One-Stop Shop for Home Buying and Renovation Seven Issues You Face and the Solution to Your Dream Home

Image: Wo-Built & Casavant Make Your Home Renovation & Buying Process Easy

Image Credit: Microsoft Office.com: Hands passing model house

We know all too well having the home of your dreams is no simple matter:  whether you’re buying a new home, renovating your existing home, or plan to purchase and renovate a resale home.

Here are 7 issues to consider when it comes to buying/renovating an existing home:

1. 1. Can you afford it, really?
2. 2. How will you find it?
3. 3. How will you know that the home that is being sold to you is the one you’re actually buying? (That is, what aren’t you being told about it? And don’t think a home inspector is the answer.)
4. 4. What about the renovations? How much are they REALLY going to cost?
5. 5. What is lurking behind the walls, in the attic, underneath the basement that no one has bargained for, and that no self-respecting contractor will “let slide?”
6. 6. Are you planning on making a basement apartment? Do you have the funds to, as Mike Holmes would say, “make it right?” Or, will you fall into the trap as so many homeowners do, and get a cheap contractor in to do a cut-rate half-ass job resulting in yet another illegal second suite?
7. 7. Do you want to have an indoor rainforest ecosystem from PeapodLife, complete with a fully integrated suite of sustainable home management and green technologies? Would you like your indoor ecosystem to connect with landscaping, eco-pond, and permaculture garden?

The Solution:

Wo-Built has joined the Casavant group of top-tier Realtors, Financial Institutions, Insurance Companies, and Grade-A Contractors to deliver you, the consumer, the world’s first fully integrated home buying, financing, renovation and ownership system.

Casavant’s program offers advantages to each stakeholder group mentioned above. Its vertically integrated system means:

• Consumers like you have a one-stop, no-haggle, no-fuss, headache-free home ownership experience. No more hunting endlessly for homes and financing; no stress guessing quality of homes and costs of renovations; no more dealing with cut-rate and half-baked contractors.
• Realtors have business sent to them and get to participate in revolutionary programs which help alleviate the dire need for affordable home ownership and available social housing units.
• Contractors have business sent to them, get to help more people become home owners responsibly (NO SUB-PRIME MORTGAGE SCHEMES HERE!), build/convert/upgrade desperately needed affordable rental inventory, all without dealing with emotional home owners, and potentially volatile disputes, thanks to professional third-party verification by certified Architectural Engineers.
• Financial Institution and Insurance Companies are able to get more high-quality homes and home-owners on their books.
• The Government gets more tax revenues and alleviates pressures on the rental and affordable housing markets.
• IN SHORT, EVERYONE WINS.

For more information, visit http://www.casavantcorp.com

Wo-Built is proud to be a part of Casavant’s revolutionary paradigm shift. And, we are happy that through this program, our revolutionary new paradigm in buildings, PeapodLife becomes INSTANTLY AFFORDABLE and ACCESSIBLE to almost EVERYONE.

Win-win-WIN, indeed.

Newly Renovated Natural Health Centre Helps Create a Warm, Homey Environment

Photo: Wo-Built’s  Commercial Renovation
Natural Health Center: New  Treatment  Spaces and  Resource Centre

2013 @ wobuilt.com

"My interest in nature began early.
When I was 3, I refused to leave a park because I had to pick ALL the dandelions (just imagine a sea of yellow).
 

My current ambition is to help others to use the power of nature to feel their best.
And to love dandelions as much as I do.  ;-)"
~ Janet McKenzie, Summit Natural Health Centre

Welcome to the Newly Renovated Natural Health Centre

We were privileged to work with Ms Janet McKenzie, ND on her new offices for her Summit Natural Health Centre at 5133 Dundas Street West.

The original use for the space was a sales office for the adjacent condo building, hence we were lucky in being able to reuse a lot of the services (HVAC, Fire/Safety, and Lighting) with minor alterations.

As our mandate is to be green, we also reused as much of the existing finishes (doors, carpet (good quality, almost new), and bathroom fixtures) as we could to lessen the amount of materials that went into the landfill.

Our scope of work included adding several consulting rooms and adding a second bathroom. We had some surprises during the renovations, no renovation is without, but we resolved them in some innovative ways. More of that in a later post.

We were able to help create a warm homey environment for the Health Centre, very much on the lines Ms McKenzie envisaged. Something we feel is very important in a health and wellness environment. A calming and relaxing atmosphere will help ease minds, make clients comfortable and facilitate the journey to wellness.

Summit Natural Health Centre is now open. For more information about natural therapies and treatments please contact the Centre.


Martina Ernst
President/CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

links:
wobuilt.com/blog: Medical Facilities - Building Image and Branding of Your Spaces
Wo-Built’s Commercial Renovation Project Naturopathic Office

wobuilt.com/blog: Health & Wellness Professionals: You wouldn’t let just anyone Run your Practice; Why let just anyone Remodel your Premises?
The bottom-line: we are nothing without our health. Wo-Built could mean everything to the health and wellness of your practice.

Photo: Wo-Built’s  Commercial Renovation
Natural Health Center: New  Treatment  Spaces and  Reception Area

2013 @ wobuilt.com

About Summit Natural Health Centre
Summit Natural Health Centre is a multi-disciplinary clinic focusing on natural medicine. Our mission is to provide individualized care supported by resources that allow clients and members of the community to learn about health and natural treatments.
Summit offers practitioners' rooms in newly renovated premises located in an area with excellent potential for growth.

Summit Natural Health Center
5133 Dundas Street West
Etobicoke, ON M9A 1C1
Phone: 416-236-7642
E-mail: contactus@summitnaturalhealth.ca
Facebook: Summit Natural Health Centre 
Web: www.summitnaturalhealth.ca

5 Reasons Why Remodeling Can’t Compare with "AHH…!"

Collage: Remodeling vs. Advanced Human Habitat

pPodLite Muro and pPodLite Angolo self-contained vertical garden ecosystems

Image Credits: PeapodLife; MS Office ClipArt: Woman Construction, Man Construction

pPodLite Muro and pPodLite Angolo self-contained vertical garden ecosystems create Advanced Human Habitat; are the BEST way to give any old décor a new lease on life!

So you’re all fired up to improve your space. You’ve got a budget in mind and you’re ready to take on the project of re-inventing your home, office, retail boutique…whatever! Before you do, we think you should save yourself lots of time, money and headaches and give yourself some “AHH…!” instead.

5 reasons why pPodLite Muro & Angolo Vertical Garden Ecosystems by PeapodLife are infinitely better than remodeling at revitalizing space and actually create Advanced Human Habitat.

• 1. There’s no substitute for nature. No art, paint, furniture, appliances wallpaper, tile, window dressing, carpet, or anything else you can think of can replace the universal appeal of nature. Not only that, none of your efforts to change the look and feel of the space will improve the air quality or vitality of the atmosphere. It will only ever be a “special effect;” a substitution for the real thing. pPodLite is the real deal. It is a cause of positive effects: in you and everyone else.
• 2. Remodeling is just a temporary “fix”. Magazines and interior design gurus will tell you what fabrics, furniture, flooring, lighting and accessories are “hot” right now, but a few seasons from now tastes will change. It’s like the belief you can merge old and new architecture. What happens when the “new” becomes old again? The key is to find and accentuate timeless beauty.  Nature is always in style: ecosystems are alive! They grow, adapt and change all the time.
• 3. Remodeling may look good, but an ecosystem feels incredible. Sure, when your makeover is done, it’ll make you feel pretty good (if it went well; or relieved that it’s over with). But after a while, the pleasure effect will wear off, as it always does. pPodLite self-contained ecosystems are easy to install, and immediately change the energy and vitality of any space. People will ask you “did you remodel!?” not because they see the difference immediately; but because they can feel it. This is the “holy grail” of interior design. It comes standard in pPodLite.
• 4. Remodeling is expensive. To get “the right look” you may need to spend tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours of your time. Sure, you may enjoy remodeling. You may like browsing home décor magazines and watching HGTV until your eyes get bloodshot. But time is money. And just think what else you could be doing in a vibrant new living space in the company of a living, breathing vertical garden ecosystem which was installed in no time.
• 5. Treating plants only as expensive “living art” is a recipe for disaster. Thinking of jumping on the indoor vertical garden bandwagon because you like the look of it? Be prepared for “the revenge of mother nature.” Sellers of soil-based living walls won’t tell you about the mess, the smell, the dripping water. What’s that going to make your expensive makeover? (How are you going to change the soil in that vertical garden when it putrefies and dies?) As for hydroponic or other contrived ways of hanging plants in a completely unnatural way (i.e., without their roots firmly grounded and pointing downward toward the earth) be prepared to double, triple, or quadruple your home makeover budget long term. Oh, didn’t “the other guys” tell you about the ongoing plant replacement costs? Of course not, because they won’t admit to the facts: plants simply cannot survive long-term in any so-called “living wall” which ignores the fundamental laws of nature? The most fundamental of those? The law of the ecosystem; the law behind PeapodLife.

For more info and links, check out the official announcement at PeapodLife.com: PeapodLife Officially Launches pPodLite. You will also find PDF’s of product sheets for pPodLite Muro and Angolo.


Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Home Automation Trending at CES 2013

Image Montage by Wo-Built: Home Automation Technology at CES 2013
Images: Top-Left: Lowe’s Iris automation system 
(Source: cepro.com: CES 2013 Shocker: Lowe’s Iris Home Automation Has Legs)
Top-Right: Ivee Sleek voice activation assistant 
(Source: ces.cnet.com: Voice-controlled home assistant is like a nicer HAL 9000)

As CES 2013 kicks into high gear in Las Vegas, it’s clear that our homes are about to become much more interactive, in the digital sense of the word.

Gone are the days of getting up out of your La-Z-Boy to check the thermostat, turn lights on or off, check door locks and much more. You don’t even need to be physically in your home anymore. Interacting with your home is becoming more a matter of remote touch or voice-enabled app via tablet or smartphone.

Lowe’s Iris automation platform works with Zigbee and Z-Wave technologies and sells as a service in the U.S. for $9.99 a month. It offers remote security and home management features, including the ability to monitor cameras, windows and door locks, adjust thermostat, operate compatible devices in real time.

For those within earshot of their house, the Ivee Sleek offers impressive voice-activation capabilities and is compatible with a variety of other devices to give your home that “2001: A Space Odyssey” or “Star Trek” feel. One device which it can control is Nest’s “learning thermostat.”

youtube.com: Meet the Nest Learning Thermostat

Uploaded by Nest on Oct 2, 2012

The Almond+ router by Securifi offers a 2.8-inch touchscreen with Smart Hub integration with Zigbee and Z-Wave technologies. It appears to offer many of the same features as Lowe’s Iris, but without a monthly fee. Still, currently a project on Kickstarter, it may be some time before you can have one in your home.

Image: Securifi’s Almond+ Router
(Source: pcmag.com: CES 2013: Securifi's Almond+ Router Tackles Home Automation)

Want to be able to take command of your interior lighting without waiting for a complete home automation platform? Why not try GreenWave Reality’s WiFi-enabled light bulbs. With available remote controls, dedicated WiFi gateway, and iOS/Android app, you’ll be taking command of your home’s lighting from just about anywhere.

Image: GreenWave Reality’s WiFi-enabled light bulbs with remote control and wireless gateway can be controlled by a custom app running on Apple and Android mobile touch devices.

(Source: latimes.com: CES 2013: Lighting up the smart home)

It looks like the age of the Jetsons may finally be approaching (don’t hold your breath on the flying car, though). Do these gadgets really make a home come alive, though?

In the same way that Las Vegas itself is filled with bells and whistles, but cannot hold a candle to the vitality and vibrancy of a rainforest, home automation technology is no substitute for living organisms.

The technology that gets us more excited is home revitalization: PeapodLife.



Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

links:
wikipedia.org: Home automation

pcmag.com: CES 2013: Securifi's Almond+ Router Tackles Home Automation
At CES, Securifi took the wraps off Almond+, a color touch-screen router with an integrated Smart Home hub.
by Samara Lynn

latimes.com: CES 2013: Lighting up the smart home
Smartphones. Smart TVs. Smart appliances. Smart ... light bulbs?
by Jon Healey

smithsonianmag.com: The Gadgets of the Future From the Electrical Shows of Yesterday

The latest and best tweets on #2013CES and #2014ces.
Read what people are saying about the International Consumer Electronics Show or simply CES, and join the conversation.

Some of the Challenges with Providing a Second Bathroom in a Commercial Space

Photos: Wo-Built’s Commercial Building Renovation Project in Progress
2012 @ wobuilt.com

On our last project constructing a second bathroom in a commercial building was an interesting challenge

Most space renovations in large commercial building are generally straight forward as long as you don't mess with the structure. Then it becomes complicated. On our last project constructing a second bathroom was an interesting challenge.

Due to the slab configuration and the element within we could not core the slab for the toilet drain. Luckily we had a "spare hole" (previous drilling) in the vicinity, but, of course not in line for any of the bathroom fixtures. The amount of hoops we had to jump through to get the plumbing to code was phenomenal. But we persevered and we made it work.

On a general note the main issues in commercial spaces are the services, HVAC, electrical, fire/smoke alarms, sprinklers and plumbing are the main ones, because many are centrally controlled and can have system-wide implications. Even installing localized fans can be a problem, because you may have to puncture the outside envelope.

Even though these issues are often difficult, at Wo-Built we look for solutions, however out-side the box thinking we have to do.


Martina Ernst
President/CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Inventors’ Co-operative focuses on Green Building Innovations

Images: Inventors Circle, Credit: inventorscircle.org

Solar Panels, Credit: kortright.org: The Living City Campus at Kortright

Innovation Initiative event to feature Alex Waters, Senior Manager, Living City Campus, Kortright Centre for Conservation

Tonight, Wo-Built will be attending a non-profit forum supported innovative business, part of Inventors Circle, touted to be the world’s first inventors co-operative.

The featured guest speaker this evening will be Alex Waters, Senior Manager, Living City Campus, Kortright Centre for Conservation.

The Living City Campus at Kortright is Canada’s largest green building and sustainable technology centres. The most active research project is two LEED Platinum Archetype Sustainable Houses.

Image: Sustainable House Model.

Source: kortright.org: Archetype for The Living City

Mr. Waters will overview some of the unique technologies built into the houses as well as the latest research being conducted in green buildings and sustainable technologies. The houses have become a test facility for near-market technologies or new concept designs. The campus facilitates partnerships between business, universities and funding organizations to help accelerate green building innovations.

Image: Rendering: Peapod Life Rooftop Garden with Indoor Ecosystem

Wo-Built welcomes this opportunity to network with inventors  and other innovators and looks forward to learning about others’ green initiatives and technologies and sharing information about its own Peapod Life initiative.


Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Summer, Nature, and the Homestead

Image: Wo-Built’s vision for Peapod Life:
Bringing the best of summer and nature to homesteads everywhere!
Image Credit: MS Office ClipArt: agriculture, farms, fields, houses, nature

Peapod Life brings the best of rural Canada to your Condo

This past Sunday, I had the good fortune of attending a spiritual retreat held on a horse farm in Arva, Ontario.

The experience served to reinforce Wo-Built’s vision for Peapod Life: to bring the best of summer and nature to homesteads everywhere! From condos to suburbs; restaurants to spas; hospitals to clinics; offices to schools; everyone should be able to enjoy the pleasures I experienced on Sunday.

Among the many activities on the beautiful property was a nature walk. To be surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature is always uplifting yet calming; invigorating yet soothing. Green was the backdrop for a symphony of colours.

It wouldn’t have been much of a gathering without a feast. Fresh garden herbs and vegetables, local fair of every kind, all served with warmth and hospitality that I believe is 100% supported by the environment of the homestead.

Cities are a necessary fact of life which come with a whole series of advantages, from employment to socializing to entertainment. Toronto recognizes the importance of greening urban landscapes, evidenced by the emergence of initiatives like Live Green Toronto, Evergreen and Food Forward (to name but a few).

When it finally came to leave Arva and return to Toronto, I did so with renewed determination. Peapod Life will do its best to bring the best of rural life to our urban spaces, with products and services both large and small for residential and commercial markets.

Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Sharing Our Vision of Peapod Life with Food Forward

Photos: Wo-Built Shares Its Vision of Peapod Life with Food Forward
Urban Agriculture: Foodie Drinks - Eglinton-Lawrence Edition
May 29, 2012 at Zito's Marketplace, 210 Marlee Avenue, Toronto
2012 @ wobuilt.com

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share.
It was a great evening, wonderful food and company.
A special thank you to Orla Moylan Hegarty for inviting us.
We loved hearing everyone's great community initiatives.
See you all at the next Foodie Drinks.
~ Wo Built

They say there is great beauty and wisdom in simplicity…in that which is elemental.

On Tuesday evening, Wo-Built joined Food Forward’s event held at Zito’s Marketplace, 210 Marlee Avenue, Toronto.

The venue was packed with a diverse group ranging from members of the local community to social entrepreneurs to individuals from across the GTA. Their common cause: a sincere interest in eating healthy, organic, local, sustainable, community-empowering food.

Picture it: in the heart of a gourmand’s paradise, an outstanding spread of homemade snacks courtesy of Zito’s Marketplace, delightful hobnobbing with foodies from the community … what better place for Wo-Built to talk about Peapod Life?

Speakers included Cousellor Josh Colle, member of the Toronto Food Policy Council, and Susan Poizner, founder of Growing for Green, Community Orchard and Backyard Sharing initiative.

Attila Lendvai, VP of Strategic Development, gave a lively and interactive talk on behalf of Peapod Life, highlighting the very simple fact that human beings “are what we eat.” And all five elements go into growing food: earth, wind, fire, water, and space. Ergo, “we too are those five elements.”

As opposed to legacy approaches to building which focused on sheltering people from the elements, Peapod Life embraces the fact that we are those elements. Quality earth, wind, fire, water and space are essential to our survival and well-being, and so they are essential to Peapod Life as well.

We know, for instance, how important natural light is to us; that artificial light is less than healthy. The same goes for fresh air; clean, vitalized and revitalizing water; vibrant, beautiful space that is calming yet invigorating—not unlike a forest, meadow, or just about any other outdoor natural environment.

This elemental approach means Peapod Life operates on a level so primal, so fundamental to the well-being of living things, it creates indoor spaces that are literally full of life: unmatched in terms of their ability to support productive, peaceful, healthy living.

Peapod Life ... it’s really quite elementary.

Martina Ernst
President/CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Photos: Wo-Built Shares Its Vision of Peapod Life with Food Forward
Urban Agriculture: Foodie Drinks - Eglinton-Lawrence Edition
May 29, 2012 at Zito's Marketplace, 210 Marlee Avenue, Toronto
2012 @ wobuilt.com

And even more pictures from this Food Forward Foodie Drinks night:

Screenshot: facebook.com: Food Forward Events Photos
Foodie Drinks - Eglinton-Lawrence Edition
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
credit: http://www.facebook.com/groups/foodforward

Update:

@wobuilt: We were being mentioned in this article!
Yonge Street: Food Fighters: How a new advocacy group plans to change your diet
"... A recent edition featured councillor Josh Colle of the Toronto Food Policy Council and the not-for-profit groups Growing for Green, which spearheaded the Ben Nobleman Community Orchard in a public park, and Wo-Built, which produces compact living units bursting with green features."
by Sarah B. Hood | Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Urban Agriculture: Foodie Drinks Featuring Peapod Life

Toronto Good Food Events
Urban Agriculture: Foodie Drinks - Eglinton-Lawrence Edition
Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 7–9:30 pm
Zito's Marketplace, 210 Marlee Avenue Toronto M6B 3H6

Image Credit: Food Forward Advocacy Alliance

We would like to share with you an announcement about our presentation at an upcoming Food Forward Toronto Good Food event next week, and we are looking forward to seeing you there!

Urban Agriculture: Foodie Drinks - Eglinton-Lawrence Edition

When: Tuesday, 29 May, 7–9:30 pm
Where: Zito's Marketplace
Location: 210 Marlee Avenue Toronto, ON M6B 3H6
(Just 3 blocks from Glencairn Station)

This month will feature:
special guest, Councillor Josh Colle, member of the Toronto Food Policy Council and active advocate of good food jobs.
Come learn from our non-profit and business guests:
Growing for Green (Ben Nobleman Community Orchard & Sharing Backyard)
and the innovative Wo-Built.

Foodie Drinks - Eglinton-Lawrence Edition

It's been a little while since our last Foodie Drinks, so we're coming back strong with a great event highlighting wards 15/16, this time at a small food market! Everyone from the area and beyond welcome to come learn, brainstorm, and connect.

Foodie Drinks is our monthly chance to mingle, network and build new relationships around good food in Toronto.Whether you work or volunteer in food, or are just interested in growing vegetables or supporting Toronto businesses, this is a great place to see friends and make new ones.

This month will feature special guest, Councillor Josh Colle, member of the Toronto Food Policy Council and active advocate of good food jobs. Come learn from our non-profit and business guests, Growing for Green (Ben Nobleman Community Orchard & Sharing Backyard) and the innovative Wo-Built (http://www.peapodlife.com).

We'll be at Zito's Marketplace sipping cafe, 210 Marlee Avenue (Just 3 blocks from Glencairn Station), Tuesday, May 29, 7:00-9:30PM

Let people know you're coming on Twitter with #FoodieDrinks

*Free entrance, but grab a Food Forward membership to get involved and advocate for a better food system. Or become a member now by clicking Join Us! Wheelchair accessible with partially accessible washroom.

Facebook for Foodie Drinks - Eglinton-Lawrence Edition event here for Food Forward.

Published by Darcy Higgins on Tue, 05/08/2012

Food Forward Advocacy Alliance

Please find more information at Events Hub: Calendar of Toronto Good Food Events, by Food Forward
twitter: @pushFoodForward
hushtag: #foodTO

Green Additions with Indoor Gardens a Big Hit at Home and Green Living Shows

Photo-Collage: Wo-Built's Green Commitment at the Green Living Show
Peapod Life™ - an affordable sustainable home addition
April 13-15, 2012 at Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place;
2012 @ wobuilt.com

Here’s our spring consumer show wrap-up. It wasn’t easy doing the National Home Show and Green Living Show back-to-back within the span of a month, but it was totally worth it. The response to Peapod Life™ was so positive, it was almost overwhelming. And we have the numbers to prove it.

Consumer Survey Results at National Home Show 2012

We spent a total of ten days at the National Home Show, and conducted a survey in our booth. After individuals learned about Peapod Life™ and what makes it unique among green home systems, they were given an opportunity to complete a market survey which asked them their opinion on the product.

Wo-Built's Peapod Life™ Survey Data at the National Home Show
Reaction to Peapod Life & Sample Make-up by Age Group Charts
2012 @ wobuilt.com

On the question, “Overall, what is your reaction to indoor garden living space and green technologies?,” out of 106 respondents, none chose “Poor” or “Fair.” A mere 3% responded with “Good,” while 31% said “Very Good,” and an incredible 66% said “Excellent.”

The Sample Make-up by Age Group chart shows that a broad sample of the general public had a favorable reaction to the foundations of Peapod Life™.

Response at Green Living Show

We didn’t bother with surveys at the Green Living Show. We felt the sample over three days would be too small and skewed in favor of our eco-friendly additions. As expected, the response was even more enthusiastic than among attendees of the National Home Show.

At the Green Living Show, Wo-Built really was in its element with Peapod Life™. The response was amazing. Both exhibitors and attendees alike saw their imaginations sparked at the prospect of a building that goes beyond “net-zero” construction into “net-positive” territory: generating solar power and growing organic food while providing fully useable, naturally lit and high-energy living space.

Gone are the days of dead structures providing shelter for people. Peapod Life™ represents a new era of living structures that support life — inside and outside. That’s how Wo-Built defines green additions, healthy buildings, and eco-friendly living.

Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Health and Wellness through Indoor Garden Living Spaces

Collage: Peapod Life™ offers in-home organic food production
with a green home addition that has its own ecosystem
2012 @ wobuilt.com
Image Credit: Microsoft Office Clipart: households, houseplants, nature.

“Plants are the young of the world, vessels of health and vigor…”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays and Lectures

Want a healthier body? Why not start with a healthier home?

Following a healthy diet and lifestyle begins with preparing fresh meals from whole organic food ingredients. Growing delicious fruits, vegetables and herbs in your home is a great step toward establishing a healthful dietary regimen, even given the hectic pace of modern life.

Diet and lifestyle are important, of course, but research is showing the quality of our interior spaces has a big impact on our overall feelings of health and wellness. Here again, plants play a key role.

NASA has done a significant amount of research looking into the effects of plants on air quality. As part of the shuttle, space station and deep space flight programs, NASA tested plants’ ability to remove harmful chemical compounds from the air.

The two-year NASA study concluded that numerous plants were effective at removing a wide variety of toxic compounds, from formaldehyde to benzene and carbon monoxide.

Recent studies have shown that the installation of interior garden spaces can reduce stress and increase performance in college and office workers by up to 12%. Plants have been used in hospitals to improve patient’s feelings of wellness and to help speed recovery.

These findings should come as no surprise. Spend some quality time in a botanical garden and you can really start to feel the positive energy of the space. Be it in the home or at the workplace, Peapod Life™ strives to deliver a useable living space that supports people coping with the toxicity of modern day life.

From providing a beautiful indoor garden living space that fills your lungs with fresh clean air and melts away stress, to feeding your body with fresh organic produce that melts away pounds, Peapod Life™ strives to be, in Emerson’s words, “a vessel of youth and vigor” for your home.

Find out more: visit us at the 2012 Green Living Show at the Direct Energy Centre, April 13th to 15th.


Attila Lendvai
VP of Strategic Development
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo 2010: Photos from the Show

Screenshot: HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo + Construct Canada
flickr.com: photos Toronto, Dec 2, 2010 @ Olga Goubar, wobuilt.com

We continue publishing of the series of articles about attending the HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo 2010 - Canada's largest construction industry trade show.

Elida shared with us an article entitled "What Is Coming up in 2010 National Building Codes? Find out How This Will Affect Your Business" and Lonya published an article about upcoming kitchen design trends.

Here are several photos from the construction expo floor taken by Olga - see the slide show at http://tinyurl.com/homebuilderexpo2010.

Enjoy and mark your calendar - the 15th Annual HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo is coming to Toronto on November 30 - December 2, 2011.

Another Addition Renovation We Are Proud of: The Wow Factor Approach!

Photo Collage: Another Addition Renovation We Are Proud of
The WOW Factor Approach! Making a Statement with The Stairs
2010 @ wobuilt.com

Making a statement with the stairs

We talked about innovative design using a trapdoor design in a previous posting. How about the wow factor in the space?

Every renovation needs at least one wow factor and when designing a room any feature can be emphasized and highlighted to create the wow in the space. In this case the clients and us made the stair one of the focal points and a main attraction. When entering the building the staircase is the first prominent element that is seen in the room, hence it was a natural element to be accentuated.

However, it was important to convey lightness and openness even with a solid element such as stairs. We achieved this by having the stairs open tread and the railing glass. This allows the eye to pick out the rest of the room. The glass railing makes the stairs look very special.

The main wow is created through colour. The dark colour of the steps gives the contrast to the walls of the space that are light coloured. This is what I call an integrated wow: as the colour is the same as the cork flooring (a green product) the stairs and the floor are visually connected giving continuity in the space.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build
(416) 402 2679
wobuilt.com
facebook.com/wobuilt
twitter.com/wobuilt

links:
Wo-Built: Another Addition Renovation We Are Proud of
Part 1: Innovative idea: Trapdoor to the basement
http://tinyurl/wobuilt15
Part 2: The Wow Factor: Making a statement with the stairs
http://tinyurl/wobuilt16

Can Renovation Give You Good ROI? Ask Kijiji

Screenshot: Wo-Built's Page on Kijiji: Free Local Classifieds

toronto.kijiji.ca: Can a renovation give you good returns for your investment?

Absolutely!

Your commercial space is part of your company's image and a coherent branding will help persuade your customers to hire you or buy from you. We, Wo-Built Inc, are a Design & Build general contractor with a heavy emphasis on design. We look at how any renovation or refurbishment would give you good returns for your investment.

If you would like to have an initial no cost discussion with our designers about the potential of your space, please contact us now at 416-402-2679.

Visits: 9

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Attention Women Home Owners
We, Wo-Built Inc, are a women led design and build construction company in the GTA with the social mission to help women succeed in the building trades. We use our projects to give women who want to work in the trades the opportunity to start their career and give them their first construction job. They learn from our subtrades and get hands-on experience.
We specialize in Home Renovations and Additions and would like to talk to you if you are thinking of embarking on a renovation or addition to your home. Our first design consultation is free.
Visits: 26

Do you want to strengthen your branding with your work space?
Your office, commercial space or health center is part of your branding and its look will reinforce the impression your customers have of you.
We, Wo-Built Inc, a Design & Build general contractor in the GTA area, can help you achieve implementing the look necessary for your commercial space, office or health center to stand out and attract customers. If you would like to have an initial free design consultation please contact us.
Visits: 18

We are looking for suggestions for suitable buildings
We, Wo-built Inc, are a Design & Build General contractor in the GTA and we are interested in exploring the possibilities of reusing buildings and converting them into affordable housing. We would like to find suitable buildings, empty warehouses, empty commercial buildings etc, to explore these options further. If you know of any buildings which might be suitable, please send us an e-mail with any information, such as address, history and ownership, you may know about the buildings.
Visits: 58

Kitchen Designs – Are We Missing the Boat?

Collage: Where Is Innovation in Kitchen Design?

I was asked recently to write another piece for the Wo-Built forum about kitchens. But as soon as I sat down to write it – bang – writer’s block! What to write? In the past we have written about kitchens, kitchen renovations and kitchen design ideas (see previous articles) and in general the topics have not changed. There are still the same styles, design principles and overall colour schemes than before. There is a need for appliances, sinks, countertop areas and storage. Colours are generally personal choice and styles can be mixed and matched.

I was not happy to revisit any of these topics without sounding boring. Then it struck me what had been bothering me for months about contemporary kitchens: the lack of innovation on a large scale. We have innovation in appliances and in new materials, but not in the fundamentals: the way we store things and the way we consider work and counter space. Storage is mainly achieved via wall hung and floor mounted kitchen cabinets, with limiting factors of height and available wall space. Counter space is the space generally in between or by the side of the stove, sink and other appliances. Maybe there is an island with extra counter space.

I believe we need new ideas. Why not look at storage solutions that use rack technology, hence giving the opportunity to double up. If there is the height why not use lift technology. Why not have the storage unit act as a wall between the rooms, hence saving space. Why not have counter tops that are retractable, or foldable to increase working surface. Why not bring surfaces down from the ceiling when required. All this is possible and not new, but somehow not explored.

What I feel is missing is the spirit of design that was prevalent in the 60s. This era was a period of design exploration and experimentation and some wonderful ideas still survive until today or were the basis for a lot of design. Everything was possible and often tried out, the bad with the good. I am not advocating retro design, but what I would like to see is much more design experimentation.

Hence I believe until we do look at the fundamentals again we are missing the boat in kitchen design.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc.

technorati tags:
kitchen renovation
kitchen design tips
design trends

The Future is Home Reno-Innovation

Poster: "The Future is Home": 67th National CNBA Conference
March 5-7th, 2010; Victoria, British Columbia

I just picked up the announcement of the CHBA National Conference for 2010 and I liked their slogan "The Future is Home".

I can’t speak on what it means for the Conference, but the reason I liked the slogan is that it implies lots of opportunity in the housing market. And for me the future is in the innovations and the design possibilities. We like to create spaces that are interesting, green, comfortable, livable, light and taking the ordinary to another level. We hope to inspire pushing the envelope in our discussions with the home owners and making their home unique.

"The Future is Home" – Maybe for us it is "The Future is Home Reno-Innovation"!

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc.

links:
"Road To Recovery": Toronto Housing Outlook Conference 2009 — November 5, 2009, Toronto, ON: Facts — Analysis — Forecasts
Ontario Home Builders' Association
NewHomes.org: Where Smart Buyers Start
BILD.ca: Building, Industry and Land Development
Renomark - Renovate with Confidence
National Association of Home Builders (United States): Reshaping and Enriching Our Communities: Building Women Magazine