful discussion, in part, because we share a similar perspective when it comes to business and the potential for small businesses to promote freedom and autonomy instead of taking it away. Along with having a great voice for audio, Jenny...
Flattop’s Finer Points 🪵🔥
When looking at the completed house, it’s easy to lose sight of all the decisions that achieved the look and feel of the place. Before we move on, I’d like to share some of the biggest stylistic decisions we made, along with the craft that went into making it real.
The Finished Product: Flattop House 🏡
There is a unique point in each house’s life when it’s naked and in it’s purest form. The work is done, but the people haven’t yet moved in. For us that lasted about 24 hours and I took the opportunity to take photos before it’s hidden behind furniture, rugs, and all the things that bring it to life. Below, I’m sharing those photos along with sections of the creative brief from last week.
The Creative Brief 📄
Starting then, the idea of eventually building a new house on the island started to dominate our thoughts. What would we build? What could we build?