Get It Right with Undercover Architect
If we haven’t met before, I’m Amelia Lee, the architect behind Undercover Architect: an online business to help and teach homeowners like you how to get it right when designing, building and renovating your home. Undercover Architect is all about giving you access to the industry knowledge and insights you need to avoid the mistakes and dramas that can cost you thousands, tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And it’s about levelling the playing field, so that the world of renovating and building doesn’t seem so mysterious, and you can be the active driver in your project, navigating it with know-how and confidence. Undercover Architect helps and teaches homeowners through this podcast, the website, and online courses and programs, including my flagship program, HOME Method. I truly believe that when you know the questions to ask, the steps to take and the best way to create a home that works, feels great, and that you feel great in, you can enjoy the process of building and renovating, as well as the home you move into at the end of this ambitious journey. Consider Undercover Architect your secret ally: whoever you’re working with, and whatever your location, your budget or your dreams. For more, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com
Episodes
Hello! This is Episode 390, and I want to give you a framework that will help you understand why you can feel so unsure as you navigate the world of renovating and building. And frankly, it applies any time you tackle something new.
If you’ve got 47 browser tabs open, a Notes app full of screenshots, and a partner who is sick of hearing “I don’t know, I just need to think about it”, this episode is for you.
...
Hello! And welcome to Episode 389.
Once a project starts to feel real, money often becomes the loudest voice in the room.
This episode is about pausing before you spend, and understanding how early financial decisions shape not just what you can build, but how stressful, efficient and satisfying your project experience actually is.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.und...
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 m...
Hello! This is Episode 387.
At some point early in a project, many homeowners often reach the same conclusion:
“If I can just find the right designer or the right builder, everything will fall into place.”
This episode is about gently unpacking that belief, and understanding why choosing the right people matters far less than how and when you engage them.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, download...
Hello! And welcome to Episode 386.
So often I see homeowners, excited about their project, instinctively moving straight into design.
This episode is about slowing that moment down, and understanding why the work you do before you design has such a big influence on what is created - whoever you’re working with and even if you’re DIYing your design.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, dow...
Hello! And welcome to Episode 385.
Most people think projects start with design or budgeting. They don’t. This episode introduces the four real phases of every project, and explains why confusion, rework, and cost blowouts usually come from skipping or rushing the early ones.
So if you’re starting out and feeling overwhelmed or confused, you’re not behind. And in tuning into this episode, and the Mini-sode Series ...
Hello! This is Episode 384, and this is Part 2 of my conversation with HOME Method members, Louise and Zane. We’re catching up with them about their Melbourne renovation, and hearing more about their construction process.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/384]
If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I’d recommend heading back to...
Hello! This is Episode 383, and in it, we’re getting an update from HOME Method members, Louise and Zane, about their renovation project. They’re currently under construction in their renovation and extension of a Californian Bungalow in Melbourne.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/383]
If you haven’t heard the earlier parts of...
Hello! This is Episode 382, and I am back with HOME Method member, Ben, as we continue following his renovation and extension journey, which is under construction right now.
If you are in construction now, or heading towards it, this conversation will give you a In this episode, we step deeper into Ben’s experience of construction.
You’ll hear Ben talk about what it felt like to walk through the home now the...
Hello! This is Episode 381, and I am joined once again by HOME Method member, Ben, to talk about what happens when your project finally moves from drawings into real walls, a real roof and regular site meetings on your building site.
If you are in construction now, or heading towards it, this conversation will give you a really practical look at how to stay informed, keep your communication organised, and maintain a strong relation...
Hello! This is Episode 380, and it’s Part 4 of my conversation with Fionna and Ed, as they take us behind the scenes of their new build journey of their sustainable, accessible home, and share how they set things up so they could enjoy the experience.
In this episode, it’s the last in our 4-part series, and we’re talking about what it’s been like on site - visiting regularly, watching progress unfold, and tr...
Hello! This is Episode 379, and it’s Part 3 of my conversation with HOME Method members, Fionna and Ed, as they share their new build journey in Canberra.
I decided to continue sharing our conversation so we could have this as a four-part series on the podcast, and then you get to hear the whole scope of their project through Pre-Design, Design, Pre-Build and Build.
I hope, as a result, it’s super helpful for you ...
Hello! This is Episode 378, and it’s Part 2 of my conversation with HOME Method members Fionna and Ed, who are building a new home in Canberra on a challenging but amazing site, where the home design responds to the unique site conditions, as well as the goals they have for their lifestyle into the future.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com...
Hello! This is Episode 377, and in it, I’m talking with HOME Method members Fionna and Ed. They’re based in Canberra, and are creating a beautiful, energy efficient and flexible home designed for their next chapter of life - a home that allows them to age in place, welcome family and friends, and accommodate their adult children when they come and go.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable...
Hello! This is Episode 376, and it’s the final instalment in our 4-part mini-series on how to make confident, clear decisions in your project, across the four key phases that every renovation or new build travels through: Pre-Design, Design, Pre-Build, and Build.
We’ve already explored how to lay the groundwork for clarity in the Pre-Design Phase (Episode 373), how to lead with intention in the Design Phase (Episode 374...
Hello! This is Episode 375, and it’s the third instalment in our 4-part mini-series on how to make confident, clear decisions in your project, across the four key phases that every renovation or new build travels through: Pre-Design, Design, Pre-Build and Build.
We’ve covered the Pre-Design Phase in Episode 373, and the Design Phase in Episode 374. In this episode, we’re moving into the Pre-Build Phase, which is o...
Hello! This is Episode 374, and it's the second instalment in our 4-part mini-series on how to make confident, clear decisions in your project, in each of the four phases every project travels through.
In this episode, we’re diving into the Design Phase: the part of your project where your ideas and inspiration begin to take shape, and the drawings of your future home start coming to life.
[For all resources mentioned in this...
Hello! This is Episode 373, and I’m kicking off a 4-part mini-series on how to make confident, clear decisions in your project.
SO MANY homeowners tell me they wish for the ability to make confident, clear decisions in their project. And that’s totally understandable when you’re investing this much time, money and effort, and creating something so long-term and impactful as your own home.
The good news is th...
Hello! This is Episode 372, and it’s part 2 of my conversation with HOME Method member, Ben, about the renovation of their Melbourne California Bungalow.
In this episode, we pick up at the point where Ben and his partner, Mike, are preparing to sign the building contract. He shares how he approached legal review, navigated sensitive conversations with his builder, and managed the personal dynamics of taking such a big step.
[...
Hello! This is Episode 371, and I’m joined once again by HOME Method member, Ben, to talk through the big milestone of choosing his builder and stepping into the pre-construction phase of his project.
If you're navigating your own decision-making process or weighing up quotes, builders, or final selections, this conversation is going to be incredibly valuable.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, dow...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!