I wanted to share a bit of my story in case it resonates with someone out there navigating the journey of designing and building their own resilient home
For over a decade, I’ve worked with landowners to design homes that bring their unique vision to life—balancing natural efficiency, personal values, and a deep connection to the land. But when it came time to design and build my own home, the path wasn’t so straightforward. Transitioning from temporary housing, isolation, and overwhelm to creating a life of purpose and empowerment through the design-build process was extremely challenging—but ultimately, deeply rewarding. Looking back, there were a few powerful lessons that shaped how I work today: **First, self-reliance can’t replace collaboration.*\* The pursuit of independence can easily spiral into DIY overload if we’re not mindful. While autonomy is empowering, true leadership means knowing when to bring others in. I had to humble myself and acknowledge how much I didn’t know. That shift opened the door to deeper learning, better questions, and the wisdom of the right professionals who helped keep the project—and vision—on track. **Second, a complete plan changes everything.*\* Building can be a beautiful mess—but without a clear and cohesive plan, that mess can quickly become chaos. I learned that hopping between unfinished steps, getting distracted, or improvising without a roadmap can add unnecessary time and cost. Clarity, order, and seeing each phase through to completion made all the difference. **Last, constraints spark creativity.*\* Whether it’s codes, budgets, or site challenges, I’ve come to welcome limitations as opportunities in disguise. They’ve pushed me to design with more intention, resourcefulness, and integrity—creating spaces that align even more deeply with my values and vision When I was building my first home, the carpenter I was working with had a saying anytime a measurement was off… “*Just split the difference.”\* At the time, it was about inches—but that phrase stuck with me. It’s become a guiding principle in how I approach design. Because the real magic tends to happen in the middle—where hands-on, natural building meets intentional, and innovative design. This hybrid approach is what makes it possible to create homes that are resilient and rooted in nature, while still being practical and financially achievable. If you’re on your own version of this journey, you’re not alone—feel free to reach out. Did this resonate with you? If so, I’d love to hear what part spoke to you most in the comments :) https://preview.redd.it/2y9p6jdsgnve1.jpg?width=811&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=084710addfa18f600bf0a97daa9655815b2e10ba submitted by /u/Puzzled_Flower_193 [link] [comments]
| | For over a decade, I’ve worked with landowners to design homes that bring their unique vision to life—balancing natural efficiency, personal values, and a deep connection to the land. But when it came time to design and build my own home, the path wasn’t so straightforward. Transitioning from temporary housing, isolation, and overwhelm to creating a life of purpose and empowerment through the design-build process was extremely challenging—but ultimately, deeply rewarding. Looking back, there were a few powerful lessons that shaped how I work today: **First, self-reliance can’t replace collaboration.*\* **Second, a complete plan changes everything.*\* **Last, constraints spark creativity.*\* When I was building my first home, the carpenter I was working with had a saying anytime a measurement was off… “*Just split the difference.”\* At the time, it was about inches—but that phrase stuck with me. It’s become a guiding principle in how I approach design. Because the real magic tends to happen in the middle—where hands-on, natural building meets intentional, and innovative design. This hybrid approach is what makes it possible to create homes that are resilient and rooted in nature, while still being practical and financially achievable. If you’re on your own version of this journey, you’re not alone—feel free to reach out. Did this resonate with you? If so, I’d love to hear what part spoke to you most in the comments :) [link] [comments] |
