The Importance of Kindness and Respect in the

Zoning Light in Open Plan Spaces

Quick Fire Questions and Neil's Design Pet

Have you ever wondered how television’s biggest design experts style their own homes? 

In this episode of The Edit, alongside Editor Elle Lovelock, we sit down with design editor, author and beloved television judge Neale Whitaker for a unique conversation between two old friends who have a very special relationship. 

Neale has spent decades shaping the way Australians think about our homes, first as the editor of some of the country’s most influential design magazines, and later as a familiar face on television judging some of the nation’s most ambitious homes. With his design background, it hardly comes as a surprise that Neale has some strict style rules for his own home.

In this fun and inspiring conversation, Neale talks about why he almost never turns on the “big light”, his preference for warm globes over cool, his love of sheer curtains and the one styling habit he would happily erase from Australian homes. 

Along the way, we talk about how Neale developed a ‘portfolio career’, the types of brands he likes to work with and the thoughtful advice Neale once gave to Elle that still resonates in the workplace today. 

Neale also answers real design dilemmas from listeners, including:
How to balance light and privacy in a ground‑floor apartment
The best way to soften glare in a sun‑drenched open‑plan space
How to zone lighting in one large room using layering and lamps
Finding a truce when one partner wants a big TV and blackout curtains, and the other wants books, light and conversation

Consider it part design masterclass, part life philosophy and an invitation to learn about the home of one of television’s biggest faces of interior design.  

Thank you for listening ❤️

before you leave...

🗣️ Get in touch 

What did you think? We are a brand new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Home Beautiful community and DM us on Instagram

👀 See more

Neale Whitaker Joins My Reno Rules as a Judge in 2026

My Reno Rules Just Gave Us Our First Look

Inside Neale Whitaker’s Country Cottage

The New Season of Love It or List It Australia Has a Release Date

🙏 Our special thanks for making 'The Edit' our new home:

Luxaflex - our beautiful 'studio home' curtains

Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

Our friend Neale Whitaker 

Credits:

Edited by Propod 

Production by Thomas Crnkovic 

Our wonderful Home Beautiful team 

Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL

 

Have you ever wondered how television&rsquo;s biggest design experts style their own homes?&nbsp;
In this episode of The Edit, alongside Editor&nbsp;Elle Lovelock, we sit down with&nbsp;design editor, author and beloved television&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nealewhitaker/">judge Neale Whitaker</a> for a unique conversation between two old friends who have a very special relationship.&nbsp;
Neale has spent decades shaping the way Australians think about our homes, first as the editor of some of the country&rsquo;s most influential design magazines, and later as a familiar face on television judging some of the nation&rsquo;s most ambitious homes. With his design background, it hardly comes as a surprise that Neale has some strict style rules for his own home.
In this fun and inspiring conversation, Neale talks about why he almost never turns on the &ldquo;big light&rdquo;, his preference for warm globes over cool, his love of sheer curtains and the one styling habit he would happily erase from Australian homes.&nbsp;
Along the way, we talk about how Neale developed a &lsquo;portfolio career&rsquo;, the types of brands he likes to work with and the thoughtful advice Neale once gave to Elle that still resonates in the workplace today.&nbsp;
<hr>
Neale also answers real design dilemmas from listeners, including:
<ul>
<li>How to balance light and privacy in a ground‑floor apartment</li>
<li>The best way to soften glare in a sun‑drenched open‑plan space</li>
<li>How to zone lighting in one large room using layering and lamps</li>
<li>Finding a truce when one partner wants a big TV and blackout curtains, and the other wants books, light and conversation</li>
</ul>
Consider it part design masterclass, part life philosophy and an invitation to learn about the home of one of television&rsquo;s biggest faces of interior design.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<hr>
Thank you for listening ❤️
before you leave...
🗣️ Get in touch 
What did you think? We are a brand new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Home Beautiful community and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/?hl=en">DM us on Instagram</a>
👀 See more
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/lifestyle/neale-whitaker-my-reno-rules-judge/">Neale Whitaker Joins My Reno Rules as a Judge in 2026</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/lifestyle/my-reno-rules-channel-seven/">My Reno Rules Just Gave Us Our First Look</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-tours/neale-whitaker-berry-home/">Inside Neale Whitaker&rsquo;s Country Cottage</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/renovation-ideas/where-to-watch-love-it-or-list-it-australia/">The New Season of Love It or List It Australia Has a Release Date</a>
🙏 Our special thanks for making 'The Edit' our new home:
<a href="https://shadetrendz.luxaflex.com.au/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23125304318&amp;gbraid=0AAAAACcMuN6IiBsj6G_n_8E8c50GpwySv&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAuIDJBhBoEiwAxhgyFsFUkw31rOzRF9wU6hG8mghdfAynrw_nq1rK837HdpD8e9h5S3nyLBoCeqsQAvD_BwE">Luxaflex - our beautiful 'studio home' curtains</a>
<a href="https://ozdesignfurniture.com.au/furniture/tables/coffee-tables/?loaded=1&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=21415529745&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAC9A_Pa-UbUcY99mNrp5zmDd-cznX&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAuIDJBhBoEiwAxhgyFiFRHBgba954pNDZXlnrYPvcHIPZgbBzw6BEwGWBhHQW9_uP5S6xkRoCAKEQAvD_BwE">Oz Design - furniture Australians love&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://nealewhittaker.com/">Our friend Neale Whitaker&nbsp;</a>
Credits:
Edited by Propod&nbsp;
Production by Thomas Crnkovic&nbsp;
Our wonderful Home Beautiful team&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/">Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL</a>
&nbsp;

There are so many choices that people have to make when decorating, renovating and building. But there is such joy in creating the homes and lives we all want. This inspired The Edit, a fresh new podcast from your friends at Home Beautiful that helps to make these daily decisions both simple and enjoyable. 
Hosted by Editor  Elle Lovelock, The Edit opens the door to beautiful homes and the stories behind them. Featuring well-known guests and respected experts, this video podcast is for everyone shaping their sanctuary - wherever you live, whatever your budget, whether you're a seasoned homeowner, a renter or just curating a special space. The Edit makes those decisions simple and celebrates the everyday creativity, choices and personal touches that turn your house into a home.

There are so many choices that people have to make when decorating, renovating and building. But there is such joy in creating the homes and lives we all want. This inspired The Edit, a fresh new podcast from your friends at Home Beautiful that helps to make these daily decisions both simple and enjoyable.&nbsp; Hosted by Editor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ellelovelock?igsh=MTZqd2NmajF6eGpjdQ=="> Elle Lovelock</a>, The Edit opens the door to beautiful homes and the stories behind them. Featuring well-known guests and respected experts, this video podcast is for everyone shaping their sanctuary - wherever you live, whatever your budget, whether you're a seasoned homeowner, a renter or just curating a special space. The Edit makes those decisions simple and celebrates the everyday creativity, choices and personal touches that turn your house into a home.

THE EDIT

What is a home maker these days? With so many decisions to make when it comes to your home, a show about your style, your sanctuary. The Edit is a fresh podcast from Home Beautiful that opens the door to unique homes and the stories behind them to inspire and delight those decisions.  With well known guests and the ultimate experts. It’s for everyone shaping their sanctuary—whether you’re a seasoned homeowner, a renter on a budget, or anyone quietly curating your space. The Edit makes those decisions simple and celebrates the everyday creativity, choices, and personal touches that turn a house into a home.

What is a home maker these days? With so many decisions to make when it comes to your home, a show about your style, your sanctuary. The Edit is a fresh podcast from Home Beautiful that opens the door to unique homes and the stories behind them to inspire and delight those decisions. &nbsp;With well known guests and the ultimate experts. It&rsquo;s for everyone shaping their sanctuary&mdash;whether you&rsquo;re a seasoned homeowner, a renter on a budget, or anyone quietly curating your space. The Edit makes those decisions simple and celebrates the everyday creativity, choices, and personal touches that turn a house into a home.

Confessions of a Design Judge: Neale Whitaker on Style Crimes, Lighting Advice and Renovation Compromises

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/ef727efe-35e2-4215-8c76-b40c0070f22f/transcript