39: Sustainable Home Renovations — Materials, Waste, and Designing Homes For Life with Brittany Steptoe Wright Artwork

Sustainable in the Suburbs

Want to waste less, save money, and make your home a little more eco-friendly? Sustainable in the Suburbs is your go-to podcast for practical, judgment-free tips and real-life stories to help you build sustainable habits that actually stick.

Hosted by Sarah Robertson-Barnes — a suburban soccer mum, sustainability educator, and founder of the blog Sustainable in the Suburbs — this weekly show brings doable advice, honest conversations, and actionable ideas to help you waste less, spend smarter, and live more sustainably at home.

Because sustainable living doesn’t have to be perfect to matter — and you don’t have to do it all to make a big impact.

Start where you are, use what you have, and live a little greener.

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Sustainable in the Suburbs

39: Sustainable Home Renovations — Materials, Waste, and Designing Homes For Life with Brittany Steptoe Wright

February 24, 2026 • Sarah Robertson-Barnes • Episode 39

0:00 | 54:44

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.

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Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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