Mat Johnson has always had a thing for unconventional homes, from a riverside shack to a heritage-listed salon. But his latest purchase might be his most unexpected yet: a 116-year-old church he bought over the phone while he was cutting hair. 

In this episode of The Edit, Mat joins Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock to talk about his love of old buildings, why he’d rather buy a property that speaks to his heart than his head, and his plans to transform the abandoned church into a home without losing its history and character. 

Plus, Mat opens up about life after The Block, becoming a dad, and the importance of creating a home filled with personality, family and the people you love. 

This episode covers: 
Mat’s love of unconventional and historic properties 
How he bought a 116-year-old church over the phone 
His plans to transform the heritage-listed church into a home 
Why preserving the history and character of old buildings matters to him 
His experience on The Block and the community behind the scenes 
Becoming a dad and building a co-parenting family 
How Mat approaches styling and renovating his own properties 
Why he believes you should buy something that makes you happy 
What makes a home beautiful in Mat’s eyes 

Images: The Block/Channel 9 

You can find Mat on Instagram here 

Follow his church renovation journey here  

🎧 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: Mat Johnson 

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/ 

Mat Johnson has always had a thing for unconventional homes, from a riverside shack to a heritage-listed salon. But his latest purchase might be his most unexpected yet: a 116-year-old church he bought over the phone while he was cutting hair.&nbsp;
In this episode of The Edit, Mat joins Home Beautiful Editor-in-Chief Elle Lovelock to talk about his love of old buildings, why he&rsquo;d rather buy a property that speaks to his heart than his head, and his plans to transform the abandoned church into a home without losing its history and character.&nbsp;
Plus, Mat opens up about life after The Block, becoming a dad, and the importance of creating a home filled with personality, family and the people you love.&nbsp;
This episode covers:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Mat&rsquo;s love of unconventional and historic properties&nbsp;</li>
<li>How he bought a 116-year-old church over the phone&nbsp;</li>
<li>His plans to transform the heritage-listed church into a home&nbsp;</li>
<li>Why preserving the history and character of old buildings matters to him&nbsp;</li>
<li>His experience on The Block and the community behind the scenes&nbsp;</li>
<li>Becoming a dad and building a co-parenting family&nbsp;</li>
<li>How Mat approaches styling and renovating his own properties&nbsp;</li>
<li>Why he believes you should buy something that makes you happy&nbsp;</li>
<li>What makes a home beautiful in Mat&rsquo;s eyes&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Images: The Block/Channel 9&nbsp;
You can find Mat on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mat_johnson_/?hl=en">here</a>&nbsp;
Follow his church renovation journey <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mjs_church/?hl=en">here</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">Spotify</a>&nbsp;
👀 Watch and subscribe to The Edit on Home Beautiful's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HomeBeautifulMag">YouTube</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c73iMScLqZ357jQ_0A3eDGTysM1SUxO">Watch full episodes</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp;
Host: Elle Lovelock&nbsp;
Guest: Mat Johnson&nbsp;
Edited by: Leah Porges&nbsp;
Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
With thanks 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;

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 Home Beautiful Editor Elle Lovelock, The Edit opens the door to beautiful homes and the people who create 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 Home Beautiful Editor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ellelovelock?igsh=MTZqd2NmajF6eGpjdQ==">Elle Lovelock</a>, The Edit opens the door to beautiful homes and the people who create them. Featuring well-known guests and respected experts, this video podcast is for everyone shaping their sanctuary - wherever you live, whatever your budget, whether you're a seasoned homeowner, a renter or just curating a special space. The Edit makes those decisions simple and celebrates the everyday creativity, choices and personal touches that turn your house into a home.

THE EDIT

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

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

The Block’s Mat Johnson joins Elle Lovelock to talk about his love of unconventional homes, buying a 116-year-old church over the phone, and his plans to turn the heritage-listed building into a home without losing its history and character. 

The Block’s Mat Johnson Bought a 116-Year-Old Church Over the Phone 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/c0736338-06bb-4b46-bf0e-b4dd0009fa5c/transcript