Building sustainable housing is a movement that is growing in momentum in Australia and a topic that we are so passionate about. We understand it can be difficult to know where to begin or how to research all of the design elements that go into a passive house, so we are here to help!   Today Rebeka is chatting with Simone Schenkel from Grun Eco Design. Simone is incredibly passionate about the environment and sustainability and is dedicated to creating homes that are safe, resilient, and unique to the owner’s requirements. We are so grateful to have Simone on the show to share all of her amazing and useful tips to consider when designing a passive home. In this episode, Simone and Rebeka debunk some of the myths associated with passive housing. We talk about energy efficiency, ventilation, passive house principles, and how sustainable homes can still be pretty. Simone shares how she has worked with over 300 clients in their mission to achieve sustainability within any budget. It’s not as expensive as you may think!   Come and join Rebeka and Simone in their conversation about all things sustainability and then check out the Grun Eco Design for ideas and inspiration.   LINKS: Simone’s Website: gruenecodesign.com.au Sustainable House Day: www.sustainablehouseday.com.au/ Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer 

Building With BuildHer

Let's Demystify the Passive House (Simone Schenkel)

We love to have a little fun with colour. It’s amazing how a simple coat of paint completely changes a space and brings it to life. Unless of course, you choose the wrong colour! That’s why we love our trusty friends at Haymes Paint. Their in-depth knowledge of colour and years of experience have guided our colour choices many times and they’ve never failed. In this episode, Rebeka chats with Wendy from Haymes Paint about the do’s and don’t when it comes to painting. Wendy is our go-to for all things paint and colour and she talks about Haymes’ new colour library: Awakening. Wendy describes the 3 colour stories in the range and how they were inspired by recent world events and the different ways we are adjusting to the change. If you’re thinking of changing things up, Wendy shares 3 do’s and don’ts when it comes to painting. We talk about the importance of painting samples and doing a thorough check of the colour in different lighting and times of the day. Rebeka shares her sneaky trick of painting directly onto the wall behind a picture hanging to really see how the colour will look. The most important thing is to have fun. Paint doesn’t have to last 10 years and there’s no need to default to white just because that’s what’s always done. Think about what you love and choose colours that bring you joy. If you’re still not sure, book in a colour consult with Haymes to help you choose the perfect colours to make your home sing.   LINKS: https://www.haymespaint.com.au/   Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer  

Colour Me Happy with Haymes

You may find it hard to believe that you can achieve your property development goals without any money and with zero experience but that is exactly what this next guest has accomplished. Rebeka is chatting with the unstoppable Laura Percy who advises and develops property for a living. Laura began with a pipe dream and no experience. Through hard work and a tremendous amount of effort, she cultivated her career in property development and went on to create and co-found the Kingbella Group - an incredibly successful property development company. Using enormous courage and a kickass attitude, Laura began by negotiating an off-market sale through a real estate agent with zero money down. She then secured the finance through a joint venture partnership with investment partners. Through a lot of hard work, research, time and effort she has now gone on to secure a $30 million deal! In this episode, Laura shares how her mindset has played such an important role in her success and has given her the drive to focus her energy on her goals and where she wants to be. Laura will also be sharing her amazing story in depth in the DevelopHer’s Inner Circle. If you are feeling motivated and inspired by her journey, click the link and sign up.   LINKS: Kingbella Group: Kingbella Group | Bespoke Property Development Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer 

No Money, No Experience, No Problem!

Renovating and developing for profit sounds like the dream, right? It’s easy to get caught up in the romanticism of it all but even the most incredible vision needs a well thought out strategy and a good amount of flexibility to see it through to the end. Today we’re talking about the most exciting and fun part of your renovation - profit! Kribashini put together a killer list of the top 10 tips for making a profit and in this episode, she spills the beans. We talk about why you need to get your hands on our super trusty feasibility template, practicing the fine art of planning and creating a supportive and experienced team to work with on your build. We also talk about the benefits of getting good advice early on, strategizing with your pre-purchasing team and having a plan B for every phase of the project. If you don’t know this stuff - you have to learn it! Advice is key here and you need to be learning from people that have done it before many times. There will be a right fit for your project, but it may not be the first strategy that comes to your mind. Be open to different suggestions and learn to roll with it. That’s the fun of building! If you’d like to chat about your specific project, book in a consultation with us here. We would absolutely love to hear from you. LINKS:   Buy our Feasibility template for only $7 Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer Feasibility Template: https://buildhercollective.com.au/feaso-sale-page/ 

Yes I Do Want to Make a Profit from my Reno!

When you’re embarking on a renovation project you may find yourself running from showroom to showroom trying to get an idea on the myriad of fixtures and fittings that you can use in your home. This is such a time consuming process that can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. In this episode, Rebeka is talking with Scott Pendlebury from The Renovator Store. The Renovator Store is an online shop that will send quality products directly to the customer without the retailer. This method of cutting out the middle man enables The Renovator Store to sell their products much cheaper than the showrooms and retailers. Scott shares his mission behind creating The Renovator Store and tips for renovating a house and keeping it within your budget. The key is being organised! The Renovator Store offers a return policy on their products so you can purchase knowing that you can return them if you change your mind. If you’re after peace of mind shopping in the online space - check out The Renovator Store for all of the high quality fixtures and fittings you need for your next project. LINKS:   The Renovator Store: https://www.renovatorstore.com.au/ Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer  

Cutting Out the Middle Man - Scott from The Renovator Store

When you’re looking to renovate a property and engage an architect, you’ll need to obtain a fee proposal from them to help you choose who may fit your budget. This can be quite a tricky stage to navigate as every architect you engage to quote may provide very different costings. So how does an architect charge? When considering how much to charge, an architect will comprehensively look at your ‘fee proposal’ and your project, so it is very important to give them as much detail as possible. An architect can charge as much as they like based on their experience and creative work. Some architects will give you a lump sum price based on your construction budget, so make sure it’s realistic and accurate. The ‘fee proposal’ may be broken down into phases: the initial briefing stage a sight measure the conceptual stage design development the contract and administration stage And they can manage the build for you on your behalf. Remember, you don’t need to engage an architect for the full scope of the project. If you choose, you can engage them just for the conceptual stage to get ideas. There are important considerations to review in your ‘fee proposal’, such as; tax obligations (inclusive or exclusive of tax), hourly rate, and what is defined as ‘out of scope’ works. There are many different ways an architect will give you a fee proposal. It’s really important to have an open conversation about the fee and what is included so you truly understand the service you are buying. LINKS: Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer 

How Does an Architect Charge?

In this episode, Rebeka chats with Ivy Huang about the developing project she has completed, her experience working with BuildHer, the new project she has commenced, and participating in the BuildHer 8 collaboration project. Ivy has previously spoken to Rebeka last year about dealing with difficult people and hostile energies on the worksite. Through hard work and finding the right people, she is now experiencing a completely different vibe in her current projects. Ivy’s amazing strategising skills helped her to showcase her project in different publications and blogs, including on the cover of Domain magazine! She discusses her love of creating sustainable homes that will stand for over a century by utilising materials with a low carbon footprint, low VOC, are beautiful, and comfortable. Ivy shares advice on learning to spend your life creating something meaningful to you and following your passion.   Money isn’t everything, and finding something you are truly proud of creating is the most important thing.   LINKS: BuildHer 8: Projects - Collaborations - BuildHer Collective. DevelopHer’s Masterclass: Renovate For Profit - BuildHer Collective. Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer 

Ivy Huang - She's in the BuildHer Book

If you’re wondering how to choose the right architect for your build, we’ve got some top tips today to help you hone in on what it is you’re looking for. Just like you have to find the right fit with your GP, finding the right architect is a matter of building a relationship with someone who understands you, your build and aligns with your vision. You might look on Pinterest, Instagram or view local architects in your area to start forming an idea of the kind of build you want to accomplish. Architecture AU is an inspiring resource for checking out styles and researching different architects in your area. The Lunchbox Architect is a great affordable resource to research renovations and extensions. The Local Project is another really interesting resource you could look at to get inspiration for your renovations and builds. Check out the downloadable on our website for a list of architects that we love and truly inspire us! We are constantly on the hunt for architects that are doing amazing builds.   LINKS:   Architecture AU: https://architectureau.com/ Lunchbox Architect: https://www.lunchboxarchitect.com/ The Local Project: https://thelocalproject.com.au/ Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer 

You Want an Architect BUT You Don't Know Where to Start!

It’s such an amazing feat and accomplishment to build an incredibly successful empire and walk away after 15 years to explore a new creative venture. In this episode, I am talking with Samantha Wills from Samantha Wills Jewellery. She grew an empire with her jewellery pieces all across America, Hollywood, and the red carpet. We discuss how she faced a crossroads in her career and decided to close her business and begin a new path where she can cultivate her creativity and passion. Samantha shares her amazing journey from hand-making her jewellery on her dining room table to leading a successful company and writing her new autobiographical book ‘Of Gold and Dust’. Through the Samantha Wills Foundation, Samantha supports other business owners in their own journey and the realities they face when operating a business.   Samantha shares her advice when starting again and explains how it is incredibly important to listen to your intuition and that little voice in your head that is telling you where you really want to go and what you really want to accomplish.   LINKS: Website: https://samanthawills.com/ Instagram: @samanthawills & @samanthawillsinstitute Buy “Of Gold and Dust” by Samantha Wills here Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer 

Samantha Wills - From Passionate Creative to Creative Entrepreneur!

Finding the funds for a renovation can be a difficult and complicated process. There are many different factors to consider and it can be really daunting. In this episode, Rebeka discusses the options available to you when you’re looking at securing funding for your renovation. Whether you’re looking at a construction finance loan, an owner builder situation or funding with cash, there are quite a few things to consider and various complexities involved. Rebeka breaks down how the figures would work in an example scenario and the percentages of funding you’d need to provide. The thing to remember is that your ability to finance is one of the most important considerations when deciding what type of project to take on. Due to the complexity of each person’s situation, it’s difficult to make a general rule for financing. That’s why it’s important to have a really good relationship with your mortgage broker and your accountant to help understand your specific situation, the different options available, and the costs that are involved. Remember, we’re always here to help so if you’re feeling a bit stuck, make sure you take advantage of our free consultation call. LINKS: Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer

But How Will You Fund that Reno?

You are not starting from scratch when you decide to become a Developer. You can be creative and bring your talents and skills from your day-to-day occupation to showcase yourself. The most important driver for your success is a passion for developing which will motivate you throughout the process. In this episode, we will discuss how receiving a lump sum payment at the end of the project can require you to hold a day job to ensure you are keeping on top of household bills. You can utilise your skillset from your day job in your role as a Developer. We will discuss the many different occupations that fit together well and how you can use these skills to be creative and create a network when you are developing.   We are here to tell you that whether you are a teacher, photographer, accountant or copywriter, you can use your skills and talents from these roles in your occupation as a Developer.   LINKS: Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build   Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer

Developing AND Running a Complementary Business

Building a house is a super exciting process. So much dreaming and planning goes into every project and most people just can’t wait to move into their brand new home. So how long should you expect to wait before your house is finished? Every home is different and there are so many complexities involved in each project that factor into the time it takes to see it to completion. In this episode, we thought it would be helpful to break the process down into the stages of the build to give you an indication of how long each stage will generally take. We go through each stage including design, tender, site mobilisation, construction and defect and talk about a reasonable timeframe you could expect for each stage. And remember, even after all that is finished, you’ve still got styling and furnishing to do (and does that ever really end?). If you’re thinking about building or renovating, the best thing you can do is work backwards from when you want to move in. And hopefully now with some realistic timeframes, you’ll have a great guide for what to expect. LINKS: Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer

So How Long Do You Think it Takes to Build a House?

Have you ever looked at your garden and thought “where do I start”? Or how do I create an impressive landscape with a limited budget? In this episode, we are talking with Darin Bradbury from Mint Pool and Landscape Design about all things garden and landscape. Mint Pool and Landscape Design is a company in Victoria that specializes in creating modern contemporary designs that seamlessly bring together indoor and outdoor living. Darin discusses how it is important to consult with and/or hire a garden designer early in the building project to aid in cost-effectiveness. He speaks about the practicalities of building pools, of creating intimate and private spaces with plants, and what to really focus on when you have a limited budget.   We encourage you to listen to this episode and hear Darin’s passion when discussing garden and pool design and his excitement may rub off on you in your own projects.   LINKS: Mint Pool and Landscape Design: https://mintdesign.net.au/ Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer

Creating Landscapes that Impress!

We have a snappy solo episode today as Kribashini shares her journey into joinery on her project marathon. Cabinetry is a point in the build where a lot of people wonder why it has to be so expensive. Does it really have to cost so much? In this episode, Kribashini talks through her process obtaining quotes from cabinet makers, navigating through the wide range of prices she received back and how she arrived at a palatable budget that she was really happy with. She gives an overview of the variables that factor into cabinetry prices including cost of materials, labour components and design. Whether you need an entire home filled with storage or you’re upgrading your laundry, this episode will give you some great insights into what to expect on your joinery journey. Enjoy! LINKS: Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build   Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer

Cabinetry is Expensive - Why?

Have you ever had an idea that you just couldn’t walk away from? One of those lightning moments? That’s exactly what our guest, Justine Gaitz, Creative Director at Terren, experienced and she didn’t let the idea pass her by. And good on her, because she now has an exciting future in what could be a big player in the building industry. In this episode, Kribashini talks to Justine about the inception and birth of Terren, a company that is changing the rules of the building game. Terren provides limited edition, architectural pre-designed home plans that are fully customised to your site and specifications AND ready to be tendered within weeks. Justine shares her building journey, how she fell in love with the BuildHer Collective and how her experience with a high-end volume builder gave her the inspiration to say yes to the exciting business venture. She enthusiastically shares about Terren, what they offer and how they’ve gone about developing their plans.   We really commend Justine for not letting the idea pass her by. Getting a house built is a huge achievement in and of itself. Starting a business that allows other people to do that with ease is another thing altogether.   LINKS: Terren Website: https://terren.com.au/ Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/ BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer

A Building Spark Created a New Business

Kribashini and Rebeka from BuildHer Collective chatting about all things building and renovating and everyday people making their mark in the building industry.

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Building With BuildHer

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