Get It Right with Undercover Architect

What do you need to know about choosing your bathroom fixtures? Daniela Santilli, Bathroom Marketing Leader for Reece tells us. Your bathroom fixtures - the basin, vanity, bath, shower and toilet - are all very permanent choices in your home’s bathrooms. Getting them right at the beginning is critical to a functioning home.  Daniela Santilli is the Bathroom Marketing Leader for Reece Plumbing, and has been with the business for 11.5 years. Heading up the bathroom marketing business at Reece brings together her passion for beautiful, functional design and architecture with her commitment to outstanding customer experience in retail. The Reece group operates Australia’s largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business, as well as 8 others in allied industries. Reece’s plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally which you can find in over 600 locations across Australia and New Zealand. They’re continually expanding into fresh areas, developing new technologies and systems and pioneering innovative plumbing and bathroom products. I’m talking with Daniela about bathrooms, and how to confidently select the various fixtures you need for your bathrooms.  Daniela is a wealth of knowledge, tips and advice when it comes to making the best selections for your interior plumbing fixtures. It’s so great to be bringing you this expertise. I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Daniela and I talk in a lot more detail about the information in this podcast. We also discuss tapware and what you need to know to choose well, and Daniela shares some exciting information about improvements being made in specific fixtures as well. And I also ask Daniela how she suggests homeowners be confident in their decisions and balance their budget with their dreams of a luxurious bathroom. So if you’re keen to learn more about those things, then check out Interior Design 101 as the full interview is available in there now. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with every day.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-reece-bathroom  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can you, as the homeowner, draw up 3D models of your new home or renovation design? So you can be sure you’ve got it right inside a computer BEFORE you commit to building it? You can learn Sketchup. (Check out https://undercoverarchitect.com/sketchup) Sketchup is a great piece of software that’s available both as a free and paid version, that enables you to draw you design in three dimensions, generate views and walk-throughs so you can experience it inside the computer before committing to it for your real life, and also generate drawings from. Clare Le Roy is an interior designer, educator and Mum of 3 boys, and her business is The Little Design Corner. And she’s also the creator of “Sketchup for Interior Design - Beginners Course”. And now, Clare is an approved training partner for Sketchup. Clare created this course because she wished it had been around when it had first started her business. It would have saved my hundreds of hours of searching YouTube videos and making lots of mistakes, rather than doing the fun stuff (creating awesome designs!).  This course has been made to help a range of users - the home renovator, designer/decorator or design enthusiast - learn SketchUp quickly and correctly so you can get up and running with it as fast as possible. In this episode, we talk about how Sketchup works, all the things you can do with it, and how you can simply learn it, and use it for your project. I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Daniela and I talk in a lot more detail about the information in this podcast. We also discuss tapware and what you need to know to choose well, and Daniela shares some exciting information about improvements being made in specific fixtures as well. And I also ask Daniela how she suggests homeowners be confident in their decisions and balance their budget with their dreams of a luxurious bathroom. So if you’re keen to learn more about those things, then check out Interior Design 101 as the full interview is available in there now. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with everyday.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Check out how Sketchup can work, and more about Clare’s online course >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/sketchup Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/sketchupSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In my experience, bathrooms often follow kitchens as an area where a huge amount of deliberation happens as homeowners work through their interior design selections. Many homes these days will have more than one bathroom. There may be a separate toilet or powder room as well. And so you can be juggling the selections for not one room, but several. Do they all need to be matchy matchy? Can they be different? And how does what you select here then relate to other wet areas such as your laundry as well. In this episode, France and I talk through the various selections you’ll need to make for your bathroom, and what to know so you’re choosing things that are durable, easy to clean and will function well. We dive into detail into shower screens, freestanding vs built-in baths, and selecting all the fixtures so that they’re timeless and well-coordinated.   During our conversation, we dive into … + shower screens + freestanding vs built-in baths + fixtures such as your towel rails, tapware and handles, and how to coordinate + other key decisions you need to remember in your wet areas I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I also talk about your joinery, and I give you more information if you’re seeking to do a groutless bathroom. I also have a lesson on bathroom design layout, and all the dimensions you need to know and how to size and arrange things in your bathroom, powder room and ensuite.   You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with everyday.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-bathroom  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is choosing the right colour for your home something you’re enjoying, or overwhelmed by? Dulux have been helping homeowners do this with their colour forecasting for over 20 years now. I speak with Andrea Lucena-Orr, Colour and Communications Manager for the Dulux Group, about choosing colour, and their annual Colour Forecasting.  Andrea joined the company with a strong background in colour and design. Her role at Dulux Group encompasses trends and colour forecasting and presenting her findings to trade, retail and media – and of course her recommendations play an integral part in Dulux Group marketing strategies. A member of the international Colour Marketing Group (CMG) and International Color Association (AIC), Andrea scours the globe in pursuit of her passion – colour forecasting. Dulux has been officially colour forecasting for 21 years.  In September 2019, they released their latest: 2020’s colour forecast, which is united by the theme “Essence”.  There are 4 key colour palettes: Cultivate, Comeback, Grounded and Indulge.  Each of these palettes speak to a different idea or inspiration, and contain a range of their own stunning colours. Andrea and her team have created some amazing collateral to highlight these colour palettes.  Andrea says “Colour is an essential ingredient in everything I do. It has an amazing power to transform spaces and I love the emotional connections you can create through personalising colour schemes.” Andrea has been with Dulux for 21 years. Her passion and eye for colour, and her skill in identifying the colours we will truly want to have around us in our homes and lives, is incredible. I can’t wait to share her wisdom and advice with you ... I really hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Andrea and I talk more about colour, including …  how Dulux have developed their colours to help us live more calmly, and access more happiness in our homes where to start when you want to personalise your home and be braver with colour how to choose a white … especially given how many there are to choose from and Andrea’s advice for putting together colour schemes, thinking about cool vs warm, and how electrical lighting can impact your choices So if you’re keen to learn more about those things, then check out Interior Design 101 as the full interview is available in there now. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or a smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with every day.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-dulux-colourSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join the free 5 Day Home Design Challenge (it’s running from 29 Jan - 2 Feb 2020) >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/challenge And check out Home Design Masterclass for more help and support in your floor plan design >>> www.howtodesignahome.com It can be common for homeowners to get really caught up in worrying about the finishes, the builder, the quality of construction. But one thing I know for sure is this: you can have a home with all the high-end finishes, built by the most amazing builder to the highest quality, and still have a terrible design that makes the home horrible to live in on a day-to-day basis. I firmly believe that those lines on a page, the drawings that you’re creating either by yourself, or in working with someone, will dictate how you get to live, feel and function both in and beyond your home for years and years to come. And I think it can be the most frustrating and slow part of the renovating or building process for homeowners, for a few reasons. Sooo … is it possible to design your home without an architect? Well, in a lot of places around the world, and especially in Australia, it is. In fact, in Australia, the only part of the process you need a professional for is to prepare your approval drawings, because there are certain benchmarks you need to satisfy to present your plans for council and building approval. However, you’re planning to, or currently creating your design for your new home or renovation … whether you’re working with a professional or not … I did want to share the key ways to approach and work through your design process so that you get it right. So, you can make sure this happens if you’re designing your home yourself OR you can keep your designer accountable to providing this level of service to you as they work with you. There are 3 main investigations I see missing from the design process when a homeowner does it themselves, or they work with a professional who doesn’t use a holistic design approach. And remember I said the things that happen when a home isn’t designed well, it can mean the home is ... uncomfortable to live in,  expensive to heat and cool,  lacks flexibility for family life over the long term, and completely waste the opportunities available for their site and their budget  When certain investigations don’t happen during the design process, it’s, unfortunately, more likely to end up with a home that doesn’t work. Because if you don’t include these 3 things, these methods of examination or investigation, then you completely miss crucial information to inform your design with.  LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Join the free challenge (running 29 Jan - 2 Feb 2020) >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/challenge Learn more about ‘Home Design Masterclass’ >>> www.howtodesignahome.com Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-how-to-design-a-home-without-an-architect for the transcript of this podcast.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello! In the last of our special Q & A episodes, Brett has a brilliant question about working out costs early in his project, and Patricia wants some info on skylights. So, let’s dive in. Want to get it right in your home design? Watch my free online workshop, where I share 5 key ways (plus lots of other tips and strategies) >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5ways/ THIS EPISODE’S QUESTIONS ... Brett has this question: “Good day Amelia, my name's Brett. I'm from Perth in Western Australia. We've got a young family, two little kids, and we're in the process of planning and designing our future forever home.  Being a mechanical engineer, I'm big with planning, designing and quantifying decisions. While the technical stuff I'm comfortable with, what I'm having trouble with is the costing side.  There's a lot of information out there on general square meterage cost of a typical home for this and that what I'm wondering what resources and how would one go about getting a bit more detail in initial first pass costing for the different concepts and building systems and approaches to building a home. Not looking for high level detail that you'd get from a quantity surveyor, but I'm keen to be able to get a feel for myself as to the differences in costs to use brick over timber framing, using slab floor over timber flooring, and different ways of doing roof systems and the implication of costs.  Just so I can get a feel for the implications of these different designs and building systems and ideas that I've got. And how they're going to change the costs. So I can make these very early stage basic conceptual decisions about where to head with the design of the home before I go jumping in with a desired approach that completely doesn't suit budgets.  Hope you can help. I love your podcasts, have listened to everything single one - extremely beneficial. Keep up the great work.” And Patricia wants to know if she can get more light from her Velux: “Hello, Amelia. My name is Patricia from Victoria. We are planning to build, but in the meantime I would like more light.  There is a Velux in the living room ceiling, 50 centimetre by 1.3 metre. It's not flush with the ceiling. Is it possible to enlarge the casement to provide a wider angle of light, and how much more light could we get? Thank you.” LISTEN TO MY ANSWERS NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Watch the free online workshop now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5ways/ For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-question-and-answer-home-design-budgetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to get it right in your home design? Watch my free online workshop, where I share 5 key ways (plus lots of other tips and strategies) >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5ways/ THIS EPISODE’S QUESTION ... Laura’s question: “Hi, Amelia. My name is Laura. I live in Perth in Western Australia. Firstly, I just want to say thanks so much for your podcast. I've gotten a heap of great information and ideas from it. I guess we've got a bit of a situation where we would really love your advice or just thoughts on best ways to move forward. We bought our house six years ago in Perth, right before the market crashed. We bought in a high point, it's since crashed, hence we have no equity in our home. We also bought our home sight unseen, which sounds crazy, but it was actually built by my husband's Pop (grandfather) in 1949. We always used to drive past the outside and we kind of thought how bad can it be inside. Well, let's just say it needs a lot of love, attention, and money spent on it. We're at the point now, after getting married, having our children, where we would like to do some updates to the house. It really needs work. It's full of asbestos, it's tiny, lots of things going on. The first thing we actually wanted to do was pop in a new kitchen. So I recently did your Kitchen Design Challenge, which was awesome. However, just to get our room to the point where we can put in a new kitchen, the quotes I was getting ... I was just blown away. I just thought "this is the start of a very long and difficult process". So we're just sort of weighing it all up. Considering we don't have equity in the home, do we just do these renovations tiny bit-by-bit? It's honestly, I know how much work and money it's going to take. I'm pretty realistic about that. However, we do love our home. We love our block, we love our suburb.  There is the option to actually build, because we have a wide frontage, (so we could) build new next to our existing house and then knock down. However, we are in a bushfire-prone area as well, so those costs need to be taken into consideration and I feel we would actually overcapitalise a little bit. I'm not sure, but all I know is that would be quite a few years away, to be able to do that. Option number three is what my husband is sort of pushing for, and that's to actually just sell and cut our losses. In doing that though, we would have to move back in with his parents, which is fine, they're amazing. But obviously we're in our 30's, we have three kids. It's not really the ideal situation, but we would have to do that in order to save for a deposit for a new home because I feel we would probably actually take a loss on this home just considering how the market's gone. So those are our three options at the moment. I have gone round in circles so many times about what the best course of action for our family would be. I know that you can't answer that for us, but I would just really appreciate your thoughts on this and any advice you might have for us. Thanks, Amelia. Bye.” LISTEN TO MY ANSWER NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Watch the free online workshop now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5ways/ For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-question-and-answer-do-we-renovate-or-sell  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to get it right in your home design? Watch my free online workshop, where I share 5 key ways (plus lots of other tips and strategies) >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5ways/ THIS EPISODE’S QUESTIONS ... Teri has this question: “Hi, my name is Teri Mason. I'm in Oklahoma in the United States, and we are building a family and event centre, and we're wanting to do it in biophilic design. We've done a tremendous amount of research. It's been quite a process, but with it being a little more unknown, obviously, the resources are a little more scarce, and I would love to hear your input as far as what would you do to bring in more natural elements? Looking for shapes or inspiration areas or resources or just anything you could just speak to that, just make it a great place, I would truly appreciate it.” And Felicity is curious about her windows: “Hi, I'm Felicity from Victoria, doing a renovation. Just wondering whether or not cathedral or highlight windows up high facing north to south should open or just be fixed. The other window in the area is double-hung window across in the living room. Thank you.” LISTEN TO MY ANSWERS NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Watch the free online workshop now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5ways/ For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-question-and-answer-biophilic-design-windowsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to get it right in your home design? Watch my free online workshop, where I share 5 key ways (plus lots of other tips and strategies) >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5ways/ THIS EPISODE’S QUESTIONS ... Meredith’s question: “Hi, Amelia. My name is Meredith. I'm really enjoying your podcast. Thank you so much for sharing all of your knowledge.  We're currently living in Queensland. We plan on building a retirement/holiday home on acreage in Victoria in the next couple of years.  We've been looking at the option of building a modular home and wondering if you will be covering this subject (modular and prefab homes), in any future podcasts.  Also, at any particular things I need to look out for when designing and planning a modular home. Thank you.” And Gabrielle had this question: “Hi Amelia. My name is Gabrielle. I live on the South coast of Victoria. We've recently bought a block, a beautiful block. It is South-looking, it overlooks a river. It's gorgeous, and we'd love to build our dream home on there. I've looked through and heard all your podcasts and look through lots of the information about building south and we'll certainly incorporate plenty of your suggestions about bringing north light into the home. However, where we live is quite cold much of the year. We only get a handful of really hot days, and so then, when we're designing our living and alfresco spaces, I'm wondering whether we should be designing to the southeast or the southwest. When you're in a really cold climate, is western afternoon, evening sun still the devil, or is it something we can actually utilise to warm up our living areas in the evening? Any recommendations would be gratefully appreciated.” LISTEN TO MY ANSWERS NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Watch the free online workshop now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5ways/ For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-question-and-answer-prefab-homes-south-facing-design See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to get it right in your home design? Watch my free online workshop, where I share 5 key ways (plus lots of other tips and strategies) >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5ways/ THIS EPISODE’S QUESTIONS ... Elizabeth got in touch: “Hi Amelia. My name's Elizabeth. I'm in Castle Hill in New South Wales. First up, thank you for producing such a fabulous podcast, and providing so much fantastic, informative, entertaining and helpful information. It's made a huge difference to how I'm approaching the design of our new home. And that new home we're planning to build in 2020, just as soon as we settle the sale of our current home, and find the right block of land. I will be living in that home with my husband and our three boys who will be 16, 14 and 11 by that stage, and our two very boisterous Standard Labradoodles, and six budgies live in a large cage in our house. I'm very passionate about this home, embracing all things sustainability, and I'm quite intrigued by some of the alternative prefabricated panel constructions that I've seen on Grand Designs over the years that seem to be more prevalent in Europe than in Australia. I know there are concrete, and structural insulated panels and cross-laminated timbers and a whole lot of other acronyms, but I don't know much more than that. So, I'm wondering, what are the benefits of using the prefabricated panels, and the different types, and how they stack up against regular brick and timber construction? Do they impact the flexibility of the design, the durability of the design, cost, time to build and sustainability, and can they be used to achieve a Passive House status? Thank you. That's a lot of question, but I'm really looking forward to hearing your answer. And once again, thank you for such a great podcast, and all the information you provide to all of us.” And Nicola had this question: “Hi, I'm Nicola. I live two hours north of Auckland in New Zealand. I've been listening to your podcast from day one. Fantastic.  We've just downsized and bought a three bedroom, two bathroom home. We had moved from a five bedroom plus study plus three bathroom home, thanks to your podcasts. And we've been able to renovate.  So my question is … everybody was talking on Houzz (and some of the architects on Houzz), saying that walk-in pantries were so yester-year, and also sort of breakfast bars and bar stools were yester-year. And we actually put in a black kitchen with French Oak laminate drawers, and white around the fridge and the oven. So we've got big black benches, and a couple of those cupboards are black ... so wood and black and white is our kitchen. Have you found with clients that black is staying? It's a very kind of 'out there' colour because it came in a few years ago, and we didn't ever use it in the 1980s. Is black still in and will it stay in for a wee while?  And also this breakfast bar idea. We have a table that we sit at, as well. We don't just perch up on stools. It seems like polls that they do on Houzz and places like that ... half and half people love breakfast bar or they don't. I love mine. I'm happy with it.  And if you think walk-in pantries or butler's pantries, we don't have a sink in ours, it's just a walk-in pantry, are like yesterday's news? I don't think they are. I think they're fantastic, but they seem to be going out of fashion, as well. So just your thoughts on them. Thanks very much. Bye.” LISTEN TO MY ANSWERS NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Watch the free online workshop now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5ways/ For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-question-and-answer-sips-and-kitchen-trendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you need to know about shopping online for tiles? We talk with Floss Kelly, co-founder, about TileCloud. If you’re selecting and ordering tiles, there are key things to know so you don’t run into issues on site. Shopping online can be a great alternative. Florence (or Floss as she first introduced herself to me!) is the Brand Director and Co-Founder of online store TileCloud, and she is one of three faces, of the tile store that Australian's love. And Floss is definitely the design savvy of TileCloud. She has a Bachelor in Design from the College of Fine Arts in Sydney, majoring in Ceramics. Using her design and ceramics background and impressive history in global retail - she and the TileCloud team have changed the Home Renovations and Interior Industry. If you haven’t come across TileCloud yet, you’re going to love (love!) it. TileCloud is an online tile supply business. With a beautiful website, an incredibly gorgeous, curated collection of tiles to choose from, and the ability to order samples through to much bigger quantities, all from the comfort of your lounge room, TileCloud is such an incredible way to source tiles for any project. This ISN’T sponsored content … I just think TileCloud are awesome! I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Floss and I talk on some other great tiling topics, including …  Why epoxy grout is not common in residential projects Recommendations regarding sealing your tiles Managing batching and stock amounts when ordering tiles at different times What else to order with your tiles to get a great result Tips for getting it right with tile selection So if you’re keen to learn more about those things, then check out Interior Design 101 as the full interview is available in there now. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with everyday.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-tilecloudSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I speak with Karen Haller. Karen Haller is the leading international authority in the field of Applied Colour Psychology - how colour affects and influences our behaviour. With over twenty years of experience, she teaches, consults for businesses, interiors, healthcare and wellbeing; and has worked with prestigious global brands such as Marks and Spencer, Dove and AkzoNobel Dulux. She has also been interviewed for Cosmopolitan, Stylist and The Times, contributed to the Huffington Post, and appeared on London Live and Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch. I was personally researching colour psychology, and came across Karen’s newly published book, “The Little Book of Colour”. It has the subtitle: How to use the psychology of colour to transform your life … which is a big promise, but the book totally delivers.  I’m so excited to be speaking with Karen in this episode of the podcast, and sharing her wisdom with you. I know it’s helped me look at colour very differently … because when we can harness the power of colour, it’s an opportunity to truly enrich our homes, and our lives, so they really align with our personalities and families. Karen and I talk about ... What prompted her to write “The Little Book of Colour” What is colour psychology How to understand the positive and adverse impacts of colour on your behaviour How to combine colours together effectively Understanding your colour personality across all aspects of your life and environment Using colour in your home and why it can fail And working effectively with colour in your home I hope you enjoy listening to this episode!  INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with everyday.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-colour-psychology-in-your-homeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Frances Cosway of White Pebble Interiors and I go into more detail about some of the other materials and fixtures you’ll need to choose for your kitchen.  You’ll learn how to assess these choices not only for their aesthetic appeal, but more importantly, for how they’ll handle the punishment they’re about to endure in your family kitchen! Frances and I talk about: Benchtops Choosing for durability Tapware Your kitchen sink And how to choose your appliances well I hope you enjoy listening to this episode!  INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I also talk in more detail about flatpack kitchens, and we also talk about hinges, handles and other hardware, and how to choose well for these items … and especially what handles to avoid!  Inside Interior Design 101, I also have a detailed presentation on your kitchen layout with specific dimensions and drawing requirements so you can control the outcome in your finished kitchen. Having seen a lack of drawings cause homeowners SO MANY HEADACHES, I know this presentation will be super helpful to many of you trying to work out how many drawings you need, and what they should look like. And exciting news is that my super popular, 5 Day Kitchen Design Challenge, is now living inside “Interior Design 101” as a special bonus. It’s a great burst of info that takes you through the practical formula to creating a kitchen you’ll love spending time in, and that will work for you and your family. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with every day.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-kitchen-interior-design-details  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your Kitchen Interior Design can create a kitchen that works, is durable and looks great. But are you ready for ALL the decisions and considerations you need to make? Kitchens are a big source of cost and angst in a home. They can be the hero of a family home and often the starting point for Interior Design direction for many homeowners.  They’re often a really sizeable investment, and they can be the whole reason many homeowners renovate or build in the first place. Anyone living with a dysfunctional kitchen knows how frustrating and inconvenient it can be in everyday family life.  However, kitchens that work, and look good, involve SO much many decisions and considerations. And I really encourage you to be thinking about all of these nitty gritty details as you’re designing the kitchen itself, so you know your dreams and budget are tracking in alignment with each other. We’re talking about your Kitchen Interior Design, and specifically kitchen cupboards, kickplates, doors and drawers. I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I also talk in more detail about flatpack kitchens. These can be a great alternative, but they’re not always cheaper, and there’s specific things you need to know before going this way with your kitchen. We also discuss splashbacks and the various choices available to you there. And exciting news is that my super popular, 5 Day Kitchen Design Challenge, is now living inside Interior Design 101 as a special bonus. It’s a great burst of info that takes you through the practical formula to creating a kitchen you’ll love spending time in, and that will work for you and your family. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with everyday.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-kitchen-interior-designSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to know how to choose carpet for your family home and make the right choice? There’s lots to know when it comes to carpet. How do you choose from all the different types, and understand all the terminology? If you are wanting carpet as a flooring type, then it’s essential you know specific things about the different types, the terminology associated with pile and density, and the various other key things to know about this flooring type.  We’re going to share some of the key tricks to know when choosing carpet.  During our conversation, we dive into … + the different types of carpet available + what terminology you need to understand to make confident choices + understanding density so you can choose durable carpet + mistakes people make that mean disappointment or extra cost I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I also talk about understanding the role underlay performs in the durability and luxuriousness of your carpet. We share some insider tricks to upgrading the whole feel of your carpet without changing what you spend by understanding weight and pile type, as well as information on the types of pile to never use in a family home!  We also talk about where to locate carpet in your home, and ways you can use carpet well to save money in your overall budget, without compromising the feel or functionality of your home. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with every day.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-how-to-choose-carpet  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let me introduce my special guest for this podcast episode, Jess Ausburn. Jess is Owner of Diagrind NSW, as well as green cleaning supplies business, OCS Online Cleaning Supplies. Diagrind as a company has over 20 years’ experience in the diamond and concrete flooring industry. They won the award for Concrete Surfaces Residential New Build Best Floor in 2017. They specialise in providing finishes for commercial flooring, retail flooring, architectural designed polished concrete flooring, terrazzo flooring and floor preparation.  During our conversation, we dive into … + what are the 2 main types when it comes to polished concrete floors  + the essential things your concreter needs to know before pouring your slab so your polished floors turn out well + the different kinds of finishes you can achieve when polishing your floors + comparing quotes and being sure you’re getting the finish you want + how to know if your existing slab can be polished + a brilliant alternative to polished concrete you may not be aware of + mistakes to avoid  I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Inside Interior Design 101, Jess and I talk in a lot more detail about some key things to know if you’re planning a concrete floor. We discuss slip resistance, and what needs to be done if you want polished concrete in your bathrooms and other wet areas.  Jess also shares some great info on how trades should be managing dust during polishing on site, and what you should know about sealing your polished concrete floor, and its maintenance long-term. AND we talk about how to minimise cracking, plus why you may want to steer clear of epoxy as a finish or sealant. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with every day.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-polished-concrete-floorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Choosing tiles for your family home’s floors can be a fantastic, durable and sustainable choice. There are so many options now, with colours and patterns to suit any home. Yet, many homeowners are put off by tiles, and keep them purely to their bathrooms and laundry.  Thinking them too hard, or too cold, I see homeowners avoid them for their main flooring. However, they’re a brilliant and affordable flooring choice when you understand the terminology, know how to choose well, and can make a great selection for your home. During our conversation, we dive into … + the different tile materials and terminology + what to know about the various tile types + tile batching + tips to get a great result with tiled floors I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I also talk about digital printing on tiles, which is how a lot of the patterns on tiles is achieved these days. Frances shares some awesome and key tips to know before choosing digitally printed tiles.  In addition, we talk about grout colours and how to test your grout choice. We also talk about dealing with corners and how to get the best results with your tile setout. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with every day.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-choosing-tiles-flooringSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Frances Cosway and I share our thoughts on timber flooring. We talk about solid timber and engineered timber flooring, why we’d love to see laminate flooring never be used again, and what you need to know before choosing vinyl flooring. SHOW NOTES: Timber flooring can be a great and sustainable choice for your family home. However, many are making terrible, low-cost choices that will be terrible to live with long-term. In this episode, we talk about timber flooring: what choices you have available and what you need to know to make a great, durable and sustainable choice for your own home. During our conversation, we dive into … + what choices are available for you in timber flooring + what should you speak to suppliers about so you understand installation requirements + how to choose colour for your flooring so it suits what’s already in your home + why laminate flooring is a terrible choice + what you need to know about vinyl flooring before you choose it I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I go through additional choices such as bamboo, choosing pre-finished boards or finishing your boards after completion, and more detail about timber flooring overall. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with every day.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-timber-flooring  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Choosing your flooring is the first decision to make in your interior design selections. And we know, from experience, that many homeowners DON’T start here.  Frances is an interior designer, principal of White Pebble Interiors, and author of “Your Forever Home”. In this episode, Frances and I talk about what she believes is the first decision you need to make in your Interior Design selections. During our conversation, we dive into … + why flooring is the first place you start + mistakes that many homeowners make, and  + the criteria you can use to choose the right floor for you, your family, and your project. In Season 7 of the podcast, builder, Duayne Pearce and I spoke about the importance of knowing flooring choices early in your project. They’re important because they'll determine how your concrete slab needs to be set out and poured, and the overall levels you have to think about early if you wish to have flush sills etc.  So, knowing Frances also considers your flooring as the first choice you need to make, I was really looking forward to hearing her views on why it's essential to choose flooring early, and the different materials to consider. There are loads of choices you can make when it comes to flooring … polished or burnished concrete, toppings over concrete, timber, tile, carpet, bamboo, cork, linoleum, rubber, laminate and vinyl.  I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I go through the criteria for selecting your flooring in more detail, especially looking at functionality, who will be using your floors and environmental sustainability.  We also look at how the thickness of your flooring choices need to be considered, and what you can do about your flooring selection if sound and acoustics concern you in your home.  You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with every day.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-choosing-flooring  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having worked in this industry for 25 years now, I’ve seen all sorts of things get said and thought about Interior Designers and Interior Design. Interestingly, when I first started my career, it wasn’t that common to work with an Interior Designer.  Working in a small architecture practice in my early 20s, I found we did the Interior Design on all our projects. I learnt that, as an architect, I had to think about, understand and design ALL the components of any project … from the big, chunky, 50m decisions, through to the small, detailed, and intricate 5mm ones too.  And it was really interesting to see my early experience was all about the importance of these 50m and 5mm decisions having a relationship to each other in order for a building (whether a large public project or an individual home) to hang together as a holistic experience and project. As I chatted to Frances about assumptions and myths, we could see how easy it is for a homeowner to get caught out. So listen in to learn more about fee structures, why briefing your Interior Designer early can be so important, and the assumptions you might be mistaken about. I hope you enjoy our conversation. Listen to the episode now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, we discuss more myths … one especially being an assumption that many homeowners have that all Interior Designers understand construction and building codes. There are experienced Interior Designers out there who understand how buildings get put together, but I’ve also had far too many scary conversations with Interior Designers, Decorators and Stylists who’ve been advising homeowners on construction and building decisions, and seriously jeopardising the homeowner and themselves in the process.  It can be super risky when your Interior Designer doesn’t understand building codes and standards, so we talk more about this area … as well as the animosity we see in the industry, and how to create collaboration and trust within your team overall. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with every day.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-top-myths-interior-designers  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frances is an interior designer, principal of White Pebble Interiors, and author of “Your Forever Home”, and she has some great insight to share so you can determine if an Interior Designer would be useful to have on your project, and how and when you can get them involved. Many homeowners are confused about if they need an Interior Designer, or when to bring one on board. I know some architects see them as superfluous, and other architects and designers see them as helpful in purely dealing with and documenting all the tile and colour selections!  I've had homeowners tell me they wish they'd brought one on board to narrow down their decision-making, so they didn't get so overwhelmed. It wasn’t until they started researching all the finishes they needed to decide on that they realised just how many options were available.  Added to this is the fact that the industry of Interior Design is an unregulated one. Unlike architecture, where it’s very clear what someone has to do or qualify in to call themselves an Architect vs a Building Designer or draftsperson, Interior Design is not like this. Anyone can call themselves an Interior Designer. And you can have Interior Designers, Interior Decorators and Interior Stylists.  I've professionally worked in many different ways with Interior Designers, from having them as external consultants within a project, through to them being fellow team-mates within the same business.  Given Frances’ experience in the Interior Design industry, I was keen to hear her thoughts on what she recommended when it comes to choosing and working with Interior Designers, and where and how she sees her work happening best, and adding the most value to a homeowner and their project. In this interview, we talk about the differences between the various types of roles in the industry, how to choose and know the one you’re working with is what you need when to get them involved in your project.  I hope you enjoy our conversation. Listen to the episode now. INTERIOR DESIGN 101 Would you like to simplify your choices, and have total clarity and confidence that your interior design will help create your beautiful, functional, feel-good home? Interior Design 101 is a self-study, DIY program. It contains the full version of all interviews from the podcast, plus extra content specifically created for Interior Design 101.  In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, we explore the specific ways an Interior Designer can help you with your floor plan, your brief, your specifications and all the selections you’ll need to make.  We also talk about the ways that an Interior designer can really support you in making sure all these choices not only look great but are affordable and functional as well. You’ll also find full transcripts, videos, checklists, guides and so much good stuff to support you in the Interior Design of your renovation, new home or smaller project.  Interior Design 101 has been designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in all those selections and decisions you need to make for the finishes, fixtures, colours, materials and items you’ll be living with every day.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about the online program, Interior Design 101 >>> www.interiordesign101.com.au   For other links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-why-use-an-interior-designer  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello and welcome to a brand new podcast season! In this episode, I’m going to be giving you an outline of the season to come, plus tell you more about my co-host, and an exciting new online program that’s been created to celebrate this season too. Listen to this episode now. SHOW NOTES: I’m super excited about this upcoming season.  Firstly, because I know how massively helpful it’s going to be for you … not only if you’re planning a renovation or new home, but even if you’re doing smaller projects in your home. Secondly, I know that this season is going to uncover a lot of nitty gritty topics that I consistently see confuse or frustrate homeowners. Often because a lot of this information is sourced through the process of buying the things we’ll be talking about … and so you’re never sure if the information and advice you’re receiving is impartial or simply someone trying to sell you something. Thirdly, the decisions that you have to make in this particular area of your building or renovation project, often feel really exciting, but also BIG and impactful … because it’s an area where you, as the homeowner, can actually feel and touch and envisage the results of your choices, but it’s a huge area of choice, and that can be really overwhelming when you get into the deep end of all of your decisions. So, what am I talking about?  Well, in this season, we’re going to be diving into Interior Design Basics. Materials, finishes, fixtures, design ideas, inspiration, how to choose, how to get help and support and what decisions really matter in the creation of your future home’s interior design. My co-host for much of this season is Interior Designer and Author, Frances Cosway. Now, if you listened to the season on sustainable design, you may have heard my interview with Frances Cosway about her own sustainable forever home. Frances is an Interior Designer and Decorator, and a published author of the book “Your Forever Home”. And she’s the principal of her own business, White Pebble Interiors.   Frances is fantastically honest and down to earth. You’ll often hear her say in these discussions that things have to be functional. They have to be practical as well as look good. She has a wealth of experience and expertise in building, renovating, interior design and decoration.  I think you’re going to love all the wisdom and generosity that Frances brings in how she shares her knowledge, recommendations and tips for your interior design throughout this season. And I know it’ll be incredible for helping you make more confident choices in your projects as you move forward. And along the way, I’ll also be chatting to other fantastic industry professionals to add to the extensive info we’re sharing across this season. I’ve connected with some of my favourite brands to ask them to jump on the podcast and share their insights too, so we can really explore and uncover so much nitty gritty know-how. You’ll be super armed for your Interior design journey. Listen to the episode to learn more about what this season will cover, and subscribe so you always know when a new episode is released!   RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links mentioned on this podcast, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-interior-design-basics-introduction  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you’re renovating or building new, how can you create a home you love? On any budget? Whether you’re renovating or building new, after all that time, money and effort to plan, design and build your project, you want it to be somewhere you love living don’t you! That’s the whole point isn’t it?  Well, in this episode, I’ve got 7 tips when it comes to creating a renovated or new home you love. I’ll be sharing with you what these 7 tips are, and how you can apply them on any budget to create a fantastic home that feels great.  And I also want to share some news with you about my online program “How to Get it Right in Your New Home or Reno”. If you’ve been thinking about joining, and you’re listening to this podcast before the 1st of October, 2019, you’re going to want to hear this important info. SHOW NOTES: Now before we get on with those 7 tips, I’d like you to first think for a moment about what stresses you about creating your future home. Through Undercover Architect, I have the privilege of connecting with and speaking with thousands of homeowners every year, and the fears and challenges they experience are all very similar. Perhaps these may be familiar to you. The 4 main fears I hear are: Budget … can I afford to do what I want to do, and how will I prevent blowouts? Time … how much time will this take, and how will I fit it into my life? Unknowns … and where they might trip you up Not stuffing it up … Getting it right And so, that’s why today, I really want to help you see what mistakes you can avoid so that you can save stress around these challenges. And what you need to know to get it right in the future home you’re creating. I’m going to be sharing the key characteristics common to fantastic homes. In almost 25 years of doing this, I’ve seen what works, and what doesn’t - over the long term. So, I’ll be sharing my proven methods to make your future home work for you. With all the choices you’ll be needing to make, you’ll then know what to prioritise, and what to avoid … and how you can create a renovated or new home you love … on any budget. Listen to the episode now.  And before I go, I want to share some news about my online program “How to Get it Right”. If you’d like more help and support in designing, building and renovating your home, it’s a fantastic way you can get properly prepared, and be supported with guidance, knowledge and tools to get it right in your future home, and the journey to create it. “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home” is perfect if you’re still thinking about renovating or building, doing your research and getting prepared. It will radically streamline your process and help you not waste time or money. It’s also perfect if you’re about to start designing, or already have your design underway - whether working on it yourself, with a designer, or directly with a builder.  If you’re listening to this podcast at the time of release, I want to share with you that “How to Get it Right” is increasing in price on the 1st of October - 2019.  We've been adding new Q & A sessions, plus expert interviews, and it continues to be an incredible program that really helps homeowners get ready for their reno or new build. With no expiry, a monthly Q & A, a raft of know-how, checklists and tools AND a proven system ... it saves far, far more in stress, time and money, than the cost of joining. “How to Get it Right” is my own proven step by step system, that takes you through the 4 stages of any build or renovation project: Before you begin designing, we look at the things you need to do to get yourself prepared, find your team and avoid delays later Getting your design right dives into what are the core fundamentals of creating a great family home, how to get clear on what you need and want, and then communicate those things to those who need to know Before you build looks at getting your approvals, ensuring your quotes are accurate and all the things you need to do before construction so you don’t have variations and budget blowouts on site Getting your project built then steps you through choosing your builder, and sets up the process for great communication on site, as well as maintaining your systems and records during that time Hundreds and hundreds of homeowners have done this online program, and found it to be super helpful in arming them with the knowledge and resources they need to be confident in their project. More than one member has told me they’ve been asked what part of the industry they’re from because they know how to ask great questions and have informed conversations with their potential team members. This program is all about helping you move simply and e

How do you get the best from your budget, your design, your project team and the home you’re creating? Welcome to Episode 10 of Season 10. This episode is a great lesson in what professionalism looks like in the renovation and building industry. Both guests are experienced and passionate about their projects and clients, and helping them get the best results for their projects. My first guest on this episode, is Riye Arai-Coupe, of Bluebird Property Partners in Brisbane. And my second guest is Sarah Heys, owner of The Built Element, a Maitland based, boutique building business. SHOW NOTES: So, firstly let me tell you about Riye. At Bluebird Property Partners, Riye is a Client-Side Project Manager. She helps busy property owners to coordinate their renovations and new builds from start to finish. Most of Bluebird’s clients come to them because they want to renovate but they don’t know the first place to start – or they have some knowledge but just don’t have time to execute the project – between their day jobs and family commitments.  After a long and successful career in property development, Riye left the corporate world in 2018 and founded Bluebird Property Partners with another female development professional Claire O’Rourke. They started Bluebird because they wanted to help people realise their property dreams.  Riye and Claire know that renovating and building can be one of the most stressful processes in a person’s life. They wanted to remove that stress and help make the process more enjoyable! Bluebird is an all-female team and thus like to think that they work with their clients and on each of their projects in a way that is not commonly found in the industry. Not only do they have the experience and expertise, they offer a highly transparent, personalised and thoughtful service to their clients and treat every project like it is their own.  And my second guest in this interview is Sarah Heys, owner and founder of The Built Element. Sarah Heys is director and owner of The Built Element, a construction business she founded in Maitland, NSW, in 2014. The Built Element offers residential and commercial Client Side Project Management consulting services, Residential New Builds and Development Feasibilities with Land Owners.  Sarah has 25 years’ construction experience in the commercial and residential building sectors, on a vast array of projects. She now brings this knowledge to The Built Element projects.  As she outlines in our interview, she has worked on everything from $70 million commercial projects and significant government work, through to high end apartments and everything in between. Sarah’s passion is sustainable design and construction. To build better is not hard, but there are a complex number of factors that all must align, for it to be a well resolved build. At The Built Element, they believe that good building is honest, it is sustainable, it is pleasing and functional, and it feeds the senses. Listen to the episode now. And be sure to get in touch with Riye and Sarah to let them know you heard them on Undercover Architect, and to thank them for all they share!! This podcast is an edited version of the full interviews with Riye and Sarah. Those interviews are now featured inside my online course “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home” for Australian homeowners.   Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/how-to-get-it-right/ to learn more about “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home”. In the full interview, Riye shares some key knowledge on ... how they ensure projects are designed on budget, with no nasty surprises how closely they work with the designer and client during the design phase, and their involvement in design decisions the key to collaborative teams that work well together her tips for interviewing a builder to choose one well In the full interview, Sarah also shares information on ... how she suggests you choose a builder, and what mistakes she sees homeowners make what you should expect from your builder in the process of signing your contract whether you really need to make all your selections and decisions before finalising your contract what building in a climate region like Maitland’s requires for design and materials how to consider double glazing and BASIX assessments on your project what the differences are for homeowners and builders when their project is in a regional location Wondering how to build or renovate your family home without the drama, budget blowouts or costly mistakes? The “How To Get It Right in Your Reno or New Home E-Course” gives you access to all of the information and knowledge you need to create the home you want. My years of experience with homeowners just like you, has shown me that making mis-steps in the early planning days ... and then continuing to make them ... can fundamentally

Want a room by room guide to creating your healthy home? If you want to design your home so it supports your health and well-being, start by understanding key tips and strategies for each room. Hello, and welcome to Episode 9 of Season 10. I bring Kate Hamblet back this week, and we go into more detail about creating a healthy home, looking at your home and project room-by-room. If you haven’t heard last week’s episode, I introduced Kate there, so make sure you check that episode out as well.  Kate is an architect with her own business, Balanced Architecture, and she’s a specialist in how our homes can be designed to support our health and wellbeing, so, let’s dive in. SHOW NOTES: In this podcast episode, we welcome Kate Hamblet back. Kate was on last week’s episode, discussing how to create a home that supports your health and well-being.  This week, she takes us through some key spaces and rooms in your home, and how to design them so they improve your lifestyle, and make your home a healthy one. Kate is owner and architect at Balanced Architecture, and she’s a licensed architect and sustainability expert. (We met Kate in our episode last week, so if you haven’t listened to it, check it out now). Kate also is the architectural force behind the fantastic online business and resource, “Balanced Home, Balanced Life”, where she teaches homeowners everything she knows about creating healthy homes of their own.  Kate also has her own online course “Designed for Wellness” to help you create your own healthy home, as well as packaged services for you to get advice and architectural support along your journey.  Kate says on her own website ... “I started on the path of wellness design in 2015 and haven't looked back.  When I first went back to work after having my son in 2014, the struggle to manage it all definitely hit me hard.  There was stress at work, stress at home, minimal sleep, and so much to do! I barely made my way through that first year, and I knew something needed to change.  I needed to find calm in my life as a working mom. Since I wasn't able to do too much about the stress at work, I decided to look at what was causing my stress at home.  And then I realized that the house I was coming home to was not set up for providing wellness. It was actually hindering my and my family's health and happiness. I went to work making small adjustments to my home that had a big impact on our health and wellness.  Within a few months I was seeing changes in my mood. I was eating better. I was getting a better night's sleep.  I was more productive at work.   And most importantly, the time I spent with my family improved dramatically.  Creating a home that promoted wellness was a life saver for my happiness, my relationships and my sanity!” With well over a decade of architectural design experience, Kate has the expertise to guide families toward the creation of a home they will fall in love with, all while keeping them safe and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.  Listen to the episode now. And be sure to get in touch with Kate to let her know you heard her on Undercover Architect, and to thank her for all they share!! This podcast is an edited version of the full interview with Kate. That interview is now featured inside my online course “The Welcome Home Course” for American homeowners.   Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-welcome-home/ to learn more about “The Welcome Home Course”. In “The Welcome Home Course”, I’ve teamed up with award-winning American architect, Eric Reinholdt, to create a specific course for American homeowners. If you’re planning your renovation or new build, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused about the best way forward. Many homeowners make the mistake of diving in, and fall for all sorts of terrible advice as a result. And the journey becomes far more stressful, expensive and time consuming as a result. And their finished home never lives up to the dreams they held so dear. When you have the steps to follow … the map for your journey ahead, you can then move confidently towards that future home you’re dreaming of, and not waste any time or money.  When you know that step-by-step system has been created over decades of experience in hundreds and hundreds of family homes like yours, you can save so much stress in your project, and create a home that works and feels great. And when you have the steps, as well as professional know-how, design knowledge, tools, resources, and guides, you can shortcut your journey, enjoy your experience, and avoid the heartache and drama so many experience. If you’re keen to make your journey simpler, be confident that the home you’re dreaming of is achievable, and know the steps to get you there &helli

How can you create a sustainable home that supports your health and well-being? Hello, and welcome to Episode 8 of Season 10. In this episode, I have two American design professionals. Both passionate about sustainability and creating a home that supports your health and well-being … and the planet as well … they have a wealth of knowledge and advice to share with you, wherever you’re building or renovating. Kate Hamblet of Balanced Architecture and Kyle Macht of Macht Architecture are awesome in this interview, generously giving loads of tips and strategies to help you create a sustainable, healthy home.  I can’t wait to introduce them to you, so, let’s dive in. SHOW NOTES: Now first up, we have Kate Hamblet on the podcast. Kate is owner and architect at Balanced Architecture, and she’s a licensed architect and sustainability expert. Balanced Architecture is a residential design studio that puts wellness and sustainability at the heart of every project. As a wellness architect, she designs fresh, modern structures and spaces that nourish the body, the mind and the earth. Her mission is to guide people to make their home environment as healthy as possible and to turn their homes from an unwelcoming environment to a healthful retreat. Kate is also the founder of “Balanced Home, Balanced Life”. This is an online resource that helps and teaches homeowners how to create healthy homes of their own that supporting their well-being and lifestyles in a sustainable way.  With well over a decade of architectural design experience, Kate has the expertise to guide families toward the creation of a home they will fall in love with, all while keeping them safe and encouraging a healthy lifestyle. She has the passion to improve others lives in the same way her own was improved when she created her own healthy home. Kate’s also provided a special resource for the Undercover Architect community - so scroll to the bottom to see that link. Now, let’s meet our next guest. Next, I’d love to introduce you to Kyle Macht of Macht Architecture. After graduating with a degree in Architectural Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, Kyle Macht joined a Green Design/Build firm that specialized in energy consulting. He worked as an energy consultant for commercial buildings and new homes before becoming the lead residential designer and managing construction of several projects.  In 2015, Kyle officially joined his father’s practice to reinforce and add to Macht Architecture’s capabilities and expertise in building science, construction technology, construction management, and residential design.  This move was a return to when Kyle first discovered architecture and engineering by working in his father’s studio while studying at Penn State. Kyle has decided there’s no place he’d rather be than working with his father again to pursue their common vision for architecture, sustainability and building science to translate each client’s dreams to their fullest potential. Listen to the episode now. And be sure to get in touch with Kate and Kyle to let them know you heard them on Undercover Architect, and to thank them for all they share!! This podcast is an edited version of the full interviews with Kate and Kyle. Those interviews are now featured inside my online course “The Welcome Home Course” for American homeowners.   Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-welcome-home/ to learn more about “The Welcome Home Course”. In “The Welcome Home Course”, I’ve teamed up with award-winning American architect, Eric Reinholdt, to create a specific course for American homeowners. If you’re planning your renovation or new build, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused about the best way forward. Many homeowners make the mistake of diving in, and fall for all sorts of terrible advice as a result. And the journey becomes far more stressful, expensive and time consuming as a result. And their finished home never lives up to the dreams they held so dear. When you have the steps to follow … the map for your journey ahead, you can then move confidently towards that future home you’re dreaming of, and not waste any time or money.  When you know that step-by-step system has been created over decades of experience in hundreds and hundreds of family homes like yours, you can save so much stress in your project, and create a home that works and feels great. And when you have the steps, as well as professional know-how, design knowledge, tools, resources, and guides, you can shortcut your journey, enjoy your experience, and avoid the heartache and drama so many experience. If you’re keen to make your journey simpler, be confident that the home you’re dreaming of is achievable, and know the steps to get you there …&rsquo

How can you use Interior Design to create spaces that look and feel great in your home? Interior Designer, Tara Dennis, has some seriously great ideas to help you create spaces that look and feel great, and make your home truly work for you. In this episode, I speak with Tara Dennis, USA Director of Archie Bolden. Long-time readers of the Undercover Architect blog will recognise Tara from her involvement in the Anderson Project, which features as a project diary on the Undercover Architect website, as we followed a family building their new home. Tara and I have worked together at different times in different businesses, and I’ve always loved working with her. She brings great fun and energy to projects, as well as her brilliant skill and talent.  Tara is now USA based, and her business, which was formally known as TD Creative Agency, has recently gone through a rebrand into the fantastic brand, Archie Bolden. With offices in both Australia and the USA, Tara has boatloads to share with us about how to use Interior Design to create spaces in your home that look AND feel great.  So, let me tell you more about Tara and Archie Bolden. SHOW NOTES: Archie Bolden is the audaciously creative brainchild of daring duo — Tara Dennis and Hayley Richards.  In a past life, Archie Bolden was formerly known as TD Creative Agency - a Brisbane design studio, born in 2014 by the fearless, Tara Dennis. Fast forward half a decade, and they’ve evolved to have dual city studios with projects scattered throughout Australia and the USA; and upon entering a new era of business - Archie Bolden was born. At Archie Bolden, they believe in people and they believe in design, and they bring those two elements together to create spaces that reflect the values, desires and intentions of those who engage them. Archie Bolden is young, modern, enthusiastic and considered and has a knack for knowing what you want, (sometimes before you’ve even realised it yourself) and delivers it in a way that shoots the sun out of the sky. Tara Dennis is an Interior Designer and is the USA Director of Archie Bolden. With a background in residential property development, commercial real estate and a side hustle in high-end furniture manufacturing, she boasts one hearty repertoire of design-related skills and experience.  Tara’s relaxed management style, deep understanding of property and passion for interior design enables her to combine the creative with the business and provide an all-encompassing solution that is not just good looking, but practical and well-planned. She believes in purposeful design intentions that are a true reflection of her clients' personalities and values, and has no fear when entering uncharted design-related waters... nothing memorable ever came out of playing it safe!  I think this from the Archie Bolden website, really sums up their approach … they say: “We believe in engaging as human to human, not business to business. We’re interested in designing with you collaboratively, with sincerity and integrity. We do all that we do, to enable you to be all that you can be.” Tara is based in the USA, and Hayley is based in Brisbane, and together they provide a unique approach that produces stunning projects on both continents.  I ASKED TARA DENNIS THESE QUESTIONS ... What type of projects do you generally work on? What is the difference between Interior Design and Interior Decoration? How does a homeowner best work with an Interior Designer? How do you help your clients stay on track and avoid decision overwhelm? Why is it so important to give your home’s interior design a personality - both holistically, and on a room-by-room basis? What are your top Interior Design tips for kitchens? What are your top Interior Design tips for bathrooms? How do you recommend homeowners approach the lighting design for their home? What about trends? How do you create timeless design that’s still stylish? Why do you use textures so much in your work? How do you help homeowners be brave with their Interior Design choices? I know you’ll love this interview - Tara shares very generously from her experience and expertise how to really use Interior Design and Decoration to ensure your home truly works for you … so you can be all you can be. Listen to the episode now. And be sure to get in touch with Tara to let her know you heard her on Undercover Architect, and to thank her for all she shares!! This interview is now featured inside both my online courses “The Welcome Home Course” for American homeowners, and “How to Get it Right” for Australian Homeowners.  If you’re keen to make your journey simpler, be confident that the home you’re dreaming of is achievable, and know the steps to get you there …'The Welcome Home Course’ and ‘How to Get it Right’ are the way. Head to https://undercove

How do you get the money you need for your renovation or new build project? And what’s involved in understanding town planning rules so you know what you’re allowed to do? Welcome to Episode 6 of Season 10. In this episode, I have two Australian industry professionals generously sharing some incredible insight into their areas of expertise: Mortgages and Finance, and Town Planning and Approvals. My first guest on this episode, is Caroline Jean-Baptiste, from Mortgage Choice Fortitude Valley (Brisbane), QLD. And my second guest is Peta Charles, from Brisbane Town Planning, QLD.  SHOW NOTES: My first guest is Caroline Jean-Baptiste, and she’s on a mission to get people talking about money. Caroline is a specialist in finance with more than 12 years working as a Mortgage Broker in her own business. Her passion is working with her clients to achieve the life they want through home ownership and wealth creation.  She is dedicated to helping first home buyers get into their home and existing homeowners renovate and upgrade. She owns award-winning Mortgage Broking business, Mortgage Choice, based in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. And she and her team serve all of Brisbane. Getting finance to fund your renovation or new build project can be stressful and full of challenges. And yet, making it happen is often key to your project happening - or not! And, my second guest for this episode is Peta Charles, from Brisbane Town Planning. Brisbane Town Planning promises to make designers look good. How? They say ... “It's simple, we actively work to get their jobs out of a Town Planning application (aka DA). This saves their clients time and money. Which as you can imagine, earns them some serious kudos, brownie points, bragging rights and general good vibes with their clients.” Listen to the episode now. And be sure to get in touch with Caroline and Peta to let them know you heard them on Undercover Architect, and to thank them for all they share!! This podcast is an edited version of the full interviews with Caroline and Peta. Those interviews are now featured inside my online course “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home” for Australian homeowners.   In her full interview, Caroline shares more information about how to assess your mortgage broker, whether it’s better to go to a broker or the bank, and some key strategies for more successful borrowing in your renovation or new build project (especially if you can’t access all the cash you need straight away). In her full interview, Peta also shares information on ... why architects and designers may not be the best professional to prepare your town planning application what to do if council says ‘no’ to your application to improve your chances of getting your project through things to know about the Traditional Character Overlay in Brisbane City Council Acceptable Solutions vs Performance Solutions, and why do they matter to your approval Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/how-to-get-it-right/ to learn more about “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home”.   Wondering how to build or renovate your family home without the drama, budget blowouts or costly mistakes? The “How To Get It Right in Your Reno or New Home E-Course” gives you access to all of the information and knowledge you need to create the home you want. My years of experience with homeowners just like you, has shown me that making mis-steps in the early planning days ... and then continuing to make them ... can fundamentally impact your reno or building project. And send you in the wrong (and expensive) direction. “How To Get It Right” is designed on the system I’ve followed during my own, and my clients', renovation and building projects. It is a framework for your journey from start to finish. I arm you with the tools and knowledge you need to save time, money and stress. And get it right the first time. This detailed, step-by-step framework, will simplify your entire project journey and give you the tools to ... > Feel confident about the steps you need to take in your project. > Know how to keep everything on budget and on time. > Avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that lead to disaster stories. > Be in control, keep your sanity and enjoy the journey! "How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Build" will transform your renovation or building experience - and the finished home waiting for you at the end of your journey.   Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/how-to-get-it-right/ to learn more and join us. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Learn more about Caroline Jean-Baptiste and get links to her business, Mortgage Choice Fortitude Valley, here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-how-to-finance-renovation-new-build-mortgage-choice Find more information and links to Peta Charles, Brisbane Town Planning, here >

What steps are involved in finding a contractor or builder you can trust? As a homeowner, for you to know the steps to finding a contractor or builder you can trust, it can be game-changing for your new build or renovation. And that’s why I’m so excited to be bringing my guest to you: Shawn Van Dyke. Shawn Van Dyke is a Construction Business Coach, Author and Speaker. Based in the USA, he works internationally with clients to help them run better construction businesses.  Shawn has brilliant advice to share on: how to select your contractor or builder the types of conversations to have with them before you hire them the ways to know you can trust them before you sign that contract and how to work with them in a really productive way.  SHOW NOTES: So, let me tell you a bit more about Shawn. Shawn Van Dyke is a construction business coach and the author of two books: Profit First for Contractors and The Paperwork Punch List - 28 Days to Streamline Your Construction Business.   Most contractors are not profitable which makes them feel uncertain about what they need to do to grow their construction businesses.  Shawn believes construction business owners should be as good at business as they are at their craft.   That's why, after twenty plus years of owning and operating multiple construction businesses, Shawn became a construction business coach.  He now works with construction business owners, executives, and managers all over the world and shows them how to stop losing profits and wasting time.   Shawn helps contractors get their lives back.  He is also a keynote speaker and Fine Homebuilding Brand Ambassador. You can find him all over social media sharing his knowledge and experience.   He doesn't mince words and gives practical advice to contractors so that he can accomplish his mission: to change the way the world view the trades.   He believes the best way to accomplish this mission is to help contractors run world-class businesses so that they are seen for what they truly are - business professionals who provide an extraordinary service through their devotion to their craft, their customers, and their communities. Shawn is based in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he lives with his wife and 5 kids. I ASKED SHAWN VAN DYKE THESE QUESTIONS ... You’re on a mission to change the way the world views the trades. What do you think this view is / has been?  What do you think one of the biggest hurdles is to improving the impression that homeowners have of the construction industry, contractors and trades? What should a homeowner do to know they can trust their contractor before they hire them?  You encourage your contractor community to charge for their pricing process. Can you talk through why you think this is beneficial for both contractors / builders and homeowners? You shared a great blog and video on “Transparency is not trust” that talked about what line-item quoting doesn’t work. Can you explain more about why this is not great for the homeowner or the builder / contractor? When problems occur, what are your suggestions for contractors to deal with these with their clients, and keep things moving overall? Listen to the episode now. And be sure to get in touch with Shawn to let him know you heard him on Undercover Architect, and to thank him for all he shares!! This podcast is an edited version of the full interview with Shawn. This interview is now featured inside my online course “The Welcome Home Course” for American homeowners.   Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-welcome-home/ to learn more about “The Welcome Home Course”. In Shawn’s full interview, he shares more information about ... how important a payment schedule is when establishing contracts and cashflow for jobs - and what this is, and why it’s so essential how, as a homeowner) to avoid working with a contractor or builder where corners might be getting cut, things getting missed, sub-standard quality happening, and it all being hidden where you can't see (or don't know to look) Shawn’s recommendations for setting up a good working relationship between a builder / contractor and homeowner In “The Welcome Home Course”, I’ve teamed up with award-winning American architect, Eric Reinholdt, to create a specific course for American homeowners. If you’re planning your renovation or new build, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused about the best way forward. Many homeowners make the mistake of diving in, and fall for all sorts of terrible advice as a result. And the journey becomes far more stressful, expensive and time consuming as a result. And their finished home never lives up to the dreams they held so dear. When you have the steps to follow … the map for your journey ahead, you can then move confidently towards that futu

Is it possible to design a sustainable AND affordable home? Well, most homeowners I speak to say ‘No!’ … it’s always more expensive to build sustainably! Jenny Edwards and Sarah Lebner from Light House Architecture + Science disagree. They believe you can have a sustainable home that is affordable to build as well. And one that uses traditional building methods, done smartly and efficiently. And they have 77 completed projects that prove it’s possible. SHOW NOTES: Light House Architecture and Science is a unique architectural practice based in Canberra, and they are founded on a philosophy of simplifying the sustainable design process to create comfortable, clever, energy efficient homes. Homes that are light-filled and light-footed. Light House Architecture and Science design space-efficient and energy-efficient homes to suit Canberra’s climate. Through excellent design and scientific testing, they create homes that feel spacious and comfortable, and function beautifully, on a smaller than average floor area. Many of the homes they design achieve an energy efficiency rating of 8+ stars (6 stars being the current minimum standard). These houses require half as much energy per year to heat and cool them to comfortable temperatures compared to a 6 star home.  Their vision is to make energy efficient housing mainstream and be a beacon for positive change in the residential construction industry. As a result, they are committed to helping people with a ‘mainstream’ budget achieve their dream of an excellent, comfortable and affordable home. Light House provides a unique integrated service with an experienced team of architects, scientists and cost estimator. This collaborative approach means you can expect clear and consistent communication from the outset about the design of your home, energy performance, time frames and costings, materials, finishes and inclusions. JENNY EDWARDS is an ACT licensed Building Energy Efficiency Assessor, and is the owner, managing director and lead scientist for Light House Architecture + Science … and I think this is one of the unique factors of this business as an architectural practice - in that a scientist is at the helm. It completely reframes the business’ focus, practice regime and design methodologies to be aligned with their core philosophy. Jenny has personally been awarded for her work in the industry, and her businesses and projects - including her own home - have also been recognised and awarded for their design and sustainable performance.  SARAH LEBNER is Lead Architect at Light House Architecture and Science and describes herself as a country girl who only wants to change the world! Sarah originally joined Light House to focus on developing a modular housing design approach with the aim to make affordable, beautiful, energy efficient homes more accessible to the general public. The business evolution of Light House during Sarah’s employment has given her valuable insight into collaborative approaches and unique practising models for architects.  Sarah now leads the architecture and design team at Light House, maintaining a highly collaborative and collective group approach to design, documentation, advice during construction, professional development, and integration with the science team.  She’s also added another project - a business and resource called “My First Architecture Job” - and it was through this avenue that I first encountered Sarah. My First Architecture Job is Sarah's latest project, allowing her to bring her mentoring skills and energy for helping students kick-start their career to a wider audience.  My First Architecture Job is a resource to help bridge the gap for graduate architects between university and practice by providing knowledge, resources and connections, and to help them find employment, learn the basics of architecture practice, and fast-track the first five years of their career.  When researching this interview, I read a quote by Steve Baczek, an American architect, that said:  “It’s not that High-Performance Houses cost too much; it’s that our idea of a fairly priced home is based on a history of building houses to meet embarrassingly low performance benchmarks. Clients don’t realise the difference between built to code vs built to last” Jenny and Sarah share some incredibly valuable advice about how you can build a home that is built to last, comfortable and sustainable - and gives you the best living environment in an affordable way. I know this will be a seriously game-changing interview. Listen to the episode now. And be sure to get in touch with Jenny and Sarah to let them know you heard them on Undercover Architect, and to thank them for all they share! This podcast is an edited version of the full interviews with Jenny and Sarah. My full interview is now featured inside my on

What do you need to know about renovating and building your family home? And how can Feng Shui be used in the design of your home? Hello, and welcome to Episode 3 of Season 10. In this episode, I have two American designers to introduce you to. Both are doing fantastic work in their own businesses, and have lots of helpful knowledge to share with you.  This is super exciting, because with both of my guests today, I had such a great time learning from them as I interviewed them - and so I know you’re going to benefit hugely from their expertise as well. My first guest on this episode, is Marina V Umali, an Interior Designer and Certified Feng Shui Practitioner based in New York State. And my second guest is Jake Krokowski of JWK Design, and he is based in South Carolina, and specialises in new homes, renovations and landscape design.  SHOW NOTES: So, let me first introduce you to Marina. Marina V Umali is a NY State Certified Interior Designer and Certified Feng Shui Practitioner, and owner of Marina V Design Studio. She has studied Interior Design, Architecture and Psychology, and worked as an Interior Designer for a number of prominent firms in New York City. She cares deeply about helping people create lasting improvements in their lives. And she does that by creating lasting improvements in their environments.  Marina seeks to integrate interior design and Feng Shui closely in her work. Her favorite thing about Feng Shui is that it combines her experience and expertise in design and architecture with her innate desire to promote health and well-being. Seeing the smiles on her clients’ faces, hearing the emotion in their testimonials, and knowing that she helped make a difference in their lives is truly what makes all the difference in hers. Her goal is to help you achieve a living space that’s striking, inviting, and functions practically for your lifestyle. Marina take a common-sense approach to Feng Shui – sorting through the myriad of misconceptions, alleviating your concerns and utilizing an age-old philosophical system to promote harmony and good energy in your home through thoughtful, compelling design.  She works locally with clients, and also provides her services online regardless of your location. Marina specialises in residential work and helps homeowners globally. She seeks to create custom solutions for her clients using beautiful and timeless design principles in combination with the power of intention. Marina wants you to have a home that feels as good as it looks. I’ve been wanting to talk about Feng Shui on the podcast for AGES now, so it’s even more exciting to be bringing this chat with Marina to you.  Now, let’s meet our next guest. Jake Krokowski is a designer based in South Carolina, USA. In 2015, he founded JWK Design, to help families realise their dream of a comfortable, modern home. With 20 years industry and design experience, Jake has worked on design teams for large international resorts and prominent public projects, most notably the reconstruction of the World Trade Center in New York.  As well as working with clients on their custom new homes and renovations, he is also a registered Landscape Architect. He can assist with  + Landscape & Architectural design concepts & planning  + Construction drawings & material selection  + Bid review & contractor vetting  + Construction oversight & quality control Jake shares some great insight into what most challenges homeowners, and how he helps them to get clear on their project needs and desires. So, let’s dive into my chat with Jake. Listen to the episode now. And be sure to get in touch with Marina and Jake to let them know you heard them on Undercover Architect, and to thank them for all they share!! This podcast is an edited version of the full interviews with Marina and Jake. Those interviews are now featured inside my online course “The Welcome Home Course” for American homeowners.   Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-welcome-home/ to learn more about “The Welcome Home Course”. In the full interview, Marina has some fantastic help in ... how you can use intentionality in your design for great results where she has seen improper use of Feng Shui impact homeowners why your health and wellbeing is such a big part of your home design understanding ceilings as the 5th elevation of each room recommendations for finding out more about Feng Shui for your project In Jake’s full interview, he has some great tips for ... how to design for Carolina’s climate and conditions what type of roofing, materials and window systems are best for this type of climate the planning conditions in the Carolinas to be aware of local resources to help you with renovating and building in the Carolinas In “The Welcome Home Course”, I’ve teamed up with award-winn

How do you choose the right architect to work with? And how can you work well with them to keep your project on budget, and create a beautiful, long-term, family home? Welcome to Episode 2 of Season 10. In this episode, I have two Australian architects who are bringing their industry insider insights to you … and from both sides of the country, with very different careers. My first guest on this episode, is Christopher Megowan, of Megowan Architectural, a Melbourne-based firm. And my second guest is Suzie Hunt, of Suzanne Hunt Architect, a business based in Perth and working all through Western Australia. SHOW NOTES: Now, I’ve got a slightly longer episode for you this week, as I wanted to bring these interviews together, because I believe both these architects share a huge wealth of knowledge and experience, and what you’ll learn will really benefit you in your renovation or new build project. These guests are Christopher Megowan, of Megowan Architectural, a Melbourne-based firm, and Suzie Hunt, of Suzanne Hunt Architect, a business based in Perth and working all through Western Australia. So, firstly let me tell you about Chris. For over a decade, Christopher Megowan, director of M – A, has passionately dedicated himself to the study, teaching and practice of Architecture, design and development. Christopher earned a Bachelor of Architecture (5 Year professional degree) from the University of Southern California in 2008 where he received numerous honours, scholarships, grants and awards. Acting as owner, designer, and developer, he completed his first built work prior to graduating University. Since then, he has been involved in projects ranging from bar & cafe fitouts to single family homes & 50 unit mixed use developments. Prior to starting M – A, Christopher cut his teeth working for award winning Architecture practices in Los Angeles, London, and Melbourne. Christopher has taught multiple design and construction studios at the University of Melbourne and Monash University at both undergraduate and graduate levels as well as served as a guest critic in Architecture for several different courses. Megowan Architectural was established in 2009 and is a talented team of Architects that are united by a desire for excellence. M – A is less about a singular style, instead they are committed to the specifics of each project and to creating timeless spaces. Each project brings its own complexities and parameters which they carefully respond to by understanding their clients and how they want to interact with their spaces, and in turn how their spaces will interact with them. And, I can’t wait to introduce my SECOND guest for this interview … Suzie Hunt. Suzanne Hunt is an award-winning architect based in West Australia, and she founded her own practice, Suzanne Hunt Architect, in 2004. Suzanne Hunt Architect is a boutique architectural and interior design practice specialising in residential, heritage, hospitality and mixed use projects in Perth and country Western Australia. Known for her down-to-earth approach and wide-ranging professional and life experiences, architect Suzie Hunt has a warm and engaging manner that manifests in the buildings and spaces she designs. Her practice – founded in 2004 – specialises in architecture and interior design across a range of sectors, and provides strategic advice on design and heritage issues. Suzie employs a small in-house team of architects and interior designers, and works with trusted external consultants and professional builders, all of whom are selected for their expertise and suitability for each project. She prides herself on maintaining a highly personalised service for her clients, from site selection, initial briefing and concept design through to construction, administration and project completion. Her work is strongly influenced by Western Australia’s stunning landscapes, resulting in timeless buildings and spaces that are fit-for-purpose and beautifully detailed. Suzie brings a wealth of knowledge to the business of architecture; as well as running her own practice she has worked at state and local government levels, and currently sits on several executive boards. As such, Suzanne Hunt Architects delivers projects that are financially viable, environmentally sustainable and aesthetically innovative. One of Suzie’s most important roles as an architect is to help her clients enjoy their creative journey; she listens carefully so she can nurture and shape their dreams. “Great architecture enriches our lives physically, psychologically, spiritually and emotionally, and leaves a legacy for generations to come,” she says. “It’s important that we get it right, together.” Listen to the episode now. And be sure to get in touch with Suzie and Chris to let them know you heard them on Undercover Architect, and to thank them for all they share!! This podcast

How do you find a great quality architect? One you have a good fit with, delivers beautiful work, and will take care of you as a client? Meet Anthony Laney from Laney LA. Anthony is an architect and designer, a husband and a dad, and one of the owners of Laney LA. In this interview, Anthony shares some fantastic industry insider insights into how Laney LA have built their practice, continue to create stunning homes, and how they seek to delight every client they work with. SHOW NOTES:  Together with his wife, Krista, Anthony founded LANEY LA in 2014. Located in Los Angeles, their team focusses on fast-paced, high impact design solutions for home and businessowners. Laney LA has a unique way of sharing their business and projects that shows a strong and powerful company culture, a true commitment to communicating their values and mission, the fun and enjoyment in their team, their clients and the homes they’re creating, and even though you’re following along, it’s shared in a way that makes you feel part of it. When you find people who are so passionate about what they do, and are a force to be reckoned with in how they’re seeking to improve how they practice, whilst delivering top level services and stunning homes … well, you just want to help them spread the word. Anthony is a powerful communicator, an innovative entrepreneur, and together with the team at Laney LA, is driving change in this industry and creating beautiful family homes and happy clients whilst they do it. And causing a bit of disruption whilst they do … smiling and looking like it’s a heck of a lot of fun! I ASKED ANTHONY THESE QUESTIONS ... When you started Laney LA with Krista, did you have intentions around the type of work you took on, goals you were seeking to hit, or clear client criteria for example? How do you use Instagram for Laney LA and what are your goals there? How do you suggest homeowners establish that ‘right fit’ between themselves and their designer? How do you explain your process to your potential clients? How does technology travel through the process, and what advantages do you think it gives you? How does your process test the budget as the design develops? Do you have suggestions for how homeowners and designers can bring surprise and delight to their home when on lower budgets?   Anthony was incredibly generous with his answers, and has fantastic advice that any homeowner will benefit from. And if you’re a designer or architect building your own business, this is the gold standard to aim for. Listen to the episode now. And be sure to get in touch with Anthony to let him know you heard him on Undercover Architect, and to thank him for all he shares!! This podcast is a snippet of the full interview which now is featured inside my online course “The Welcome Home Course” for American homeowners.   Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-welcome-home/ to learn more about “The Welcome Home Course”. In the full interview, Anthony shares more information about designing for a Californian climate, dealing with difficult local authorities, as well as other tips for a great lifestyle in your home.  In “The Welcome Home Course”, I’ve teamed up with award-winning American architect, Eric Reinholdt, to create a specific course for American homeowners. If you’re planning your renovation or new build, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused about the best way forward. Many homeowners make the mistake of diving in, and fall for all sorts of terrible advice as a result. And the journey becomes far more stressful, expensive and time consuming as a result. And their finished home never lives up to the dreams they held so dear. When you have the steps to follow … the map for your journey ahead, you can then move confidently towards that future home you’re dreaming of, and not waste any time or money. When you know that step-by-step system has been created over decades of experience in hundreds and hundreds of family homes like yours, you can save so much stress in your project, and create a home that works and feels great. And when you have the steps, as well as professional know-how, design knowledge, tools, resources, and guides, you can shortcut your journey, enjoy your experience, and avoid the heartache and drama so many experience. If you’re keen to make your journey simpler, be confident that the home you’re dreaming of is achievable, and know the steps to get you there …’The Welcome Home Course’ is the way. Together with Eric, we’ve packaged up almost 45 years experience to show you the way to your future family home.  Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-welcome-home/ to learn more and join us. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Find Laney LA on the web >>> https://www.laney.la/ Follow them on Insta

What do industry insiders think it’s important for you to know when building or renovating? One of the reasons I created Undercover Architect, and why I continue to make so much knowledge and advice freely available, is because in my 20+ year career in architecture, I felt I was always finding people too late. I'd be at the school gate, or at a BBQ, and someone would find out I was an architect, and then proceed to tell me the horror story of theirs, a family member's or a friend's project. And there was always a consistent element ... they could have avoided the drama with the right advice at the right time. And anything I told them now was too late for them. SHOW NOTES: So much information and knowledge gets locked up inside the 1:1 relationship a homeowner has with their designer or their builder. In that long journey of renovating or building, it can feel like 'pot luck' whether you end up with the right people, or getting the right advice at the right time. Spoiler alert ... it's not pot luck. Within every disaster story I hear, there's 2 common things: a homeowner not knowing what to ask for, demand or expect a red flag (or bunch of them) that got missed or ignored and not dealt with There are hundreds of thousands of homeowners that visit Undercover Architect's website each year. Thousands listen to this podcast every week. Thousands receive my weekly email. Heck - there's over a million people each month that look at Undercover Architect's Pinterest account (1.3 million to be precise!!) And yet, I still hear ... "I wish we'd found you sooner" "I wish I'd bought your course before we got to this point" "I now tell all my friends and family to check out Undercover Architect so they don't have to experience what I did". I’m doing my very best to spread the word that Undercover Architect is here, ready to help, with loads of knowledge and guidance available for homeowners. And I know many of you share Undercover Architect with your friends, family, neighbours and workmates … and I can’t thank you enough for continuing to spread the word with me. I’m on a mission to make horror builds and renovations a thing of the past. For you to all love and enjoy your projects, and create fantastic homes with design that works and helps you feel great. Part of this is always making sure it’s not only my voice you hear. I want to bring you insights from other industry colleagues to expand all of our knowledge and experience. And I’m always seeking to help introduce like-minded professionals to the UA Community, because I know you’re keen to find good people to help you with your projects. This season is going to be jam-packed with a range of different types of professionals, different areas of expertise and all my guests have one thing in common. They are super generous with their advice and knowledge. Listen to the episode now to meet our industry insiders, and stay tuned for a great season ahead. These podcast episodes will be edited versions of the full interviews which will now be featured inside my online courses …   “The Welcome Home Course” for American homeowners, and “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home” for Aussie homeowners. And they’re featured in there in both video and audio form. As Undercover Architect has grown as an online business, I’ve loved being able to reach and connect with homeowners from all corners of the globe. I’ve got almost 25 years industry experience in design, building and renovating in Australia. And what I’ve found is that my step-by-step system for any renovation or new building project (the one I’ve been using in client projects and my own projects for all of that time) is that when I teach this system to you, it can help you as a homeowner save time, money and stress in your project. When you have the steps to follow, the map for your journey ahead, you can then move confidently towards that future home you’re dreaming of, and not waste any time or money. When you know that step-by-step system has been created over decades of experience in hundreds and hundreds of family homes like yours, you can save so much stress in your project, and create a home that works and feels great. And when you have the steps, as well as professional know-how, design knowledge, tools, resources, and guides, you can shortcut your journey, enjoy your experience, and avoid the heartache and drama so many experience. If you’re keen to make your journey simpler, be confident that the home you’re dreaming of is achievable, and know the steps to get you there, these online courses are the way. In them, I’ve literally packaged up what is in my head and heart from almost 25 years experience to show you the way to your future family home. Want to learn more about the courses? If you’re an Aussie, head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/how-to-get-it-r

Are you chasing the after photo? Styling and staging may be seducing you to make the wrong choices for your home design. As you browse the internet, look at glossy magazines and spend hours on Pinterest, it’s easy to fall in love (and aspire to achieve) the images you see of renovation and building projects. But it’s not all about the ‘after’ photo. SHOW NOTES: The way we view renovations and new homes when we look online, or on reality TV, is very carefully crafted. Heavily curated homes, with the ‘right’ amount of furniture, artwork, cushions, rugs, and throws, make for beautiful photographs we begin to lust after and collect as inspiration for our own home. It can be easy to think … “I just need to achieve that ‘look’ and my home will be perfect. However, in my experience, styling and staging are not what make a home work. It’s not how a great home design is actually achieved. And it can seduce you into chasing the ‘after’ photo, and ending up with a home that’s disappointing and lacks soul. Far too often I see homeowners start down the path of creating a home that is truly, uniquely theirs … and get lost in the on-trend, stylish and lust-worthy photos. They lose confidence in their own style, their own desires. And they create a cookie-cutter version of whatever is trending on Pinterest right now. And the worst of it? Because the ‘look’ is usually high-end, they find knock-offs and low-cost substitutes to create it. Knowing they’re not durable. Knowing they’ll break down in a few years. With any luck, they’ll be out of fashion by then, and it won’t matter too much. STOP. You … and your home … deserve better than this. Don’t go chasing that ‘after’ photo at the cost of living sustainably, flexibly and authentically. Seek your way to keep it real, and create a home that works for you, and your family. A home that is “YOU-WORTHY”. This episode is brought to you by my online course “Manage Your Build”. Are you planning to build your new home or renovation? Do you fear it will be a stress-filled ride of budget blowouts, compromises and dramas? MANAGE YOUR BUILD provides you with industry-insider knowledge, checklists and strategies to save you time, money and your own sanity when building your new home or renovation. A collaboration between Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect, and Duayne Pearce, of D Pearce Constructions, Manage Your Build shares know-how, expertise and experience from over 45 years in residential design, building and renovation. This online course will prepare you for your construction phase so you can know you're actually getting what you're paying for, and avoid the heartache and drama of a horror build. It gives you the clarity, confidence and information you need to start your project on the right foot - and navigate throughout each stage of construction. Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/manageyourbuild/ to learn more and join us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renovating or building your forever family home is entirely different to flipping a home for profit - but not in all the ways you think. Many homeowners seek advice and guidance from reality TV and online renovating or building experts who are flipping homes for profit. It can be a misleading way to seek help for your forever family home. Flipping and forever are very different mindsets. When you’re creating your forever family home, the significance of what you’re doing can be overwhelming. SHOW NOTES: If flipping the home, there’s a certain freedom that comes from knowing you won’t be the one living with the consequences of your decisions. Decisions don’t seem so consequential - not for you anyway. This is entirely different to the exercise of building or renovating your forever family home. I see homeowners unable to be detached or objective about the outcomes they’re choosing for their forever family home. In a previous episode, I talked about the emotional baggage we bring to the process of creating our forever family home. Whether building or renovating, we will attach a huge amount to the realisation of our home dreams. There’s memories, status, future hopes and dreams, current achievement, identity … the list goes on. And those factors can mean we are VERY attached to the outcomes we’re creating in our projects. As a result, every decision can feel BIG. Like it’s the thing that will make or break our hopes and dreams. From a bathroom tile, to the size of our living space, all choices can overwhelm and consume us with their significance. This is entirely different to the exercise of flipping for profit. With profit as your objective, decisions have a compass, a goal to achieve. It can bring a clarity we lack in the emotional process of building or renovating a forever family home. Even when online or reality TV building or renovating experts are doing their own homes, they approach it with a different mindset to the average homeowner. I see this play out in my own experience, as well as what I see happening in the industry. As a homeowner, you mostly likely want this to be the first and last time you ever tackle a renovation or building project. Operating outside of your comfort zone, making such a big financial investment, and feeling under pressure … well, who would sign up to that again, hey? Homeowners instead face every decision they make with the weight of regret. Will this be the wrong choice for our family? Will I come to dislike this in the future? Will my house look dated over time? Will this be a terrible frustration we get annoyed by? Will people think I’m foolish because I didn’t get this right? For some reason, we believe that we should be good at this … that it’s something that should come naturally to us. However, it’s not the case. And when we’re looking to those who are flipping for profit as our advisors, we can be seriously misled in our own journeys. Give yourself permission for this to feel like a big deal. This is your forever family home you are building or renovating. So decisions will feel big, and you’ll worry about regretting your choices. Listen to the podcast as I help you navigate this, and share where to get support from so you can find the process enjoyable and empowering. This episode is brought to you by my online course “Manage Your Build”. Are you planning to build your new home or renovation? Do you fear it will be a stress-filled ride of budget blowouts, compromises and dramas? MANAGE YOUR BUILD provides you with industry-insider knowledge, checklists and strategies to save you time, money and your own sanity when building your new home or renovation. A collaboration between Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect, and Duayne Pearce, of D Pearce Constructions, Manage Your Build shares know-how, expertise and experience from over 45 years in residential design, building and renovation. This online course will prepare you for your construction phase so you can know you're actually getting what you're paying for, and avoid the heartache and drama of a horror build. It gives you the clarity, confidence and information you need to start your project on the right foot - and navigate throughout each stage of construction. Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/manageyourbuild/ to learn more and join us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re just wanting to get your renovation or new home built, the real life process may be disappointing for you. Why? Reality TV and online renovating / building are ALL about the build … and this is a huge departure from the time, investment and team required to make your project happen. The real life process involves a lot more than just the construction phase. SHOW NOTES: There are actually 4 phases to any project. Whether you’re building or renovating, wherever you’re located, and whatever your budget. These 4 phases are: #1 Before you begin #2 Getting your design right #3 Before you build #4 Getting your project built Reality TV and online renovating and building are all about phase #4. Because this is the exciting part. It makes good content. It creates engaging, dramatic footage. And it’s fun to see a dream take shape in floors, rooms and buildings on a site. So many homeowners focus their attention and effort on racing to the construction phase. It’s all about the build. Fast-tracking the design. Going directly to a builder with their own floor plan. A huge sense of urgency to make.it.happen. Because that’s what we see on TV and online … dramatic countdowns to insane deadlines, and exhausted but elated renovators and home builders loving what they’ve created (insert high-fiving here). In reality TV and online, it makes great content. In real life … it’s a recipe for a stressful, expensive and not-so-great build. For not getting the choices you want in your home. For blowing your budget. For blowing your timeline. And for missing opportunities to create the right home for you in a managed, strategic and on-budget way. So what will really get your project built? In this episode, I share key things you need to know about every phase of your renovation or building project. I also give tips to help you get it right so that construction is low-stress, runs smoothly, and you get what you actually want for your home. This episode is brought to you by my online course “Manage Your Build”. Are you planning to build your new home or renovation? Do you fear it will be a stress-filled ride of budget blowouts, compromises and dramas? MANAGE YOUR BUILD provides you with industry-insider knowledge, checklists and strategies to save you time, money and your own sanity when building your new home or renovation. A collaboration between Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect, and Duayne Pearce, of D Pearce Constructions, Manage Your Build shares know-how, expertise and experience from over 45 years in residential design, building and renovation. This online course will prepare you for your construction phase so you can know you're actually getting what you're paying for, and avoid the heartache and drama of a horror build. It gives you the clarity, confidence and information you need to start your project on the right foot - and navigate throughout each stage of construction. Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/manageyourbuild/ to learn more and join us.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most significant differences between real life renovating and building and reality TV and online versions is COST and TIME. Why does it seem so much cheaper and faster to renovate or build in the television or online world? SHOW NOTES: I’ve been working with homeowners for almost 25 years now, and one thing has been constant. Their expectations of what it will cost, and how long it will take, are vastly different to real life renovating and building. You’ll be told by well-meaning friends when you announce you’re planning to renovate or build … “You know what they say? It’ll cost you twice as much and take twice as long as you plan it to.” However, in my experience … homeowners commence the process with a budget that’s 50% - 75% of where it needs to match their brief (their needs, wants, wishes and desires for their home). And they don’t understand how long the whole process will take, and that it can sometimes be 2 to 3 years from start to finish. Why this big mismatch between expectations and reality? Well, I believe this is the most significant difference between real life renovating and building, and what is presented on reality TV and online versions. Listen to the episode now, as I help you be more aware of these differences. And how you can manage your expectations more realistically to save cost, time AND stress on your project. This episode is brought to you by my online course “Manage Your Build”. Are you planning to build your new home or renovation? Do you fear it will be a stress-filled ride of budget blowouts, compromises and dramas? MANAGE YOUR BUILD provides you with industry-insider knowledge, checklists and strategies to save you time, money and your own sanity when building your new home or renovation. A collaboration between Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect, and Duayne Pearce, of D Pearce Constructions, Manage Your Build shares know-how, expertise and experience from over 45 years in residential design, building and renovation. This online course will prepare you for your construction phase so you can know you're actually getting what you're paying for, and avoid the heartache and drama of a horror build. It gives you the clarity, confidence and information you need to start your project on the right foot - and navigate throughout each stage of construction. Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/manageyourbuild/ to learn more and join us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What style is my house? And my preferred taste? Do you find yourself asking this question when renovating or building? Everyone wants to know “What style is my house?” But naming your style can be dangerous and limiting. SHOW NOTES: One of the things I see that’s really prevalent in the world of reality TV and online building and renovating is this desire to name the style you’re seeking for your project (and future home). It’s a common question others will ask you too. “What style are you doing? … Hamptons is SO popular right now!” With names like Scandi, Plantation, Industrial, French Provincial, Coastal, there’s a huge range of descriptions for an apparent choice of style, look, finishes, colours and fabrics. And you’ll see many online renovators and builders teach you to ‘pull together your vision’ … or create your vision board or scrapbook to show others the look you want for your home. They recommend it as a great way to get clear on what you want, and also explain it to others. Whilst I do believe that images are a brilliant way to explain your preferences to those on your team, I have this warning … The names of these styles all have origins in specific times, cultures and locations. And they were created for specific reasons. Sometimes it was related to climate, material availability, building technology and trade skills. Sometimes it was the next-stage development of an existing style. Sometimes it was a complete rejection of the status quo or traditional way of doing things. Sometimes it was socio-economic. When you look back through architectural, design and art history, the style names we’re grabbing and applying to how we want our home to ‘look’, are usually based in meaningful history and motivations at the time. When you seek to name the style of your future home, without truly understanding the historical origins of that style or its specific characteristics, this can be confusing for your project and design team. And you can seriously limit your project as others interpret what you want and don’t want. And if you’re basing your choice of style on a series of images you’ve grabbed from a range of houses that actually aren’t that style at all … well, the confusion continues. Styles aren’t simply names of detailing, fabric and colour choices. I know homeowners feel it works for them to name their style, but what worries me is that it can (because I’ve seen it happen) create inauthentic designs that are a veneer over terrible planning and functionality. It’s also worth understanding that a style name and a vision board is not a brief. A brief is the main communication tool you need for your project - whoever you’re working with, and wherever you’re building or renovating. And some of the best briefs I’ve received don’t ever mention a style. They describe a feeling. Appropriating cultures and styles from elsewhere that don’t have suitability for your local area can cause issues with the performance of your home, and also making it difficult to get planning approval from your local council. More importantly, it means you can miss an incredible opportunity to express YOUR style. A style that is specific to its time, location and climate … and suits you and your family authentically. In this episode, I talk about what are the problems with naming your style, and how to instead think about your wishes for your home so they can actually be delivered by your team. If you want a home that is functional, and feels complete, authentic and whole, then listen to the episode now. This episode is brought to you by my online course “Manage Your Build”. Are you planning to build your new home or renovation? Do you fear it will be a stress-filled ride of budget blowouts, compromises and dramas? MANAGE YOUR BUILD provides you with industry-insider knowledge, checklists and strategies to save you time, money and your own sanity when building your new home or renovation. A collaboration between Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect, and Duayne Pearce, of D Pearce Constructions, Manage Your Build shares know-how, expertise and experience from over 45 years in residential design, building and renovation. This online course will prepare you for your construction phase so you can know you're actually getting what you're paying for, and avoid the heartache and drama of a horror build. It gives you the clarity, confidence and information you need to start your project on the right foot - and navigate throughout each stage of construction. Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/manageyourbuild/ to learn more and join us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SEASON 9 - KEEPING IT REAL EPISODE 03 - Anyone can renovate or build their home (apparently) They say anyone can build or renovate their home - can’t they? Then why does it go SO wrong for so many. Well-meaning reality TV renovating and building mentors and online experts will tell you “Anyone can do this”. “We didn’t know what we were doing either when we started. Look at us now! You don’t need to be a professional. We’re just mums / people like you. And we figured it out.” And this can be really misleading for homeowners taking on the design, renovation or new build of their own family home. SHOW NOTES: Scratch below the surface of these reality TV and online experts and you’ll find a tribe of professionals and consultants who support and guide them on their projects. Who help ensure they meet council requirements, pass building inspections, that their design actually works, and that their project will be durable, legal and livable. You’ll also find financial safety nets, and the ability to dedicate time, focus and energy into their projects that the average homeowner simply doesn’t have available. There’s a big difference between industry experts and industry professionals. Liability, learning, support networks and access to knowledge. Expectations as well. As a homeowner, you’ll be renovating or building your family home and wanting to get it right the first time. You don’t have the luxury, room or time to ‘learn on the job’. Or another job, another project, someone else’s house, to get it right on. When you don’t know what you don’t know, you can find you waste time and money on the gaps in your knowledge. And when industry experts online and on TV don’t know what they don’t know (because they’ve learnt on their own projects, trial by error and done a handful only), big mistakes can get made as well. Now - please understand - I’m very aware that being an industry professional does not make you immune to human error and unexpected challenges. However, being an industry professional does mean you have a network and context to draw on in order to manage and mitigate risk - rather than the newbie approach of winging it. Renovating and building isn’t easy. Anyone can do it, but only with the right support. It definitely can be simplified. And when you get it right - it is SO WORTH THE EFFORT. Learn how to really protect yourself in your project, and support yourself so you get it right the first time. Listen to the episode now. This episode is brought to you by my online course “Manage Your Build”. Are you planning to build your new home or renovation? Do you fear it will be a stress-filled ride of budget blowouts, compromises and dramas? MANAGE YOUR BUILD provides you with industry-insider knowledge, checklists and strategies to save you time, money and your own sanity when building your new home or renovation. A collaboration between Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect, and Duayne Pearce, of D Pearce Constructions, Manage Your Build shares know-how, expertise and experience from over 45 years in residential design, building and renovation. This online course will prepare you for your construction phase so you can know you're actually getting what you're paying for, and avoid the heartache and drama of a horror build. It gives you the clarity, confidence and information you need to start your project on the right foot - and navigate throughout each stage of construction. Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/manageyourbuild/ to learn more and join us. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST, CLICK HERE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nervous about building or renovating? Want to manage your project well? You may be surprised to hear many say it’s like having children. This is why. A mum posted this in a Renovating Facebook group … Today I realised how much doing a renovation is like having children. It takes way more time and commitment than you ever thought it would. You receive constant conflicting advice and everyone thinks they know best. You’re woken in the night with the sudden thought that you’ve chosen completely the wrong tile and your bathroom will be disaster. You leave for work with knots of anxiety wondering if you’ve left your home in the care of the right builders. Now I realise why I’m feeling so bloody stressed! … I knew she’d nailed it. SHOW NOTES: In this episode, I talk about the unexpected blindside in renovating and building: the emotional piece. Many expect that it’ll be a stressful process due to it being outside the normal comfort zone. However, very few anticipate what it’s like to: Be so emotionally invested in the outcome Manage decision overwhelm Deal with difficult conversations, conflict and confrontations Require long-term stamina Stay true to what is important and valuable to you With over 20 years of doing working in this industry, I see homeowners deal with stress and the unknowns. Your home (and the new build or renovation of it) is not only one of your biggest assets and investments … but most underestimate the emotional piece. There’s an unexpected attachment we have to “home”, the identity and status, future hopes and dreams for our life and family. And the sense of accomplishment and achievement our homes represent. It’s a HUGE amount of pressure to get it right ... with little or no prior experience and a huge leap of faith. And loads of well-meaning but often totally misguided advice about what you “must” have or do to make your home (and you) complete. My recommendation? Take care of yourself, and keep asking questions. I find when women ask lots of questions, they start to feel more informed and empowered as a result. And they let their team know they’re invested and keen to be involved and get a great result. In this episode, I dive into these issues in more detail, and provide tips and strategies for you to manage yourself, and your project, well. Join me, as I share with you the way to keep it real, and create a you-worthy home. Listen to the episode now. This episode is brought to you by my online course “Manage Your Build”. Are you planning to build your new home or renovation? Do you fear it will be a stress-filled ride of budget blow-outs, compromises and dramas? MANAGE YOUR BUILD provides you with industry-insider knowledge, checklists and strategies to save you time, money and your own sanity when building your new home or renovation. A collaboration between Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect, and Duayne Pearce, of D Pearce Constructions, Manage Your Build shares know-how, expertise and experience from over 45 years in residential design, building and renovation. This online course will prepare you for your construction phase so you can know you're actually getting what you're paying for, and avoid the heartache and drama of a horror build. It gives you the clarity, confidence and information you need to start your project on the right foot - and navigate throughout each stage of construction. Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/manageyourbuild/ to learn more and join us. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Planning a renovation or new home and inspired by reality TV, YouTube and social media? You may already be aware that real life renovating and building is not the same as reality TV. But how different is it? And are you REALLY aware of how damaging and misleading it can be to your journey? I’m nervous about this season of episodes … but I feel this conversation is important and timely. And I feel that there’s an alternative way to creating a great home that feels great, when we choose to KEEP IT REAL. SHOW NOTES: In this season of the podcast, I share openly and frankly what I’m seeing happen to homeowners who embark on their renovation and new home projects. And why reality TV, Youtube and social media ‘inspiration’ can be damaging and misleading in so many ways. In this episode, I talk about ... Why I’m nervous about being so frank and open with you about reality TV and real life renovating and building Why I feel this conversation is so important at this time What I’m seeing happen for homeowners who are misled and miseducated by industry experts What blindsides homeowners time and time again - and causes huge stress and anguish What is actually tied up in creating our home (and that we don’t anticipate) Why a magazine-worthy home can be a damaging goal for many Some personal stories of what home can really mean as a place of connection and memory-making How great design isn’t about glamour or stylishness And what I know endures beyond the success metrics we create for our homes and ourselves In the 20 plus years I’ve been helping homeowners design, build and renovate their family homes, (and the projects of my own I’ve also done), I’ve had a front-row seat to what real life renovating and building is like. And I’ve also seen how keeping it real is the best way you can prepare yourself for your project … and stay true and authentic to what will ultimately best suit you and your family, and serve you over the long term. Join me, as I share with you the way to keep it real, and create a you-worthy home. Listen to the episode now. This episode is brought to you by my online course “Manage Your Build”. Are you planning to build your new home or renovation? Do you fear it will be a stress-filled ride of budget blow-outs, compromises and dramas? MANAGE YOUR BUILD provides you with industry-insider knowledge, checklists and strategies to save you time, money and your own sanity when building your new home or renovation. A collaboration between Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect, and Duayne Pearce, of D Pearce Constructions, Manage Your Build shares know-how, expertise and experience from over 45 years in residential design, building and renovation. This online course will prepare you for your construction phase so you can know you're actually getting what you're paying for, and avoid the heartache and drama of a horror build. It gives you the clarity, confidence and information you need to start your project on the right foot - and navigate throughout each stage of construction. Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/manageyourbuild/ to learn more and join us. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to build a sustainable forever home? Frances Cosway of White Pebble Interiors tells us about her family home. The White Pebble Home is a stunning example of a family home that is designed to be sustainable, flexible and adaptable. And it has a natural pool to die for! SHOW NOTES: Meet Frances Cosway from White Pebble Interiors Frances is an interior designer, published author and speaker with a passion for creating beautiful homes people love to live in. With over 15 years’ experience in renovating and building, her true passion lies with helping clients design and build their ‘Forever Homes’. Having lived in Europe for 12 years, she draws on her own unique influences whilst seamlessly incorporating the individual styles of her clients when developing projects. Her philosophy on design is that your home is a story of you; how you live, your lifestyle and your life journey. She’s committed to ensuring every home she works on is a true reflection of its owners, based on these principles. Frances established White Pebble Interiors in 2010, after leaving the corporate world. White Pebble Interiors is an interior design studio that specialises in creating bespoke Forever Homes. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, they pride ourselves on recommending sustainable principles and using sustainable materials wherever they can. They are open and honest and break with convention to ensure designs are not just ‘good enough’ but reflect what their clients really want them to be, based on how they live their life. Frances wrote the book ‘Your Forever Home’ in 2017 as a practical guide for people about to embark on building or renovating. She has completed many of her own new build and subdivision projects including the build of her family’s own ‘Forever Home’ in 2014. The house has featured in several publications including House & Garden and The Herald Sun and has been profiled internationally on Houzz. It won Winner of Bayside’s Best Ecological & Sustainable Build Award in 2015. And in this episode, we’ll be talking about this very home. In this episode, I ask Frances … So, tell us a bit about who is in your family and who the home is built for? And the home’s size and location? When you guys decided to build a new home, how did that make you feel as an Interior Designer? Did you have specific goals around designing and building sustainably? Or did it all happen more organically than that? Did you feel you were going to have to budget extra for a sustainable home? Or make any compromises? How did you go about designing for sustainability? What specific sustainability measures did you incorporate? You did a blog about opening it up for Sustainable House Open Day, and how interested people were in the timber tiles. Can you tell us more about them, and the other finishes you chose for the home? The pool … tell us all about the pool … your own billabong! Is there anything you’d do differently, or wish you had included? I’m really excited to share this home, and Frances, with you. I think you’re going to really enjoy hearing their journey to a sustainable home, and take away some great ideas and tips for your own project. Listen to the episode now. This episode is brought to you by my online course “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home”. This is a superfast course that will help you get ready for your renovation or building project in the best way possible. In it, I share my step-by-step system to help you save time, money and stress in your project, so you can know what you need to know and create the perfect home for you - simply and with confidence … avoiding the dramas and heartaches. You can join now, get access to a fantastic Facebook community, Live Q & A sessions with me, and all the tools and resources you need to achieve success in your project. Head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/howtogetitright to learn more and join us. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you renovate a home as a Passive House (or Passivehaus)? Especially when that home is an early 1900s weatherboard cottage? In this episode, I’m going to be sharing the experience of a homeowner who renovated their early 1900s weatherboard home into a Passive House. They’ve lived in it now for 3 years, and it’s located in inner Melbourne, about 10km from the CBD. This project is a great opportunity to see how an old weatherboard home can be renovated into a Passive Home that is comfortable and saves thousands in running costs each year. Cameron’s family home is known as Armadale Passivhaus. They open this home for Sustainable House Open Day each year, and Cameron also has a great website on all the nitty gritty details of the home and project (see the resources below for more information). Circa 1910, this weatherboard home faces north-to-street. So, if you’ve listened to this podcast for a while, and heard the episodes I did back in Season 1 about orientation, you’ll know that north-to-street is a challenging orientation in the southern hemisphere. This is because we like to put all our main living areas at the rear of the home, with indoor / outdoor connection to perhaps a deck or alfresco area … and lots of glazing to connect the two. And if the home is north-to-street, it means that the sun is moving around the front of the home, and not the rear. This means, especially in a location like Melbourne, that the rear of your home can be cold, in shadow, and not getting the natural light you want into your main living areas. The home also has a heritage overlay, which meant that extensive alteration to the facade wasn’t allowed, and there were two brick chimneys that had to be kept. Lots of homeowners would say at this point - “Forget Passivhaus … we’re putting this entire renovation in the too-hard basket!” The Armadale House sits on a 430m2 block in inner Melbourne, Australia, and is located about 10 km from the CBD. Cameron and his family had lived in two weatherboards home prior, and so their experience was always that leaky sieve experience you may be familiar with if you’ve ever lived in a weatherboard house. You can feel every breeze move through them. They’re hot in summer, cold in winter, and terrible performers thermally. When they moved into the Armadale house, it was the same experience. They could see the sky, sunlight coming in below the door, and the windows would rattle with the slightest breeze. The chimneys meant they could see the sky, and rain would come down them whenever it rained. It’s inspiring to see how this home was renovated 3 years ago, and how this family stayed committed to their desire to create a comfortable, sustainable home. There’s a huge amount of knowledge to gain from this project, and seeing how you can renovate your own Passive House. As I explain in the podcast, the audio recording of my interview with Cameron did not go to plan! So, listen to the episode as I share the highlights from my conversation with Cameron. And then keep scrolling to read the full transcript of our interview. Both will share key tips, strategies and knowledge to help you with your own project. LISTEN TO THE EPISODE NOW In this episode, I ask Cameron ... Can you please tell us about your home, the Armadale Passive House ... who lives there, rough area of it, the block of land it’s situated on, how long have you lived there? It's a weatherboard house and those are notoriously challenging in terms of keeping internal air temperatures stable and being energy efficient homes. What prompted you to create a Passive House in your renovation? What makes it a Passive House? How does it work, what is special about it, what differentiates it from a more traditional house Do you remember at the time if you were worried it would limit you in anyway or any compromises you’d have to make? Where do you see the big differences in living in a home like this (feelings, and tangible cost savings etc)? Your extension is in rammed earth - can you tell us about choosing this material and why you did because it's such a contrast to the weatherboard Can you talk about your window selection, because in Australia, I know we LOVE our windows for all that indoor / outdoor connection! What specific advice would you give to those who are renovating and want to create a Passive House? This episode is brought to you by my online course “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home”. This is a superfast course that will help you get ready for your renovation or building project in the best way possible. In it, I share my step-by-step system to help you save time, money and stress in your project, so you can know what you need to know and create the perfect home for you - simply and with confidence … avoiding the dramas and heartaches. You can join now, get access to a fantastic Facebook communi

Is Passive House necessary in Australia? This is a question many ask, because they believe our climate is too mild to necessitate the Passive House approach. Yet, Clare Parry disagrees. She is a Director and Principal at Grun Consulting, and is a Certified Passive House Certifier and Trainer. Clare was also one of the founding members of the Australian Passive House Association. Its vision is to lead change by educating, promoting, and supporting the delivery of Certified Passive House buildings in Australia. Clare is the Certifier for the Owl Woods Passive House project - so it’ll be her job to provide the tick of approval that everyone else has done their jobs, and the home can actually be certified as a Passive House. Clare however, fulfills many roles when it comes to sustainable design in Australia, and whenever I researched or talked about Passive House - it was Clare Parry’s name that came up. I’m really excited you’re going to meet her through this episode, and hear about her experience with Passive House, and really helping it get traction in Australia. SHOW NOTES: Meet Clare Parry from Grun Consulting. Clare has had a lifelong interest in best practice building design, involving a holistic approach to achieve sustainable measures and provide a better option in the longer term, both for the client & the environment. Her focus is on building performance, and she works extensively with the Passivhaus standard. Her work as a sustainability consultant and mechanical engineer has involved experience as a Certified Passivhaus Designer, Trainer and Building Certifier, LEED AP, Green Star AP, WELL AP, NABERS and CBD Assessor. In 2011 Clare founded the Australian Passive House Association and has been involved as a Director until late 2017. She is one of the first Certified Passivhaus Designers in Australia, and one of only two Passivhaus Certifiers. She is a certified Passivhaus trainer as well and you can often see her speak at national and international conferences. Clare is a Director and Principal at Grün Consulting. Grün specialises in delivering high performance buildings. They deliver all aspects of Environmentally Sustainable Design consulting, specialising in Passive House (Passivhaus) from design through to certification. They are advocates for Passivhaus, for Net Zero, and experts in town planning, multiple rating tools including LEED, Green Star and the Living Building Challenge, and energy ratings including Carbon Neutral, NABERS & CBD. In this episode, I ask Clare ... What made you become interested in Passive House? You've worked for some time  (and continue to work) as a sustainability consultant in a range of accreditation systems like LEED, Greenstar, WELL, etc. How does Passive House sit in relation to this? You founded the Australian Passive House Association (APHA) in 2011. What compelled you to do that? What's the APHA's role? You are performing the role of Building Certifier on the Owl Woods Passive House project. Can you describe what's involved in that? I read an article of yours on Linkedin ... where you spoke about industry talking about the difficulty of getting the consumer engaged in the idea of sustainability. You said "The issue is not actually about engagement. That implies that people are choosing alternatives when the options are on the table, but the truth is they really have no idea what’s possible." And then you spoke about our responsibility to educate - which is what Undercover Architect is all about. How would you like to see homeowners going about really moving the needle on Passive House and its adoption in Australia? What would you tell them to do to feel more confident to pursue this for their projects when opposition might be budget, or it being too hard, etc? As Clare mentioned, the Australian Passive House Association is an incredibly useful resource for you if you’re wanting to embark on the Passive House journey, so check out the show notes for a link to find them. A word of warning though … I’m finding that the more people I speak to about Passive House, I find they started their journey with an interest, and go so passionate about it, they’ve gone onto be certified! Not only professionals but homeowners as well!\ Who knows what learning and opportunity the Passive House journey might open for you hey? Listen to the episode now. This episode is brought to you by my online course “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home”. This is a superfast course that will help you get ready for your renovation or building project in the best way possible. In it, I share my step-by-step system to help you save time, money and stress in your project, so you can know what you need to know and create the perfect home for you - simply and with confidence … avoiding the dramas and heartaches. You can join now, get access to a fantastic Facebook community, Live Q & A sessio

How do you build a Passive House? The construction of a Passive House requires specific processes and knowledge. Learn what it takes to build the Owl Woods Passive House Project in my interview with Stuart Lee. SHOW NOTES: In this episode, we meet Stuart Lee of Craftsmen Quality Builders. Stuart is the builder for the Owl Woods Passive House, and if you listened to my interview with David Rhind, the client and owner, you may recall that it was when they met Stuart, that they got interested in making this home a Passive House, and dived into this whole process. Stuart is a fantastic advocate for the building industry, as he really demonstrates what quality building, client collaboration and teamwork looks like. Even if you don’t want to build or renovate a Passive House, I really encourage you to listen to this episode and learn what to look for when choosing your own builder. Stuart provides some great advice to support you in your selection. Introducing Stuart Lee, Craftsmen Quality Builders Stuart is a builder and Qualified Carpenter, and he’s also a Certified PassivHaus Tradesman and Accredited Green Living Builder. Stuart has worked in the building industry for over 15 years and is very passionate about building energy efficient and PassivHaus homes. He feels the best way he can support the environment is to build homes that hug the land rather than sit on it. When Stuart learned of the passivhaus standard - and he talks about this in our interview - he felt compelled to focus his business on implementing the key principles it uses. Stuart and the Craftsmen Quality Builders team love what they do, which in turn infuses the structure with love and laughter. Stuart believe this makes their homes feel very special. In this episode, Stuart tells us what is involved in the construction of a Certified Passive House home. These are the questions Stuart and I discuss in this episode ... Why do you believe homeowners should build a passive house (you have a great rundown on this on your website)? What made you commit to being certified as a Passive House Tradesperson? When we look at home construction, how does a Passive House differ to mainstream home construction ... what are you doing differently and how much harder is it? Tell us about your involvement in the Owl Woods Passive House - because I understand you were the one initially that proposed making it a passive house? Is building a Passive House more expensive? How do you suggest homeowners on a budget build a Passive House? It appears to me that a Passive House actually demands a really high level of attention, detail, care and quality from the builder ... and because it needs to be certified at completion to a performance level (with the blower test etc), this is a really good way of getting certainty, as a homeowner, that your home is getting built the way it should. That you’re getting what you’re paying for. Do you see homeowners feeling this way? How do you generally suggest people work well with their builder to get a good result? And do you have key tips for homeowners planning to build a Passive House? How should they start? What should they ask builders they’re speaking to? Even if you are not building a Passive House, I really recommend listening to this episode, as Stuart helps demonstrate the standard to strive for in your renovation or building project. There’s an energy that comes from a great team working well together in a quality, focussed and committed way, that can bring total joy to your life and home in the long term. I think you’ll really hear that in Stuart’s own passion for what he does, and hopefully it inspires you to keep looking until you find a team to support you in the same way for your home. Listen to the episode now. This episode is brought to you by my online course “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home”. This is a superfast course that will help you get ready for your renovation or building project in the best way possible. In it, I share my step-by-step system to help you save time, money and stress in your project, so you can know what you need to know and create the perfect home for you - simply and with confidence … avoiding the dramas and heartaches. You can join now, get access to a fantastic Facebook community, Live Q & A sessions with me, and all the tools and resources you need to achieve success in your project. Head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/howtogetitright to learn more and join us. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So you want to build or renovate a Passive House? Your specialist team may need to include a Certified Passive House Consultant to help test and measure your Passive House design. Let me introduce to you Luc Plowman, of Detail Green. Luc is a Passive House Certified Consultant and Certifier. In fact, he’s only one of 2 Passive House certified building certifiers in the country, and there’s only about 50 world-wide. Luc was brought in on the Owl Woods Passive House project as Talina wasn’t certified yet. He assisted with reviewing and auditing the design, running it through the Passive House modelling tool, and providing feedback and advice on what needed to be included and amended in order for the home to reach required benchmarks. SHOW NOTES: Meet Luc Plowman, from Detail Green. Detail Green has a wealth of building design, engineering, construction and sustainability performance experience.  This includes both local and international projects in residential, commercial, industrial and educational buildings across multiple green building standards.   Luc is a Sustainability Engineer. With 15 years experience he has been involved in a wide range of green building and sustainability projects across Australia. He’s a director of Detail Green based in Beechworth, Victoria.   With a background in the commercial building industry and a range of Green Building qualifications Luc provides specialist ESD input to all areas of the built environment.    Luc is both a Certified Passive House Consultant & Building Certifier and one of Australia’s most experienced Passive House professionals. In this episode, I ask Luc ... How do you describe what Passive House is? What is your role on the Owl Woods Passive House Project? Is this how you’re normally involved in projects? You’re a Certified Passive House Consultant ... what does that mean? How did you get involved in this type of work - what is your professional background? what made you choose to become a Certified Consultant? Is a Passive House not really a Passive House if a Certified Passive House Consultant is not involved? As a Certified Consultant, do you find that homeowners come find you because they really want to do this type of home and they’ve first done a lot of investigation and research themselves? Or do you find that there’s an interest, and then still lots of education to do on your part? What misconceptions do you see about Passive House? I know homeowners will say to me “oh my climate is quite mild, I don’t need to be this extreme about my home” ... what would you say to them? Is there anywhere that Passive House is ‘over the top’ as an approach? What key tips do you have for homeowners considering this as an approach for their renovation or new build? Passive House can seem initially like a complex process of data and analysis. However, Luc shows us its fundamental aspects and the opportunity this methodology has to help us predict the performance of our homes - before we build them. Listen to the episode now. This episode is brought to you by my online course “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home”. This is a superfast course that will help you get ready for your renovation or building project in the best way possible. In it, I share my step-by-step system to help you save time, money and stress in your project, so you can know what you need to know and create the perfect home for you - simply and with confidence … avoiding the dramas and heartaches. You can join now, get access to a fantastic Facebook community, Live Q & A sessions with me, and all the tools and resources you need to achieve success in your project. Head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/howtogetitright to learn more and join us. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talina Edwards, of Talina Edwards Architecture, is the architect on the Owl Woods Passive House project. This project didn’t start out as a Passive House, and Talina didn’t start the project as a Passive House Certified Designer … but that’s what she is now, and that’s what the house is now. I think you’ll learn a lot from hearing how Talina talks about the process of working with a client, understanding their wants, needs and aspirations for their home and her responsibility in bringing that to life … and how she’s worked collaboratively with the client and other team members to deliver this family their forever home. SHOW NOTES: Let me introduce Talina Edwards to you, and Talina Edwards Architecture. Talina Edwards Architecture: elemental design studio is passionate about creating healthy, beautiful, functional, comfortable and sustainable architecture. The practice has a passion for design that improves people’s lives – for residential, community and commercial clients. Talina strongly believes that high quality design of our built environment has many positive impacts for people and the planet. Talina established her Architectural Studio in 2013 after more than a decade of working as a registered architect with Melbourne practices who excelled in sustainable architecture. Talina recently became qualified as a ‘Certified Passive House Designer’, which is an international standard to deliver the healthiest, highest-performing and lowest-energy buildings in the world. The standard is heavily based in building-physics for proven performance. Talina embraces this scientific, rational and practical side of architecture, as well as the more creative and intuitive approach to design. She employs a holistic and collaborative approach that is responsive to the whole picture, whilst including careful consideration of all the small, important details. She is very interested in how the principles of biophilic design can be applied to architectural projects to improve our wellbeing by connecting to nature. Talina recently attended the ‘Living Future Institute’ 2018 symposium and is committed to this ideology, which aims to redirect our future towards a society that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative.Talina is hugely engaged in her local community, in the architectural community and the sustainable design community as well. She is an active member of several industry organisations, and a huge advocate for her local professional community. Talina loves sharing her love of all things elemental design (green buildings, sustainable architecture, healthy homes and natural living) by writing articles, exhibiting at Smart Living and Building expos, and giving presentations to her community.On the weekends, she loves spending time amongst nature with her partner, children and playful puppy – as Talina knows this is the best way to slow down and re-connect and maintain a sense of wellbeing. In this episode, I ask Talina ... How do you describe Passive House to people who ask? Tell me about what happened when the clients, David and Yvonne, first approached you for this new home ... discussing sustainability measures, design etc ... how did that go? One of the things that’s been interesting about Owl Woods Passive House is that it didn’t start its journey as a Passive House did it? Can you explain more about that? When did Passive House start becoming part of the conversation? Who drove that? What was your aim for the design initially, as the clients briefed you on what they wanted, etc ... and then as it became a Passive House? Talking through the ideas, the pavilion style, designing a home for people who will have older children who'll leave and come back, etc. Since starting this project, you’ve achieved your Passive House design certification - why? David spoke about how they went about the process of finding you, and then have really sought to trust you, and seek your support as they move through the project. It appears you've created a really trusting relationship, and a collaborative one. How do you think that has happened? As an architect, who has come from a sustainable design point of view, to now move into this area, what have been your key learnings about what’s needed to get this right? Do you think you need to be a specific type of architect to tackle this area of design? It seems very technical to an outsider. Have you found any of this limiting for your creativity? I had a client joke with me that seeing homes we’ve designed get finished must be like seeing our children grow up and leave home ... what are you most looking forward to in seeing this home finished? If you’re wondering what it’s like to design a Passive House, or work collaboratively with an architect for your new build or renovation, this episode provides great insight, tips and strategies

What happens when you decide you want to build your forever family home as a Passive House? This is the story of a homeowner who did just that. I’m really excited to be introducing you to the Owl Woods Passive House Project. SHOW NOTES: The Owl Woods Passive House is a new home being built Victoria. Its design meets the Passive House requirements and will be certified as a Passive House when complete. This home is David and Yvonne’s forever home, and we’re going to hear from David about what their journey has been like as the clients in this project - and the future owners of this home. At the time of recording this, the project was nearing completion, and due to be finished right about now actually!   We’re going to be meeting the whole team over the upcoming episodes, and you’ll get a great insight into this project from various viewpoints. In this episode, David Rhind, the client, tells us what it’s been like to be the client in this project. Everything from how they went about finding their block of land, choosing Talina Edwards as their architect, and then working together on the design. David will share what motivated them to pursue sustainable design in the first place … and then to commit to the Passive House methodology. And you’ll hear some fantastic tips and insights along the way that I know will really help you with planning your own project. Whilst it was under construction, it was included in 2018’s Sustainable Open House Day. As you can imagine, it was a popular site, because many visitors were really keen to see the details of a Passive House whilst it was being built. From the Sustainable House Open Day website …. “After many renovations we’d always wanted to build a house from scratch. High on our priority list was sustainability, for a variety of reasons, but were not quite sure what that could/should entail! Key to us was engaging local firms and, during this search, the idea of a house with good solar orientation was suggested and this soon developed into a full blown Passive House (still with the solar orientation, but now with awesome thermal properties and air tightness) was suggested and it quickly took hold as the ideal way to build our new house – given the climate, rising energy costs and achieving ‘comfortable’ living. When we’ve been living in the house for a year we’ll be able to gauge the impact on running costs, but we’re expecting to be pleasantly surprised.” In this episode, I ask David ... Who this home is designed for The site the home on is being built on ... when did you buy it, what’s it like, did you choose it with specific criteria? When you thought about building a new house, what were your key goals ... what did you want to achieve? What led you to thinking about building a Passive House? How did you start the process ... choosing the right team, getting the knowledge you needed etc Have you found you’ve had to upskill yourself in any way? Terminology, the science of it all, etc? Was there anything you were specifically nervous about in doing this? What are you most looking forward to about living in a Passive House? Do you think it’s forced any compromises for you? (Often homeowners think a Passive House will mean they have to have the home look a certain way, or they can’t open windows, or they’ll just have to deal with being cold or hot at certain times of the year, or they can’t choose the material they like aesthetically because it doesn’t meet requirements). What do you think have been some of your key learnings along the way? Any specific challenges, or wins, or things you wish you’d known before you started … What key tips would you have for homeowners considering building or renovating their home as a Passive House? This episode is a great insight into a homeowner’s personal journey of embarking on their new home project - and how they are bringing their forever home dreams to life. Listen to the episode now. This episode is brought to you by my online course “How to Get it Right in Your Reno or New Home”. This is a superfast course that will help you get ready for your renovation or building project in the best way possible. In it, I share my step-by-step system to help you save time, money and stress in your project, so you can know what you need to know and create the perfect home for you - simply and with confidence … avoiding the dramas and heartaches. You can join now, get access to a fantastic Facebook community, Live Q & A sessions with me, and all the tools and resources you need to achieve success in your project. Head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/howtogetitright to learn more and join us. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Passive House? Or Passivhaus (as the Germans say!) Passive House offers an opportunity to create a home that is comfortable, improves your health and well-being, and lowers the energy use of your home. This episode is an introduction to what Passive House is. As a building system, it involves a range of measures to have your home performing the way it needs to, to be deemed a Passive House. SHOW NOTES: What’s Passive House? Well, you may be familiar with it when it’s spelt the German way - Passivehaus. Let me say upfront … Passive House is not to be confused with Passive Design or Passive solar design. Passive House is a specific way of designing and building a new or renovated home so it meets certain requirements that lower its energy use and improves the health and wellbeing for its occupants. It creates energy efficient homes. It gives a system to design, test and audit the home’s performance overall. And I actually think it’s going to get some serious traction in Australia as the best way to build or renovate your home. Overseas, particularly in Europe, it’s popular for its ability to create energy efficient, comfortable homes that don’t need significant heating and cooling, even in extreme climates (picture snow up to the gutters!) Here, even though in some areas of Australia - and in the USA for my American listeners - our climates may seem too mild for many to be concerned. However, Passive House offers a huge opportunity to really understand and know before you commit to construction, how your home will feel to live in, and what it will cost to run. And that is what seriously excites me for you as the homeowner, building or renovating your family home. Imagine being able to predict exactly how your house will perform, how comfortable it will be and what it will cost to heat and cool - BEFORE you build it. And then, having a system and auditing process in place so it gets tested during and after construction, and a certificate provided to show it actually performs as promised. That’s what Passive House enables you to do. In this episode, I’m talking with Daniel Kress, a certified Passive House trainer and consultant. In this episode, Daniel and I talk about: What is meant by the term “Passive House” (and do we call it Passive House or Passive Haus or Passivehaus!?) How and why did you get so interested in it and choose to pursue not only building and designing this way, but also becoming a trainer in the certification courses? What are the benefits of creating a Passive House? What are the key components of achieving or creating a Passive House? How do you create one? What do you see people get wrong in what they understand about Passive House? Is it possible to renovate and create a Passive House? Or is this only achievable when building new? Is building a Passive Home more expensive? The certification education you do ... why is it necessary for a homeowner to use a certified Passive House Consultant. What difference does this make? And is the house only a Passive House if it’s designed and/or certified by a Certified Consultant? Listen to the episode now. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.