We walk the walk.
It’s important for us to implement the same initiatives we ask our clients to implement.
Implementing sustainable initiatives doesn’t have to be expensive.
When we design with waste in mind, we can start to spend our resources where they matter most.
Le Cercle House - The circular pilot.
Renovated and furnished two apartments saving $15 a square foot.
There are hidden costs to any renovation.
We have tested many methods to reduce cost and our waste.
We believe in our process so much, we’ve taken the leap to consult organizations on how to save money during their daily operations, office moves, or renovation.
This isn’t our first go around though.
We have successfully renovated 6 properties and sold 4 of them with a profit. With each property we prioritized reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling to maximize our budget, minimize our environmental impact, and maintain an affordable home for future buyers.
In 2015, we purchased our first property. Renovations were minimal and after some system upgrades, we kept all the original features and refurbished them to give the property an upgraded feel.
Between 2019 and 2021, we purchased 3 properties. We took a slower approach to the third property, conducting a mid-size renovation where we gutted the kitchen and main bathroom and added a guest bathroom in the basement.
In 2023, we purchased our 5th property, consisting of two separate units, totaling 6 renovations over 8 years.
Past Projects
Everyone has a first
Our very first property needed some simple cosmetic updates and minor repairs. We refinished cabinets, the hardwood floors, installed new light fixtures and fan, among a few other things.
A true flip
Thanks to some neighbors and lifelong friends, we went 50/50 on a house to renovate in 90 days and sell. So many lessons learned, yet we were still able to find ways to reduce our waste and reuse materials.
Updated 70s dream house
This apartment is the second-floor apartment of a two-family flat as they call them in St. Louis. Built in 1912 with some original features intact we renovated in a way to disassemble if we ever turn the building into a single-family home.
By focusing on reuse, we saved about $12,500 in total renovation costs.
After my Grandparents passing we had the opportunity to renovate their house. Our initial plan was to renovate and rent, but with the pandemic still raging on, we decided to minimize our risk and sell. It was hard to let this one go. I got to finish projects I started with my Grandparents. We maintained everything original that we could, even the kitchen cabinets, and gave them a refresh.
1980 No more
Our fourth property and it needed a complete refresh. As usual, what we decided to not keep and reuse, we were able to donate to reuse non-profits. However, the kitchen was fully enclosed and needed to be opened up, the upstairs bath needed to be gutted to be more functional, and we needed a bonus room plus an additional full bathroom added to the basement.
It was a 3 yearlong project while we lived there, but worth it.
A reuse renovation
A reuse renovation x2
This apartment is the first-floor apartment of the second-floor unit. We had half the budget as we did on the second floor, so reuse was a must.
Coming Soon
A single-family home, built in 1884, brought back from more than 15 years of vacancy.
Coming Soon-ish?! The Coliving & Coworking Experience
Be inspired and productive while incorporating circularity as part of your everyday experience.
Be an early adopter.
We promote practicing circularity imperfectly.
Partner With Us
Work with us to implement your circular, zero-waste, and change initiatives for your organization.
Chat With Us
Interested to learn more about how we work? Schedule a free 30-minute brainstorming session with us.
Learn With Us
Learn how you can incorporate circularity into your daily routine and business operations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
SHORT TERM RENTAL EXPERIENCE
Q: What do you mean by zero-waste?
A: Being good stewards of our planet and community is the core of our business. We aim to eliminate unnecessary waste in our home and hope these practices inspire you to do the same! You can find more details in our guidebook on the coffee table and in the kitchen.
Q: What is a two unit flat?
A: Typical multi-family housing design in St. Louis, this is where each floor is their own apartment.
Q: How do we know what is recyclable and compostable?
A: We have instructions with images to help clarify what can be accepted. Our recycle bin is single stream, so you can place paper, flattened cardboard, glass, plastic bottles and containers, metal cans and jars, and food and beverage cartons. We also have a compost bin that is picked up by our cleaning team and taken to their farm.
Ready to learn how you can adapt your culture around circularity?
Schedule a complementary consultation below: