Have you ever picked a paint color for a room and then realized you didn't enjoy being in that room anymore?  I have (more than once)!  When I was in college (early 2000's, yikes!) it was trendy to paint a single wall of a room red.  Although, to be honest, I can't remember if it was actually a trend, or if I saw it in a Sex and The City episode and mistakenly thought it was a good idea.   Either way, the color didn't work for my bedroom, and I never enjoyed being in the room.     This week on The Healthy Home Design podcast, color expert Mehnaz Khan explains why red probably isn't the best choice for bedrooms and so much more.     Mehnaz talks about how the colors you choose for your home will affect your emotions.  This is fundamental when creating a home designed to help you reduce stress and improve well-being.    Mehnaz also goes into the color traits of many colors, helping you figure out what color will be right for the different rooms in your house.  Having this information is a great starting place if you are planning on making over any rooms in your home.   To get you started on choosing colors, Mehnaz created a color workbook that'll help you understand your color preferences.     Links:

Mehnaz's helpful tips for a better sleep.

Learn more about the psychology of the color blue!

Mehnaz's color workbook.

Is this your year for creating a home that will allow your family to thrive?

Find out how teaming with a healthy home consultant for your renovation or new home build will elevate the success of your project and have you living in a home that keeps you healthy, makes you happy and encourages living your best life.

In this week's episode, I'm switching things up a bit, and providing information on what a Healthy Home Consultant is and how working with one on your renovation or new build will be a game changer for your project.

https://www.balancedhomebalancedlife.com/services/

Email Me:  [email protected]

 

Did you know that you can design a kitchen that will help you eat healthier? This may sound too good to be true, but it's not! 

The way a kitchen is designed plays a huge role in how we eat. 

We know that eating organic fresh fruits and veggies is best for our bodies. 

We are paying more attention to the fact that we shouldn't be eating processed and packaged foods. 

And we might even try to prep our meals or at least our veggies ahead of time to make our weeknights easier.

But unfortunately, right now kitchens are hindering our health! 

They are keeping us from nourishing our bodies and our minds the way we know they need to be. 

This week's episode is going to take a look at how we can design kitchens that make it easy to nourish ourselves and that align with our healthy lifestyles.

Extra Credit: If you are ready to start creating a more wellness focused kitchen, check out these eight tips for creating your own wellness kitchen.

 

Questions/ Comments / Ideas for new episodes? Email me at [email protected]

We are talking about something a little bit different from my usual topics on the Healthy Home Design podcast this week, but it's something that is equally important.   This week's topic is about creating an energy efficient home that in turn produces a comfortable, healthy home for you and your family.   Since it's the first of the month, this is another 10 in 20 episode. I run through tens steps for creating an energy efficient, comfortable healthy home in 20 minutes.   I only have two minutes to spend on each step, so this is not an in-depth guide to net zero energy homes, but instead a good overview if you have been wondering what goes into making an energy efficient home.   (FYI, if you are building a new home or doing a major renovation and would like to create a more energy efficient home, I can work with you to make that happen!)   I think this is an important topic because there are some misconceptions about what an energy efficient home is and what the best practices for creating one are.  (Have you thought about putting solar panels on your roof?  Find out why that's the last thing you should do for energy efficiency.)    It is also important because we can't have healthy people on this planet if we don't have a healthy planet.  Reducing our energy consumption is an important piece of creating a healthier planet.   Email me: [email protected]

Back with us today is Mehnaz Khan.  Mehnaz is a fine artist and color consultant.  She was on the show last week giving us an introduction on how color can affect your happiness and well-being.  If you haven't listened to that episode yet, please do!  You will learn a lot about the basics of color psychology and why it is so important to understand how color affects your mood before you do any upgrades to your home!   This week Mehnaz is diving into the topic of seasonal affective disorder, known as SAD or the winter blues.  If you live in a place where the sun is now setting at 4pm and there are more gray days than sunny days, you may notice a change in your mood and energy levels.  I definitely have!  I live in New England where the winters are long, dark and gray.  (But they're also a lot of fun, so I wouldn't trade it up!)  Mehnaz is going to explain what the winter blues is all about and how we can combat the low energy feeling by strategically using color in our homes.   Link to Coupon Code for Mehnaz's Art: https://www.mehnazkhanstudio.com/color-is-joy   Connect With Mehnaz:

Website: https://www.mehnazkhanstudio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mehnazkhanstudio/

Email:  [email protected]

 

Connect With Kate:

[email protected]

Did you know that the color you choose throughout your home plays a big role in your happiness and well-being?  Color has the power to affect your emotions, so the colors you choose for your home really matter!    I learned so much from this week's guest, Mehnaz Khan.   Mehnaz Khan is a fine artist and color consultant who helps overwhelmed mothers turn their home into a sanctuary through art and colors. She uses the power of color to positively impact their feelings, emotions and behavior.    Her work as a color consultant is incredibly important when you are creating a home that focuses on health and well-being.    This week we dive into color psychology and how you can transform your life through color!   So if you are thinking about painting or redecorating your home, hang on!  Make sure you listen to this episode first!   Connect with Mehnaz:   Website:  https://www.mehnazkhanstudio.com/   Email: [email protected]   Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mehnazkhanstudio/   Coupon Code: Mehnaz has generously offered 20% off one of her paintings or a commissioned piece to all our listeners. Click here to get the coupon code, and make sure you check out her beautiful art!   In this episode you'll learn:

• What color psychology is
• Why it is so important to understand color before you add it to your home
• How to use color to improve your happiness
• What colors to stay away from if you are trying to create a feeling of calm and happiness

If you have color questions for Mehnaz, you can email Mehnaz or Kate:

[email protected]

[email protected]

 

Today we are going to live in luxury because I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Rochelle Maize, Beverly Hills leading luxury realtor that specializes in wellness real estate.    Rochelle is the executive director of the luxury estate division of Nourmand and Associates and she recently sold the Wellness House in Beverly Hills.  Rochelle has been a pioneer in the luxury real estate sector turning average homes into smart technology and wellness residences.  From infrared saunas and cryotherapy, to private yoga studios and spas, she has found that luxury real estate buyers want their self-care regimes in their homes. “We’re seeing a lot of millennials, athletes, hedge fund investors and dot-commers flock to these wellness homes, “This is not just a house, it’s a lifestyle.”   So today Rochelle is going to be sharing with us current wellness trends she is seeing in the luxury real estate market and where trends are headed in 2020 for wellness in our homes.  She also shares some trends she is seeing in the non-luxury market as well.  So there are some great ideas in here that we can all incorporate into our wellness homes.     Connect with Rochelle: Website: https://www.rochellemaize.com/ Email: [email protected]  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rochellemaizeluxuryestates/   Wellness features Rochelle mentioned: Oxygen Beds:  https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/do-hyperbaric-oxygen-chambers-work/   Cryotherapy chambers:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1FPxhs8_H0   Vertical Veggie Gardens:   https://www.pinterest.com/ankemet/vertical-gardening/   Delos System:   https://delos.com/solutions/residential   Alkaline Water:   https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-alkaline-water#1

Are you sick of Googling the best healthy and sustainable countertop options for your kitchen renovation?    I have you covered.    On today's Healthy Home Design podcast, I am sharing my ten favorite countertops for a health and wellness focused home.  You will also learn what countertops I recommend avoiding in a healthy home.   This is another 10 in 20 episode, so I share ten countertops and talk about the pros and cons of each countertop for 2 minutes each.   Here is the criteria I use when determining whether a countertop belongs in a healthy home:

• Durable (doesn't scratch or crack easily and can handle heat)
• Doesn't require sealant and yearly maintenance
• Non-toxic
• Hygienic
• Can be mechanically fastened
• Is made of sustainable materials
• Cost

  Here are my top ten countertops.  Listen to the podcast to learn the pros and cons of each option!  

1. Engineered Quartz
2. Granite
3. Solid Slate
4. Soap Stone
5. Stainless Steel
6. Porcelain Tile
7. Concrete
8. Recycled Paper
9. Recycled Glass
10. Linoleum

    Links I Mention: Natural Stone Institute list of accredited stone manufacturers Article on Porcelain slab countertops

We're continuing our healthy materials mini-series by answering listener questions specific to healthy building materials and finishes.     Here are the questions we're covering this week:

• I am doing a renovation to my house and have spent so much time searching for healthy building products.   It's confusing because there is so much greenwashing, I don't know what I should believe.  Now I'm frustrated and overwhelmed.  Is there a place I can go to find out if a product is safe to use in my home?
• I have to replace drywall and insulation due to mold remediation.  What should I be choosing for healthy drywall and insulation for the new walls?
• We are replacing the vinyl flooring in my house that was installed about 25 years ago with a floating wood floor.  We pulled up a small section of it and it has a terrible toxic smell.  What can we do to get rid of the smell before installing the new floor?
• It seems like everything in our lives need to be non-toxic for us to be safe.  From food, to clothing, car seats, shampoo, building materials.  Is this really possible?

 

Helpful Links:

Email me your health and wellness home questions at: [email protected]   Declare Label: Living-future.org/declare   Drywall: US Product:  USG EcoSmart US Product:  National Gypsum GoldBond New Zealand Product: Winstone Wallboard   Drywall Joint Compound: Murco M100 Drywall Joint Compound   Mineral Wool Insulation:  Owens Corning ThermaFiber UltraBatt FF   Sealant for toxic odors:  AFM SafeCoat Safeseal     Healthy Home Design Podcast episode 7: Why Choose Healthy Materials   Sixclasses.org

You know the saying 'You are what you eat'?  Well, there's a new saying that goes 'You are where you live'.  We now know that our indoor environment has a major impact on our health.  So, when we live in a healthy home, we are going to be healthier people.  When we live in an unhealthy home, we are going to be less healthy people.   We also know that healthy air quality and water quality are fundamental to a healthy home environment.  And building materials, finishes and furnishings play a major part in the quality of your home's air and water.  This week we are getting into the 'why' behind choosing healthy materials for your home.     You will learn:

• The six major classes of toxins we should all be avoiding
• What's at stake when we don't choose healthier materials 
• Tips on how to stay clear of unhealthy options

Helpful Links:

Six Classes

10 ways to easily improve the air in your home