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Get It Right with Undercover Architect

If we haven’t met before, I’m Amelia Lee, the architect behind Undercover Architect: an online business to help and teach homeowners like you how to get it right when designing, building and renovating your home. Undercover Architect is all about giving you access to the industry knowledge and insights you need to avoid the mistakes and dramas that can cost you thousands, tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And it’s about levelling the playing field, so that the world of renovating and building doesn’t seem so mysterious, and you can be the active driver in your project, navigating it with know-how and confidence.

Undercover Architect helps and teaches homeowners through this podcast, the website, and online courses and programs, including my flagship program, HOME Method. I truly believe that when you know the questions to ask, the steps to take and the best way to create a home that works, feels great, and that you feel great in, you can enjoy the process of building and renovating, as well as the home you move into at the end of this ambitious journey.

Consider Undercover Architect your secret ally: whoever you’re working with, and whatever your location, your budget or your dreams. For more, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com

Latest Episodes:

Creating Spaciousness: Using Volume - Episode 8 (Season 1) Jan 30, 2017

Show notes

This is Episode 8 of Season 1.

This season has been all about what matters most in designing your new home or renovation.

Many homeowners dream of a home that feels spacious. And they fall into the trap of believing that this means their home has to be bigger. 

And it's understandable. Especially when we're renovating or building family homes. Often the need to renovate or build will be brought about because we feel we need more space. This might be because of the addition of new family members. Or it will be because our existing family members are growing and becoming more active.

So 'spaciousness' becomes about creating 'more space' or 'extra space'. Bigger rooms, and extra rooms.

There are a few ways to achieve spaciousness. Even in the most compact of homes. And not all of them are about 'more space' or 'extra space'. In fact, it’s worth knowing that 'more space' won't necessarily bring a feeling of spaciousness to your home.

Amelia believes that when our homes are designed well, they make our lives better. Simpler, more convenient, more beautiful, more fun. They work so well, and enable us to seamlessly integrate them into our everyday live. In short, our homes get out of our way. They support us being the best version of ourselves. 

It may be hard to imagine this is possible if you're living in a home that is a daily inconvenience. Where your home is another hurdle you have to overcome each day to go about your life of juggling family, friends, work and other commitments. 

It is possible though. It's actually the aim.

Listen to the podcast to learn how to use volume in your home to create spaciousness. Amelia will outline 3 mistakes homeowners make that are volume killers, and 4 fantastic design tips to get it right in your home.

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The assets that add design value for free - Episode 7 (Season 1) Jan 23, 2017

Show notes

This is Episode 7 of Season 1.

In this episode, Amelia shares some of the other assets you have available that can add great value to your home. At no cost to you. It's simply about knowing what they are, and choosing them first in your design.

So much of designing for new homes or renovation is about unlocking what is possible. About understanding the potential for your home and land, and enhancing it. About realising the potential of the natural assets and enhancing what's already freely available. Bringing these natural assets to the fore so they can make your home and your land really enjoyable. Which in turn, enhances the quality of your everyday life.

So what are these natural assets for your home and land? And how can you maximise them as an asset, or minimise them if they're a drawback?

These natural assets exist in all locations … from the most rural to the most urban. And they can be optimised to enhance the quality of your home. They are:

Sunlight
Shade
Breezes
Landscape
Views
Privacy

These are all things that can and do exist naturally in a home and site. And not all designs make the most of them or do them well. 

Amelia will take you through these one by one, and show you how to get it right for your home. 

Listen to the podcast now to learn how to get this right and add value to your design for free. Unlock the potential of what is already available to you, your site and your home.

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online resources to help with important design choices - Episode 6 (Season 1) Jan 16, 2017

Show notes

This is Episode 6 of Season 1.

This episode will give you some free and low cost online resources to help with designing your home for your climate, and the movement of the sun. As well as some others to get you started on your project.

Only a couple of these resources are Australia only, and most can be used globally.

These online resources and apps will help with:

Understanding more about your local climate and how to design for it
Getting specific information about the movement of the sun over your home or site
Using the 4 special days each year to provide information to make your home better
Creating floor plans of your existing home
Designing new floor plans and experimenting with your project
Seeking inspiration and ideas for your renovation or new home
Keeping track of all your ideas and information in a digital filing system
Also managing your budget and expenses for your project – even on the go
Keeping track of all of your online communication and tasks for your project

Head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/episode6-resources for more information, as well as all the links and info about the recommended resources and apps Amelia mentions.

Listen to the podcast now for some seriously helpful tools, apps and online resources to make your home great, and help with those important decisions as you design your renovation or new home.

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making your home great: All things WEST - Episode 5 (Season 1) Jan 09, 2017

Show notes

This is Episode 5 of Season 1.

This episode is the last of our four orientations. Over the last 3 episodes, we've talked about north, east, and south sunlight and orientations. 

In this episode, we’ll talk about all things WEST.

This will help you get it right if you’re seeking ways to make your home feel great, and also if you have you have a west-facing home.

So what do you need to be aware of with western sunlight?

This can be the most challenging orientation to deal with. West is the direction our sun sets in, and even in the cooler months, it can still be a harsh quality of light. Yet, there are still ways we can create homes to manage it, and respond to it. 

Let’s dive deeply into:

What western sunlight is like
What’s not great about western sunlight
How we need to shade and shelter from western sunlight

You’ll understand in detail:

What rooms need to be facing west
What rooms don’t need to be facing west
5 tools you can use to protect your home from western sun

And if you have a west-facing home, you’ll learn:

What your priorities should be if you’re designing a home for a west-facing orientation
What can go wrong in designing for western sunlight
How to use the strategies to add design value for free
What else you need to know about designing for a west-facing home

There’s a lot of great information crammed into this podcast … you may want to take notes! Listen to the podcast now.

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making your home great: All things SOUTH - Episode 4 (Season 1) Jan 02, 2017

Show notes

This is Episode 4 of Season 1.

So far this season, we've been exploring the idea of orientation. And the importance of knowing yours when designing, renovating or building your home. We've talked about northern and eastern orientations and sunlight.

In this episode, we’ll talk about all things SOUTH.

This will help you get it right if you’re seeking ways to make your home feel great, and also if you have you have a south-facing home … or a home that faces south-east or south-west.

So what do you need to be aware of with southern sunlight? (And is there such a thing, given that in the southern hemisphere, our sun moves through the north?)

A southern orientation can be challenging to work with if you want to maximise northern sun in your home.

Amelia will outline 5 specific design strategies you can implement in creating your new home or renovation, that will bring northern light into a south-facing home.

Let’s dive deeply into:

What southern light is like
What’s not great about southern light
How we need to shade and shelter from southern light (it’s actually the sunlight on the edges of our southern orientation)

You’ll understand in detail:

What rooms need to be facing south
What rooms don’t need to be facing south
5 key strategies to use in your design

And if you have a south-facing home, you’ll learn:

What your priorities should be if you’re designing a home for a south-facing orientation
What can go wrong in designing for southern sunlight
Some homework for you as you research your project
What else you need to know about designing for a south-facing home

There’s a lot of great information crammed into this podcast … you may want to take notes! Listen to the podcast now.

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making your home great: All things EAST – Episode 3 (Season 1) Dec 26, 2016

Show notes

This is Episode 3 of Season 1.

In this episode, we continue on our adventure of uncovering what matters most, and what decisions to prioritise when designing your new or renovated home.

In this episode, we’ll talk about all things EAST.

This will help you get it right if you’re seeking ways to make your home feel great, and also if you have you have an east-facing home.

So what do you need to be aware of with eastern sunlight?

And how should you optimise this to make your home feel great?

This podcast will teach you how to understand morning sun at your home, and manage it effectively year-round.

Let’s dive deeply into:

What eastern sunlight is like

What’s not great about eastern light
How we need to shade and shelter from eastern light
Something you may not know about the sunrise everyday

You’ll understand in detail:

What rooms need to be facing east
What rooms don’t need to be facing east
What to do if you have a view but need to shade from morning sun
Specific solutions to help you with shading

And if you have an east-facing home, you’ll learn:

What your priorities should be if you’re designing a home for an east-facing orientation
What can go wrong in designing for eastern sunlight
What happens when we get this right in our homes
What else you need to know about designing for an east-facing home

There’s a lot of great information crammed into this podcast … you may want to take notes! Listen to the podcast now.

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making your home great: All things NORTH - Episode 2 (Season 1) Dec 19, 2016

Show notes

This is Episode 2 of Season 1.

We continue to explore what matters most, and what decisions to prioritise when designing your new or renovated home.

In this episode, we’ll talk about all things NORTH.

This will help you get it right if you’re seeking ways to make your home feel great, and also if you have you have a north-facing home.

So what do you need to be aware of with northern sunlight?

And how should you optimise this to make your home feel great?

Let’s dive deeply into:

What northern sunlight is like
What’s not great about northern light
How we need to shade and shelter from northern light

You’ll understand in detail:

What rooms need to be facing north
What rooms don’t need to be facing north
A trick if you’re trying to stretch your budget and create great living spaces

And if you have a north-facing home, you’ll learn:

What your priorities should be if you’re designing a home for a north-facing orientation
What to do if your home doesn’t face due north (but faces north-east, or north-west, for example)
What can go wrong in designing for northern sunlight
What happens when we get this right in our homes
What else you need to know about designing for a north-facing home

There’s a lot of great information crammed into this podcast … you may want to take notes!

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most important thing to know when designing your home - Episode 1 (Season 1) Dec 12, 2016

Show notes

This is Episode 1 of Season 1. This season Amelia is going to be taking you through what matters most.

What are the most essential choices when designing your home?

And in this first episode of the season, Amelia is diving into the very first choice - the most important thing to know - to make your home great. Whatever your dreams, your location or your budget.

Today's episode is going to bring immediate clarity to you as you design, renovate or build your home. And Amelia means immediate. It's a big promise isn't it? It's not one she makes lightly!

This is largely because of this fact: renovating and building aren't one big decision or choice. They're a series of choices made one after the other. At any point, you may have 2 options, or 20 options, or 200 options. This is the thing Amelia hears regularly - the difficulty that homeowners have in knowing what option to choose in these myriad of options.

What if, instead, you could know the most important thing to prioritise? The first choice to make in your design that will make every subsequent choice simpler and streamline your design overall?

There are lots of reasons why knowing this most important thing will help you in designing your home:

You can design a home that suits your specific location and site
You can design a home that supports your well-being
You can design a home that costs you less in the future
You can design a home that gets its Building Approval more simply
You can design a home that’s good for the planet
You can avoid wasting space that you’re paying for anyway
You can simplify your design choices, and make your project easier, and life less stressful

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you and your family need from your home (now and in the future) - Episode 4 (Launch Season) Dec 05, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, Amelia will be helping you answer the last question, which is “What do you, and your family, actually need from your home – now and into the future?”

This may seem like a repeat of the first step, but stay with us here …

Australia has the largest average home size in the world. Yes, that’s right. Bigger than our USA counterparts. And it’s climbed quickly.

In 1984, the average size of an Australian home was 162.2m2. In 2012-2013 ABS figures, this had jumped to 241.1m2. And our families haven’t got any bigger – in actual fact they’ve got much smaller.

We all want more. The world of home ownership is littered with images to seduce us into wanting more and more from our homes. It’s also human condition to strive to improve and achieve. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

However, when you really determine what you need to create a home that works for you, chances are you’ll find it’s actually pretty simple. And this is what Amelia knows, from the countless homeowners she speaks to and work with, most homeowners want from their home …

Space to be together.
Space to be apart.
Lots of natural light.
Heat and warmth when you need it, and cooling breezes when you need those.
Flexibility, functionality and durability.
Comfort
Somewhere to be proud of, to show all your hard work
And a home that supports you living your best life – because it doesn’t tax you, stress you, or get in the way of you being awesome.

This isn’t about having less – it’s about simplifying.

Keeping this front and centre as you move along your journey will help you navigate the noise and distractions. It will lead you to the home that is perfect for you.

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can your renovation or building budget afford? - Episode 3 (Launch Season) Dec 05, 2016

Show notes

This episode uncovers question 3: What can your budget afford?

Ugh … money. At some point it was going to get here, wasn’t it?!

Budget is the main thing that concerns homeowners embarking on their project. What will my build or reno cost me? And will it blow out along the way?

In the last financial year (2015/2016) Australians spent a record $7.7 billion on home renovations according to the latest ABS figures.

That’s over $150 million a week.

The figures for new homes are similar.

When most of us tackle a renovation or new build, we have a figure in mind about how much we’d like to spend on our project. So our research and preparation becomes a study in what our money will buy us. How far we can stretch it, and whether it’s enough for the dreams we have for our home.

Amelia starts with this advice. Do not ignore your budget. Do not avoid setting one. Doing this work early is one of the most significant things you can do to preserve sanity for your project, and not have it run away from you.

It may sound obvious. However, the countless conversations Amelia has had with homeowners that have got terribly awkward when she's asked “OK, so what is your budget?” shows her the gaping hole in how we plan our projects!!

Set a budget early. Of course, it won’t be perfect, or fixed, but don’t let this stop you! Start crunching the numbers and determining rough estimates for your plans. Then you can finesse and firm up as you progress along your journey.

There are many free online calculators you can check out. This is a fave:

Home Design Directory

And cost guidelines are also useful for new homes:

Construction Cost Calculator

Flip your thinking …

Your budget is actually what is enabling you to undertake this project. Many homeowners see it as a limiter, because it never feels like enough to do all the things they want it to do.

This may sound a little woo woo … but if you see it as a limiter, you’ll be fighting it every step of the way.

Instead, think of it as the tool, the facilitator, of your build or reno. It’s fantastic that you can access these funds to create a home for your family! Don’t be scared to talk about it, and keep tracking it the whole way through. Educate yourself on what things cost, how to stretch your budget, and empower yourself to invest it well.

Amelia is a firm believer that your home can be great, whatever your budget.

How do you get bang for buck?

Get professional help
Take your time in preparing
Be aware of the costs in the things you don’t see

Head to the podcast now for more detail on my tips to get bang for buck in your project.

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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