Undercover Architect

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

The Essentials of Kitchen Interior Design

Want to learn the essentials so you can choose well for your kitchen’s interior design?

Your Kitchen Interior Design can create a kitchen that works, is durable and looks great. But are you ready for ALL the decisions and considerations you need to make?

Kitchens are a big source of cost and angst in a home. They can be the hero of a family home and often the starting point for Interior Design direction for many homeowners.

They’re often a really sizeable investment, and they can be the whole reason many homeowners renovate or build in the first place. Anyone living with a dysfunctional kitchen knows how frustrating and inconvenient it can be in everyday family life.

Looking forward to a new kitchen can be super exciting. And when you’re planning a new or renovated home, the idea of having a working kitchen that’s simple to use, stores everything neatly, is a great place to gather, makes cooking and entertaining easy, and feels connected to the rest of the home so you can keep an eye on all the goings-on … well, that is really something to look forward to.

Infact, many homeowners start their renovation with “oh, we’ll just do up the kitchen” … and then that snowballs into a much bigger project!

Kitchens are probably one of the biggest pieces of eye candy when it comes to Pinterest images as well. All the gadgets and storage and large open benchspaces and fancy taps. There are a lot of lustworthy aspirational images out there calling out to you when you start planning a new kitchen, but if you then start digging on costs, you can see just how quickly prices can run away.

However, in many of these glossy images, you’re missing information on how to choose for durability, low maintenance and long-lasting finishes for family life. There’s so many lookalike materials now too, that it’s hard to know whether they’re going to perform as well, and if you’ll get as good a result.

I’ve done an episode in Season 2 on Kitchen Design, which is a great listen for thinking about the overall layout, and incorporating spaces like a walk-in pantry or butler’s pantry. In that episode I also talk about how to consider orientation and overall planning of your home to get your kitchen right. I’ll pop the link to that episode in the show notes so you can check it out.

Now, in this episode and the next, Frances Cosway from White Pebble Interiors and I dive into much more nitty gritty detail about the kitchen itself, and discussing the materiality of a kitchen.

These are all the elements and decisions that overwhelm many homeowners, because there’s A LOT that goes into the kitchen, and most homeowners are only thinking benchtops, splashback, cupboards and appliances.

However, kitchens that work, and look good, involve SO much more than those items alone. And I really encourage you to be thinking about all of these nitty gritty details as you’re designing the kitchen itself, so you know your dreams and budget are tracking in alignment with each other.

We’re talking about your Kitchen Interior Design, and specifically kitchen cupboards, kickplates, doors and drawers. 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.

In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I also talk in more detail about flatpack kitchens. These can be a great alternative, but they’re not always cheaper, and there’s specific things you need to know before going this way with your kitchen. We also discuss splashbacks and the various choices available to you there.

And exciting news is that my super popular, 5 Day Kitchen Design Challenge, is now living inside “Interior Design 101” as a special bonus. It’s a great burst of info that takes you through the practical formula to creating a kitchen you’ll love spending time in, and that will work for you and your family.

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:

Find White Pebble Interiors online >>> CLICK HERE

And on Facebook >>> CLICK HERE

And Instagram >>> CLICK HERE

All things kitchens (including butlers, walk-in pantries and appliance cupboards) >>> Check out this Podcast Episode

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

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

Want to know how to choose carpet for your family home and make the right choice?

There’s lots to know when it comes to carpet. How do you choose from all the different types, and understand all the terminology?

In this episode, I speak with Frances Cosway. Frances is an interior designer, principal of White Pebble Interiors, and author of “Your Forever Home”. We dive into the topic of carpets, and cover a range of industry information that’s critical to making an informed and confident choice for your home.

During our conversation, we dive into …

  • the different types of carpet available
  • what terminology you need to understand to make confident choices
  • understanding density so you can choose durable carpet
  • mistakes people make that mean disappointment or extra cost

Carpet can be a fantastic, comfortable and relaxing choice in a family home. Having carpet flooring makes rooms more comfortable, absorbs more sound, and makes lying on the floor much more enjoyable! However, it’s a flooring surface that can show stains, be difficult to clean and horrible to maintain.

With lots of materials to choose from, I’ve seen homeowners choose synthetic carpets with treated with a stain guard or similar treatment, mistakenly believing it will perform better over the long term. Or picking a pile type because they think it will look plush and velvety in their home, and then finding it causes huge and frustrating issues with how it shows up foot traffic and marks over time.

Many homeowners are worried about choosing carpet because of allergies, dust mites, problems with it getting eaten by moths, or issues around keep it clean when you have small kids and pets.

These can be valid concerns. Some Building Biologists, health-focussed Interior Designers and Wells Certified Architects completely recommend against carpet as a flooring choice. And so it’s worth understanding your own family, your specific needs and getting advice on that basis.

However, if you are wanting carpet as a flooring type, then it’s essential you know specific things about the different types, the terminology associated with pile and density, and the various other key things to know about this flooring type.

We’re going to share some of the key tricks to know when choosing carpet. 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.

In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I also talk about understanding the role underlay performs in the durability and luxuriousness of your carpet. We share some insider tricks to upgrading the whole feel of your carpet without changing what you spend by understanding weight and pile type, as well as information on the types of pile to never use in a family home!

We also talk about where to locate carpet in your home, and ways you can use carpet well to save money in your overall budget, without compromising the feel or functionality of your home.

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:

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

Learn more about carpet from the Carpet Institute of Australia >>> CLICK HERE

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

Considering concrete flooring for your home? Be it polished concrete, burnished concrete or something else, you need to get it right.

Concrete flooring is super durable and long-lasting. So when you don’t get it right, the stuff-ups can mean long-term regrets, headaches and frustration!

Let me introduce my special guest for this podcast episode, Jess Ausburn. Jess is Owner of Diagrind NSW, as well as green cleaning supplies business, OCS Online Cleaning Supplies.

Diagrind as a company has over 20 years’ experience in the diamond and concrete flooring industry. They won the award for Concrete Surfaces Residential New Build Best Floor in 2017. They specialise in providing finishes for commercial flooring, retail flooring, architectural designed polished concrete flooring, terrazzo flooring and floor preparation.

During our conversation, we dive into …

  • what are the 2 main types when it comes to polished concrete floors
  • the essential things your concreter needs to know before pouring your slab so your polished floors turn out well
  • the different kinds of finishes you can achieve when polishing your floors
  • comparing quotes and being sure you’re getting the finish you want
  • how to know if your existing slab can be polished
  • a brilliant alternative to polished concrete you may not be aware of
  • mistakes to avoid

When I was looking for someone I could talk to about concrete floors, I found Diagrind online and loved that they had loads of helpful information to educate people about how to achieve great results in their concrete floors.

When I connected with Jess, she shared their frustrations that people (be it homeowners, or builders and contractors) don’t get in touch with them sooner, because often they’re getting the info they need too late, and can’t get the floor they really want.

Jess herself has worked on the tools to create polished concrete finishes so she understands all of the processes involved.

So, if you’re considering a concrete floor, be it polished or another finish, we’re going to dive into some great information in this interview.

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.

In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Inside Interior Design 101, Jess and I talk in a lot more detail about some key things to know if you’re planning a concrete floor. We discuss slip resistance, and what needs to be done if you want polished concrete in your bathrooms and other wet areas.

Jess also shares some great info on how trades should be managing dust during polishing on site, and what you should know about sealing your polished concrete floor, and its maintenance long-term. AND we talk about how to minimise cracking, plus why you may want to steer clear of epoxy as a finish or sealant.

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:

Diagrind website >>> CLICK HERE

Diagrind’s ‘Buyer’s Guide to Polished Concrete’ >>> CLICK HERE

Great article on requirements to get a great result for polished concrete >>> CLICK HERE

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

Choosing tiles for your family home’s floors can be a fantastic, durable and sustainable choice. There are so many options now, with colours and patterns to suit any home.

Yet, many homeowners are put off by this type of flooring, and choose tiles only for their bathrooms and laundry.

Thinking them too hard, or too cold, I see homeowners avoid them for their main flooring. However, they’re a brilliant and affordable flooring choice when you understand the terminology, know how to choose well, and can make a great selection for your home.

In this episode, I speak with Frances Cosway. Frances is an interior designer, principal of White Pebble Interiors, and author of “Your Forever Home”. We talk about choosing tiles for your family home’s floors. Whether you’re renovating or building, tiles are a great option for your floors. Not only your bathrooms and laundry, but your main floors too.

During our conversation, we dive into …

  • the different tile materials and terminology
  • what to know about the various tile types
  • tile batching
  • tips to get a great result with tiled floors

I’ve chosen tiles over timber for personal projects of mine … as has Frances. I did it for affordability reasons, and because there was an existing timber through the original part of the home that was going to be tricky to match with a newer product.

This was a project my husband and I did a renovation of, and it added a large, open plan kitchen / living / dining pavilion onto the rear, which also contained a bathroom, butler’s pantry and laundry.

Timber would have seriously impacted the budget overall, I still would have had a tiled laundry and bathroom I had to coordinate, and the original floors which ran into this new extension.

So I chose a lovely grey, 600 x 300mm tile with a matt finish and a slight pattern to it.
Thermally, it worked far better, because being adhered directly to the slab, they help with thermal mass and don’t break that management of the indoor air temperature.

They felt lovely underfoot, were super easy to clean and maintain and I chose a matching grout colour and rectified tile, so the impact over a large area was that it gave a really consistent colour to the floor which helped the area feel really spacious too.

Plus it was actually much easier to coordinate all types of furniture and other colours with too.

Have you thought about tiles as an option? Let’s learn more about tiles and choosing them for your family home’s floors.

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.

In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I also talk about digital printing on tiles, which is how a lot of the patterns on tiles is achieved these days. Frances shares some awesome and key tips to know before choosing digitally printed tiles.

In addition, we talk about grout colours and how to test your grout choice. We also talk about dealing with corners and how to get the best results with your tile setout.

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:

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

To see the toxicity of laminate flooring >>> CLICK HERE

Timber flooring can be a great and sustainable choice for your family home.

However, many are making terrible, low-cost choices that will be terrible to live with long-term.

In this episode, we talk about timber flooring: what choices you have available and what you need to know to make a great, durable and sustainable choice for your own home.

In this episode, I speak with Frances Cosway. Frances is an interior designer, principal of White Pebble Interiors, and author of “Your Forever Home”. We share our thoughts on solid timber and engineered timber flooring, why we’d love to see laminate flooring never be used again, and what you need to know before choosing vinyl flooring.

During our conversation, we dive into …

  • what choices are available for you in timber flooring
  • what should you speak to suppliers about so you understand installation requirements
  • how to choose colour for your flooring so it suits what’s already in your home
  • why laminate flooring is a terrible choice
  • what you need to know about vinyl flooring before you choose it

There are loads of choices you can make when it comes to flooring. Polished or burnished concrete, toppings over concrete, timber, tile, carpet, bamboo, cork, lino, rubber, laminate and vinyl … to name a few!

In these next few podcast episodes, we’re going to cover the main types: timber, tiles, concrete and carpet.

And upfront, it’s worth knowing that neither Frances or I are fans of vinyl or laminate flooring. It’s actually heartbreaking to see it being used so prolifically. It’s not good quality as a durable flooring material, it’s TERRIBLE for the environment, and can be hugely toxic in what they off-gas into your home.

Laminate flooring is NOT timber. It is a bonded 4 layer product. The base layer is called a ‘Balancing layer’ to keep the material stable. Over that is HDF, or high-density fibreboard that is then overlaid with a printed plastic or paper layer that is digitally printed with a pattern or texture to look like timber. On top of that goes a ‘wear layer’ which is described as melamine resin usually, and is often a type of finish with high VOCs and toxicity.

Generally, vinyl flooring is made from petroleum-based materials and can contain toxic plasticisers and lead-based stabilisers. It’s not great in its production, its installation, or long-term performance environmentally. You CAN find better performing vinyl flooring if you know what to look for, so make sure you check those out if you still want to use this type of flooring.

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.

In this full interview featured inside Interior Design 101, Frances and I go through additional choices such as bamboo, choosing pre-finished boards or finishing your boards after completion, and more detail about timber flooring overall.

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:

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

To see the toxicity of laminate flooring >>> CLICK HERE