After decades spent thinking deeply about food, beauty and family, Karlie Verkerk has finally built a home that reflects all three. 

In this episode of The Edit, Karlie joins Home Beautiful Editor Elle Lovelock from her Northern Rivers home to talk about the many moves that brought her family here - from inner-city Sydney to the Blue Mountains, Singapore and finally the coast, and what each place taught her about what she really wanted from a home. 

She also shares the story behind FIN, the world's first food fragrance she's just launched with her husband James, why she went on MasterChef and kept it secret for months, and the outdoor kitchen built from recycled bricks that's slowly becoming the heart of the house. 

Plus, the renovation mistake she and James made under cover of darkness. Hint: it involved a tin of paint, a washroom, and very misplaced optimism about the colour yellow. 

Warning: If you have boucle items at home, this episode could be triggering! 

This episode covers: 
Karlie Verkerk's Northern Rivers home tour 
Moving from Singapore to the Australian coast with young kids 
Going on MasterChef and keeping it a secret 
Launching FIN, the world's first food fragrance 
Building an outdoor kitchen with recycled bricks and Facebook Marketplace finds 
Cooking over fire and wood-kissed flavours 
How to transform a small courtyard for entertaining 
Collecting art as a couple and what it means to inherit a collection 
Raising kids with an eye for art 
Why cooking is Karlie's greatest source of calm 
The butter yellow bathroom disaster 
What homemaker means in 2026 
What makes a home beautiful 
The soundtrack of Karlie & James' lives: https://bremermccoy.com/
Karlie & James' Fin Food Fragrance: https://www.finfragrance.com/
Karlie's recipes on Home Beautiful: https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/author/karlie-verkerk/

🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts 

Listen and follow on Spotify

👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful's YouTube

Watch full episodes 

Credits:  

Host: Elle Lovelock 

Guest: Karlie Verkerk 

Supervising Producer: Leah Porges 

Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain 

With thanks to our wonderful Home Beautiful team. 

The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media: https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/  

After decades spent thinking deeply about food, beauty and family, Karlie Verkerk has finally built a home that reflects all three.&nbsp;
In this episode of The Edit,&nbsp;Karlie joins Home Beautiful Editor Elle Lovelock from her Northern Rivers home to talk about the many moves that brought her family here - from inner-city Sydney to the Blue Mountains, Singapore and finally the coast, and what each place taught her about what she really wanted from a home.&nbsp;
She also shares the story behind FIN, the world's first food fragrance she's just launched with her husband James, why she went on MasterChef and kept it secret for months, and the outdoor kitchen built from recycled bricks that's slowly becoming the heart of the house.&nbsp;
Plus,&nbsp;the renovation mistake she and James made under cover of darkness. Hint: it involved a tin of paint, a washroom, and very misplaced optimism about the&nbsp;colour&nbsp;yellow.&nbsp;
Warning: If you have&nbsp;boucle&nbsp;items at home, this episode could be&nbsp;triggering!&nbsp;
This episode covers:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Karlie Verkerk's Northern Rivers home tour&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Moving from Singapore to the Australian coast with young kids&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Going on MasterChef and keeping it a secret&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Launching FIN, the world's first food fragrance&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Building an outdoor kitchen with recycled bricks and Facebook Marketplace finds&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Cooking over fire and wood-kissed&nbsp;flavours&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">How to transform a small courtyard for entertaining&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">Collecting art as a couple and what it means to inherit a collection&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1">Raising kids with an eye for art&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="10" data-aria-level="1">Why cooking is Karlie's greatest source of calm&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="11" data-aria-level="1">The butter yellow bathroom disaster&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="12" data-aria-level="1">What homemaker means in 2026&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="13" data-aria-level="1">What makes a home beautiful&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="13" data-aria-level="1">The soundtrack of Karlie &amp; James' lives: <a href="https://bremermccoy.com/">https://bremermccoy.com/</a></li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="13" data-aria-level="1">Karlie &amp; James' Fin Food Fragrance: <a href="https://www.finfragrance.com/">https://www.finfragrance.com/</a></li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="13" data-aria-level="1">Karlie's recipes on Home Beautiful: <a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/author/karlie-verkerk/">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/author/karlie-verkerk/</a></li>
</ul>
🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910">Apple Podcasts&nbsp;</a>
Listen and follow on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq">Spotify</a>
👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag">Home Beautiful's YouTube</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c73iMScLqZ357jQ_0A3eDGTysM1SUxO">Watch full episodes&nbsp;</a>
Credits:&nbsp;&nbsp;
Host:&nbsp;Elle Lovelock&nbsp;
Guest:&nbsp;Karlie&nbsp;Verkerk&nbsp;
Supervising Producer:&nbsp;Leah Porges&nbsp;
Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
With thanks&nbsp;to our wonderful Home Beautiful team.&nbsp;
The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Karlie Verkerk shares what it's like to trade inner-city Sydney for the Northern Rivers, from building an outdoor kitchen with recycled bricks to launching a food fragrance with her husband, and why a very yellow bathroom might be her biggest renovation regret yet. 

Karlie Verkerk: MasterChef Secrets, Building an Outdoor Kitchen & Why Bouclé Has to Go 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/960ea395-82db-405d-a9e2-b471002918b4/transcript

What if the secret to a happier home is being able to smell your neighbour’s burnt toast?

Recorded live at Metricon’s National Love of Design Summit, this bonus episode brings together four of Australia’s most exciting designers and makers: Ali Whelan of Breathe Architecture, Michael Leung of Balanced Earth Architects, Neil Hipwell of Futureflip, and interior designer James Treble, fresh off the plane from Milan Design Week. Expect a basement golf simulator that’s brought a whole street together, a skate bowl built for rainy days, and a very strong case for waving at your neighbours through the window. 

Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock sits down with Ali, Michael, Neil, and James and together, they get honest about what it really feels like to push boundaries with clients and councils, and why a beautiful home is about so much more than how it looks. 

This episode is brought to you by Metricon.

Moments You’ll Hear: 
Why pushing boundaries can be frustrating, thrilling and deeply rewarding all at once 
How to know when to push a trend a client isn’t ready for, and when to hold back 
The “burnt toast” theory: why small moments of friction make a home feel alive 
The basement golf simulator that brought a whole street together 
A skate bowl built for rainy days, and designing homes people actually want to gather in 
Building community the old-fashioned way, through barn-raising and hempcrete 
Why Australian design is turning heads on the world stage at Milan Design Week 

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 

🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts

Listen and follow on Spotify

👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful’s YouTube 📺 for full episodes and clips 

This bonus episode of The Edit was recorded live at Metricon’s National Love of Design Summit. A huge thank you to Metricon for welcoming Home Beautiful into a room so full of ideas. https://www.metricon.com.au 

Read more about Metricon at Home Beautiful:

The new Australian home: Design trends shaping the way we live today

These family homes in coastal Adelaide and Sydney show great design isn't about creating a one-size-fits-all home

Credits: 

Our charming guests: Ali Whelan (Breathe Architecture), Michael Leung (Balanced Earth Architects), Neil Hipwell (Futureflip) and James Treble (interior designer & colour expert)

Host Elle Lovelock

Edited by Thomas Crnkovic 

Supervising Producer Leah Porges

Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain 

Our wonderful team at Home Beautiful

The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media: https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/ 

What if the secret to a happier home is being able to smell your neighbour&rsquo;s burnt toast?
Recorded live at Metricon&rsquo;s National Love of Design Summit, this bonus episode brings together four of Australia&rsquo;s most exciting designers and makers: Ali Whelan of Breathe Architecture, Michael Leung of Balanced Earth Architects, Neil Hipwell of Futureflip, and interior designer James Treble, fresh off the plane from Milan Design Week. Expect a basement golf simulator that&rsquo;s brought a whole street together, a skate bowl built for rainy days, and a very strong case for waving at your neighbours through the window.&nbsp;
Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock sits down with Ali, Michael, Neil, and James and together, they get honest about what it really feels like to push boundaries with clients and councils, and why a beautiful home is about so much more than how it looks.&nbsp;
This episode is brought to you by Metricon.
Moments&nbsp;You&rsquo;ll&nbsp;Hear:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="&bull;" data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:480,&quot;335559991&quot;:480,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&bull;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="0" data-aria-level="1">Why pushing boundaries can be frustrating, thrilling and deeply rewarding all at once&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="&bull;" data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:480,&quot;335559991&quot;:480,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&bull;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">How to know when to push a trend a client&nbsp;isn&rsquo;t&nbsp;ready for, and when to hold back&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="&bull;" data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:480,&quot;335559991&quot;:480,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&bull;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">The &ldquo;burnt toast&rdquo; theory: why small moments of friction make a home feel alive&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="&bull;" data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:480,&quot;335559991&quot;:480,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&bull;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">The basement golf simulator that brought a whole street together&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="&bull;" data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:480,&quot;335559991&quot;:480,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&bull;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">A skate bowl built for rainy days, and designing homes people&nbsp;actually want&nbsp;to gather in&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="&bull;" data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:480,&quot;335559991&quot;:480,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&bull;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Building community the old-fashioned way, through barn-raising and hempcrete&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="&bull;" data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:480,&quot;335559991&quot;:480,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&bull;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Why Australian design is turning heads on the world stage at Milan Design Week&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Thank you for listening ❤️ before you leave&hellip;&nbsp;
🗣️ 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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/">Instagram</a>&nbsp;
🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910">Apple Podcasts</a>
Listen and follow on&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq?si=9c224c6461c24caf">Spotify</a>
👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful&rsquo;s YouTube 📺 for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag">full episodes and clips&nbsp;</a>
This bonus episode of The Edit was recorded live at Metricon&rsquo;s National Love of Design Summit. A huge thank you to Metricon for welcoming Home Beautiful into a room so full of ideas. <a href="https://www.metricon.com.au">https://www.metricon.com.au</a>&nbsp;
Read more about Metricon at Home Beautiful:
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/renovation-ideas/beautiful-builds/metricon-home-design-trends/">The new Australian home: Design trends shaping the way we live today</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/metricon-family-home-design-ideas/">These family homes in coastal Adelaide and Sydney show great design isn't about creating a one-size-fits-all home</a>
Credits:&nbsp;
Our charming guests: Ali Whelan (Breathe Architecture), Michael Leung (Balanced Earth Architects), Neil Hipwell (Futureflip) and James Treble (interior designer &amp; colour expert)
Host Elle Lovelock
Edited by Thomas Crnkovic&nbsp;
Supervising Producer Leah Porges
Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Our wonderful team at Home Beautiful
The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/</a>&nbsp;

 The secret to a happier home might just be smelling your neighbour’s burnt toast. Live from Metricon’s National Love of Design Summit, Elle Lovelock hijacks her own panel for a bonus episode of The Edit, with four of Australia’s boldest designers on pushing boundaries and building homes that bring people together. Part 1 of 2. 

Pushing Boundaries & Building Community: Live at Metricon’s Love of Design Summit (Part 1) with Ali Whelan, Michael Leung, Neil Hipwell & James Treble

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/57f8805e-3574-4d4d-9a17-b46c007a1cb4/transcript

The renovation may be finished, but the work of creating a beautiful home never really ends. 

In Part 2 of this episode of The Edit, Matty J is back with Home Beautiful Editor Elle Lovelock to talk about what life looks like now that Chante Mer is open to guests - the letting go, the worrying, and the welcome basket decisions he probably overthought. 

He also gets into parenting, sharing the mental load, raising three daughters, and the lessons he hopes the next generation will inherit. And he shares the item discovered during the renovation that deepened his connection to the home's original owner, Val.  

Plus the one thing that keeps him up at night as a holiday-home owner. Hint: It involves lemon juice and marble. 

This episode covers: 
Running Chante Mer as a holiday stay  
Opening a family home to guests  
The realities of short-term rentals  
Holiday home hosting tips  
Sharing the mental load at home  
Modern fatherhood and parenting  
Raising daughters  
Family life with Laura Byrne  
The mystery photo album discovered during renovation  
The legacy of Chante Mer  
What makes a home beautiful  

Photo Credits: @chante.mer.house and Home Beautiful.

🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts 

Listen and follow on Spotify

👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful's YouTube 

Watch full episodes

Credits: 

Host: Elle Lovelock 

Guest: Matty Johnson 

Videographer: Charlie Potter 

Edited by: Leah Porges 

Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain 

With thanks to our wonderful Home Beautiful team. 

Learn More 

The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media. 

https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/  

The renovation may be finished, but the work of creating a beautiful home never really ends.&nbsp;
In Part 2 of this episode of The Edit, Matty J is back with Home Beautiful Editor Elle Lovelock to talk about what life looks like now that Chante Mer is open to guests - the letting go, the worrying, and the welcome basket decisions he probably overthought.&nbsp;
He also gets into parenting, sharing the mental load, raising three daughters, and the lessons he hopes the next generation will inherit. And he shares the item discovered during the renovation that deepened his connection to the home's original owner, Val.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Plus the one thing that keeps him up at night as a holiday-home owner. Hint: It involves lemon juice and marble.&nbsp;
This episode covers:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Running Chante Mer as a holiday stay&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Opening a family home to guests&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">The realities of short-term rentals&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Holiday home hosting tips&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Sharing the mental load at home&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Modern fatherhood and parenting&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">Raising daughters&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">Family life with Laura Byrne&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1">The mystery photo album discovered during renovation&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="10" data-aria-level="1">The legacy of Chante Mer&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="11" data-aria-level="1">What makes a home beautiful&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Photo Credits: @chante.mer.house and Home Beautiful.
🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910">Apple Podcasts&nbsp;</a>
Listen and follow on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq">Spotify</a>
👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag">Home Beautiful's YouTube&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c73iMScLqZ357jQ_0A3eDGTysM1SUxO">Watch full episodes</a>
Credits:&nbsp;
Host: Elle Lovelock&nbsp;
Guest: Matty Johnson&nbsp;
Videographer: Charlie Potter&nbsp;
Edited by:&nbsp;Leah Porges&nbsp;
Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
With thanks&nbsp;to our wonderful Home Beautiful team.&nbsp;
Learn More&nbsp;
The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and&nbsp;Are&nbsp;Media.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

In Part 2, Matty J shares what happened after the Chante Mer renovation was finished, from opening the South Coast home to paying guests to navigating the realities of family life, parenting and the mental load at home. 

Matty J On Sharing The Mental Load With Laura Byrne at Home & A Surprising Renovation Discovery (Part 2) 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/b501fbb6-7ec2-45a4-ac7a-b46a00046e90/transcript

Thousands of people followed Matty J and Laura Byrne's NSW South Coast renovation online. We all chimed in with suggestions on tile colours, furnishings and design ideas, and the end product is like a dream house by the sea. And as anyone who’s taken on a renovation project knows, beneath hose happy snaps and gorgeous exteriors lies a whole lot of grit, stress and family logistics.  

In this episode of The Edit, Matty joins Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock to talk about transforming Chante Mer (or Song of the Sea) from a run-down coastal property into a much-loved family retreat and holiday stay. 

He shares what it was like renovating while raising two young children and preparing for a third baby, how he and Laura navigated design decisions together, and why opening the home to guests changed the way they think about living spaces. 

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation with Matty J. Make sure you follow The Edit wherever you're listening now, so you can be among the first to hear Part 2.

This episode covers: 
Matty J and Laura Byrne's Chante Mer renovation 
Renovating a holiday home with young children 
The first walk-through of Chante Mer 
Mould and unexpected renovation challenges 
Designing a family-friendly coastal retreat 
Renovating under public scrutiny 
Opening a holiday home to Airbnb guests 
The reality of running a short-term rental 

🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910 

Listen and follow on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq 

👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful's YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag 

Watch full episodes: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c73iMScLqZ357jQ_0A3eDGTysM1SUxO 

Credits 

Host: Elle Lovelock 

Guest: Matty Johnson 

Producer: Rachel Fountain 

Videographer: Charlie Potter 

Edited by: Leah Porges 

Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain 

With thanks to our wonderful Home Beautiful team.  

The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media. 

https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/  

Thousands of people followed Matty J and Laura Byrne's&nbsp;NSW&nbsp;South Coast renovation online.&nbsp;We all chimed in&nbsp;with suggestions on tile&nbsp;colours, furnishings and design&nbsp;ideas, and&nbsp;the end product is like a dream house by the sea. And as anyone&nbsp;who&rsquo;s&nbsp;taken on a renovation project knows, beneath&nbsp;hose happy snaps and&nbsp;gorgeous&nbsp;exteriors lies a whole lot of grit,&nbsp;stress&nbsp;and family&nbsp;logistics.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In this episode of The Edit, Matty joins Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock to talk about transforming Chante Mer&nbsp;(or Song of the&nbsp;Sea)&nbsp;from a&nbsp;run-down&nbsp;coastal property into a much-loved family retreat and holiday stay.&nbsp;
He shares what it was like renovating while raising two young children and&nbsp;preparing for&nbsp;a third baby, how he and Laura navigated design decisions together, and why opening the home to guests changed the way they think about living spaces.&nbsp;
This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation with Matty J. Make sure you follow The Edit wherever you're listening now, so you can be among the first to hear Part 2.
This episode covers:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Matty J and Laura Byrne's Chante Mer renovation&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Renovating a holiday home with young children&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">The first walk-through of Chante Mer&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Mould&nbsp;and&nbsp;unexpected renovation challenges&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Designing a family-friendly coastal retreat&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Renovating under public scrutiny&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">Opening a holiday home to Airbnb guests&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">The reality of running a short-term&nbsp;rental&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts:&nbsp;
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910">https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910</a>&nbsp;
Listen and follow on Spotify:&nbsp;
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq">https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq</a>&nbsp;
👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful's YouTube:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag">https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag</a>&nbsp;
Watch full episodes:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c73iMScLqZ357jQ_0A3eDGTysM1SUxO">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c73iMScLqZ357jQ_0A3eDGTysM1SUxO</a>&nbsp;
Credits&nbsp;
Host: Elle Lovelock&nbsp;
Guest: Matty Johnson&nbsp;
Producer: Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Videographer: Charlie Potter&nbsp;
Edited by:&nbsp;Leah Porges&nbsp;
Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
With thanks to our wonderful Home Beautiful team.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and&nbsp;Are&nbsp;Media.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

In Part 1, Matty J takes Elle Lovelock inside Chante Mer, the South Coast holiday home he renovated with Laura Byrne, and shares what really happened behind the dream renovation. 

Matty J & Laura Byrne’s Chante Mer Renovation: Kids, Cameras and a Baby on the Way (Part 1)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/edf7df0c-6c95-4693-a9ee-b4600062c8bd/transcript

When interior designer Shona McElroy first walked into her Edgecliff apartment, most people would have walked straight back out. The layout was awkward, the kitchen was hidden away, the bathroom opened into the living room, and a closed-in balcony came with terracotta floors, popcorn walls and a popcorn ceiling. 

But Shona, founder and principal of Smac Studio, saw what it could become. 

In this episode of The Edit, Shona joins Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock to talk about turning an old 1920s apartment into a beautiful, functional home, why north-facing light matters, how to avoid the dreaded “Pinterest house”, and what interior designers really think through before a room comes together. 

She also shares how she helps clients edit their belongings when downsizing, why a coffee table book can be the beginning of an entire room, how virtual reality is changing interior design, and the deeply nostalgic item she brought from her mystery drawer. 

This episode covers: 
Shona McElroy’s 1920s Edgecliff apartment renovation 
How to fix an awkward apartment layout 
Why natural light can make a smaller home feel better 
What to know about popcorn walls and ceilings 
How to design cupboards, shelves and drawers around real life 
Downsizing, decluttering and editing sentimental pieces 
How to avoid creating a “Pinterest house” 
Styling travel mementos and meaningful objects 
Coffee table styling tips from an interior designer 
How virtual reality is being used in interior design 
What makes a home feel beautiful, personal and lived-in 

🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910 

Listen and follow on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq 

👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful’s YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag 

Watch full episodes: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c73iMScLqZ357jQ_0A3eDGTysM1SUxO 

Credits: 

Host: Elle Lovelock 

Guest: Shona McElroy 

Producer: Charlie Potter 

Consulting Producer: Jessie-Lee Klass 

Edited by: Pro Podcasts  

Executive Producer: Jessie-Lee Klass 

Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain 

With thanks to our fantastic Home Beautiful team

 

Learn More: 

The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media. 

https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/ 

When interior designer Shona McElroy first walked into her Edgecliff apartment, most people would have walked straight back out. The layout was awkward, the kitchen was hidden away, the bathroom opened into the living room, and a closed-in balcony came with terracotta floors, popcorn walls and a popcorn ceiling.&nbsp;
But Shona, founder and principal of&nbsp;Smac&nbsp;Studio, saw what it could become.&nbsp;
In this episode of The Edit, Shona joins Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock to talk about turning an old 1920s apartment into a beautiful, functional home, why north-facing light matters, how to avoid the dreaded &ldquo;Pinterest house&rdquo;, and what interior designers really think through before a room comes together.&nbsp;
She also shares how she helps clients edit their belongings when downsizing, why a coffee table book can be the beginning of an entire room, how virtual reality is changing interior design, and the deeply nostalgic item she brought from her mystery drawer.&nbsp;
This episode covers:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Shona McElroy&rsquo;s 1920s Edgecliff apartment renovation&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">How to fix an awkward apartment layout&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Why natural light can make a smaller home feel better&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">What to know about popcorn walls and ceilings&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">How to design cupboards,&nbsp;shelves&nbsp;and drawers around real life&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Downsizing,&nbsp;decluttering&nbsp;and editing sentimental pieces&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">How to avoid creating a &ldquo;Pinterest house&rdquo;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">Styling travel mementos and meaningful objects&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1">Coffee table styling tips from an interior designer&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="10" data-aria-level="1">How virtual reality is being used in interior design&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="11" data-aria-level="1">What makes a home feel beautiful,&nbsp;personal&nbsp;and lived-in&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts:&nbsp;
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910">https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910</a>&nbsp;
Listen and follow on Spotify:&nbsp;
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq">https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq</a>&nbsp;
👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful&rsquo;s YouTube:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag">https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag</a>&nbsp;
Watch full episodes:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c73iMScLqZ357jQ_0A3eDGTysM1SUxO">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c73iMScLqZ357jQ_0A3eDGTysM1SUxO</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp;
Host: Elle Lovelock&nbsp;
Guest: Shona McElroy&nbsp;
Producer: Charlie Potter&nbsp;
Consulting Producer: Jessie-Lee Klass&nbsp;
Edited by:&nbsp;Pro Podcasts&nbsp;&nbsp;
Executive Producer: Jessie-Lee Klass&nbsp;
Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
With thanks to our fantastic Home Beautiful team
&nbsp;
Learn More:&nbsp;
The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and&nbsp;Are&nbsp;Media.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/</a>&nbsp;

Interior designer Shona McIlroy takes Elle Lovelock inside her transformed 1920s Edgecliff apartment and shares clever, practical ways to rethink layout, light, storage, styling and the pieces we choose to keep. 

Shona McElroy: the “fantastically ugly” apartment she turned into a beautiful home

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/da16855c-8d3e-41f0-86dd-b45b00752a97/transcript

Should you decorate a rental like it’s your forever home? According to interior designer, Studio Brie founder and Australia’s Best House host Briellyn Turton, the answer is yes. Known for her personality-driven interiors, love of vintage pieces and playful approach to home, Briellyn joins The Edit to talk renter-friendly styling, whimsical interiors, hosting, lighting, TVs, resale myths and why the most beautiful homes are the ones that make everyday life easier. 

In this episode of The Edit, host and Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock sits down with Briellyn Turton to unpack how she creates homes with character, comfort and function. Briellyn shares how she uses fashion as a starting point for interiors, why she believes in decorating slowly, how to personalise a rental without waiting for the “forever home”, and the one hosting habit every busy homemaker should steal. 

Together they explore why home should feel personal, playful and deeply useful, from where you drop your bag to how you make your coffee in the morning.  

Moments You'll Hear: 
Briellyn’s take on dressing your home the way you dress yourself
How to personalise a rental with art, vintage finds and moveable pieces 
A tour of Briellyn’s much-loved loft-style rental 
Why she moved for a courtyard, hosting space, and a bedroom with beautiful light 
The empty dishwasher and empty bin hosting rule
What “whimsy” really means in interiors
How Briellyn gets clients to trust their own taste 
Why your home should support your rituals, from skincare to coffee
The renter’s dilemma: do you buy for now or forever?
How to de-beige a rental without panic-buying generic furniture
Why downlights should not be the default
What to do when the TV has to be in the living room 
The design mistake Briellyn wishes Australians would stop making 
Why timeless homes are built slowly, not bought in one Saturday

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  

🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts 

Listen and follow on Spotify 

👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit This on Home Beautiful’s YouTube 📺 for full episodes and clips – and don’t miss our home tours! 

Credits: 

Our friend: Briellyn Turton 

Host Elle Lovelock 

Edited by Pro Pods 

Producer: Charlie Potter 

Consulting Producer Jessie-Lee Klass 

Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain 

Learn More: The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media: https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/ 

👀 See more 

Follow Briellyn Turton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briellynturton/ 

Explore Studio Brie: https://www.studiobrie.com.au/ 

Read Briellyn’s Home Beautiful piece on the whimsical era in interiors: https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/2026-interior-trend-whimsical-studio-brie-briellyn-turton/ 

Follow Home Beautiful on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/ 

Should you decorate a rental like&nbsp;it&rsquo;s&nbsp;your&nbsp;forever home? According to interior designer, Studio Brie founder and Australia&rsquo;s Best House host Briellyn Turton, the answer is yes. Known for her personality-driven interiors, love of vintage pieces and playful approach to home,&nbsp;Briellyn&nbsp;joins The Edit to talk renter-friendly styling, whimsical interiors, hosting, lighting, TVs, resale myths and why the most beautiful homes are the ones that make everyday life easier.&nbsp;
In this episode of The Edit, host and Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock sits down with Briellyn Turton to unpack how she creates homes with character,&nbsp;comfort&nbsp;and function.&nbsp;Briellyn&nbsp;shares how she uses fashion as a starting point for interiors, why she believes in decorating slowly, how to&nbsp;personalise&nbsp;a rental without waiting for the &ldquo;forever home&rdquo;,&nbsp;and the one hosting habit every busy homemaker should steal.&nbsp;
Together they explore why home should feel personal, playful and deeply useful, from where you drop your bag to how you make your coffee in the morning.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Moments You'll Hear:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Briellyn&rsquo;s take on dressing your home the way you dress yourself</li>
<li>How to personalise a rental with art, vintage finds and moveable pieces&nbsp;</li>
<li>A tour of Briellyn&rsquo;s much-loved loft-style rental&nbsp;</li>
<li>Why she moved for a courtyard, hosting space, and a bedroom with beautiful light&nbsp;</li>
<li>The empty dishwasher and empty bin hosting rule</li>
<li>What &ldquo;whimsy&rdquo; really means in interiors</li>
<li>How Briellyn gets clients to trust their own taste&nbsp;</li>
<li>Why your home should support your rituals, from skincare to coffee</li>
<li>The renter&rsquo;s dilemma: do you buy for now or forever?</li>
<li>How to de-beige a rental without panic-buying generic furniture</li>
<li>Why downlights should not be the default</li>
<li>What to do when the TV has to be in the living room&nbsp;</li>
<li>The design mistake Briellyn wishes Australians would stop making&nbsp;</li>
<li>Why timeless homes are built slowly, not bought in one Saturday</li>
</ul>
Thank you for listening ❤️&nbsp;
before you leave...&nbsp;
🗣️ Get in touch&nbsp;
What did you think? We are a&nbsp;brand new&nbsp;podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Home Beautiful community and DM us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/">Instagram</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;
Listen and follow on&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq?si=f2b51f1a19fe4554">Spotify</a>&nbsp;
👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit This on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag">Home Beautiful&rsquo;s YouTube</a>&nbsp;📺 for full episodes and clips&nbsp;&ndash; and&nbsp;don&rsquo;t&nbsp;miss&nbsp;our&nbsp;home tours!&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp;
Our friend: Briellyn Turton&nbsp;
Host Elle Lovelock&nbsp;
Edited by Pro Pods&nbsp;
Producer: Charlie Potter&nbsp;
Consulting Producer Jessie-Lee Klass&nbsp;
Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Learn More: The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/</a>&nbsp;
👀 See more&nbsp;
Follow Briellyn Turton on Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/briellynturton/">https://www.instagram.com/briellynturton/</a>&nbsp;
Explore Studio Brie:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.studiobrie.com.au/">https://www.studiobrie.com.au/</a>&nbsp;
Read&nbsp;Briellyn&rsquo;s&nbsp;Home Beautiful piece on the whimsical era in interiors:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/2026-interior-trend-whimsical-studio-brie-briellyn-turton/">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/2026-interior-trend-whimsical-studio-brie-briellyn-turton/</a>&nbsp;
Follow Home Beautiful on Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/">https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/</a>&nbsp;

Interior designer, Studio Brie founder and Australia’s Best House host Briellyn Turton joins The Edit to share her smartest renter-friendly styling ideas, the hosting trick that changes everything, and why your home should support the way you actually live. 

Briellyn Turton: renter-friendly interiors, whimsy and the art of making home easier 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/7ee5b1a1-c2dd-416e-b334-b4520071a271/transcript

What happens after you win The Block, sell the house, have a baby, launch a business and start again? 

In this episode of The Edit, host and Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock sits down with Steph Ottavio, architect, designer, founder of Japandi Estate and one half of beloved The Block duo Steph and Gian. 

Steph opens up about the pressure of renovating on national television, what she and Gian carried from The Block into real life, and how she renovated her own home while pregnant, with a five-month deadline and her mum living across the road. 

But this is also a more personal conversation about the strange quiet that can come after a huge, formative chapter. Steph talks honestly about experiencing “post blues” after The Block, feeling disconnected from purpose, going to therapy, and learning to strip life back to the basics: community, connection, conversation, morning rituals and the little moments that make you feel like yourself again. 

Together, Elle and Steph explore what really makes a home beautiful, from decluttered spaces, layered rugs and 12 skylights to the feeling of walking into a home that has been designed for real family life. 

Moments You'll Hear: 
Why Steph says her home has to be organised so life can be chaotic  
What The Block taught her about pressure, outsourcing and working with Gian  
How Steph renovated while pregnant and moved in before her baby arrived  
The truth about her “post Block blues” and rebuilding a sense of purpose  
Why community became the brief for her next home  
Steph’s take on Japandi style, character within minimalism and why she does not love cold modern homes  
The clever design ideas inside Steph and Gian’s home, including the Jack and Jill bathroom, 12 skylights and a pool craned in through the neighbours  
Her rules for shoes, scent, clutter and the design trend she would happily leave behind  

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 https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/ 

🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts 

Listen and follow on Spotify 

👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful’s YouTube 📺 for full episodes and clips https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag 

Credits: 

Our friend Steph Ottavio 
Host Elle Lovelock 
Edited by Pro Pods 
Producer: Charlie Potter and Thomas Crnkovic 
Consulting Producer: Jessie-Lee Klass 
Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain 

Learn More: The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media:  

Inside Steph and Gian Ottavio’s stunning home transformation 

Steph and Gian Ottavio’s Home Beautiful Tour on YouTube 

Steph's Instagram

Steph and Gian's Japandi Estate Instagram

 

What happens after you win The Block, sell the house, have a baby, launch a&nbsp;business&nbsp;and start again?&nbsp;
In this episode of The Edit, host and Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock sits down with Steph Ottavio, architect, designer, founder of&nbsp;Japandi&nbsp;Estate and one half of beloved The Block duo Steph and Gian.&nbsp;
Steph&nbsp;opens up&nbsp;about the pressure of&nbsp;renovating on&nbsp;national television, what she and Gian carried from The Block into real life, and how she renovated her own home while pregnant, with a five-month deadline and her mum living across the road.&nbsp;
But this is also a more personal conversation about the strange quiet that can come after a huge, formative chapter. Steph talks honestly about experiencing &ldquo;post blues&rdquo; after The Block, feeling disconnected from purpose, going to therapy, and learning to strip life back to the basics: community, connection, conversation, morning rituals and the little moments that make you feel like yourself again.&nbsp;
Together, Elle and Steph explore what really makes a home beautiful, from decluttered spaces, layered rugs and 12 skylights to the feeling of walking into a home that has been designed for real family life.&nbsp;
Moments You'll Hear:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Why Steph says her home&nbsp;has to&nbsp;be&nbsp;organised&nbsp;so life can be chaotic&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">What The Block taught her about pressure, outsourcing and working with Gian&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">How Steph renovated while pregnant and moved in before her baby arrived&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">The truth about her &ldquo;post Block blues&rdquo; and rebuilding a sense of purpose&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Why community became the brief for her next home&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Steph&rsquo;s take on&nbsp;Japandi&nbsp;style, character within minimalism and why she does not love cold modern homes&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">The clever design ideas inside Steph and Gian&rsquo;s home, including the Jack and Jill bathroom, 12 skylights and a pool craned in through the&nbsp;neighbours&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">Her rules for shoes, scent,&nbsp;clutter&nbsp;and the design trend she would happily leave behind&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Thank you for listening ❤️&nbsp;
Before you leave...&nbsp;
🗣️ Get in touch&nbsp;
What did you think? We are a&nbsp;brand new&nbsp;podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Home Beautiful community and DM us on Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/">https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/</a>&nbsp;
🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;
Listen and follow on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq?si=c21d4184afd84009">Spotify</a>&nbsp;
👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful&rsquo;s YouTube 📺 for full episodes and clips&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag">https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp;
Our friend Steph Ottavio&nbsp; Host Elle Lovelock&nbsp; Edited by Pro Pods&nbsp; Producer: Charlie Potter and Thomas Crnkovic&nbsp; Consulting Producer: Jessie-Lee Klass&nbsp; Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Learn More: <a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/">The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media</a>:&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-tours/steph-and-gian-ottavio-home-renovation/">Inside Steph and Gian Ottavio&rsquo;s stunning home transformation</a>&nbsp;
Steph and Gian Ottavio&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/w-mfEsHqzk4">Home Beautiful Tour on YouTube&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/stephjoottavio">Steph's Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/stephandgian/">Steph and Gian's Japandi Estate Instagram</a>
&nbsp;

The Block winner, architect and designer Steph Ottavio joins Elle Lovelock to talk renovating while pregnant, building a home around community, the real comedown after a huge life experience, and why a beautiful home starts with how you live in it.

Steph Ottavio On Life After The Block, Japandi Homes & Finding Herself Again

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/4d82df07-4eae-44c9-9601-b44d000f5eb7/transcript

What actually makes a home beautiful once the cameras leave, the renovation dust settles and real life moves back in? 

In part two of our conversation with Wendy Moore, the former Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief, Selling Houses Australia interior designer and all-round interiors authority invites us inside her own Sydney Inner West cottage. And this is not a polished show-home tour. It's far better. 

Wendy takes host and Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock through the hydrangeas, past the dodgy fence, into the side entrance, the light-filled void, the petrol-blue kitchen, the unfinished reading nook now claimed by the dog, and the freestanding bath in the main bedroom that everyone warned her against. 

Together they talk about what really works in a home after six years of living in it, from natural light and kitchen colour to family dinner tables, awkward layouts, builder contracts, renovation regrets, vintage silver, fireplaces, bed linen and why the homes we love most are rarely the perfect ones. 

Moments You’ll Hear: 
· Wendy’s audio home tour of her Inner West Sydney Californian bungalow cottage. 
· The clever renovation choice that flooded a dark older home with natural light. 
· Why Wendy still loves her petrol-blue kitchen, and what she would rethink about natural stone. 
· The reading nook that never got finished and quietly became the dog’s favourite spot. 
· The bedroom bath everyone said was a bad idea, and why Wendy loves it. 
· The renovation regret she wishes she had budgeted for from the beginning. 
· Wendy’s advice on choosing a builder, reading the contract and staying across every dollar. 
· How to beat renovation decision fatigue with a moodboard and a clear edit. 
· A smart fix for awkward living rooms where the sofa blocks the flow. 
· The vintage silver tea strainer and “jam spoon” that became an Antiques Roadshow moment. 
· Why the best homes are full of chatter, memory, imperfect corners and real life. 

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: https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/ 

🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910 

Listen and follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq?si=9c224c6461c24caf 

👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful’s YouTube 📺 for full episodes and clips: https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag 

Credits: 
Our friend: Wendy Moore 
Host: Elle Lovelock 
Edited by: Pro Pods 
Producer: Charlie Potter and Thomas Crnkovic 
Executive Producer: Jessie-Lee Klass 
Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain 

Learn More: 
The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media: https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/ 

Part one episode with Wendy: 
https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/shopping/wendy-moore-career-selling-houses/ 

See Wendy’s Home Beautiful home tour: 
https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-tours/home-tour-house-to-home-beautiful/ 

Follow Wendy Moore: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendymooreedit/ 
The Interiors Edit: https://www.theinteriorsedit.com.au/ 

🙏 Our special thanks for making The Edit our new home: 
Luxaflex - our beautiful studio home curtains 
Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

What&nbsp;actually makes&nbsp;a home beautiful once the cameras leave, the renovation dust&nbsp;settles&nbsp;and real life moves back in?&nbsp;
In part two of our conversation with Wendy Moore, the former Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief, Selling Houses Australia interior designer and all-round interiors authority invites us inside her own Sydney Inner West cottage. And this is not a polished show-home tour. It's far better.&nbsp;
Wendy takes host and Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock through the hydrangeas, past the dodgy fence, into the side entrance, the light-filled void, the petrol-blue kitchen, the unfinished reading nook now claimed by the dog, and the freestanding bath in the main bedroom that everyone warned her against.&nbsp;
Together they talk about what really works in a home after six years of living in it, from natural light and kitchen&nbsp;colour&nbsp;to family dinner tables, awkward layouts, builder contracts, renovation regrets, vintage silver, fireplaces, bed linen and why the homes we love most are rarely the perfect ones.&nbsp;
Moments&nbsp;You&rsquo;ll&nbsp;Hear:&nbsp; &middot; Wendy&rsquo;s audio home tour of her Inner West Sydney Californian bungalow cottage.&nbsp; &middot; The clever renovation choice that flooded a dark older home with natural light.&nbsp; &middot; Why Wendy still loves her petrol-blue kitchen, and what she would rethink about natural stone.&nbsp; &middot; The reading nook that never got finished and quietly became the dog&rsquo;s&nbsp;favourite&nbsp;spot.&nbsp; &middot; The bedroom bath everyone said was a bad idea, and why Wendy loves it.&nbsp; &middot; The renovation regret she wishes she had budgeted for from the beginning.&nbsp; &middot; Wendy&rsquo;s advice on choosing a builder, reading the&nbsp;contract&nbsp;and staying across every dollar.&nbsp; &middot; How to beat renovation decision fatigue with a&nbsp;moodboard&nbsp;and a clear edit.&nbsp; &middot; A smart fix for awkward living rooms where the sofa blocks the flow.&nbsp; &middot; The vintage silver tea strainer and &ldquo;jam spoon&rdquo; that became an Antiques Roadshow moment.&nbsp; &middot; Why&nbsp;the best homes are&nbsp;full of chatter, memory, imperfect&nbsp;corners&nbsp;and real&nbsp;life.&nbsp;
Thank you for listening ❤️&nbsp;
Before you leave...&nbsp;
🗣️ Get in touch&nbsp; What did you think? We are a&nbsp;brand new&nbsp;podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Home Beautiful community and DM us on Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/">https://www.instagram.com/homebeautiful/</a>&nbsp;
🎧 Listen to The Edit and follow on Apple Podcasts:&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-edit/id1852946910</a>&nbsp;
Listen and follow on Spotify:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq?si=9c224c6461c24caf">https://open.spotify.com/show/1y7phZb4CeMhYzFssKZVcq?si=9c224c6461c24caf</a>&nbsp;
👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful&rsquo;s YouTube 📺 for full episodes and clips:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag">https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp; Our friend: Wendy Moore&nbsp; Host: Elle Lovelock&nbsp; Edited by: Pro Pods&nbsp; Producer: Charlie Potter and Thomas Crnkovic&nbsp; Executive Producer: Jessie-Lee Klass&nbsp; Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Learn More:&nbsp; The Edit is a production of Home Beautiful and Are Media:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-beautiful-the-edit-podcast/</a>&nbsp;
Part one episode with Wendy:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/shopping/wendy-moore-career-selling-houses/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/shopping/wendy-moore-career-selling-houses/</a>&nbsp;
See Wendy&rsquo;s Home Beautiful home tour:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-tours/home-tour-house-to-home-beautiful/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-tours/home-tour-house-to-home-beautiful/</a>&nbsp;
Follow Wendy Moore:&nbsp; Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/wendymooreedit/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.instagram.com/wendymooreedit/</a>&nbsp; The Interiors Edit:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theinteriorsedit.com.au/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.theinteriorsedit.com.au/</a>&nbsp;
🙏 Our special thanks for making The Edit our new home:&nbsp; <a href="https://illawarrablinds.luxaflex.com.au/?utm_source=Google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=23460285978&amp;device=c&amp;keyword=luxaflex&amp;matchtype=e&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=23460285978&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAC7BeY5Ba2OF49unb39nq9dF9OXBp&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw8PDPBhCeARIsAOJwmWWOiAK3iRUHBYRQdB80gMLSl6Jk-O-0dzqAfUlxq1pKM0KffUfR2A0aAtjdEALw_wcB">Luxaflex</a>&nbsp;- our beautiful studio home curtains&nbsp; <a href="https://ozdesignfurniture.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOoq6Xt_Ed0frZuTwdE6DzEzcONThln98WQ2lxPvI_kEy040rRnw8">Oz Design</a> - furniture Australians love&nbsp;

Wendy Moore returns to The Edit for a deeply personal tour of her own Inner West cottage, sharing the renovation choices she still loves, the decisions she would rethink, and the honest advice every renovator needs before handing over their home. 

Wendy Moore: The Renovation Decisions That Changed Her Home

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/bc6a669d-c2f2-4530-9277-b444006e650c/transcript

The Block Experience: Learning on the Job

What does a truly beautiful home look like when you stop chasing trends—and start telling the truth? In this episode of The Edit, host (and former colleague) Elle Lovelock sits down with interiors heavyweight Neale Whitaker: the gently opinionated eye behind some of Australia’s most-loved design titles and TV shows, from Belle and Home Beautiful to Love It or List It—and now Reno Rules on Seven.

Together they take an audio home tour of Neale’s “patchwork quilt” South Coast cottage, from the wraparound verandah draped in wisteria to rooms packed with art collected everywhere he and partner David have lived and travelled. Neale shares why he buys art on pure instinct (and why it should never ‘match the sofa’), how he and David blend antique and contemporary tastes, and what ‘dog-friendly’ design actually looks like when the dogs are absolutely allowed on the bed. Plus: the entertaining rituals he can’t give up (candles, music, the perfect table), why being a TV judge doesn’t mean judging your house, and the tiny home edit he wishes he’d made years earlier—one that punches well above its weight every winter.

Moments You'll Hear: 
An audio walk-through of Neale’s quirky ‘patchwork quilt’ cottage (yes—there are two front doors).
How Neale buys and hangs art: instinct-first, story-driven, and never matched to the furnishings.
Why a home that’s “perfect” is usually boring—and how to build comfort, layers, and soul.
Designing with dogs: choosing what you love, then problem-solving (towels, throws, and muddy paws).
Hosting without the stress: beautiful table, candles, music… but always relaxed.
The tiny edit with a big payoff: underfloor heating (and the power of lamps in dark corners).
Authenticity over trends: mixing old and new to make a home that feels like you.

This is an episode with permission to ignore trends and buy what you actually love. Confidence that your art doesn't need to match anything. A renewed appreciation for warm lighting and the ritual of turning on lamps. Practical solutions for real design dilemmas. The reminder that homes should feel like you - layered, honest, maybe a little eccentric. And possibly a new perspective on your throw situation.

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.

Part one episode with Neale: here 🎧

👀 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

My Reno Rules All The Details For The New Series!

 

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

Luxaflex - our beautiful 'studio home' curtains

Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

Credits:

Our friend Neale Whitaker

Edited by Propod 

Production by Thomas Crnkovic and Charlie Potter 

Our wonderful Home Beautiful team 

Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL

 

What does a truly beautiful home look like when you stop chasing trends&mdash;and start telling the truth? In this episode of The Edit, host (and former colleague) Elle Lovelock sits down with interiors heavyweight Neale Whitaker: the gently opinionated eye behind some of Australia&rsquo;s most-loved design titles and TV shows, from&nbsp;Belle and Home Beautiful to Love It or List It&mdash;and now Reno Rules on Seven.
Together they take an audio home tour of Neale&rsquo;s &ldquo;patchwork quilt&rdquo; South Coast cottage, from the wraparound verandah draped in wisteria to rooms packed with art collected everywhere he and partner David have lived and travelled. Neale shares why he buys art on pure instinct (and why it should never &lsquo;match the sofa&rsquo;), how he and David blend antique and contemporary tastes, and what &lsquo;dog-friendly&rsquo; design actually looks like when the dogs are absolutely allowed on the bed. Plus: the entertaining rituals he can&rsquo;t give up (candles, music, the perfect table), why being a TV judge doesn&rsquo;t mean judging your house, and the tiny home edit he wishes he&rsquo;d made years earlier&mdash;one that punches well above its weight every winter.
Moments You'll Hear:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>An audio walk-through of Neale&rsquo;s quirky &lsquo;patchwork quilt&rsquo; cottage (yes&mdash;there are two front doors).</li>
<li>How Neale buys and hangs art: instinct-first, story-driven, and never matched to the furnishings.</li>
<li>Why a home that&rsquo;s &ldquo;perfect&rdquo; is usually boring&mdash;and how to build comfort, layers, and soul.</li>
<li>Designing with dogs: choosing what you love, then problem-solving (towels, throws, and muddy paws).</li>
<li>Hosting without the stress: beautiful table, candles, music&hellip; but always relaxed.</li>
<li>The tiny edit with a big payoff: underfloor heating (and the power of lamps in dark corners).</li>
<li>Authenticity over trends: mixing old and new to make a home that feels like you.</li>
</ul>
This is an episode with permission to ignore trends and buy what you actually love. Confidence that your art doesn't need to match anything. A renewed appreciation for warm lighting and the ritual of turning on lamps. Practical solutions for real design dilemmas. The reminder that homes should feel like you - layered, honest, maybe a little eccentric. And possibly a new perspective on your throw situation.
<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>
Part one episode with Neale:&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/confessions-of-a-design-judge-neale-whitaker-on/id1852946910?i=1000755435886">here</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>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/lifestyle/my-reno-rules-channel-seven/">My Reno Rules All The Details For The New Series!</a>
&nbsp;
🙏 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>
Credits:
Our friend Neale Whitaker
Edited by Propod&nbsp;
Production by Thomas Crnkovic and Charlie Potter&nbsp;
Our wonderful Home Beautiful team&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/">Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL</a>
&nbsp;

 Neale Whitaker on Authentic Homes, Art That Tells a Story & Tiny Edits That Change Everything

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/25a9e85e-2dbc-4c2b-9c82-b43d0041154a/transcript

Fresh Elements and Design Crimes

If you’ve ever stood in your living room and felt nothing, this one’s for you. Stylist, author and TV reno judge Julia Green joins Editor Elle Lovelock to talk about building a home that feels like an autobiography, not a catalogue spread. She went from “peddling drugs” (pharmaceuticals) for 17 years in a job she hated to styling shoots, closing her beloved store and now judging My Reno Rules, all while raising a family and painting every available surface in colour.

Julia is funny and unfiltered about the gap between how interiors look on TV and how they actually feel to live in. She talks about growing up with a mum who let her paint her bedroom walls on a whim, decking out her first flat with no money but a lot of ingenuity, and why she’ll always choose “considered chaos” over safe beige. There’s career whiplash, there’s grief for past chapters, and there’s the quiet joy of realising your house doesn’t have to be perfect to feel like home, it just has to feel like you.

Moments you’ll hear


Julia deadpanning that she used to “peddle drugs” (legally) in pharma for nearly two decades, hating every minute, before a stranger buying her couch told her she was in the wrong job and handed her a Vogue photographer’s business card.


The chaos‑magic timing of going into labour four hours after that conversation and only circling back to the card at the end of maternity leave, a week before she was meant to return to corporate life.


The “I’ve got a new job, I’m a stylist tomorrow” conversation with her husband, despite having no idea what the day rate was and only a Home Beautiful style brief to go on.


Childhood bedrooms that changed colour constantly, a mum who let her paint the walls as often as she liked, and the lesson that home is something you’re allowed to experiment with, not preserve in glass.


Julia explaining why she can’t do white‑on‑white (“I’d last two seconds”) and how she thinks about colour as “deliberate chaos” - surprise without visual shock.


How she furnished her first apartment with basically no budget, just a sharp eye and a willingness to hunt, and why she’s now the stylist who tells people, “Do you really need that?” instead of pushing more stuff.


Behind the scenes of My Reno Rules: judging alongside Neale Whitaker and Simon Cohen, trying to keep two strangers’ styles coherent in one house, and what really happens when communication breaks down on a reno show.


The emotional side of closing her much‑loved store, stepping into a new TV chapter, and figuring out what kind of home she wants to come back to at the end of it all.

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

My Reno Rules All The Details For The New Series!

Clever With Colour and Julia Green

Julia Green on Insta 📱

Julia's Website Green House Interiors

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

Luxaflex - our beautiful 'studio home' curtains

Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

Credits:

Our friend Julia Green

Edited by Propod 

Production by Thomas Crnkovic and Charlie Potter 

Our wonderful Home Beautiful team 

Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL

 

If you&rsquo;ve ever stood in your living room and felt nothing, this one&rsquo;s for you. Stylist, author and TV reno judge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliagreenstylist/">Julia Green</a> joins Editor Elle Lovelock to talk about building a home that feels like an autobiography, not a catalogue spread. She went from &ldquo;peddling drugs&rdquo; (pharmaceuticals) for 17 years in a job she hated to styling shoots, closing her beloved store and now judging My Reno Rules, all while raising a family and painting every available surface in colour.
Julia is funny and unfiltered about the gap between how interiors look on TV and how they actually feel to live in. She talks about growing up with a mum who let her paint her bedroom walls on a whim, decking out her first flat with no money but a lot of ingenuity, and why she&rsquo;ll always choose &ldquo;considered chaos&rdquo; over safe beige. There&rsquo;s career whiplash, there&rsquo;s grief for past chapters, and there&rsquo;s the quiet joy of realising your house doesn&rsquo;t have to be perfect to feel like home, it just has to feel like you.
<hr>
Moments you&rsquo;ll hear
<ul>
<li>
Julia deadpanning that she used to &ldquo;peddle drugs&rdquo; (legally) in pharma for nearly two decades, hating every minute, before a stranger buying her couch told her she was in the wrong job and handed her a Vogue photographer&rsquo;s business card.<a href="https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/attachments/30055198/57349b38-f695-4f6e-85ba-c82d3b83929f/26-04-21-TE-JuliaGreen-AudioEpisode_otter_ai.txt?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYEXEWEFWBW&amp;Signature=m2631XJJuymvXfAqhIl9D5g9tts%3D&amp;x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEMj%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIAz5%2BBj3bg1bkCd0poTi2LDGuflWelQIZQknniA0N8KHAiEAhOfhEBMBZMG2DZJe9uVyF8dUu7%2FKJWHKArPniIMp7P4q%2FAQIkP%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDLnaV9LAYVsnx9cz%2FSrQBCKmbQVHFTz4CQ2d%2BBS05LDEGjkEC0ZC6sxHwAXKkLFlx3wAtWus%2FtR%2F%2B2PYHQKpNYpowdQsXlyeFfF5d1Nw3YGbCqWH%2FjgbK3aTMsebTSZrb0CORiXqunczBkkLQFPs0EMLlePutaTk4gZzMAN6md4Vfh1DRKjNC7PGiwDdt8pP3kZ7dgLdRWlH5TVeWAU54Gp%2BIk8aF17hkBuD8Fh57tA6iNa4BnI8VvutPsvW3CW%2Fcwm2ZbSwXL4VDRQlo%2F9Exo8UVM5U4IHp%2BDYj9hUQrFpD1xMexFPZdfoyD6FPZLk4O0c0I0pVdiVuNd%2FQfCDvOSruMefn1MPurecJBR6uXGXt8DJYwyaRZIcczqT2FlNmJOahG07v18%2BL2dEb2of2lN1lIBGPe7EqgSsFpxxHInmbGejA9UCSsYmbW2e40tG2GNeleed3G0Lt%2F2VRz1ZiV9dewrET05QtCjCOvFhyEW18Oni99OwniUXRnBiisVxlvY1raEf2u2MI3a28kCkeJqrjXwVJ61hHheSfarMVJh8lyMwVjCl7TXNNQSXmDElNb0Q8%2BrmYGSzbF0%2Fn6B5Rw7RzGRrpjQuaJ7cG4JpWz00URZnxsy8mRq2WQH6zPV17JNFRs4hYzeJIYC0pfYMC%2FMd6xrZ6VfCOatuv%2BQLdcG7tFB%2B0Bpu533JHET0MfTi92leLMr4Fwc5A1fDRpnoGsojvrwh7hbCani876yrvfAoeAR75YqBy1BvGWDs7QfJcR8VYfP2bvxCgtGnFQdBtjCQlEj4RoUjsGAjNWHCv0DEwvdKxzwY6mAHl4YX0GIeAWbWAsNgmBkmcO9RTKefvtO5CXKgh%2FTYp955Ynyu%2Fj2LSY4fMMjY9O0m5kvPgnwrqIFAn4ytvXq5wbKaDxhGfRNduVdQsi1mYEyMNzoung0z3XOOUwRrleCitpywXJ6XpZhd372sCAvrWrTXmAG6IyzZZG0RHy2MZhzTBRgAuwYpw304iTGzyniG5j8eRW4G1Pw%3D%3D&amp;Expires=1777101882"></a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/attachments/30055198/57349b38-f695-4f6e-85ba-c82d3b83929f/26-04-21-TE-JuliaGreen-AudioEpisode_otter_ai.txt?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYEXEWEFWBW&amp;Signature=m2631XJJuymvXfAqhIl9D5g9tts%3D&amp;x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEMj%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIAz5%2BBj3bg1bkCd0poTi2LDGuflWelQIZQknniA0N8KHAiEAhOfhEBMBZMG2DZJe9uVyF8dUu7%2FKJWHKArPniIMp7P4q%2FAQIkP%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDLnaV9LAYVsnx9cz%2FSrQBCKmbQVHFTz4CQ2d%2BBS05LDEGjkEC0ZC6sxHwAXKkLFlx3wAtWus%2FtR%2F%2B2PYHQKpNYpowdQsXlyeFfF5d1Nw3YGbCqWH%2FjgbK3aTMsebTSZrb0CORiXqunczBkkLQFPs0EMLlePutaTk4gZzMAN6md4Vfh1DRKjNC7PGiwDdt8pP3kZ7dgLdRWlH5TVeWAU54Gp%2BIk8aF17hkBuD8Fh57tA6iNa4BnI8VvutPsvW3CW%2Fcwm2ZbSwXL4VDRQlo%2F9Exo8UVM5U4IHp%2BDYj9hUQrFpD1xMexFPZdfoyD6FPZLk4O0c0I0pVdiVuNd%2FQfCDvOSruMefn1MPurecJBR6uXGXt8DJYwyaRZIcczqT2FlNmJOahG07v18%2BL2dEb2of2lN1lIBGPe7EqgSsFpxxHInmbGejA9UCSsYmbW2e40tG2GNeleed3G0Lt%2F2VRz1ZiV9dewrET05QtCjCOvFhyEW18Oni99OwniUXRnBiisVxlvY1raEf2u2MI3a28kCkeJqrjXwVJ61hHheSfarMVJh8lyMwVjCl7TXNNQSXmDElNb0Q8%2BrmYGSzbF0%2Fn6B5Rw7RzGRrpjQuaJ7cG4JpWz00URZnxsy8mRq2WQH6zPV17JNFRs4hYzeJIYC0pfYMC%2FMd6xrZ6VfCOatuv%2BQLdcG7tFB%2B0Bpu533JHET0MfTi92leLMr4Fwc5A1fDRpnoGsojvrwh7hbCani876yrvfAoeAR75YqBy1BvGWDs7QfJcR8VYfP2bvxCgtGnFQdBtjCQlEj4RoUjsGAjNWHCv0DEwvdKxzwY6mAHl4YX0GIeAWbWAsNgmBkmcO9RTKefvtO5CXKgh%2FTYp955Ynyu%2Fj2LSY4fMMjY9O0m5kvPgnwrqIFAn4ytvXq5wbKaDxhGfRNduVdQsi1mYEyMNzoung0z3XOOUwRrleCitpywXJ6XpZhd372sCAvrWrTXmAG6IyzZZG0RHy2MZhzTBRgAuwYpw304iTGzyniG5j8eRW4G1Pw%3D%3D&amp;Expires=1777101882"></a>The chaos‑magic timing of going into labour four hours after that conversation and only circling back to the card at the end of maternity leave, a week before she was meant to return to corporate life.
</li>
<li>
The &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got a new job, I&rsquo;m a stylist tomorrow&rdquo; conversation with her husband, despite having no idea what the day rate was and only a Home Beautiful style brief to go on.
</li>
<li>
Childhood bedrooms that changed colour constantly, a mum who let her paint the walls as often as she liked, and the lesson that home is something you&rsquo;re allowed to experiment with, not preserve in glass.
</li>
<li>
Julia explaining why she can&rsquo;t do white‑on‑white (&ldquo;I&rsquo;d last two seconds&rdquo;) and how she thinks about colour as &ldquo;deliberate chaos&rdquo; - surprise without visual shock.
</li>
<li>
How she furnished her first apartment with basically no budget, just a sharp eye and a willingness to hunt, and why she&rsquo;s now the stylist who tells people, &ldquo;Do you really need that?&rdquo; instead of pushing more stuff.
</li>
<li>
Behind the scenes of My Reno Rules: judging alongside Neale Whitaker and Simon Cohen, trying to keep two strangers&rsquo; styles coherent in one house, and what really happens when communication breaks down on a reno show.
</li>
<li>
The emotional side of closing her much‑loved store, stepping into a new TV chapter, and figuring out what kind of home she wants to come back to at the end of it all.
</li>
</ul>
<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/my-reno-rules-channel-seven/">My Reno Rules All The Details For The New Series!</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/stylist-julia-green-shows-us-how-to-be-clever-with-colour/">Clever With Colour and Julia Green</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliagreenstylist/">Julia Green on Insta 📱</a>
<a href="https://greenhouseinteriors.com.au/">Julia's Website Green House Interiors</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>
Credits:
Our friend Julia Green
Edited by Propod&nbsp;
Production by Thomas Crnkovic and Charlie Potter&nbsp;
Our wonderful Home Beautiful team&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/">Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL</a>
&nbsp;

I Was in the Wrong Job for Seventeen Years! Reno Rules' Julia Green

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/c7aaaede-2046-4417-9e74-b437007319e1/transcript

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

If you’ve ever stood in a beige box of a rental property, staring at the vertical blinds and mystery downlights, wondering how on earth this is supposed to be “you,” this episode is your permission to start again. In part two of our chat with digital creator and “friend in home and hosting” Loui Burke, we move past Instagram-ready corners and get into the mechanics of making a temporary space feel like a real home you’re proud to invite people into.

Loui shares the three non‑negotiables he believes will transform any rental - no renovations, no landlord approval forms required: a properly sized rug, real window treatments, and light fixtures you can swap out and take with you when you leave. He explains why these are the quiet workhorses of a room, doing more for mood and cohesion than yet another cushion haul ever could, and how to approach them when you’re on a budget, short on storage, or not sure how long you’ll be staying.

For anyone overwhelmed by a modern “white box” home or apartment, Loui offers an unexpectedly brilliant styling hack alongside editor Elle Lovelock: treat your favourite flagship stores and boutique hotels as living moodboards. From Mecca and fashion flagships in Armadale or Paddington to carefully designed Airbnbs, Loui breaks down how to steal their ideas, colour palettes, materials, layout tricks, and translate them directly into your living room, bedroom or hallway. Genius! There’s also a very practical chat about foundational furniture in small spaces, why a modular sofa might save your sanity (and your stairwell), and how a tape measure is still the most underrated design tool you own.

Moments you’ll hear:


The simple, movable pieces that make any rental feel instantly more like home: rugs, lamps, light shades, and curtains you can take with you


How to “shop” Airbnbs, hotels and retail flagships for layout and material ideas when your place is just a featureless white box


Why thinking like a store designer, considering thresholds, shelving, and sightlines, can change the way you arrange even the smallest apartment


Smart, non‑boring advice on big furniture buys in rentals, from choosing modular sofas to measuring doorways so your dream couch doesn’t get stranded on the street

If you’re renting, in between homes, or just convinced your place is too bland to bother with, this episode is your blueprint for turning “for now” into something that finally feels like yours.

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

Part 1 Loui Burke - Cheap and Cheerful Decorating

Great (easy) Ideas for Rented Apartments 

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

Luxaflex - our beautiful 'studio home' curtains

Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

Credits:

Our friend Loui Burke 

Edited by Propod 

Production by Thomas Crnkovic 

Our wonderful Home Beautiful team 

Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL

 

If you&rsquo;ve ever stood in a beige box of a rental property, staring at the vertical blinds and mystery downlights, wondering how on earth this is supposed to be &ldquo;you,&rdquo; this episode is your permission to start again. In part two of our chat with digital creator and &ldquo;friend in home and hosting&rdquo;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/louiburke/"> Loui Burke,</a> we move past Instagram-ready corners and get into the mechanics of making a temporary space feel like a real home you&rsquo;re proud to invite people into.
Loui shares the three non‑negotiables he believes will transform any rental - no renovations, no landlord approval forms required: a properly sized rug, real window treatments, and light fixtures you can swap out and take with you when you leave. He explains why these are the quiet workhorses of a room, doing more for mood and cohesion than yet another cushion haul ever could, and how to approach them when you&rsquo;re on a budget, short on storage, or not sure how long you&rsquo;ll be staying.
For anyone overwhelmed by a modern &ldquo;white box&rdquo; home or apartment, Loui offers an unexpectedly brilliant styling hack alongside editor Elle Lovelock: treat your favourite flagship stores and boutique hotels as living moodboards. From Mecca and fashion flagships in Armadale or Paddington to carefully designed Airbnbs, Loui breaks down how to steal their ideas, colour palettes, materials, layout tricks, and translate them directly into your living room, bedroom or hallway. Genius! There&rsquo;s also a very practical chat about foundational furniture in small spaces, why a modular sofa might save your sanity (and your stairwell), and how a tape measure is still the most underrated design tool you own.
Moments you&rsquo;ll hear:
<ul>
<li>
The simple, movable pieces that make any rental feel instantly more like home: rugs, lamps, light shades, and curtains you can take with you
</li>
<li>
How to &ldquo;shop&rdquo; Airbnbs, hotels and retail flagships for layout and material ideas when your place is just a featureless white box
</li>
<li>
Why thinking like a store designer, considering thresholds, shelving, and sightlines, can change the way you arrange even the smallest apartment
</li>
<li>
Smart, non‑boring advice on big furniture buys in rentals, from choosing modular sofas to measuring doorways so your dream couch doesn&rsquo;t get stranded on the street
</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;re renting, in between homes, or just convinced your place is too bland to bother with, this episode is your blueprint for turning &ldquo;for now&rdquo; into something that finally feels like yours.
<ul></ul>
<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/shopping/loui-burke-cheap-or-chic/">Part 1 Loui Burke - Cheap and Cheerful Decorating</a><a href="https://alisaandlysandra.com.au/"></a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/how-to-decorate-a-rental-home-australia-22660/">Great (easy) Ideas for Rented Apartments </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>
Credits:
Our friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/louiburke/">Loui Burke&nbsp;</a>
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;

Renters Are Trusting TikTok’s Loui Burke More Than Their Landlord... and Bed Advice Like A Pro 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/60f8de1d-f2cf-4a34-ac38-b42f00463415/transcript

If you’ve ever looked at a glossy renovation and thought, “Must be nice to start with money,” this episode is the part no one usually tells you.

Lysandra Fraser first appeared in our lives in a police uniform, standing back-to-back with her twin sister, Alisa, on The Block audition tape, manifesting a win before they’d laid a single tile. They did, indeed, win twice - and became known for calm, quietly luxe interiors that looked like they belonged to people who had always lived that way. But in this conversation, Lysandra walks Editor Elle Lovelock through the bits that never made it into the reveal shots: growing up in Housing Commission with a single mum, secretly mortified to bring friends home, painting the hallway in suede‑finish purple to try and make it feel less “less than".

Lysandra talks about leaving the police force after reality TV, building a design business by sheer instinct (and zero formal training), and then selling her own dream house to fund al.ive BODY, the beauty and home brand she co‑founded with Alisa. For six years, while designing multi-million dollar homes for clients and being asked what it was like to be “a millionaire from The Block,” Lysandra was living in a friend’s dilapidated granny flat, followed by a three‑bedroom ’70s rental with apricot walls and floral carpet. This is not a sob story! More of a reality check on what risk actually looks like when you’re a single mum with two teenage boys and a public profile people project onto.

Moments You'll Hear 

How two exhausted Adelaide cops with babies at home decided, one auction night, that they weren’t just applying for The Block, they were going to win it, and why they actually believed that.

The whiplash of going from Housing Commission to TV renovations to clients with Louis Vuitton “thank you” gifts, and the imposter syndrome that sits under it all.

The very un‑Pinterest path to interior design: no moodboards, no Pinterest, no Insta, just learning on the job, taking judge feedback on the chin, and then reverse-engineering a career out of it.

Why Lysandra now believes in “who, not how”: building a team of CAD wizards and specialists so she can stay in the lane she’s actually good at, instead of trying to be across everything.

A sensory tour of her current home: black, refined, functional and the mental gymnastics of describing it when you know people assume you’ve “always” lived like this.

What it really costs to launch a product brand from scratch, and why Lysandra thinks more founders should say out loud, “Yes, I sold my house for this.”

If you’re sitting in a neutral rental, doom scrolling renos and wondering how everyone else got so far ahead, consider this your reminder that the before shots of someone’s life are rarely on the grid. 

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

Lysandra Fraser website 

The Famous Farmhouse Home that Lysandra and Alison made

Lysandra Fraser on Insta

Great (easy) Ideas for Rented Apartments 

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

Luxaflex - our beautiful 'studio home' curtains

Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

Credits:

Edited by Propod 

Production by Thomas Crnkovic 

Our wonderful Home Beautiful team 

Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL

 

If you&rsquo;ve ever looked at a glossy renovation and thought, &ldquo;Must be nice to start with money,&rdquo; this episode is the part no one usually tells you.
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-tours/alisa-and-lysandra-the-block-farmhouse-home/">Lysandra Fraser</a> first appeared in our lives in a police uniform, standing back-to-back with her twin sister, Alisa, on The Block audition tape, manifesting a win before they&rsquo;d laid a single tile. They did, indeed, win twice - and became known for calm, quietly luxe interiors that looked like they belonged to people who had always lived that way. But in this conversation, Lysandra walks Editor Elle Lovelock through the bits that never made it into the reveal shots: growing up in Housing Commission with a single mum, secretly mortified to bring friends home, painting the hallway in suede‑finish purple to try and make it feel less &ldquo;less than".
Lysandra talks about leaving the police force after reality TV, building a design business by sheer instinct (and zero formal training), and then selling her own dream house to fund al.ive BODY, the beauty and home brand she co‑founded with Alisa. For six years, while designing multi-million dollar homes for clients and being asked what it was like to be &ldquo;a millionaire from The Block,&rdquo; Lysandra was living in a friend&rsquo;s dilapidated granny flat, followed by a three‑bedroom &rsquo;70s rental with apricot walls and floral carpet. This is not a sob story! More of a reality check on what risk actually looks like when you&rsquo;re a single mum with two teenage boys and a public profile people project onto.
Moments You'll Hear&nbsp;
How two exhausted Adelaide cops with babies at home decided, one auction night, that they weren&rsquo;t just applying for The Block, they were going to win it, and why they actually believed that.
The whiplash of going from Housing Commission to TV renovations to clients with Louis Vuitton &ldquo;thank you&rdquo; gifts, and the imposter syndrome that sits under it all.
The very un‑Pinterest path to interior design: no moodboards, no Pinterest, no Insta, just learning on the job, taking judge feedback on the chin, and then reverse-engineering a career out of it.
Why Lysandra now believes in &ldquo;who, not how&rdquo;: building a team of CAD wizards and specialists so she can stay in the lane she&rsquo;s actually good at, instead of trying to be across everything.
A sensory tour of her current home: black, refined, functional and the mental gymnastics of describing it when you know people assume you&rsquo;ve &ldquo;always&rdquo; lived like this.
What it really costs to launch a product brand from scratch, and why Lysandra thinks more founders should say out loud, &ldquo;Yes, I sold my house for this.&rdquo;
If you&rsquo;re sitting in a neutral rental, doom scrolling renos and wondering how everyone else got so far ahead, consider this your reminder that the before shots of someone&rsquo;s life are rarely on the grid.&nbsp;
<ul></ul>
<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://alisaandlysandra.com.au/">Lysandra Fraser website&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-tours/alisa-and-lysandra-the-block-farmhouse-home/">The Famous Farmhouse Home that Lysandra and Alison made</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/alisa_lysandra/">Lysandra Fraser on Insta</a><a href="https://www.jamestreble.com/"></a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/how-to-decorate-a-rental-home-australia-22660/">Great (easy) Ideas for Rented Apartments </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>
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;

If You Grew Up Hiding Your House From Friends, You’ll Get This Episode With The Block's Lysandra Fraser

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/0f0bd191-43dd-4a72-82e4-b425003d042a/transcript

The Importance of Kindness and Respect in the

Zoning Light in Open Plan Spaces

Quick Fire Questions and Neil's Design Pet

If you’ve ever stood in the middle of your place, scrolling inspo pics and thinking, “I have no idea where to start,” this episode is your shortcut to a home that actually feels like you live there - not like you borrowed it from a display village.

Design and real estate expert James Treble (yes...you’ve seen him give excellent advice on The Living Room and his own reno series) sits down with Editor Elle Lovelock to decode how to turn any house, yes, even the ugly red‑brick, asbestos‑ridden one, into a calm, character‑filled home with a story. He starts with the artwork he literally pulled off his own wall, explains why your partner’s signed footy jersey still counts as “art”, and shows you how to build an entire colour scheme from one picture, op‑shop find or kids’ drawing.

From there, James walks you through his Central Coast renovation: the bright yellow double doors, the breeze‑block wall, the terrazzo‑look tiles and the decision to completely flip the kitchen, bathroom and entry layout because “you do not have to stick to the original floor plan.” He breaks down which eras of Australian houses are secretly goldmines, how to know if a place has good bones within 30 seconds at an open home, and why you should almost always start with a hallway or bedroom before you even think about the kitchen.

Moments you'll hear:

Why “homemaking” is making a comeback and how to tell your own story at home without spending a fortune.

James’s simple method for using art as your colour roadmap (including what to do if your partner’s taste is…challenging).

A tour of his once‑hideous red‑brick house and the exact moves that turned it into a light, layered, mid‑century‑inspired haven.

The eras and house types he’d buy in a heartbeat, and the structural red flags that should have you walking straight back out the door.

How to create an overarching “story” (coastal, modern farmhouse, mountain escape) so every room decision stops feeling random.

Why having two bathrooms is the new non‑negotiable and clever ways to carve one out of a laundry or awkward corner.

If you’re renting, renovating or just itching to repaint one room and see what happens, this episode will give you the confidence, language and starting points to finally make your home look like the life you’re actually living inside it.

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

James Treble Website 

More than a 'Granny Flat', leveraging the opportunity with extra space and James Treble

How to identify the architectural style of your house

Great (easy) Ideas for Rented Apartments 

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

Luxaflex - our beautiful 'studio home' curtains

Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

Credits:

Edited by Propod 

Production by Thomas Crnkovic 

Our wonderful Home Beautiful team 

Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL

 

If you&rsquo;ve ever stood in the middle of your place, scrolling inspo pics and thinking, &ldquo;I have no idea where to start,&rdquo; this episode is your shortcut to a home that actually feels like you live there - not like you borrowed it from a display village.
Design and real estate expert <a href="https://www.instagram.com/designerjamestreble/">James Treble</a> (yes...you&rsquo;ve seen him give excellent advice on&nbsp;The Living Room and his own reno series) sits down with Editor Elle Lovelock to decode how to turn any house, yes, even the ugly red‑brick, asbestos‑ridden one, into a calm, character‑filled home with a story. He starts with the artwork he literally pulled off his own wall, explains why your partner&rsquo;s signed footy jersey still counts as &ldquo;art&rdquo;, and shows you how to build an entire colour scheme from one picture, op‑shop find or kids&rsquo; drawing.
From there, James walks you through his Central Coast renovation: the bright yellow double doors, the breeze‑block wall, the terrazzo‑look tiles and the decision to completely flip the kitchen, bathroom and entry layout because &ldquo;you do not have to stick to the original floor plan.&rdquo; He breaks down which eras of Australian houses are secretly goldmines, how to know if a place has good bones within 30 seconds at an open home, and why you should almost always start with a hallway or bedroom before you even think about the kitchen.
Moments you'll hear:
Why &ldquo;homemaking&rdquo; is making a comeback and how to tell your own story at home without spending a fortune.
James&rsquo;s simple method for using art as your colour roadmap (including what to do if your partner&rsquo;s taste is&hellip;challenging).
A tour of his once‑hideous red‑brick house and the exact moves that turned it into a light, layered, mid‑century‑inspired haven.
The eras and house types he&rsquo;d buy in a heartbeat, and the structural red flags that should have you walking straight back out the door.
How to create an overarching &ldquo;story&rdquo; (coastal, modern farmhouse, mountain escape) so every room decision stops feeling random.
Why having two bathrooms is the new non‑negotiable and clever ways to carve one out of a laundry or awkward corner.
If you&rsquo;re renting, renovating or just itching to repaint one room and see what happens, this episode will give you the confidence, language and starting points to finally make your home look like the life you&rsquo;re actually living inside it.
<ul></ul>
<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.jamestreble.com/">James Treble Website&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/shopping/home-beautiful-podcast-james-treble-episode-3/">More than a 'Granny Flat', leveraging the opportunity with extra space and James Treble</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/house-architecture-styles/">How to identify the architectural style of your house</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/how-to-decorate-a-rental-home-australia-22660/">Great (easy) Ideas for Rented Apartments </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>
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;

So You Want Your Home to Feel Like You (Not a Display Home)? Start Here with James Treble

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/f77a1ea9-0b6e-4ca0-a145-b4210013744f/transcript

In this heartfelt episode, interior designer and TV host Wendy Moore sits down to share the real story behind her career pivots, from editing Home Beautiful to running Foxtel’s lifestyle channels and fronting Selling Houses Australia.  She opens up about the emotional weight of leaving a team she loved after 13 years, and what it takes to walk away from something successful when it no longer feels right.

Wendy also takes us inside her latest chapter, The Interiors Edit, and the investment property renovation she is quietly turning into a content and business engine.  From repainting an entire exterior at the last minute to rallying a whole community on site, she shares the messy, unglamorous realities behind those glossy “after” shots and why quick, brave decisions often make the most beautiful rooms.

If you are dreaming of a renovation, Wendy breaks down the non-negotiables: a detailed budget, a mood board you actually use, and a brutally honest check-in on what you can reasonably do yourself.  She talks trends warmer colours, layered textures, and homes that feel lived-in rather than styled to perfection and why emotional first impressions matter more than any single piece of furniture.

Away from the tools and paint charts, Wendy reflects on balance, burnout and the mantra that guides her now: “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”  She is frank about the toll of constant work, the guilt of being pulled between set and family, and the boundaries she’s learned to draw so there is still space for curiosity, creativity and being present at home.

This episode is for anyone standing on the edge of a big change of career, home or both and wondering if it’s too late to pivot.  Wendy’s story is a reminder that luck usually looks a lot like hard work, that starting again can be the most generous thing you do for yourself, and that the best interiors are less about perfection and more about how they make you feel when you walk through the door.

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

Wendy Moore Articles 

Selling Houses Australia: 40 design ideas to steal from last season

The incredible transformations on this season of Selling Houses Australia

Inside the festive home of interiors expert Wendy Moore

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

Luxaflex - our beautiful 'studio home' curtains

Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

Wendy Moore- The Interiors Edit

Credits:

Edited by Propod 

Production by Thomas Crnkovic 

Our wonderful Home Beautiful team 

Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL

 

In this heartfelt episode, interior designer and TV host Wendy Moore sits down to share the real story behind her career pivots, from editing Home Beautiful to running Foxtel&rsquo;s lifestyle channels and fronting Selling Houses Australia. &nbsp;She opens up about the emotional weight of leaving a team she loved after 13 years, and what it takes to walk away from something successful when it no longer feels right. Wendy also takes us inside her latest chapter, The Interiors Edit, and the investment property renovation she is quietly turning into a content and business engine. &nbsp;From repainting an entire exterior at the last minute to rallying a whole community on site, she shares the messy, unglamorous realities behind those glossy &ldquo;after&rdquo; shots and why quick, brave decisions often make the most beautiful rooms. If you are dreaming of a renovation, Wendy breaks down the non-negotiables: a detailed budget, a mood board you actually use, and a brutally honest check-in on what you can reasonably do yourself. &nbsp;She talks trends warmer colours, layered textures, and homes that feel lived-in rather than styled to perfection and why emotional first impressions matter more than any single piece of furniture. Away from the tools and paint charts, Wendy reflects on balance, burnout and the mantra that guides her now: &ldquo;just because you can, doesn&rsquo;t mean you should.&rdquo; &nbsp;She is frank about the toll of constant work, the guilt of being pulled between set and family, and the boundaries she&rsquo;s learned to draw so there is still space for curiosity, creativity and being present at home. This episode is for anyone standing on the edge of a big change of career, home or both and wondering if it&rsquo;s too late to pivot. &nbsp;Wendy&rsquo;s story is a reminder that luck usually looks a lot like hard work, that starting again can be the most generous thing you do for yourself, and that the best interiors are less about perfection and more about how they make you feel when you walk through the door.
<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/author/wendy-moore/">Wendy Moore Articles&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/lifestyle/neale-whitaker-my-reno-rules-judge/"></a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/renovation-ideas/selling-houses-australia-renovation-ideas/">Selling Houses Australia: 40 design ideas to steal from last season</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/renovation-ideas/where-to-watch-selling-houses-australia/">The incredible transformations on this season of Selling Houses Australia</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-tours/wendy-moore-home-christmas/">Inside the festive home of interiors expert Wendy Moore</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://www.theinteriorsedit.com.au/">Wendy Moore- The Interiors Edit</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;

Just Because You Can: Wendy Moore on Leaving and Starting Again and Letting Yourself Be Human 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/891c1a9c-0385-408b-b0be-b412001f0575/transcript

If you’ve ever stood in the aisles of Kmart or Ikea holding a candle and whispering to yourself,  “cheap or chic?” this one’s for you. We all need a chic friend to help steer us in the right direction when choosing the 'posh bits' to make our home feel luxe, and that's our friend Loui. 

In this episode of The Edit, we go full home core with digital creatorLoui Burke, the man the internet now knows as your “friend in home and hosting”. Loui has quietly built a career that, from the outside, might look like fluffing cushions for a living. But... inside, it’s down to over a decade of clever styling, strategy and saying no to brands that don’t fit. Plus, Loui shares a specific theory we can all learn from about rugs, window treatments, and why your living room still feels unfinished.

Alongside our friendly host and Home Beautifuleditor, Elle Lovelock, Loui talks us through the long - not actually overnight - path from photography student to creative director to full-time content creator. He also reveals why his work has always revolved around the same obsession: how things come together in a room, not just how they look in a shot. There are Aje and Adairs era styling jobs, kidswear campaigns shot in Italy and Copenhagen, and the week he was offered a “proper job” at Broadsheet and, instead, decided to back himself and the algorithm - a huge leap of faith in oneself we can all relate to.

We get into the business side: how Loui thinks about mini‑series like “Cheap or Chic” as marketing strategy, not just vibes; why he refuses to gatekeep high‑street finds; and the way he decides which brands get a spot on his grid (hint: it’s about fabrics, fabrication and whether his audience can actually afford it, not just the logo). He also makes a surprisingly passionate case for Belgian linen, tone‑on‑tone monogramming and floating shelves and offers a very diplomatic verdict on leopard print.

Underneath the pretty pictures, there’s sound philosophy: everyone deserves access to good design, homewares are where you experiment with trends (not the sofa), and scale is the thing most people get wrong – especially when big‑box furniture is secretly sized for teenagers. Loui's advice, now immortalised on the internet, is "When in doubt, go bigger." Rugs, curtains, sofas. Your cottage, your terrace, your budget may protest, but your rooms will finally make sense.

In this episode, you’ll hear:


The origin story of ‘your friend in home and hosting’
How Louis went from studying photography to chasing what was happening “on the other side of the camera”, fell for interiors over fashion, and stitched together styling, marketing and content into one multi‑hyphen job title.


What a content creator actually does all day
The not‑so‑glam reality behind the reels: strategy, brand decks, long‑term collaborations and why his work has always been “connected” to his training, rather than a pandemic fluke.


High/low interiors that actually work
Why he loves mixing premium Australian furniture (think GlobeWest, Fenton & Fenton, Rachel Donath) with Big W tableware and Target awning‑stripe bedlinen – and the fabric rules he refuses to bend on.


The three things every living room needs
Louis’ non‑negotiables: a generous rug, real window treatments and a light shade – and why most people blow the budget on the sofa and forget the pieces that actually make a room feel like home.


Cheap or chic, decoded
How his viral series started as a growth tactic, why alliteration matters on Instagram, and the styling fundamentals he’s trying to smuggle into your feed under the guise of “don’t do that, do this."


Trend court: monograms, scallops, leopard, floating shelves
Rapid‑fire verdicts on which details feel timeless, which are “traditional‑transitional”, and which should probably never make it onto your bed sheets.


The scale lesson you probably need
Why medium‑sized everything is killing your rooms, how oversized furniture transformed his parents’ tiny Hunter Valley cottage, and the simple rule he swears by: if you’re hesitating, size up.

If you’re currently staring at a too‑small rug, a nervous little console and a naked window, wondering why it’s not giving “home”, Louis is here with a ruler, a reality check and permission to buy the bigger size.

 

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

The Target Edit: How to style your space with just $50

How to Make Your Home Look Expensive 

Luxury Look On A Budget

The biggest Christmas trends of 2025, according to Loui Burke

You're Doing Trends Wrong. Let's Fix That. (There Are Two Forecasts: Trends & Weather)

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

Luxaflex - our beautiful 'studio home' curtains

Oz Design - furniture Australians love 

Loui Burke on TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

Credits:

Edited by Phil Calloway 

Production by Thomas Crnkovic 

Our wonderful Home Beautiful team 

Learn More: HOME BEAUTIFUL

 

If you&rsquo;ve ever stood in the aisles of Kmart or Ikea holding a candle and whispering to yourself,&nbsp; &ldquo;cheap or chic?&rdquo; this one&rsquo;s for you. We all need a chic friend to help steer us in the right direction when choosing the 'posh bits' to make our home feel luxe, and that's our friend<a href="https://www.louiburke.com/"> Loui.&nbsp;</a>
In this episode of The Edit, we go full home<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/9-fabulous-decor-buys-for-under-100/"></a> core with digital creator<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@louiburke"> </a><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@louiburke">Loui Burke</a>, the man the internet now knows as your &ldquo;friend in home and hosting&rdquo;. Loui has quietly built a career that, from the outside, might look like fluffing cushions for a living. But... inside, it&rsquo;s down to over a decade of clever styling, strategy and saying no to brands that don&rsquo;t fit. Plus, Loui shares a specific theory we can all learn from about rugs, window treatments, and why your living room still feels unfinished.
Alongside our friendly host and Home Beautiful editor, <a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/shopping/from-elle-february-2026/">Elle Lovelock, </a>Loui talks us through the long - not actually overnight - path from photography student to creative director to full-time content creator. He also reveals why his work has always revolved around the same obsession: how things come together in a room, not just how they look in a shot. There are Aje and Adairs era styling jobs, kidswear campaigns shot in Italy and Copenhagen, and the week he was offered a &ldquo;proper job&rdquo; at Broadsheet and, instead, decided to back himself and the algorithm - a huge leap of faith in oneself we can all relate to.
We get into the business side: how Loui thinks about mini‑series like &ldquo;Cheap or Chic&rdquo; as marketing strategy, not just vibes; why he refuses to gatekeep high‑street finds; and the way he decides which brands get a spot on his grid (hint: it&rsquo;s about fabrics, fabrication and whether his audience can actually afford it, not just the logo). He also makes a surprisingly passionate case for Belgian linen, tone‑on‑tone monogramming and floating shelves and offers a very diplomatic verdict on leopard print.
Underneath the pretty pictures, there&rsquo;s sound philosophy: everyone deserves access to good design, homewares are where you experiment with trends (not the sofa), and scale is the thing most people get wrong &ndash; especially when big‑box furniture is secretly sized for teenagers. Loui's advice, now immortalised on the internet, is "When in doubt, go bigger." Rugs, curtains, sofas. Your cottage, your terrace, your budget may protest, but your rooms will finally make sense.
<hr>
In this episode, you&rsquo;ll hear:
<ul>
<li>
The origin story of &lsquo;your friend in home and hosting&rsquo; How Louis went from studying photography to chasing what was happening &ldquo;on the other side of the camera&rdquo;, fell for interiors over fashion, and stitched together styling, marketing and content into one multi‑hyphen job title.
</li>
<li>
What a content creator actually does all day The not‑so‑glam reality behind the reels: strategy, brand decks, long‑term collaborations and why his work has always been &ldquo;connected&rdquo; to his training, rather than a pandemic fluke.
</li>
<li>
High/low interiors that actually work Why he loves mixing premium Australian furniture (think GlobeWest, Fenton &amp; Fenton, Rachel Donath) with Big W tableware and Target awning‑stripe bedlinen &ndash; and the fabric rules he refuses to bend on.
</li>
<li>
The three things every living room needs Louis&rsquo; non‑negotiables: a generous rug, real window treatments and a light shade &ndash; and why most people blow the budget on the sofa and forget the pieces that actually make a room feel like home.
</li>
<li>
Cheap or chic, decoded How his viral series started as a growth tactic, why alliteration matters on Instagram, and the styling fundamentals he&rsquo;s trying to smuggle into your feed under the guise of &ldquo;don&rsquo;t do that, do this."
</li>
<li>
Trend court: monograms, scallops, leopard, floating shelves Rapid‑fire verdicts on which details feel timeless, which are &ldquo;traditional‑transitional&rdquo;, and which should probably never make it onto your bed sheets.
</li>
<li>
The scale lesson you probably need Why medium‑sized everything is killing your rooms, how oversized furniture transformed his parents&rsquo; tiny Hunter Valley cottage, and the simple rule he swears by: if you&rsquo;re hesitating, size up.
</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;re currently staring at a too‑small rug, a nervous little console and a naked window, wondering why it&rsquo;s not giving &ldquo;home&rdquo;, Louis is here with a ruler, a reality check and permission to buy the bigger size.
&nbsp;
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/shopping/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-50-at-target/">The Target Edit: How to style your space with just $50</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/5-fail-proof-ways-to-make-your-home-look-more-expensive/">How to Make Your Home Look Expensive&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/home-ideas/luxury-interiors-on-a-budget/">Luxury Look On A Budget</a>
<a href="https://www.homebeautiful.com.au/christmas/christmas-trends-2025-loui-burke/">The biggest Christmas trends of 2025, according to Loui Burke</a>
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6A2pIgOtDeLx4LivkJtkg5?si=l1fDLoftQ9-A2dxFWrDi3Q">You're Doing Trends Wrong. Let's Fix That. (There Are Two Forecasts: Trends &amp; Weather)</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://www.tiktok.com/@louiburke">Loui Burke on TikTok | </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/louiburke/">Instagram | </a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LouiBurke">YouTube</a>
Credits:
Edited by Phil Calloway&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;

Is Your Home Chic or Cheap...and would TikTok's Loui Burke be able to tell? Hacks from the expert in affordable. 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/d773c94f-037c-4381-8135-b4040166bba2/transcript

Renting doesn’t have to mean living in a beige, personality free space. This playlist is packed with easy, low commitment ideas you can actually use in a lease: think clever colour through art and textiles instead of paint, removable fixes that don’t cost your bond, lighting tricks that instantly soften harsh rentals, and layout tweaks that make even the smallest space feel considered. Whether you’ve got strict landlords, no budget, or both, these episodes will show you how to put your stamp on a place then roll it all back when it’s time to move on.

Renting doesn&rsquo;t have to mean living in a beige, personality free space. This playlist is packed with easy, low commitment ideas you can actually use in a lease: think clever colour through art and textiles instead of paint, removable fixes that don&rsquo;t cost your bond, lighting tricks that instantly soften harsh rentals, and layout tweaks that make even the smallest space feel considered. Whether you&rsquo;ve got strict landlords, no budget, or both, these episodes will show you how to put your stamp on a place then roll it all back when it&rsquo;s time to move on.

Rental As Anything

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.

THE EDIT

Social links:

Follow the podcast:

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