Interview with Lisa and Boots: The formidable couple making sustainable (and beautiful) home design accessible to all

These Show Notes are a ChatGPT summary of the episode transcript (with brief additional editing)

Apple | Spotify

In this week’s episode, hosts Kim and Rog interview Lisa and Boots, a couple renowned for their sustainable self-designed home named Booken House, which has earned them a massive online following. As trailblazers challenging the conventional building industry, Lisa and Boots inspire others by equipping them with the knowledge and resources needed to construct their own unique, environmentally-friendly homes.

The couple started documenting and sharing their journey on Instagram, answering questions about building a sustainable home from their friends and family. They recognized the wide information gap for those interested in similar projects, so they decided to bridge this gap. Their mission being to expedite the transition to low-impact homes, by empowering people with knowledge and resources to design and build their own.

Lisa and Boots, through their sustainable designs, are democratizing access to home building and improvements, empowering people to custom-build their own low-impact homes. They Believe that building a passive solar home on a budget is possible with the right guidance. The duo’s innovative approach to disrupting the building industry’s standard paradigm.

The conversation addressed the obstacles pairs confront when building a house together and how Lisa and Boots’ workshops could act as catalysts for empowerment. Lisa made it clear that their workshops assist couples in aligning their visions, emphasizing their shared desires and necessities. This process can actually also eliminate potential discord which naturally occurs between couples during the design and build process as it provides a process to focus on collaboratively constructing a dream home.

Exploring the potential stress of the building process on relationships, Kim and Rog asked if the workshops address this issue. Lisa conceded that constructing a home remains a stressful process but emphasized that their workshops help align couples’ vision, reducing conflicts over design choices. Their offerings focus on clarifying the underlying query of building a home, unifying couples in their pursuit.

The discussion also touched on the positive impact of sustainable homes on overall quality of life. Lisa underlined how such homes foster well-being by integrating natural light, green spaces, and establishing a connection with nature. The calming effect, comfort, and relaxation they experience living in such a house were highlighted. Additionally, Lisa and Boots expressed their pride in raising their children in a sustainable environment, and how it has positively influenced their values and life choices.

The future of Booken House also came to the fore in the conversation. As Lisa reported, their primary focus is on developing their enterprise and accelerating the knowledge transfer to empower more individuals.