Get It Right with Undercover Architect

Choosing the best paint product can seem confusing. Are they really that different? The answer is “YES”, and this episode shares why. Josh is the Interior Products Technical Manager at the DuluxGroup. What does that mean? Well, Josh and his team are the ones responsible for all the science and technology behind the paints and products created by Dulux. If you’re picturing labs and white lab coats, you’re not far wrong.  Josh has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemistry and has worked as an Industrial Chemist. He’s won awards for his skills as a technologist, and I’m super excited to be bringing him to the UA Community. I see homeowners get really focussed on their colour and material selections for their interiors, but then will often not get involved in the actual product specification process.  This is particularly relevant for painting, when you may be using a painter for your project, and often simply going with the product and brand they use and recommend.  It’s worth understanding though, that not all paints are the same, and specific areas require specific products for long-term performance, durability and ease of maintenance. In this interview, Josh helps us understand more about the science of interior paint products, and what to consider when making your selections, whether it’s: for different surface types such as your woodwork or walls or ceilings for different rooms such as your wet areas or living spaces and for different gloss levels as well.  It’s amazing to see how much testing and research goes into the creation of the paint products we use, and how that can help us have products that stand the test of time and survive family life in our homes. 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, Josh and I talk through in detail about specific things to know for your Interior Paint Product selections, and making the best choice. 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-dulux-paintSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frances and I see homeowners regularly make some common mistakes when it comes to their interior design.  This can be related to  who they choose,  how they go about their design and selections,  decisions they make about specific elements of their interior design elements they forget to consider in the design phase that then get stuffed up during construction right through to missed opportunities and expensive errors So, it made sense for us to talk about the ones we feel are not only regularly made, but have the most significant impact in diminishing the feel and functionality of your home. Listen carefully, so you can learn how to avoid these for your project, and hopefully save yourself money, stress and drama not only in the process of your interior design, but in the result you create in your finished home. 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.  Inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I share additional mistakes that we see people make, and our recommendations for what to do instead, so your project can go more smoothly and you can get the result you want in your home’s interior design. 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-worst-interior-design-mistakesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re designing your new home or renovation, have you started thinking about the lighting design?  I find many homeowners will leave their lighting design quite late in their project. Some even leave it as late as construction, waiting for their walk-around with their electrician at frame stage to finalise their choices on lighting numbers, types and positions. As you can imagine, waiting until your walk-around can cause extra costs and disappointment, as often your contract will not have a sufficient allowance for light fixtures, and you’ll be hit with a variation … and the higher margin to go along with it. Lighting can and should be a design process you work through similarly to the rest of your interiors. Considering how it will work functionally, as well as the feeling and mood it’s capable of creating, means you’ll optimise what’s possible for your budget and your home.  There’s a lot of terminology when it comes to lighting, and specific things to look at when choosing light fixtures that will provide the atmosphere you’re seeking. Whether it’s to light a specific task, to create a focal point or feature in a room, or to provide flexibility in the various ways a room or space needs to function, so much is available to you with lighting design.  Lighting is an aspect of your interior design that can have a HUGE impact on the feel and function of your home. So, including it in your design process is essential for maximising what’s possible. 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.  Inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I talk in more detail about lighting design, so be sure to 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-lighting-design-interior  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you create the ideal Interior Design ‘look’ for your family home? Liz Hayward from Hayward & Co gives us tips on moodboards, creating interior palettes, and making confident choices for your interior design. Liz is a firm believer that a quality, thoughtful, tailored interior should be available to everyone and that amazing results can be achieved on almost any budget. Following her years spent in professional roles working in and around the interior design sphere, the establishment of a bespoke interior decoration agency represents a new and exciting phase in Liz's creative journey. Based on her instinctive ability to see the possibilities of any space she enters, Liz has developed a design process that is as calm and considered as the interiors she ultimately creates. Combining the many snippets of inspiration she collects from the decors she encounters each day with the tastes and input of her clients', Liz designs timeless interiors that reflect the unique personas of the people that inhabit them. Liz’s work and skill of creating beautiful spaces was recently recognised when she was awarded a top finalist position in the Home Beautiful - 50 Most Beautiful Rooms competition. Hayward & Co is based in Sydney, and offers a range of interior design and decorating services, from full collaborations for the duration of your project, through to one-off consultations. They also provide a great e-decorating service where you can work with them online to get assistance quickly and affordably.  And Liz has recently launched a new on-tap interior design online service as well, so there are loads of ways you can access interior design support for your project, and work with her. 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.  Inside Interior Design 101, Liz and I talk in more detail about creating your interior design palette and choosing finishes and fixtures that will truly suit you, your lifestyle and help you feel confident about the home environment you’re creating. Check out Interior Design 101 as the full interview is available in there now, and available as video and audio version. 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-liz-hayward-interior-designer  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.