A home built on trust and community By: greening homes

October 27, 2025
Waste Diversion

Located at the bottom of a ravine in Toronto’s Caledonia-Fairbank neighbourhood, a once-modest bungalow, now transformed into a three-storey multi-generational home, exemplifies what can happen when values, craftsmanship, trust and community align. I wrote about this full house renovation in July 2024 when the project was in its infancy. Terrell Wong of Stones Throw Design, […]

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Cutting corners is costly By: greening homes

August 8, 2025
Planning a Renovation

Previously, I wrote about the impact of Trump’s tariff threats on Canada’s home renovation industry. While it has had a minimal effect on reno-related supply chains to this point, it is giving pause to homeowners who are concerned about job security. Overall, home renovations are going ahead. For anyone proceeding with one while cutting corners […]

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Renovating in uncertain times: what tariffs really mean for homeowners By: greening homes

May 1, 2025
Planning a Renovation

Tariffs, and threat of more to come, are impacting the home renovation industry, but it’s not what you may think.

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Three common renovation myths that can cost you big time By: greening homes

February 3, 2025
Planning a Renovation

During my years in the renovation industry, I’ve seen countless homeowners make the same mistakes. They start with the best of intentions but fall victim to common misconceptions that derail their projects and inflate their budgets. Let me address three of the most prevalent myths that I encounter when speaking with prospective clients. Myth 1: […]

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The best time for ageless design is now By: greening homes

October 28, 2024
Accessible Home, Planning a Renovation

How long do you think you’ll live in your home? Will it accommodate you and your family as you age or have a disability? Recently, Yvonne Bambrick, Greening Homes’ Managing Director, and I completed the Adaptiv Home Design course through the Canada Home Builders Association (CHBA). This course is new and long overdue. For years […]

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This multi-generational design-build offers a creative solution to affordable housing and is eco-friendly By: greening homes

July 22, 2024
Alternative housing, Green Materials, Resource Efficiency, Site Stories

Over the past few years, I’ve seen an uptick in inquiries about renovating for multi-generational homes. This isn’t a surprise.  More homeowners or would-be homeowners are finding creative solutions to secure affordable housing for themselves, family and friends. This may involve dividing their house into separate quarters with a shared space or building a laneway […]

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Green building is responsible building at the 2024 National Home Show By: greening homes

April 29, 2024
Community, Green Materials, Planning a Renovation

The term “green building” conjures up a lot of things for a variety of people. What I hope stands out is that green building is responsible building. In addition to having a minimum impact on your health and environment, it should minimize problems down the line. Green building is a sound building practice that provides […]

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The Green Building Learning Zone comes to the National Home Show! By: greening homes

March 1, 2024
Community, Green Materials, Planning a Renovation, Resource Efficiency

I am very excited to announce that the Green Building Learning Zone (GBLZ) is coming to the National Home Show, March 8-10 and March 13-17 at the Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place. What is the Green Building Learning Zone? It is the bringing together of Ontario’s best and brightest residential green building experts in a collaborative […]

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