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This is the second in our three weeks of blogs inspired by a look into the ingredients of the Delos WELLness concept.
AIR: Air quality is enormously important. Tighter built, newer houses often have poorer air quality than older leakier houses. And, in houses without AC, doors and windows tend to be kept open, which can let in pollen and other allergens. Unless you live in a dry area with even temperatures year round, we recommend a whole house air filtration system connected to your AC system, or if you don’t have AC, you can connect rooms with smaller built-in silent fans, to move the air. What you have in your house can also hurt you. Get rid of old foam cushions and carpets containing formaldehyde, which can cause severe skin and respiratory reactions and cancer.
Air intake from the exterior is important, but you need to filter the air coming in. A HEPA filter in the attic fan or air handler is a good, and not too costly, choice.
If your kitchen was installed sometime in the 70s or 80s, there is a good chance the cabinet boxes are made of particle board or plywood with formaldehyde glues. Get rid of them if you can. Formaldehyde is no longer allowed in glues, so even a cheaper cabinet made to US standards will be safer than what you have now.
TOUCH: The Delos WELLness concept prescribes additional cushioning under natural wood floor boards, and pebbles in the bathroom providing foot zone therapy as you walk on them. Natural materials and finishes are a must, and variety in texture and temperature is a subtle reminder for your body to sense its surroundings.
We do not wear shoes inside our house, only socks or bare feet. So the floors have to be clean and pleasant to walk on. Making the right accommodations so you feel you can take off your shoes at the front door is essential to well being. Build a mud room if you have the space, which will not only give you a perfect space to take off your shoes, but will also provide other great benefits. Create a spa like feel with pebbles on your shower floor. If you can’t redo your shower right now, you can buy pebble mats to place in your bathroom or at the side of your bed. But take off your shoes and go barefoot. Make home different from the outside world.
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SOUND: Insulation is imperative. New wallboard with insulating properties and foam or batten insulation in interior walls is something you can do as you renovate. Open plan houses are especially conducive to noise and lack of privacy, but you can remedy that with book cases and fabric. A dividing wall that also serves a purpose for seating, reading and storage is a valuable addition to a meandering floor plan. Fabric can create both a sound and a light barrier. Adding a portiere to an open doorway, or ceiling panels as sound insulation, adds texture and functionality. Decorative ceiling panels double as art and change both the feel of a room and its focal point.
Read more about other interior elements in the coming weeks. Next week’s elements are Mind and Food.