We talk a lot on this show about the small daily habits inside our homes. But every so often, the choices get bigger.

Renovations bring in materials, demolition, budgets, trades, and long-term decisions all at once. They shape how a home functions — and how it holds up — for years.

In this episode, I’m joined by Brittany Steptoe Wright, Founder and Principal of BSW Design and COO of Steptoe Carpentry, for a practical and thoughtful conversation about what sustainable design actually looks like inside real projects with real budgets.

If you’re planning a renovation — or simply thinking about your home with a longer lens — this conversation offers a steady framework for building and living in a way that lasts.

Takeaways

• What sustainable design actually looks like inside a renovation
• Where renovation waste comes from — and where it can realistically be diverted
• Why durability often matters more than trend cycles
• How antiques and inherited pieces can anchor a renovation
• How professionals weigh sourcing, longevity, and budget together
• Why maintenance plays a key role in sustainability

One Small Shift

Take care of your things — loved things last!

Maintain them. Repair them. Clean them properly. Loved things last — and extending the life of what’s already in your home is one of the simplest and most meaningful sustainability decisions you can make.

Connect With Brit

Website

Instagram

Podcast

Resources

Habitat for Humanity

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Sustainable Waste

Farrier Home

RC Home

HanStone

Jairpur Living

Support the show

Connect With Me

Website

Newsletter

Shop

Instagram

Support the Show

Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

Buying less is one of the most powerful forms of climate action we have.

In this episode, I’m sharing some of the things I’ve stopped buying over the last ten years of sustainable living. This shift into eco-frugal living happened gradually, beginning with using up what I already had, doing periodic waste audits to see what we were consistently throwing way, and getting very clear on how and where to spend our money.

Because truly, the most sustainable thing you can buy is nothing.

Takeaways

• Climate action begins at the kitchen table
• Many “household essentials” are designed to be constant restock items
• Marketing — especially in personal care — encourages us to buy more than we need
• Reusables make the most sense for things you use all the time
• Saving money and reducing waste naturally go hand in hand
• Not buying creates mental, physical, and financial space

One Small Shift

Instead of focusing on what you might stop buying next, try making a short list of things you already don’t buy anymore — and notice what made that possible.

Resources

Household Waste Audit Workbook (free download)

A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20)

How to Quit Using Amazon (blog post and podcast episode)

10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money (blog post)

How to Pack a Zero Waste School Lunch (blog post)

3 Ways to Have a Zero Waste Period (blog post)

Support the show

Connect With Me

Website

Newsletter

Shop

Instagram

Support the Show

Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

Donation dumps are basically reverse shopping hauls.

Decluttering is often framed as an end point — clear it out, drop it off, move on. But what if the way we let things go quietly trains how we bring new things in?

In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m exploring the relationship between decluttering, donation, and sustainable living — and why donation isn’t bad, but also isn’t neutral. We talk about mindful decluttering, overwhelmed donation systems, and how slowing down the letting-go process can shape more intentional habits around both acquiring and discarding things.

This conversation sits at the intersection of sustainable decluttering, minimalism, and organization, and asks what becomes possible when we stay present through the full life cycle of our stuff, instead of treating decluttering as the end of the story.

Takeaways

• Decluttering is part of the buying cycle, not separate from it
• Donation isn’t bad — but it isn’t neutral
• Donation systems are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of donated goods
• Slowing down decluttering creates useful feedback
• Community-based solutions take more time... and that's the point
• Paying attention when things leave your home shapes future purchases

One Small Shift

Look into your community-based options. That might mean joining a Buy Nothing group, checking what local organizations actually need, or learning where items are most likely to stay in use — and letting that guide how you let things go.

Resources

Sustainable Decluttering – An Eco-Friendly Approach to Letting Things Go (blog)

How to Host a Clothing Swap (podcast episode)

Fewer, Better Things - How to Reduce Kitchen Clutter (podcast episode)

Sustainable Minimalism - Stefanie Marie Seferian (book)

No New Things - Ashlee Piper (book)

The Story of Stuff - Annie Leonard (book)

Consumed - Aja Barber (book)

Aja Barber (Patreon)

Support the show

Connect With Me

Website

Newsletter

Shop

Instagram

Support the Show

Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.