About my Substack
General
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Architecture & Design
Free
How Surroundings Impact Color
Have you painted a room and then realized it looked all wrong? Relying solely on color palettes can sometimes lead to frustrating results. I wanted to share the information that gave me a bit more insight and control over the process.
Life Is A Cabaret
A friend told me about Barbra Streisand's mall, but most of the press articles only focus on the kitsch. There’s more depth to it than people give her credit for.
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Green Galleries
In enlightened corners of contemporary design, pairing art with plants has transcended typical decoration to become a form of expression unto itself—one that speaks to both our aesthetic sensibilities and our connection to the natural world. What appears, at first glance, as a simple pairing of the inanimate and the living reveals itself, upon closer in…
Divergent Design
We often design spaces based on what we like or what feels right, but have we ever stopped to consider how our choices actually affect us and those around us?
Living Near Landmarks
The city’s landmarks are varied, unexpected and everywhereCovers the different types of landmarks (you’d be surprised!) and has links to resources on landmarks including a map of all NYC landmarks
No, It's Not Pantone
Ever wondered how school buses are all the same yellow across America, how geologists color code soil samples, or how architectural preservationists match new paint colors to original historic paints?
Floors
Free
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Tread Wisely
When I see posts like ‘The top natural oils for floors’, I am skeptical that most people would know why they should use oil vs. another finishing product. Learn about the different kinds of sealers and finishes with pros and cons of each type.
Master Of None
When I hire a professional, I expect them to know their job. In construction, it is often challenging to find honest tradespeople who can do their work without the homeowner having to manage them or figure out that the tradesperson did it all wrong.
Insulation
Free
Frosty Instead Of Toasty?
Thermal bridging as one of the main causes of home heat loss has received a lot of attention in recent years but is often explained in an overly technical way. Learn about thermal bridging and why they are important to address.
Hot, cold or humid?
The factors that dictate insulation requirements
Grenfell Took Many Lives...Yet We Continue To Play With Fire
A detailed post on how foam and chemicals from industrial disasters are being used in people’s homes. Includes information state energy policies.
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Is Candy Floss Insulation As Sweet As It Seems?
Many contractors, including mine default to fiberglass for insulation. But should one really use it?
Green Insulation Without The High
The advantages of hemp as an insulating material, how it compares to other insulation, pricing and where to buy.
Cold Comfort
Does your house seem to have mind of its own when it comes to your comfort? How do you know if you need to insulate and/or if you have air leaks? And yes it is true that insulation is helpful in warm climates.
R-Value: A Measure of Insulation Effectiveness
Explains R-values how you can calculate them, values for common materials, thermal bridging, continuous insulation, recommendations for your region etc.
Understanding Mineral Wool Labels
Don't compromise your insulation's performance or waste money by choosing the wrong productThis post explains the labeling of Rockwool and Thermafiber products, what the information on the label means, and how to install the material properly.
Why My House Is Still Freezing
Explains all the possible causes of drafts and cold areas in your house and related information on R-values.
Interviews
Free
Convo With Nick Parisi, CEO, Buildable
Interview with a custom home builder in San Diego where we talk about their process and the common issues people run into when building a new home.
Russell Nohelty's $50,000 home renovation
A Substack author shares his remodel experiences and insights.
Lighting
Free
Illuminating Standards
You might recognize symbols such as CE and UL on bulbs and lighting. What do these mean and should you buy these fixtures? And are there other regulations one should be aware of?
Victorian Delights
Period homes often come with unique features that can pose design challenges. By gaining insight into the historical context you can avoid introducing fixtures that can appear completely out of place.
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How Much Light Do You Need?
I wrote this article after I struggled through the process of figuring out out how much light I needed for certain rooms. How to calculate the amount of light you need for every room in your home.
Vintage Lamp Ordeal, Part 1: The "Conopi"
Common problems that you can run into with vintage lamps and how to solve them.
Lumber
Free
When OSB Becomes An SOB
Ever walked into a house with a sagging, swollen floor? Chances are, OSB was improperly installed as a sub-floor. Although OSB is a common, affordable material in construction, it can turn into an SOB if not handled correctly.
Battle Of The Boards
Which wood should you choose for flooring or cabinetry. Learn about the pros and cons of hardwood and softwoods.
Nailing The Right Wood
This is a followup post to Battle of the Boards. The choice of whether to use a hardwood like oak or softwood like pine isn't always as clear cut. So, which wood should you use for your next project?
Paint
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Penny-Pinching To Perfection
You may have heard people telling you to invest in good-quality paint. What exactly does expensive paint contain that makes it better? What to do if you can’t afford a quality paint.
Plumbing
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"Hot, Hot, Haaaawwt!"
An introduction to bidets, where to buy, preventing problems and parts for repairs.
Tile
Free
Systems
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Dodge The Draft
Ever wondered how air moves within buildings and how it affects you? If you are freezing or stifling in some rooms, have a lot of dust or allergens, the stack effect may be causing many of these issues.
Walls
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Avoiding Brick Blunders And Breakdowns
I wrote this post to share what I learned after multiple mishaps with bricks.How to maintain brick walls, how to restore them, the correct materials and examples of bad work.
Windows & Doors
Free
Let There Be Light (And A View)
A post on how glass influenced window styles so you can identify windows based on the era or buy the correct window style for your home.
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Some Windows Are So Crummy, You May As Well Use Cardboard
Most windows and doors manufactured in the US come with a sticker that rates their performance. A detailed explanation of window energy labels, what the numbers mean and how to choose.
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Compilation post great idea. I did one to introduce my summer break and readers appreciated the effort as a time saver and easy access to the content. Also great for the new readers and esp potential subs 😀 De