Sol Haus Design

Trees help mitigate heat-island effects by providing shade for streets and parking areas, add to the value of a property, provide habitat, cool the air and absorb carbon dioxide. Of course, they also provide beauty and can help mark the seasons. Knowing your site will help you decide if you can plant a small tree, such as a dogwood, redbud or hawthorne, or if your yard can accommodate a large oak, pine or pecan.

Two adjacent old buildings are transformed into a family home with sleeping and living spaces linked by a small garden When interior designer Jody Lewis purchased adjacent, dilapidated 1920s cottages in quaint Ojai, California, she envisioned a village-like setting with multiple structures connected by open space.

Sol Haus Design, an Ojai-based boutique design firm that promotes affordable small spaces as a vehicle for sustainable living, has announced a new partnership and initiative — Give Back 100 — in support of Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County. Give Back 100, donates $100 from the proceeds of every sale of Sol Haus’ various tiny-house plans to Habitat for Humanity. “My connection to Habitat for Humanity runs deep,” said Vina Lustado, owner of Sol Haus Design.