Start Here: Before You Dive Down a Research Rabbit-Hole [Part 4]
Get It Right with Undercover ArchitectShow Notes
Hello! And welcome to Episode 388. Once you’ve decided that you really are going to renovate or build, something shifts. The dreaming phase starts to give way to planning, and the stakes begin to feel real. It’s often at this moment that research ramps up. Podcasts, articles, social media, saved folders, screenshots, notes. It can feel like the most responsible thing to do. To educate yourself thoroughly so you do not miss anything or make a costly mistake. This episode is not about doing less research. It is about understanding when research is actually helping you move forward, and when it quietly becomes a way to delay decisions, avoid commitment, or feel productive without making progress. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/388] If you have ever thought, “I just need to learn a bit more before I commit,” or felt like you should absorb everything before taking the next step, you are not alone. I hear this all the time from homeowners who genuinely want to get it right. I’ve felt it myself too. As an avid learner myself, it can feel incredibly productive to be consuming useful information, but if it’s preventing you from progressing, you’re using research as a hiding place, and not the empowering tool it can be. Before we begin, I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I live and work, the Widjabul Wia-bal people of the Bundjalung Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and I honour their ongoing connection to land, culture and community. It’s Amelia Lee here, founder and architect behind Undercover Architect, an online education platform that teaches homeowners how to get it right when designing, building or renovating their home, simply and with confidence, wherever you’re located and whoever you’re working with. Undercover Architect is your secret ally. Not here to overwhelm you with information, or suggest that consuming more content automatically leads to better decisions. This is about helping you understand what to focus on, what can wait, and how to use information in a way that genuinely supports your project. This episode is part of the Start Here Mini-Sodes Series, designed to help you pause at key moments, challenge unhelpful assumptions, and move forward with clarity rather than confusion. Now you’ve seen how a project really unfolds through four phases in Episode 385, you’ve learned what to do before you begin designing anything in Episode 386, and you now know what to do before talking with builders, architects and designers in Episode 387… In this episode, we are talking about research. How to recognise when it is building capability, and when it is pulling you into a rabbit-hole that feels responsible but leaves you stuck. So let’s dive into Part 4 of the Start Here series, Before You Dive Down a Research Rabbit-Hole. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, plus a full transcript, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/388 The Get Started Guide Mini-Course If you’re at the very beginning and want help orienting yourself without feeling overwhelmed, my mini-course, The Get Started Guide will help you understand the first meaningful steps for any project, and where to focus your energy before you get lost. PROJECT 101 Self-Study Online Course If you want a broader foundation across cost, time, team, design and you, PROJECT 101 helps you understand how these five factors interact, so you can make informed decisions before committing too far. HOME Method Online Program If you want guidance and support through all four phases of your project, with a clear structure, practical tools, and help applying what you learn to your specific situation, HOME Method provides the system, resources and community to support you every step of the way. It’s the most comprehensive and supportive way to navigate your projec
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Hello! This is Episode 432. This is Way #32 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series, and we’re beginning a new section: Section Seven, A Sustainable Site: Landscape Design. This section shifts focus to your site and your landscape, and how the design of the spaces around your home can be designed with sustainability as your priority. Way #32 is: Design Your Outdoor Room. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/432] Our wellbeing is greatly enhanced through a connection to light, the outdoors and the natural environment, so bringing this focus into our homes, where we can, will make a big difference to their sustainability. Plus, if your climate allows you to be outdoors for some, or a big chunk of the year, this can greatly expand the size, spaciousness and feel of your home too, enabling you to build less, but still achieve great functionality overall. In warmer climates, creating shaded spaces around the edges of our home, can help cool air before it enters our home and improve the home’s ability to stay cool during the warmer months as well. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/432. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/432 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hello! This is Episode 431. This is Way #31 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series, and we’re wrapping up Section Six: Choosing Materials, Fixtures and Finishes. In this section of the ‘44 Ways’ series, I’ve been covering one specific criteria for choosing materials and products per episode. And so far, we’ve covered choosing for longevity and durability, a low carbon footprint, low VOCs and low tox, recyclability and low waste, and choosing from companies with sustainability missions. Way #31 is: Choose Based on Efficiency of Manufacture. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/431] This is where your sustainable selection criteria can be shaped by how a material, product, fixture or finish has been made, and whether it is energy efficient in its manufacture. And also reviewing whether it will improve your home’s energy efficiency. Choosing this way can also involve reviewing the water use of a material or product in its manufacture, and whether it saves water in its production or use in your home. And this selection criteria can also mean finding products that source their manufacturing energy needs via renewable energy, and recycle water in their manufacturing process. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/431. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/431 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hello! This is Episode 430. This is Way #30 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series, and we’re continuing through Section Six: Choosing Materials, Fixtures and Finishes. In this section, I’m covering one specific criteria for choosing materials and products per episode, providing you with six different criteria overall. This episode covers the fifth criteria you can use to choose materials, fixtures and finishes with sustainability in mind. Way #30 is: Choose from Companies with Sustainability Missions. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/430] Increasingly in other sectors, we’re seeing people make choices to spend money with businesses that are aligned with their own personal values. They’re keen to see their spending decisions support businesses they believe in, and find companies that have missions that help create the kind of world they also envisage for their future. This is also possible when you build or renovate, because the culture, values and mission of the companies you purchase from for your project can be aligned with your sustainable values. And finding companies that operate like this can be a great selection criteria for the products, materials, fixtures and finishes you’re choosing for your future home. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/430. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/430 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hello! This is Episode 429. This is Way #29 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series, and we’re continuing through Section Six: Choosing Materials, Fixtures and Finishes. In this section of the ‘44 Ways’ series, I’m covering one specific criteria for choosing materials and products per episode. We’ve talked about choosing for longevity and durability in Episode 426, choosing for a low carbon footprint in Episode 427, and choosing low VOCs, natural and lox ingredients in your materials, fixtures and finishes in Episode 428. Way #29 is: Choose for Recyclability and Low Waste. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/429] Choosing products and materials with this in mind can shape your project in a very different way and, when making this a sustainability priority, it reaches far further than many initial considerations, as it impacts everything from the design process, through selections, to the construction site and builder’s business practices. So, we’ll be going through various things to consider and how to incorporate this sustainability priority in your project. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/429. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/429 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hello! This is Episode 428. This is Way #28 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series, and we’re continuing through Section Six: Choosing Materials, Fixtures and Finishes. In this section, I’m covering specific criteria for choosing materials and products for your home. We’ve talked about choosing for longevity and durability in Episode 426, and choosing for a low carbon footprint in Episode 427. Way #28 is: Choose for Low VOCs and Natural or Low-Tox Ingredients. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/428] Given how much time we spend in our homes, the quality of our indoor air becomes super impactful on how our home feels. There’s also the increasing susceptibility people can have to toxins, as well as personal values that drive them to make low tox choices in other areas of their lives. So, it makes sense that this can be a selection criteria in making sustainable choices with the materials, products, fixtures and finishes for your home. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/428. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/428 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.