'Get it Right with Undercover Architect' Podcast
Season 02: How to design a home
The episodes in 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.
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[#017] How to design a home | Season Intro
Season 02 | Episode 00
“What makes you think you’re qualified to design your own home?!”
Many of my industry colleagues will think this when a homeowner designs their own home.
I can understand why homeowners do this though. It’s your home. Your budget. Your needs. Your family. Your site. Your life. Your future. Your dreams.
Because there’s so much at stake, you want to control the outcome as much as possible. At least ensure you’ll get it right, and achieve the home you dream of.
[#018] The 4 F’s of great home design (do you know what they are?)
Season 02 | Episode 01
What are the fundamentals when it comes to designing your home? The ones you must get right?
Let’s get down to the fundamentals. This episode introduces the “four F”s I like to consider when designing any room in your home. And in designing your home overall.
I’ll share with you what each of these mean, and how to use them to create a home design that suits you now, and always.
[#019] Living and Dining Rooms | How to design a great space for your lifestyle
Season 02 | Episode 02
The question we’re asking today is: How do we make great living and dining rooms in our new or renovated home?
We spend a huge amount of our time in our homes in our main living and dining rooms. In fact, these spaces, along with our kitchen, get prime use in our homes. So, getting it right in these rooms can and will have a significant impact on how our home feels and functions overall.
In this episode, I share some amazing research that will help you understand where to place the lion’s share of your effort, energy and budget in your renovation or new home. It’s a game-changer.
[#020] Your second living space | Do you really need it, and how to get it right
Season 02 | Episode 03
This episode is about the second living space or room in our homes. It goes by lots of different names, and most homeowners planning a renovation or new home want to create one.
This episode may also be a little controversial, as I challenge you to consider whether you really need a second living space or room in your home. Because, as you stretch your budget and your space to accommodate all the dreams you have for your new or renovated home, you may end up compromising everything.
[#021] All things kitchens (including butlers, walk-in pantries and appliance cupboards)
Season 02 | Episode 04
There’s a huge amount to consider when it comes to designing your kitchen.
And more than any other area of your home, you can feel a lot of pressure that you’ll stuff it up.
This episode is about kitchens … all thing kitchens, which means I’ll also talk about butler’s pantries, walk-in pantries and appliance cupboards.
Your renovation or new build can the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to finally get a kitchen that works. One with decent bench space, great storage, and a layout that enables you to enjoy being in it, using it, and getting the most from it.
[#022] Bedroom Number 1 | Your master suite
Season 02 | Episode 05
The main bedroom of the house … Bedroom Number 1.
This can be simply a bedroom, or it can be arranged in combination with extra or attached spaces such as a walk-in-robe, ensuite and even a parents’ retreat.
Other names for it are the master bedroom, or master suite.
[#023] Bathrooms, ensuites and powder rooms
Season 02 | Episode 06
This episode is about the wet areas in our home, namely bathrooms, ensuites and powder rooms.
These are cost intensive areas in our home. They, as well as our kitchens, will have the highest cost rate in $ / m2 compared with the rest of the home (when looking at your project overall). This is of course because of the electrical, the plumbing, the finishes, and the fixtures in these rooms, all crammed into quite a small area.
[#024] Wardrobes, linens, laundries and mudrooms
Season 02 | Episode 07
In this episode, I talk about wardrobes, linens, laundries and mudrooms. I also cover walk-in robes and other storage such as broom cupboards.
These spaces can be important to get right for a home to work well, so let’s learn more.
Firstly, I talk about the four Fs upfront, and get through them quite quickly.
Then, I tackle each of these spaces individually, and share some key mistakes and design tips for each. And in each I talk about where to locate it in your home, and how to connect it to other spaces and rooms so it works as conveniently as possible.
[#025] Kids bedrooms, guest bedrooms and other bedroom spaces
Season 02 | Episode 08
How to get it right in kids bedrooms, guest bedrooms and other bedrooms spaces. Known as ‘secondary bedrooms’, there’s lots to know to get it right.
This episode is all about secondary bedrooms. “Secondary bedrooms” is the terminology I use to refer to any bedrooms that aren’t the main bedroom.
[#026] How to include a study nook, study or home office in your home design
Season 02 | Episode 09
Listen to this episode to learn how to get it right in your study nooks, studies and home offices.
Creating a study nook, study or home office, where this work can occur in a semi-uninterrupted way, can help with family sanity overall.
I know personally I’ve run businesses from our dining table, and it’s not fun for general family life. So if you’re renovating or building, it can be a simple inclusion to provide a space or room for work in your home, and improve your lifestyle overall.
[#027] Why you need to start with your stairs and garages when designing your home
Season 02 | Episode 10
Stairs and garages. Did you know that starting with them can often be the key to getting it right in your home design overall? And whilst it may seem odd to put these two items together, there’s a few things that stairs and garages have in common.
[#028] How to create great outdoor living spaces, decks, alfresco areas and pools
Season 02 | Episode 11
Want some great tips about how to get it right in planning your outdoor living areas, alfresco, deck and swimming pool? That’s what this podcast episode is all about.
In so many parts of the world – and especially here in Australia – we’re blessed with a great climate.
This helps us really expand the interior of our homes into the garden around them.
So let me share some great tips with you to get it right in planning your outdoor living spaces.
[#029] Front Entries and Front Gardens | Creating a welcoming and secure home
Season 02 | Episode 12
Our homes’ front entries and front gardens are how our homes present themselves to the world. Want to get it right? That’s what this podcast episode – the last in Season 2 – is about.
This episode brings us to the front of your home – which is usually the most public face of it. It’s actually the side of your home that most people see. It presents your chosen aesthetic, personality or style to the street.
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