Get it Right with Undercover Architect
The podcast all about creating your ideal home.
Get started on designing your future home ... and get it right! Request your free 5 Step E-Guide now.
New home or renovation on the cards? Chances are you’re worried about what it will cost, if you can afford it, and how you’ll avoid a budget blowout. You’re also probably nervous about how much time it will take, and how it’s going to fit into your already busy life. And obviously you don’t want to stuff it all up, and end up with a home you wish you did differently.
This podcast will help and teach you how to get it right when designing, renovating or building your ideal home. Whoever you’re working with, and whatever your dreams, your location or your budget.
IN TOP 5 AUSTRALIAN DESIGN PODCASTS
310+
EPISODES
AND 13+
SEASONS
3 MILLION+ DOWNLOADS ACROSS 191 COUNTRIES
FINALIST IN AUSTRALIAN PODCAST AWARDS
LATEST PODCAST EPISODES
8 Years of Helping You Get it Right: Latest Thoughts
We’re celebrating 8 years of helping you get it right on the Undercover Architect podcast, as I share thoughts about homes, the industry and your stories. Listen to the episode now. Hello! ...
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SEARCH ALL EPISODES
Looking for an episode or season based on a specific topic? Use the SEARCH tool below to search ALL of our podcast episodes and seasons.
We’re celebrating 8 years of helping you get it right on the Undercover Architect podcast, as I share thoughts about homes, the industry and your stories. Listen to the episode now. Hello! This is Episode 344, and in it, I’m celebrating the 8th birthday of the Undercover Architect podcast. I...
What Smart Home System should you choose for a new build? In this podcast episode, we share the design, selection and coordination process for Cindy’s project. Learn the selection criteria and considerations Cindy had for determining the best Smart Home System for her new build. You’ll also hear how Cindy...
A wet mouldy timber frame can be a big problem during construction. Far too many builders and homeowners ignore a wet mouldy timber frame during construction, and it can cause long term problems for the health of the occupant and the long-term durability of the home. Learn how Cindy managed...
Discover how homeowner and HOME Method member, Sophie, navigated budgeting, smart design decisions, and a beautiful renovation during COVID. Listen to Sophie’s story of renovating her Californian bungalow into a calm, functional and beautiful family home. Listen to the episode now. Hello! This is Episode 341, and it’s Part 2...
What’s involved in turning a 1930s bungalow into a light-filled haven? Listen as homeowner, Sophie, shares renovation tips and lessons from her experience of renovating her Californian Bungalow home. Listen to the episode now. Hello! This is Episode 340, and in it, I’m talking with homeowner and HOME Method member,...
Want to build a granny flat? You might be experiencing the granny flat dilemma! Do you design and build your granny flat as a custom project, prefab or kit? What’s more affordable? And how do you compare each option with each other? Passive House home builders, and HOME Method members,...
Building a new home with gardens, grandkids and sustainability in mind is a big and ambitious adventure for these retired teachers, Jan and Landon. HOME Method members, Jan and Landon, are currently working on the design of a new passive house with their architect and builder. Their design goals include...
Creating the right builder relationship is so important for a successful and stressfree project, especially when you’re doing a custom new build. So, should you choose your builder based on overall ‘vibe’? Ellen, our HOME Method member and podcast guest, thought she chose her builder based on ‘vibe’. But as...
For many homeowners, their new build project can take longer than expected. How do you maintain momentum and motivation, and stay on track? HOME Method member, Ellen, shares how she and her partner have been navigating their new build project, and managed the extended timeline with continued motivation and determination...
How can you create a healthy home by reducing toxic emissions? And what should you target for the biggest impact in a new build or renovation? Andy Pace, Founder of The Green Design Center in Wisconsin, USA, shares key strategies for reducing toxic emissions in any project, and how to...
Facing challenges in creating your health home? Learn more about the solutions you need when designing, building or renovating your home. Andy Pace, Founder of The Green Design Center in Wisconsin, USA, shares how we can achieve this in any project, and the key areas to focus on for the...
Learn how Australia’s leader in textile recovery and recycling, UPPAREL, is turning textile waste into a valuable resource with limitless potential. Riley Aickins, UPPAREL’s Partnerships & UPtex Manager shares how UPPAREL turns textile waste into a huge range of products we can use in our homes, from pet bedding through...
KEEP SCROLLING FOR OUR PODCAST SEASONS INDEX
[MOST RECENT SEASON FIRST]
From 2016 to 2020, we grouped and published our podcast episodes in Seasons. These Seasons deep dive into specific topics. You can see all our Season Indexes below.
Season 13: Your next best steps
Season 13 is all about helping you take action. Across the episodes, this season will help you (whatever stage you’re at) take your next best steps. Whether you need to get your project started, or back on track, you’ll learn how to avoid the mistakes many make along their project journey. Plus, I’ll share the goals to aim for at each stage, and the clear action steps to achieve. Listen to learn your next best steps.
SPECIAL EPISODES
Episode [#184] | How to Choose the Right Builder - 3 things to know
This is a special episode where I’ll be sharing how to choose the right builder and some of the mistakes I see homeowners make when it comes to selecting the builder.
Episode [#185] The 4 keys to a successful, enjoyable project - and home
There’s 4 things, 4 keys, that make designing, building and renovating your family home do-able, enjoyable, worthwhile, and save you time, money and stress along the way.
Season 12: Rebuild + Build Better
Season 12 will help you learn how to rebuild after bushfires, and build better homes wherever you are located (and what every type of build or renovation you're undertaking). We're diving into a range of topics related to rebuilding after bushfires, building or renovating in bushfire prone areas, and more generally, designing and building more resilient homes. Listen now to learn how to rebuild and build better.
SPECIAL EPISODE: How to design a home without an architect
Want to design a home without using an architect? Learn the 3 things to include in your home design process, so you can get it right (especially if you're not using an architect). Listen to this special episode now.
HOLIDAY Q & A: Questions from the UA Community
This season is a special one. In it, I answer questions submitted by members of the UA Community. There’s everything from skylights, to prefab, to biophilic design, to working out budgets. Tune in to hear my answers.
Episode 01 [#145] | Q & A: Are SIPs any good? And what kitchen trends are on their way out?
Episode 02 [#146] | Q & A: Key things to know about Prefab, and designing a south-facing home
Episode 03 [#147] | Q & A: Understanding biophilic design. And high level windows that work
Episode 04 [#148] | Q & A: Do we renovate or sell?
Episode 05 [#149] | Q & A: What will your home design cost to build? And Velux skylights
Season 11: Interior Design Basics
In Season 11, we’re diving into Interior Design Basics. Materials, finishes, fixtures, design ideas, how to choose, how to get help 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 of White Pebble Interiors, plus other fantastic industry suppliers and professionals also join us.
SPECIAL EPISODE: Create a home you love - on any budget
When renovating or building, what are the 7 ingredients to creating a home you love - on any budget?
This is a special episode where I talk about what I know actually makes the difference in a family home ... and creates one that works, feels great, and serves you over the long term.
Season 10: Industry Insider Insights
Season 10 features a range of clever and talented industry professionals from both Australia and the USA. It’s jam-packed with different types of industry insider insights. And with various areas of expertise, all my guests have one thing in common: they are super generous with their advice and knowledge. Listen to learn from those inside the industry.
Season 09: Keeping it Real
This is Season 9. We all love a good before-and-after story, but what's out there in the TV and online world (packaged up with glamour and styling) can be really misleading for the first-time renovator or builder. This season will help you manage not only the fantastic dreams that you have for your home, but your expectations and your goals around creating it as well.
Season 08: A simple guide to a sustainable home
Creating a sustainable home means one that is energy efficient, functional, low tox, environmentally friendly and supports your health and well-being. In Season 8, these episodes share key ways to create your sustainable new home or renovation. Plus we feature a Passive House (or Passivhaus), sharing the advice and insights of each of the team members and client.
Season Interlude: Learnings from my USA trip
A collection of episodes that highlight some architectural features of a trip to the USA, that will help any renovation, new build or landscape design.
Season 07: The stages of home construction
My co-host for Season 7 is builder Duayne Pearce, D Pearce Constructions. Duayne and I step you through each stage of construction, helping you avoid expensive and stressful mistakes in your project. This season also gives you a small taste of my flagship online program, the "HOME Method"
Season Interlude: Working with your designer + other project insights
This season gives answers to some of my most frequently asked questions. And we introduce a new project - a family home being built in New Zealand.
Season 06: Designing for difficult sites
Not every block of land is flat and rectangular. And yet so much of the advice out there only works if your land is like this. Season 6 takes you through a range of difficult blocks or site types, and gives design tips and strategies so you can get your design right, whether you're renovating or building new.
Season 05: Mistakes many make
With over 25 years industry experience, in over 250 projects (including 3 renovations of my own), there are consistent errors I see many homeowners make as they build or renovate their homes. Season 5 shares the mistakes that many make, that can have a significant impact on your time, money and stress.
Season 04: Know your team
There are many professionals who can support you when designing, building or renovating your home. Season 4 outlines the key roles and shares the WHO, the WHAT, the WHEN and the WHY of each of your project team. Together, my guests have over 150 years industry experience in home design, building and renovating.
Season Interlude: Your most important tool (communication)
Some of the biggest issues in designing, building and renovating result from communication issues. This shorter Season Interlude (in-between Season!) helps you learn how to ensure communication on your project is clear, well-managed and enables you to have a successful, low-stress experience.
Season 03: How to set (and stay on) your budget
One of the biggest fears that homeowners have about their renovation or new build revolves around budget. Can they afford to do what they want to do? And how will they prevent it from blowing out and financially crippling them? Season 13 gives key budget tips, cost-saving strategies and mistakes to avoid (and for even more info, check out my mini-course "Set + Stick to Your Budget").
Season 02: How to design a home
Season 2 takes you - room-by-room - through how to design a home. It focuses on the 5 'Fs' of great design: Functionality, Flexibility, Furnishability, Flow and Feel. These are must-listen episodes before briefing your designer, architect, builder, or diving into your own home design.
Season 01: What matters most
Great design isn't anymore expensive than terrible design. The episodes in Season 1 will help you learn what matters most to make your home work, and feel great. This is essential listening for anyone embarking on buying, designing, building or renovating. Learn the decisions that matter most in these episodes.
Launch Season: Get Started
Many homeowners tell me that, when thinking about renovating or building, they have no idea where to start. In my experience, every project (regardless of location, budget or size) begins with the same four questions. These episodes will guide you through answering them.
Episode 00 [#1] | Welcome to the new Undercover Architect Podcast: Get it Right
Episode 01 [#2] | Get Started: What would you like to do?
Episode 02 [#3] | Get Started: What are you allowed to do?
Episode 03 [#4] | Get Started: What can your renovation or building budget afford?
Episode 04 [#5] | Get Started: What do you and your family need from your home (now and in the future)
With over 30 years industry experience, Amelia Lee founded Undercover Architect in 2014 as an award-winning online resource to help and teach you how to get it right when designing, building or renovating your home. You are the key to unlocking what’s possible for your home. Undercover Architect is your secret ally