Undercover Architect

Helping homeowners get it right when designing, building or renovating their family home.

Window furnishings: Get it right with your curtains and blinds


Know what you need to know about curtains and blinds. Getting it right in your window furnishings can create amazing results, when you understand the key tips and design ideas to consider.

This episode is the first of a 2-part interview I have with Evan Montero. He’s the Co-founder and Managing Director of DIY Blinds, and he’s here to share some amazingly helpful info about window furnishings. Specifically, curtains and blinds.

(Head here to listen to Part 2, which is all about Plantation Shutters)

DIY Blinds is an online ordering site for window furnishings. With a huge range of products from blinds, to curtains, to plantation shutters, you have the ability to request fabric samples, choose your fabric, learn how to measure and install your blinds, and order them online … all from your sofa.

The DIY Blinds website does a great job of stepping you through the things you need to consider, and how to make your selections. And they’re made in Australia, mostly available within 2 weeks, and also have a 5 year warranty.

From my experience, homeowners don’t think about their window furnishings until late in their project.

Homeowners often leave their window furnishings until the home is finished and they’re moving in. They often don’t leave money in their budget, or tap into what’s possible with concealing tracks or motorisation, or understanding the limitations of fabrics and blind mechanisms.

I know from experience though, that the window furnishings can make such an amazing difference to the feel and performance of a space.

From adding to the colour palette, to providing privacy and shade, to improving the flexibility of a space by blocking out light during the daytime. And with all the glass we add to our modern homes because we want all that beautiful light and indoor / outdoor connection, if we overlook HOW we’ll put window furnishings on them, we may get stuck with an outcome we really don’t like, or that doesn’t work overall.

And I also can see the difference in homes when window furnishings have been thought about early.

There’s just a higher level of detailing and finish. It’s not necessarily going to cost extra money to have high finish and detailing … and in fact, when you build in these things early, you can actually save yourself money.

Evan Montero, DIY Blinds and Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect
Evan Montero, DIY Blinds and Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect

Evan is really passionate about homeowners knowing what they need to know, and also what’s possible in really elevating the detailing and finish of a home when you get these things factored in early to your project.

And he’s also really passionate about giving homeowners access to more affordable and great quality products by offering them online, and empowering them to directly access what they want, in a way that’s easy to understand.

In this first part of our interview, Evan shares info about why DIY Blinds started, some of the biggest mistakes homeowners make about window furnishings, and specific info on blinds and curtains.

I really hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now.

Below are images of the various styles and design options that Evan referred to in our interview …

Designer Curtain Tracks

Designer tracks are top mounted curtain tracks that can be installed directly to the ceiling. They’re slimline in profile, with a bevelled front edge, allowing the curtain track to be as inconspicuous as possible. The designer tracks allow the curtains to be the hero, and still appear as they drop from the ceiling.

Built in Pelmets

Built in pelmets involve building a recessed cavity within a ceiling. Often, customers will recess their curtain tracks and roller blinds within the ceiling to allow for a streamline aesthetic by hiding unsightly componentry. The size of the built in pelmet is important, as it limits what products can be installed within the cavity. A common problem we face is customers don’t have enough room within their built in pelmets, which means customers have had to ‘settle’ with window furnishing solutions that aren’t what they would have preferred. For example, an S Fold curtain (the most popular heading type) requires a space of 150mm. However their pelmet width only measures 80mm.

Recessed Curtain Tracks

Recessed curtain tracks are a sophisticated, and elegant curtain track system that is only possible if you include your window furnishings within the planning/design phase of your build. The curtains won’t cost you more and the only additional expense will come from your builder. With that said most builders we work with will include provisions for recessed curtain tracks without charging extra. All the builder will need to do is provide batons in the right locations + advise the plasterer to leave a gap of 18mm within the plaster, parallel to any walls/windows that you plan on dressing with curtains. More info is in the PDF document from vanda titled ‘Flushfit Recessed Track & Components’.  Note this isn’t a DIY solution we recommend customers, we strongly encourage customers to allow us to install for them, and to engage us prior to plastering work is conducted.

ID101-Course-Clickable

INTERIOR DESIGN 101: GAIN CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE FOR THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF YOUR FUTURE HOME

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.

And as a member of Interior Design 101, Evan is offering a fantastic saving on your DIY Blind orders … which frankly could pay for the cost of the course on its own!

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:

To learn more about DIY Blinds, head here >>> WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

To learn more about the self-study, online program, Interior Design 101 >>> CLICK HERE

Head here to listen to Part 2, which is all about Plantation Shutters


Choosing the best interior paint can seem confusing.

Are they really that different? The answer is “YES”, and this episode shares why.

I’ve got Joshua Plautz, who is the Interior Products Technical Manager for the Dulux Group. We’re talking all about the nitty gritty details of interior paint products and what you need to know.

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.

Josh Plautz and his team are the ones responsible for all the science and technology behind the interior 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.

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.

ID101-Course-Clickable

INTERIOR DESIGN 101: GAIN CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE FOR THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF YOUR FUTURE HOME

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 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:

To learn more about Dulux, head here >>> https://www.dulux.com.au/

To order Dulux A4 Colour Swatches, head here >>> COLOUR SWATCHES

To learn more about the self-study, online program, Interior Design 101 >>> CLICK HERE

What are the worst Interior Design mistakes many make in their homes?

Wouldn’t it be great if you could learn the key mistakes many make in their interior design choices, so you can avoid them in your project?

Well, I’ve got great news, because in this episode, Frances Cosway of White Pebble Interiors and I talk about the many (and worst) mistakes we see homeowners make, and how seriously they can impact your project.

I’m a big believer in learning from mistakes of those who’ve travelled a pathway before you, and in renovating and building, that especially applies.

When you can hear and see the mistakes that others have made, it can seriously help you know how to avoid doing the same thing in your project.

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.

ID101-Course-Clickable

INTERIOR DESIGN 101: GAIN CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE FOR THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF YOUR FUTURE HOME

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 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:

Find White Pebble Interiors online >>> CLICK HERE

And on Facebook >>> CLICK HERE

And Instagram >>> CLICK HERE

Frances Cosway’s book, “Your Forever Home” >>> CLICK HERE

To learn more about the self-study, online program, Interior Design 101 >>> CLICK HERE


If you’re designing your new home or renovation, have you started thinking about the lighting design?

Successful lighting design 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.

In this episode, Frances Cosway of White Pebble Interiors and I discuss lighting, and how to include it in your interior design process.

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.

I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now.

ID101-Course-Clickable

INTERIOR DESIGN 101: GAIN CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE FOR THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF YOUR FUTURE HOME

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 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 energy efficient lighting >>> Your Home Website 

Glossary of lighting terms >>> Lighting Glossary

Find White Pebble Interiors online >>> CLICK HERE

And on Facebook >>> CLICK HERE

And Instagram >>> CLICK HERE

Frances Cosway’s book, “Your Forever Home” >>> CLICK HERE

To learn more about the self-study, online program, Interior Design 101 >>> CLICK HERE


How do you create the ideal Interior Design ‘look’ for your family home, and a moodboard to go with it?

Liz Hayward from Hayward & Co gives us tips on moodboards, creating interior palettes, and making confident choices for your interior design.

Putting all the ideas, inspiration, colour and textures together as a holistic vision can feel challenging.

In this episode, I speak with Liz Hayward, Interior Design and Founder of Hayward & Co. Liz has got some great ideas to help you feel more confident about it.

We’re talking about moodboards and palettes, and getting clarity for the way you want your home’s interiors to be pulled together.

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’s loads of ways you can access interior design support for your project, and work with her.

I hope you enjoy this episode. Listen now.

ID101-Course-Clickable

INTERIOR DESIGN 101: GAIN CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE FOR THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF YOUR FUTURE HOME

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.

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:

To learn more about Liz Hayward and Hayward & Co >>> HEAD HERE
To learn more about the self-study, online program, Interior Design 101 >>> CLICK HERE