Articles

Small changes can turn your garden into a sustainable oasis, reducing water usage and supporting biodiversity for a greener future.

Here, we've gathered insights from experts across the industry to help you design a space that keeps you warm in winter, cool in summer, and protected from the elements—all without sacrificing style.

With a variety of designs and safety considerations, finding the right fire pit for your outdoor space can be a fun and rewarding experience.

We explore how to make the best choices for your outdoor space, featuring expert insights from leading professionals in the outdoor furniture industry.

Creating the right setting is key to making your guests feel comfortable, and with the right combination of design, functionality, and a few expert tips, you can turn your outdoor space into an oasis.

The illusion that bigger is better when it comes to housing is exactly that; a big fat cloud of hot air that you’ve been conned into believing.

Create a stunning, low-maintenance outdoor space this spring with expert tips from Ekodeck for effortless beauty.

Start growing your own food with this essential info for a successful edible garden.

Even small outdoor spaces can become cozy retreats with the right design and thoughtful touches.

This guide will help you select the best pieces to ensure comfort, durability, and low maintenance, no matter the weather.

Say goodbye to ill-fitting gear! Green Hip’s got you covered in comfort and style. Get your exclusive discount this Green Thumbs month!

Investing in solid, well-crafted furniture shouldn’t be considered just a luxury; it’s a sustainable choice that shapes the future of our homes.

A horticulturalist’s tips for creating a beautiful garden without all the effort. We chat with resident expert Jake from The Greenery…

We chat about the unique challenge of designing a home for yourself, helping clients visualise their space, and Midnight Oil!

Amy and Lachlan from By Mysa discuss epic renovations, the Backstreet Boys, The Living End and the benefits of complementary skills.

We discuss the importance of design for people in rural areas and retrofitting over replacing homes with Sarah from Cooee Architecture

How an architect can add value, solve problems, and create a unique, lasting home...

Four ideas that will shape the future of our homes and cities for the greener…

Designing for the Aussie climate: Discover how Passive House principles offer comfort, efficiency, and sustainability year-round.

Discover how smart design can transform granny flats and studios into functional, stylish spaces that maximise every square metre.

Discover the future of sustainable home design! Learn how to create eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and healthy living spaces.

Aaron Tass from Tass Construction Group shares his insights, helping you avoid your project’s cost and timeline blowing out

We drag Ed from Dieppe Design away from his desk for a bite of sushi, pop on an eclectic playlist, and discuss Passivhaus standards...

Resident Expert, Nicola Dovey talks us through sustainable home design principles and how you can improve sustainability on any budget.

Navigate your home transformation with expert tips from Melonie Bayl-Smith. From town planning to budget management, ensure your success!

A bánh mì or phở, David Bowie, and eternal optimism. What’s not to love about lunch with Laney from Elaine Richardson Architect?

Lunch with Antony Martin of MRTN Architects covers topics from keeping marriages intact to country music evangelism. Have a read!

Discover how to use landscaping to create a peaceful oasis, private and quiet, to enhance your outdoor living spaces.

We caught up with the three directors of Sandbox Studio to discuss benevolent space travellers, new homes, renovations, and punk rock!

Creating an efficient home isn't just about the latest technology or materials; it's about thoughtful design and smart planning...

Unlock the secrets to a brighter home with our top design tips for maximising natural light, from skylights to reflective surfaces!

Discover the top 6 Australian designer items to elevate your home with local craftsmanship and style. Shop local, live stylish!

Is there an emerging Australian 'style'? Are these homes forging a new Australian style?

Spooked by the rising cost of building? Perhaps you don't need to be...

For Lunch with an Architect, we enjoy some local shellfish with Brett from Stonehouse + Irons Architecture on the surf coast.

A tongue-in-cheek take on Donald Judd's famous wall sculpture of the 1960s, now the art is functional! This beautifully crafted wall art (and fully-functional drawers) is the brainchild of architect and researcher, Dr...

Bathroom renovations are popular. They're also expensive and risky. Here are the tips and trends you need to know before you start...

A powerhouse team of women, the BuildHer8, took a meh townhouse development and turned it into something quite exceptional...

Over a virtual spread of MoVida tapas, we're lunching with Adam Dettrick and feeling inspired by Canberra brutalist architecture.

Why Christmas is better in summer and why tackling a massive renovation without the help of an architect is a recipe for disaster.

Wesley Spencer from RARA Architecture was shocked at a recent auction. Find out why...

A chat with Wesley from Wexhaus Architecture, plus why your height and handedness can help an architect design the perfect home for you...

We had the absolute pleasure of taking a peek behind the curtains of Bijl Architecture and the industry in general with Melonie Bayl-Smith.

We chat about Nicola's alternate route to architecture and why it helps as a designer, plus a recent project she's proud of and why...

The reason there's not a good book about building and renovating (and where to look instead), 90s hip-hop and so much more...

Before the temperature really drops, now is a great time to start to transform your home with these reno ‘must-haves’ for winter entertaining.

Purchasing a property can be a daunting undertaking. But putting in an offer doesn't need to be. Here's how to put in an offer once you've found the home you want...

Not everyone needs a completely custom-designed home. Now you can access high-quality architectural house designs for a flat fee.

Your builder is the most crucial component of any home renovation project. Here's how to choose a builder for your renovation...

Buying a new home and selling your current property can be tricky, that's where a bridging loan might be able to help...

Architects show us some of their proudest moments and explain what they love so much about what they do.

Planning to build or renovate? Get your hands on some of these brilliant architect-recommended books to help you on your journey.

When you #stayhome, small frustrations can turn into colossal ones but, on the flip side, pay attention to what you love about your home...

Your home is your home, and you should enjoy it. Here are some ideas for upgrading your bachelor pad...

When you're building or renovating, you spend a lot of time picking the perfect tiles and paint colours, but don't forget about this...

When installing a security system, the question is: professional installation or do it yourself?

Tulo mattress is a foam bed-in-a-box mattress offering from Mattress Firm.

When it comes to selling, you want to maximise the value of your home. Here are 5 tips to help you nail it.

Growing tired of the layout and design of your most home? Here are 8 home improvement ideas for 2019...

As a professional contractor, your tools are just as important as any other part of your business.

Dealing with a narrow block can be a challenge. But, as with any challenge, creative thinking can produce incredible results.

So many decisions when building or renovating. Architect Wesley Spencer tells us what not to do so we don't make a design faux pas...

For Victorians, Democracy Sausage Day is just around the corner. But this is not just an article for Victorians...

We might turn to psychologists or drugs to improve our mental health, but are we missing a solution that's closer to home?

Sure, you could duck down to IKEA and grab yourself a hot dog and a flatpack of umlauts OR you could support a local and go built-in.

We can build better houses in the suburbs, the houses we featured this week show us how.

Once the excitement wore off, the fear started to set in. I pored over the floor plan, convinced there wasn't enough space...

Having greater rental profits comes down to a very simple equation: more rent and fewer complications. Here are a few tips...

So how much does it cost to build a house? Unfortunately, there's no easy answer, but here are a few tricks to get a good estimate...

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us: fall! Let's transform your bedroom from drab to fab in time for the cooler weather.

When you're dealing with a tight site, a courtyard could be your answer to let in light, breezes and create a usable outdoor space.

We take a step back in time to find five homes which celebrate the beach shacks of the past by cladding themselves in fibre cement.

If you think tiny homes are fabs (and of course you do), you'll love these tiny homes where all profits go directly to charity.

Imagine if the satellite view of our towns and cities was a patchwork of lush greenery instead of miles of tile and tin...

Australians have long been told natural gas is the cheapest and cleanest energy choice for their homes. Is that still true?

Although there are more convenient ways to heat your home, there's nothing quite like sitting around a roaring fire, is there?

'Does my lounge look big in this [double-height space]' you ask your partner, but for once you hope they reply, 'kinda, yeah'...

Living large in a small house is what we're all about. Here are 18 house plans under 100 square metres to give you some ideas.

If you're dealing with the polar vortex, you're probably feeling a little numb. Feel vicariously warmed by these 5 sunny extensions.

Houses Awards 2018 shortlist was announced recently, will you pick a winner? Also a story about what a sad child I was...

Terrace renovations are a challenge. How do you get light and a sense of space into a narrow block with neighbours all around?

We see you there, concrete. All cool, 'thic' and sexy. These 8 homes show us that concrete has never looked so good.

Some tips to help you survive winter for when you're designing your new home or renovation. Because SAD is not becoming on anyone.

You're standing there in a stunning, Nicole-at-the-Oscars-esque azure gown, rose in hand. Who are you going to choose to be your Bach?

Granny flats can be more than a glorified caravan with lace curtains and a stale smell lingering in the air. Get a designer granny flat.

Kitchen renovations don't happen often. So when you get a chance to spruce up the most expensive room in your house? Don't stuff it up.

Dive in and take a look at some pools you'll love, then dial your expectations right back... But, you know, doesn't cost to look!

This round-up of the country's hottest timber homes will leave you feeling a little hot. Which one is your favourite?

Create some buzz around a trip to the loo with these envy-inducing bathroom renovation ideas.

Sometimes people are dicks. Escape and Thoreau yourself into this collection of Australia's best huts, shacks, cabins and retreats...

PHOOEY Architects' Emma Young chats with us about surrealist montages and the realities of shipping container architecture...

An affordable housing model for young people. Apartments that feel more like a house - with flexibility to grow and change.

David Barr Architect talks to us about how he manipulates light and balances sustainability and affordability to create joyous spaces.

Truth be told, we've been pairing New Zealand homes with wine all week. Or at least I have...

Make space for Warm House Cool House on your bookshelf and your home can become a more sustainable and comfortable place.

Based on the NSW North Coast (near Byron Bay), but free to work for anyone, anywhere, I chat with Amelia Lee, the Undercover Architect.

I'm in LA for a Party in the USA! Lunchbox Architect will be running on our equivalent of a skeleton staff for the next two weeks.

For the first instalment of our new interview series, Lunch with an Architect, I chatted with Zammi from 9point9 Architects, Townsville.

We're rolling out some advertising to Lunchbox Architect. It won't detract or distract from the important stuff (no flashing GIFs or pop up videos, we promise). Read more here...

The homes we featured this week are a mixed (Cadbury cream egg) bag. We learn how to design a courtyard. Wishing everyone a happy Easter

A courtyard that works well becomes the perfect private space to relax in and a great way to allow your home to flow into the outdoors.

Starchitect Frank Ghery says, "Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” and we couldn't agree more.

Homes shouldn't be all straight lines and neutral colours - let your personality shine through. Have a bit of fun!

Rebels will appreciate these 5 homes which insist on breaking the rules and get away with it in spectacular style.

God is in the detail. Details that people have spent time and energy designing sets architecture apart from buildings...

These homes are off the grid. They produce power, collect rainwater and treat their own waste - saving money and the planet at once.

We're revving our power-tools and hanging from our wrecking balls. We're renovating all this week, but we'll be back with a more spacious and flexible website next week. Until then, enjoy watching a GIF of a guy on ja...

This week we explored what is going on behind the picket fences and heritage facades of our inner city homes. As it turns out, the rears of our inner city homes are vastly different from the quaint postcard-perfect fa...

At the risk of having my Australian citizenship revoked, I have something to confess. Something that might have me labeled a traitor. I hate pavlova. It feels good to get that off my chest. Now that I'm on a roll, I h...

You know you've made it when you're wealthy enough to have a pool and a pony, right? Well, most of these houses have neither, but I reckon I'd settle. What do you think?

Think Australiana and you probably think the outback, shrimps on the barbie and Nicole Kidman on horseback (that's just *Australia*, actually). But you've got it all wrong. Here's why…

Even a house in Melbourne's frigid climate can feel zesty and tropical with the right colour scheme, just like this home, Polygreen.

Feel uncomfortable letting the kids walk or ride to school? It's because of bad design, and it needs to change. You can design your home to foster a sense of community…

Previously the domain of building sites and dodgy fence repairs, plywood has gone domestic. It seems we’re all a bit tired of lifeless white plasterboard…

Australia has one of the largest and most stunning coastlines in the world. So it figures that along the sandy beaches are a myriad of beach houses, ranging from the most simple to the most extravagant.

Lunchbox Architect was featured in Service Central's excellent round-up of their favourite Home Design and Improvement Facebook Pages. And in top spot, too!