Get It Right with Undercover Architect

Design #193

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

Perfection vs Reality: How to Navigate Your New Build Confidently, with Ellen
Apr 7, 2025 – 38:10
Building with Confidence: Contracts, Builder and Selections, with Ellen
Mar 31, 2025 – 42:56
Early Design Phase: Budget, Plans, and Feedback, with Louise and Zane
Mar 24, 2025 – 40:55
Choosing the Right Team for Your Renovation, with Louise + Zane
Mar 17, 2025 – 43:26
Managing Your Renovation Budget When Designing, with Ben
Mar 10, 2025 – 39:11
How to Design a Home Renovation and Extension, with Ben
Mar 3, 2025 – 37:05
Trusting a First Time Builder with your New Home Build, with Tatiana
Feb 24, 2025 – 38:59
New Home Build with Affordability and Family in Mind, with Tatiana
Feb 17, 2025 – 43:32
How Do You Create a Luxurious Home?
Feb 10, 2025 – 51:41
Designer Detailing and On-Site Decisions during Construction, with Michael
Feb 3, 2025 – 38:47
Choosing the Best Builder with Budget in Mind, with Michael
Jan 27, 2025 – 36:23
Electrifying Your Home: Solar Power, Heat Pump Hot Water and Air Conditioning, with Brendan Lang, Get Off Gas
Jan 20, 2025 – 48:00
How to Get Off Gas: Electrifying Your Home with Brendan Lang, Get Off Gas
Jan 13, 2025 – 42:46
8 Years of Helping You Get it Right: Latest Thoughts
Dec 16, 2024 – 53:47
Choosing Smart Home Systems for a New Build, with Cindy
Dec 9, 2024 – 38:39
Dealing with a Wet Mouldy Timber Frame during Construction, with Cindy
Dec 2, 2024 – 31:26
Budgeting, Design and a Beautiful Renovation, with Sophie
Nov 25, 2024 – 36:29
Turning a 1930s Bungalow into a Light-Filled Haven: Renovation Tips and Lessons with Sophie
Nov 18, 2024 – 36:37
The Granny Flat Dilemma: Custom, PreFab or Kit, with Jan and Landon
Nov 11, 2024 – 37:51
Gardens, Grandkids, and Sustainability: Building a new home, with Jan and Landon
Nov 4, 2024 – 47:53
Creating the Right Relationship with Your Home Builder, with Ellen
Oct 28, 2024 – 43:38
When your New Build takes longer than expected, with Ellen
Oct 21, 2024 – 43:21
Create a Healthy Home by Reducing Toxic Emissions, with Andy Pace, Green Design Center USA
Oct 14, 2024 – 43:29
Challenges and Solutions for a Healthy Home, with Andy Pace, Green Design Center USA
Oct 7, 2024 – 46:20
Textile recycling for your renovation or new build, with UPPAREL
Sep 30, 2024 – 41:07
Renovating a Brick Home in a Bushfire Flame Zone, with Elizabeth
Sep 2, 2024 – 37:38
Getting Really Ready for a Renovation Project, with Elizabeth
Aug 26, 2024 – 38:06
Renovate or Detonate: How to Improve Your Existing Home, with Angela
Aug 19, 2024 – 45:16
Knock Down Rebuild Or Renovate Your Existing Home, with Angela
Aug 12, 2024 – 34:44
Successful Builder Communication and Collaboration, with Janet
Aug 5, 2024 – 32:03
Prepping for a Smooth and Stress-free Build, with Janet
Jul 29, 2024 – 48:15
Building a Home Whilst Living Remotely from the Site, with June
Jul 22, 2024 – 43:55
Designing a New Coastal home for Ageing in Place, with June
Jul 15, 2024 – 39:56
Volume Builder vs Custom Builder for a New Home Build, with Michael
Jul 8, 2024 – 35:04
Building a New Home for Retirement, with Michael
Jul 1, 2024 – 36:02
Choosing Materials when Building a Sustainable Home, with Cindy
Jun 24, 2024 – 41:03
A New Home with Family and Sustainability in Mind, with Cindy
Jun 17, 2024 – 37:27
Building a new home on a challenging site, with Janet
Jun 10, 2024 – 48:49
Designing a new home with a difference, with Janet
Jun 3, 2024 – 41:55
Beginning a Californian Bungalow Renovation, with Louise + Zane
May 27, 2024 – 42:59
Where to Start When Renovating, with Louise + Zane
May 20, 2024 – 43:10
Saving $80,000 in a New Build, with Powerhaus Engineering
May 13, 2024 – 47:20
Smart Data to Design an Energy Efficient Home, with Powerhaus Engineering
May 6, 2024 – 56:58
Design a home for how you want to feel in it everyday
Apr 29, 2024 – 39:17
Building a Sustainable New Home: Here’s how to get it right
Apr 22, 2024 – 38:33
The best help when renovating or building new: An Insider’s View
Apr 15, 2024 – 45:57
What makes a great renovation? Insights from an enjoyable project.
Apr 8, 2024 – 42:04
Want a great project and great home? Here’s the 3 Building Blocks You Need.
Apr 1, 2024 – 27:34
The You Risk of Analysis Paralysis When Renovating or Building
Feb 5, 2024 – 34:51
The Design Risk of Not Creating an Effective Design Brief
Jan 29, 2024 – 31:11

Recent Reviews

bennyschoops

Great resource for any build

Working with a design/build company on an adobe house in the desert SW of the US. Despite regional differences this has been by far the most useful resource throughout the entire process. Project is going smoothly and I credit to this podcast for helping me make decisions and communicate with our team. Thanks Amelia!
NicoleMStanton

Great podcast!

Undercover Architect is such an informative and helpful podcast! We are about to embark on a new custom built home, and I appreciate hearing her perspective and tips.
KarenCairn

Best architect podcast out there

This podcast has been so helpful for my new build project. She relates to all levels of understanding without using jargon and being super practical. At the same time honoring the emotional part of this long and challenging process of building. She breaks things down into lists and bullet points, so you can be sure your on the right page. Love, love, love this podcast. If your building it’s a must and even if you just like remodel work it’s super fun! Cheers.
kdpjenkins

Extremely helpful

I started from the first episode and am working my way through season 2. And I’m confident that what Amelia covers in these two seasons alone will help prevent 90% of the poor design choices we’d make when building. She shares so many helpful design tips and gotchas to be aware of and does it in an incredibly organized way. Even though we’re working with an architect we’re super excited about, it’s awesome to get a little extra advice. And certainly far cheaper than what our architect charges per hour. Thanks for putting this together, Amelia.
Geolowe

Fantastic!

I can’t believe how incredibly helpful this podcast is! A must-listen for all planning a home renovation or new build. I am renovating a 1925 classic in Southern USA. This podcast is the secret to getting it right!
Ottoaway

Practical information, well presented, expert guest contributors

This podcast is excellent. I wish I had found it sooner! So much great information. Thank you.
P_Vilela

Architect’s opinion

The undercover architect really honors its name when it comes to the designing and building world. It is helpful not only for homeowners but also any professional of the field. Amelia has a great voice and amazingly pleasant Australian accent. Extremely valuable knowledge and content. 100% worth listening.
colleeninarizona

So valuable

This podcast has been such a great resource as we begin to embark on our new build project. There are SO many episodes on SO many different great topics and she does a great job and breaking things down and providing different perspectives.
Uslover2001

Architect companion

Love listening to this podcast. Emilia is a great communicator and has insightful knowledge. Thank you for putting this on!
Uniserv USA

My open mind has expanded even more!!!

I found this woman from 30X40 YouTube channel. Amelia has an interview and some guy said “well you’re not a real architect” ... how dare he! This lady is one of the smartest I’ve ever heard of and the way she explains things are in plain English without all the arch talk. I’m nothing remotely close to a “real” architect, but I had to raise my standards in order to scale to larger jobs. Listening to Amelia and watching 30x40, I’ve scaled massively and have even gotten a large project for a home concept and I was asked to create a “4Square” type property where each room is detached and has an individual feel to each room but must connect as one(Walk-paths). These clients know I’m not an architect BUT they fully understand every single concept I create and with my collaboration with some local arch’s and engineers, I have become larger than light like Amelia... removing all negative sources and bringing in positive is how I see life because of her. THANK YOU!
Harris U.

Approachable, friendly, honest advice about what you need to know for building your own home

Amelia Lee hosts an amazing and friendly podcast on what anyone who is considering building their own home needs to know. The process is far more complex than any first timer can imagine. I’ve been listening for a few months and can say she speaks truth when it comes to this topic. I love the episodes where she invites a builder to join amd chat about challenges and advice from their perspective. We’re always focused on the design, but building a custom home is an effort of a team. Amelia never lets the listeners lose sight of that. Coming from a career in another design industry, I can say her stories as well as those of the builder rings true and parallels many of my experiences of being a service provider. This is one of the best podcasts on this topic. If you’re considering or even in the middle of the process of building your own home, do yourself a favor and set out a weekend to binge listen to this podcast!
Bookaholic13

Helpful, thought provoking, and practical

Amelia does a great job waking her listeners through the process of design and building for renovating or rebuilding or building from scratch. We didn’t have a huge project—just opening up a wall in the kitchen—but her advice really helped make things go smoothly for us. I’d definitely recommend starting at episode 1 for anyone who is planning a remodel or new build.
Chris hohoho

Mentally walks you through design and building process

I discovered this podcast by googling "butler pantry" because I was looking at floor plans and did not know what one was. From there I found Amelia's blog - undercover architect - and saw she had a podcast. (We are knocking down and rebuilding our home). Once I started listening, I COULD NOT STOP listening to her podcast. Her information walks you through what things you need to think about before you build or renovate to how to interview an architect or builder. Do you want to be looking at your closet as you are laying in bed? What side of the house is best for your kitchen to be on? what is the best way to get natural light into your home? I found myself taking notes and getting more and more motivated to get our house plans on their way. It was the push I needed and I feel like she is there giving me advice on this journey we are about to take. I have shouted her podcast from the rooftops :) to anyone who is thinking of building in any capacity. She really is your secret ally and my head now jumps to the thought of "what are you trying to achieve" with any big or small part of this project.