
Get It Right with Undercover Architect
If we haven’t met before, I’m Amelia Lee, the architect behind Undercover Architect: an online business to help and teach homeowners like you how to get it right when designing, building and renovating your home. Undercover Architect is all about giving you access to the industry knowledge and insights you need to avoid the mistakes and dramas that can cost you thousands, tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And it’s about levelling the playing field, so that the world of renovating and building doesn’t seem so mysterious, and you can be the active driver in your project, navigating it with know-how and confidence.
Undercover Architect helps and teaches homeowners through this podcast, the website, and online courses and programs, including my flagship program, HOME Method. I truly believe that when you know the questions to ask, the steps to take and the best way to create a home that works, feels great, and that you feel great in, you can enjoy the process of building and renovating, as well as the home you move into at the end of this ambitious journey.
Consider Undercover Architect your secret ally: whoever you’re working with, and whatever your location, your budget or your dreams. For more, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com
Latest episodes

Jan 31, 2022 • 22min
Step #5 | COMMUNICATION [Home Design: 5 Steps Before You Begin]
Hello! This is the fifth and last mini-sode in our super special series titled “Home Design: 5 Steps Before You Begin”. This mini-sode is called “COMMUNICATION”. These short and super actionable episodes will help you with the 5 steps you need to take BEFORE you begin your home design. Be sure to download a free PDF transcript of this and the other four mini-sodes that are part of this series by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/5steps. You’ll also be able to access some additional resources and helpful links for your home design that I’ve included there. Plus, I’m hosting a free live online workshop later this month. In it, I’ll be sharing the 4 factors that can make or break your project. This free workshop is a fantastic way to learn about the key things to focus on that will help you make your project a success, and the home you create one that works for you and your family. So, if you’re listening to this podcast at or near it’s time of release, then be sure to head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/workshop to join me, and learn loads to help you get it right in your reno or new home. I’d love to see you there. Let’s dive in. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, plus a full transcript of this as well as the other four mini-sodes that are part of this series, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5steps Join me for my free online workshop “4 Factors to Make or Break Your Project” happening February 2022 >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/workshop Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 31, 2022 • 14min
Step #4 | CONNECTION [Home Design: 5 Steps Before You Begin]
Hello! This is the fourth mini-sode in our super special series titled “Home Design: 5 Steps Before You Begin”. This mini-sode is called “CONNECTION”. These short and super actionable episodes will help you with the 5 steps you need to take BEFORE you begin your home design. Be sure to download a free PDF transcript of this and the other four mini-sodes that are part of this series by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/5steps. You’ll also be able to access some additional resources and helpful links for your home design that I’ve included there. Plus, I’m hosting a free live online workshop later this month. In it, I’ll be sharing the 4 factors that can make or break your project. This free workshop is a fantastic way to learn about the key things to focus on that will help you make your project a success, and the home you create one that works for you and your family. So, if you’re listening to this podcast at or near it’s time of release, then be sure to head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/workshop to join me, and learn loads to help you get it right in your reno or new home. I’d love to see you there. Let’s dive in. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, plus a full transcript of this as well as the other four mini-sodes that are part of this series, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5steps Join me for my free online workshop “4 Factors to Make or Break Your Project” happening February 2022 >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/workshop Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 31, 2022 • 15min
Step #3 | CONDITIONS [Home Design: 5 Steps Before You Begin]
Hello! This is the third mini-sode in our super special series titled “Home Design: 5 Steps Before You Begin”. This mini-sode is called “CONDITIONS”. These short and super actionable episodes will help you with the 5 steps you need to take BEFORE you begin your home design. Be sure to download a free PDF transcript of this and the other four mini-sodes that are part of this series by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/5steps. You’ll also be able to access some additional resources and helpful links for your home design that I’ve included there. Plus, I’m hosting a free live online workshop later this month. In it, I’ll be sharing the 4 factors that can make or break your project. This free workshop is a fantastic way to learn about the key things to focus on that will help you make your project a success, and the home you create one that works for you and your family. So, if you’re listening to this podcast at or near it’s time of release, then be sure to head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/workshop to join me, and learn loads to help you get it right in your reno or new home. I’d love to see you there. Let’s dive in. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, plus a full transcript of this as well as the other four mini-sodes that are part of this series, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5steps Join me for my free online workshop “4 Factors to Make or Break Your Project” happening February 2022 >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/workshop Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 31, 2022 • 16min
Step #2 | COLLECT [Home Design: 5 Steps Before You Begin]
Hello! This is the second mini-sode in our super special series titled “Home Design: 5 Steps Before You Begin”. This mini-sode is called “COLLECT”. These short and super actionable episodes will help you with the 5 steps you need to take BEFORE you begin your home design. Be sure to download a free PDF transcript of this and the other four mini-sodes that are part of this series by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/5steps. You’ll also be able to access some additional resources and helpful links for your home design that I’ve included there. Plus, I’m hosting a free live online workshop later this month. In it, I’ll be sharing the 4 factors that can make or break your project. This free workshop is a fantastic way to learn about the key things to focus on that will help you make your project a success, and the home you create one that works for you and your family. So, if you’re listening to this podcast at or near it’s time of release, then be sure to head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/workshop to join me, and learn loads to help you get it right in your reno or new home. I’d love to see you there. Let’s dive in. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, plus a full transcript of this as well as the other four mini-sodes that are part of this series, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/5steps Join me for my free online workshop “4 Factors to Make or Break Your Project” happening February 2022 >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/workshop Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 31, 2022 • 17min
Step #1 | CLARITY [Home Design: 5 Steps Before You Begin]
Kick off your home design journey by gaining essential clarity! Discover how understanding your feelings and setting clear goals can transform your project. Learn the key steps you need to take before diving into design, ensuring your home becomes a perfect fit for you and your family. Plus, don’t miss the chance to join a free workshop focused on the important factors that can make or break your project. Get ready to design with confidence!

Jan 24, 2022 • 43min
7 Tips for Choosing Colours for Your Home
Hello! This is Episode 226, and in it, I’m going to be doing an update to one of Year 4’s most popular episodes and continuing our celebration of 5 years of the “Get it Right” podcast. In the last episode, I shared a reboot of the most popular episode from Year 4 of the podcast. It was from Season 11, which was called “Interior Design Basics”. And the episode was my interview with Karen Haller, who is a Colour Psychologist. It was a fantastic conversation all about how colour can enhance our lives in and beyond our homes, and our knowledge of colours, and how we respond to them, as a vehicle for creating environments that truly suit you and support you. If you haven’t listened to the reboot of that episode, it’s definitely worth checking it out. You can find it at www.undercoverarchitect.com/225 and there’s a free downloadable transcript available as well. In this episode, I’m going to be talking more about choosing colours for your home, and sharing some of my tips from doing this for hundreds and hundreds of homes over the years - including my own. You can grab a full transcript of this episode as a free PDF download. Plus I’ve also included links to resources I mention in this episode, and I’ve also got some images of some of the ideas and suggestions I discuss as well. Just head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/226. There’ll be lots of helpful links in this one, so be sure to grab the free download so you have them, and you can file that away and review this episode as needed. Now, let’s dive in! If you’re struggling with understanding the overall steps for your project, what you should be focussing on and when, or how to best invest your efforts, energy and money to get a great outcome in your future home, I’ve created something super helpful for you. Access my free online workshop “Your Project Plan” now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan This free workshop will really help you understand the best steps to take wherever you’re at in your project, and how you can avoid some serious and expensive mistakes. Plus, I’ll share with you what to focus on and when, so you know you’re getting everything in order for a successful project and beautiful home. And you’ll get access to some great bonuses as well. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/226 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 17, 2022 • 1h 6min
How to Choose Colour for Your Home
Hello! This is Episode 225, and in it, I’m going to be sharing one of Year 4’s most popular episodes and continuing our celebration of 5 years of the “Get it Right” podcast. This episode was from Season 11 of the podcast, which was called “Interior Design Basics”. Interior Design Basics was an incredible season where I discussed a huge range of information to know about the design and selection of the fixtures, fittings and finishes for the interior of your home. It was focussed on how to create a functional, durable, family home. I’m passionate about the fact that styling and trends are something that can trigger ideas, but they’re not what creates timeless design or long term functionality. And so, in Season 11, through the know-how of a great range of guests, and in sharing my own knowledge, the episodes go beyond the idea of interior styling, and into the performance, specification and detailing of your interiors so you can create a home that will perform durably with the love you and your family give it on a daily basis! Of course, it’s not all about nuts and bolts info. Season 11 also helps with understanding how to create your design direction, and learning more about colour, finishes and textures in your home’s interior, and choosing interiors that reflect who you and your family actually are. And this episode here reboots the most popular episode from that season. It’s when I brought Karen Haller onto the podcast to discuss Colour Psychology. Her book, “The Little Book of Colour” is such a fantastic exploration of this subject, and so actionable to help you create a home that authentically reflects you. It’s a brilliant conversation that really helps you embrace your OWN style and love of colour in an honest and empowering way. You can grab a full transcript of this episode as a free PDF download - which wasn’t available the first time I released it. Plus I’ve got info about other helpful links and resources related to this topic. Just head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/225. Be sure to grab the PDF transcript so you can file that away and review this episode as needed. Now, let’s dive in! SHOW NOTES: If you’re struggling with understanding the overall steps for your project, what you should be focussing on and when, or how to best invest your efforts, energy and money to get a great outcome in your future home, I’ve created something super helpful for you. Access my free online workshop “Your Project Plan” now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan This free workshop will really help you understand the best steps to take wherever you’re at in your project, and how you can avoid some serious and expensive mistakes. Plus, I’ll share with you what to focus on and when, so you know you’re getting everything in order for a successful project and beautiful home. And you’ll get access to some great bonuses as well. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/225 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 10, 2022 • 42min
Sustainable Home Updates - What you need to know
Hello! This is Episode 224, and in it, I’m going to be doing an update to one of Year 3’s most popular episodes and continuing our celebration of 5 years of the “Get it Right” podcast. In the last episode, I shared a reboot of the most popular episode from Year 3 of the podcast. It was from Season 10, which was called “Industry Insiders”. And the episode was my conversation with Jenny Edwards and Sarah Lebner from Light House Architecture + Science. In it, we dived into some fantastic and actionable information on how to create a sustainable home in a really pragmatic and straight-forward way. If you haven’t listened to the reboot of that episode, it’s definitely worth checking it out. You can find it at www.undercoverarchitect.com/223 and there’s a free downloadable transcript available as well. Year 3 of the podcast was a varied one, where we covered a huge range of topics. It began with the tail end of Season 8 on the podcast, which is called “A Simple Guide to a Sustainable Home”. Season 9 was a special video and audio series called “Keeping it Real” where I dived into some of the commonly held beliefs about renovating and building, especially when it comes to reality TV and online media, and the mindset issues that I see surprise homeowners in their own projects. And then Season 10, which was the Industry Insiders season, plus we snuck in a few episodes of Season 11, the Interior Design Basics Season. So many great episodes on such helpful topics and know-how for any project. If you are new to the podcast and haven’t familiarised yourself with all of that content, I’d really encourage you to do so. You can find a full index of all our episodes by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/podcast In this episode, I’m going to provide you with some updates on where the industry is at, and specific regulations and help that can support you in achieving greater sustainability in your future home. At the time of recording this episode, it’s late 2021, and there’s some significant changes coming to Australian regulations, and this is happening worldwide, as the urgency of industry change is ever more present. I also want to remind you, that whilst ‘sustainable’ may be interpreted as environmentally friendly, or ‘green’ in design and construction, it actually incorporates a lot more as a concept. So when you think about sustainability, think broadly about all things you can do to create a home that meets your current needs, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Remember, you can grab a full transcript of this episode as a free PDF download. Just head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/224. I’ll be referring to lots of resources and links for you to check out in this episode, so you only need to remember this one >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/224 to be able to grab all the info you need for this episode. Now, let’s dive in! If you’re struggling with understanding the overall steps for your project, what you should be focussing on and when, or how to best invest your efforts, energy and money to get a great outcome in your future home, I’ve created something super helpful for you. Access my free online workshop “Your Project Plan” now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan This free workshop will really help you understand the best steps to take wherever you’re at in your project, and how you can avoid some serious and expensive mistakes. Plus, I’ll share with you what to focus on and when, so you know you’re getting everything in order for a successful project and beautiful home. And you’ll get access to some great bonuses as well. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/224 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 3, 2022 • 1h 6min
Simplifying Sustainable Home Design and Construction
Hello! This is Episode 223, and in it, I’m going to be sharing one of Year 3’s most popular episodes and continuing our celebration of 5 years of the “Get it Right” podcast. This episode was from Season 10 of the podcast, which was called “Industry Insiders”. Season 10 is a great season on the podcast, packed full of conversations I had with industry professionals from both Australia and the USA. If you haven’t listened to it, I’d encourage you to check it out. We had a fantastic range of guests with loads of expertise to share. This rebooted episode was Episode 4 of that Season, and it’s a conversation with Jenny Edwards and Sarah Lebner, from Light House Architecture + Science. These incredible women are both passionate about great design, sustainable homes, and achieving both in an affordable and accessible way. And they’re both amazing in the advocacy and education work they do to assist homeowners and industry colleagues well beyond their client base. It’s a great conversation jam packed with actionable info. You can grab a full transcript of this episode as a free PDF download - which wasn’t available the first time I released it. Plus I’ve got info about other helpful links and resources related to this topic. Just head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/223. Be sure to grab the PDF transcript so you can file that away and review this episode as needed. Now, let’s dive in! SHOW NOTES: If you’re struggling with understanding the overall steps for your project, what you should be focussing on and when, or how to best invest your efforts, energy and money to get a great outcome in your future home, I’ve created something super helpful for you. Access my free online workshop “Your Project Plan” now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan This free workshop will really help you understand the best steps to take wherever you’re at in your project, and how you can avoid some serious and expensive mistakes. Plus, I’ll share with you what to focus on and when, so you know you’re getting everything in order for a successful project and beautiful home. And you’ll get access to some great bonuses as well. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/223 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 27, 2021 • 45min
How To Be A Good Project Manager
Hello! This is Episode 222, and in it, I’m going to be doing an update to one of Year 2’s most popular episodes and continuing our celebration of 5 years of the “Get it Right” podcast. In this episode, I’ll be giving you some seriously actionable info that will not only help you stay sane during your reno or new build project - but it will also help you be a good project manager as well. Many homeowners, when embarking on their project journey, don’t think of themselves as a Project Manager. However, renovating and building involves so many moving parts, steps, people and processes that, as the person or people funding it all and wanting it to happen, this is what you usually are: your own Project Manager. Part of being a good project manager is having the ability to stay organised, and lay your hands on information you need in a timely manner to keep things running smoothly. And then also having enough know-how so you can confidently navigate the steps ahead, and coordinate the people and processes you need to along the way. To help you do this, I’ve got ten tips on how to be a good project manager. You can grab a full transcript of this episode as a free PDF download. Plus I’ve got info about other helpful links and resources related to this topic. Just head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/222. There’ll be lots of helpful links in this one, so be sure to grab the free download so you have them, and you can file that away and review this episode as needed. Now, let’s dive in! SHOW NOTES: If you’re struggling with understanding the overall steps for your project, what you should be focussing on and when, or how to best invest your efforts, energy and money to get a great outcome in your future home, I’ve created something super helpful for you. Access my free online workshop “Your Project Plan” now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan This free workshop will really help you understand the best steps to take wherever you’re at in your project, and how you can avoid some serious and expensive mistakes. Plus, I’ll share with you what to focus on and when, so you know you’re getting everything in order for a successful project and beautiful home. And you’ll get access to some great bonuses as well. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/222 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.