November 12, 2025 • 43 mins
Step behind the scenes of Australia’s most-walked display homes with Metricon’s National Display Home and Studio M retail manager, Lisa Goodsall. We dive into how a massive plan library, real customer feedback, and years of display learnings distilled into Metricon's New Lookbook that actually makes styling choices easier. Instead of boxing people into rigid labels, the Metricon's Lookbook offers clear style families—think Palm Springs, Japandi, Nordic, Coastal Luxe and an evolving Australian Hamptons—each with flexible expressions so you can mix, match and still keep a cohesive story throughout your home.
We unpack the everyday forces shaping design in Australia: climate that begs for indoor–outdoor flow, smaller blocks that demand multi-use rooms, and livability updates that make aging in place more realistic without sacrificing aesthetics. Lisa shares how home theatres now double as wellness or study spaces, why outdoor kitchens are becoming full outdoor living zones, and how cultural diversity drives planning choices like prayer rooms and adaptable layouts. You’ll hear how styling can make or break a great floor plan, why over-staging turns people off, and the simple cues—texture, light, circulation—that help a space feel calm, warm and real.
There’s room for nostalgia too. Hamptons hasn’t disappeared; it’s softened into a breezier, coastal take that feels distinctly Australian. Mid-century’s comeback makes sense when you combine clean lines with liveable materials and human-scale comfort. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by too many floor plans or finish options, this conversation offers a practical path forward: use a shared language, choose a flexible lane, and let Metricon's New Lookbook guide you to confident, enduring choices that suit your region, routines and budget.
Check out the Metricon Look Book 'Inspired by life, created for living' below:
https://www.metricon.com.au/lookbook
Metricon on Instagram:
@metriconhomes
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Design Anatomy, the interior design
podcast hosted by friends andfellow designers, me, Lauren LI,
and me, Bree Banfield, withsome amazing guest appearances
along the way.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
We're here to break down everything from current
trends to timeless style.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
With a shared passion for joyful, colour-filled, and
lived-in spaces, we're excitedto share our insights and
inspirations with you.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Yes, and in this episode, we are getting a look
behind the curtain of what it'slike to shape the way
Australians live or how theyaspire to live in their homes.
We've got a special guesttoday, haven't we, Lauren?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah, so this is Lisa.
Hi Lisa.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Hi.
Hey Lisa.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
And it's very likely that you have been in one of
their homes, or maybe you evenlive in one.
Their ethos is love where youlive, which is something that we
believe in wholeheartedly aswell.
They are hugely influential inhow Australians live in their
homes every day.
Their homes celebrate familylife and we love that.
So, yes, it is Australia'sfavourite volume builder,
(01:08):
Metricon.
So today we are talking to LisaGoodsall, the National Display
Home and Studio M retail managerat Metricon.
Welcome, Lisa.
Hi, thank you for having me.
Thanks for being here.
Um yeah, I mean, it's prettyincredible when you think about,
you know, the impact of avolume builder like Metricon has
(01:29):
just on the Australianlandscape as a whole.
And, you know, I think it ispretty fair to say if we haven't
been in a Metricon home, wedefinitely know of Metricon.
So I guess to get started, I'djust be curious, like from your
background, how did you, what'syour role in Metricon and how
did you sort of move into thatrole?
Speaker (01:46):
Yeah, so I lead the Studio M retail um retail team
and oversee the design directionfor um, I think we've got 150
displays open nationally at themoment.
So, and that's constantlygrowing across four states South
Australia, New South Wales,Victoria, and of course
Queensland.
My role connects design withwith our customers and how they
(02:06):
truly live.
So it's a connection betweenour displays and and our studio
and showrooms.
And I've been here for a longtime, 22 years yesterday,
actually.
Oh wow.
Congratulations.
Yeah, that's amazing.
Yeah.
So I mean, I think I just Ijust love the building industry.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Yeah, right.
How did you find your way intoMetricon?
Speaker (02:25):
I started in um with another builder and and I was
there for about five, six yearsand realized that I actually did
love the building industry.
I loved, I loved everythingabout the building industry.
Um and then I moved across toMetricon and I was really
focused on the customer serviceside to start with.
And then, you know, that justevolved.
Always had a love and passionfor design and and interior
(02:48):
design.
But I I really just I reallyfocused in on that connection of
you know what we can do andwhat you know amazing designers
can do, but how how do wedeliver that for our customers?
Uh so that's where I landedbetween in this role that really
is the connection.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Yeah, I think it's so interesting because it what
what I want to get into in ourchat is how your designs can
really impact how Australianslive in their home.
Um so yeah, I think the thething with Metricon, and it's
quite mind-blowing that you'vegot 150 display homes around
Australia.
And that's so much.
That's just wild.
(03:24):
Um and what um what we're quiteinterested to know is this um
new sort of lookbook that youguys are currently working on.
And it's like a Bible ofdifferent styles.
So it's like the lookbook, itand am I right to say it pulls
together some of the mostpopular styles that your
customers around Australia areloving?
So that must be such afulfilling project to work on.
(03:46):
How do you develop thosestyles?
Speaker (03:48):
Yeah, I think I think the whole thing is rewarding
when you're looking at you knowwhat we do and and how designs
come to life, how they inspire.
The lookbook, and actually ourMetricon lookbook, it it starts
really with a lot of local andum global trend forecasting.
So we start to try and identifywhat do Australians love, how
do Australians live?
Um, and then each each look isa collaboration, not just with
(04:11):
our interior design team, but umwith our architectural
designers as well, given thatum, you know, we work so
closely.
So, and then we we go through,we combine, you know, fresh
trends, we look at what whatelse is timeless out there and
how how are we going to bringthat that enduring style through
to our customers.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
So um how and how did you just still all of those
before we started recording?
You mentioned you've got like350 different styles or
something.
Speaker (04:37):
350 different sort of floor plans and and and designs.
Um, yeah.
And then our current lookbookthat that we have at the moment,
I I don't I couldn't even giveyou the number of different
images over there.
There that's been collatedover, you know, 15 odd years of
presenting display homes.
And we've had some amazingaward-winning homes out there
over the time.
(04:58):
So what we've done is we'vecome up with our um new 2026
lookbook, and I think we've goteight or nine overarching
headstyles, and then underneaththat we've got about 19 or 20
expressions, is what we'recalling that.
And yeah, I mean, because it'sconfusing.
You ladies both know out thereand you're seeing customers and
um clients all the time.
(05:18):
It's just so confusing forsomebody to try, I guess,
pigeonhole what style they are.
Yeah, yeah.
And a lookbook is designed, youdon't need to be pigeonholed,
it has to be authentic to you aswell.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
And probably the location.
That's so important.
Yeah, for sure.
Like, because not allAustralians live exactly the
same way.
I mean, there's definitelysome, I guess, common things
that Australians tend to do,which is probably outdoor living
is probably one of the bigthings that connecting indoor
and outdoor.
But we all kind of havedifferent lives and different
family setups, and and that canchange just depending on where
(05:51):
you live as well.
Are there particular looks thatyou know resonate well with
different cities in Australia?
Speaker (05:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.
You know, some styles justnaturally align with the
geographic area or um or thedemographic area that they are,
you know, coastal, obviously,you know, it's no surprise that
really resonates withQueenslanders, but you know,
Nordic and Japandy um are reallyresonating, and we're seeing a
lot of that through our SouthAustralian and our Victorian,
(06:18):
um, through our Victoriancustomers.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Okay.
I think that's so fascinating,just regionally, what what
styles people are gravitatingto.
And, you know, it is sointeresting as you say, people
Brie and I, and probablyyourself, Lisa, definitely.
We live in a lovely littledesign bubble.
We live and breathe it, wethink about it all the time.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
So true.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
But you know, your average Australian, whatever
that means.
Probably not.
So it's when you ask clients,like if I have clients I work
with, they don't know what stylethey they like.
That's what they've come to mefor to figure that out.
So it might, it must be, itmust be great to be able to pull
together those key looks, thosekey styles.
And then you've got um thoseother expressions as well.
(07:01):
Because I think it's that thingwhere what is it?
It's like, uh, have you everstood like at the tomato sauce
aisle?
I just want tomato sauce.
I don't need a 50 differentvarieties.
I'm looking at them all and Ijust walk away because I can't
even decide.
Like, and it could be like thatwith all the houses.
If you go onto the website andthere's 350 different houses,
you can't even, you don't evenknow where to start.
(07:22):
So is that is that part of thereason why that is tomato sauce
as the random reference.
Speaker (07:29):
Yeah, I'm a little bit I'm a bit chocolate sauce.
I was just trying to picturemyself standing at the tomato
sauce aisle and trying to gaugewhat I am.
I'm like not so sure.
Maybe if I was selectingolives, I might be a bit more
confused.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
But um But I think the thing is I don't have a tr I
don't have a problem choosingthe right chocolate biscuits.
I know which ones I like.
But tomato sauce.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Oh, okay.
I don't know.
Because you don't know enoughabout it.
Is that what you're sort ofsaying?
Speaker 1 (07:56):
I don't know.
I really don't know what I'mtalking about.
Speaker (07:58):
But even as an experienced, even as an
experienced designer, do youstill have do you still have do
you still struggle to selectcertain items?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I do.
Yeah.
For myself, I would.
Probably not as much for otherpeople.
I think we've we've talkedabout this before.
For some reason, when it comesto my own um design, I find that
quite difficult to decide.
But I think if I was someonewho didn't know a lot about it,
and maybe they're just starting,like let's say they've come to
you, they know they want tobuild a home, they're only
(08:27):
really just starting to look atthings and and they only knew
kind of this much, like a tiny,a tiny amount.
And then they realize there'sso much more to choose from.
And then it becomes soimportant for them to work out
what they like because they canget overwhelmed with that,
right?
And then go down a path thatactually isn't really them, but
they just hadn't seen it beforeand maybe they do like it.
Speaker (08:48):
So yeah, yeah.
And that's where the lookbookis important because it really
empowers our customers and givesthem confidence in their
selections because they come in,they think they know what they
want.
They've done hours and hours ofresearch.
We all do that every night,don't we?
We're all spending on you knowsocial media and everywhere
else.
And they think they know whatthey want, but then there's
something that's just not quitefitting into you know the square
(09:11):
box for them.
So our lookbook is designed togive them the confidence that
this is their style.
But you know, there's all theseother expressions underneath
these styles.
And you don't have to fit intoone box.
You you you might cross over acouple of different paths.
So the lookbook is kind of likea guideline for them when they
come in.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
I can see that it would be so useful because
you're right.
We we could say, Oh, I I likethe aspects of this style here,
but then I also like the waythat this one has the da da da.
So not everyone's gonna justwant to pick from 10 different
types.
You've got to it's a good wayto explain.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
But it sort of allows a level of customization,
doesn't it?
Oh, I mean, you know, likewithin the yeah, yeah, the look
you want.
Yeah.
Speaker (09:53):
It gives them that confidence, as I said, but it's
also, you know, here's here's alot of in, you know, we've got a
they're quite curated enduringstyles.
Um, but you've got your ownpersonal style.
And that personal style is whatextracted from travel, family,
geographic, demographic.
So it it really just it, youknow, doesn't give them a
guideline.
(10:14):
It hits like a loop, it's likea loose lane, isn't it?
And then um they're they'reconfident when they walk out
that they haven't gone, youknow, too rogue, I guess, in in
their decision, and that andthey take and they take the
confidence that you know ourexperts know what they're doing
and they follow this look bulk.
So the end result is gonna beum exactly what they're after.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
And do they do you start um before they even come
in?
As you said, they're doing alot of research.
Do you sort of point them intothe lookbook beforehand and say,
have a look, see, you know,what kind of resonates with you
so that they have a startingpoint when they come in?
Speaker (10:47):
Yeah, yeah.
I mean, the first point ofcontact could be the website
where um where our lookbook 2026is going to sit.
So that'll be a great resource.
Display visitation, um, whereyou can really see all the
inspiration across these 150homes.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
I'm kind of excited to see it from myself.
I find all that stuff quite Ilove doing the whole, you know.
It's like taking the um theCosmo quiz or something, isn't
it?
You know, when you were youngerand you took the quiz?
Speaker (11:11):
The old, the the old oh you might do you remember the
old dolly quiz that you take.
I used to love those.
Yeah, it's been a great idea.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
We all knew what we were gonna get at the end, but
we still wanted someone out.
It's like it's the the thrillof someone else understanding
you.
That's what those quizzes are.
So you think there's anunderstanding.
So that's what you'representing them.
You're sort of when they whenthey get excited because they
find their style and they'relike, oh my god, this is me.
Then they're you're creatingthat connection, right?
That you understand what theywant.
Speaker (11:40):
Yeah, and it just gives you that, yeah.
I mean, I can't say the wordconfidence again, but you go,
Oh, actually, you know what?
I'm normal.
This is it, there this is it,this is.
I'm not just coming up withsomething that, you know, when
my friends and family come tovisit my home, they're not gonna
think, oh my gosh, what youknow, what is this?
Is this just a house full ofjoyful landfill or something
(12:01):
like that?
But it's it's something that'sgonna be enduring and it's gonna
be timeless, but still ontrend.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Yeah, it's still them as well.
I think people really like toput also a a name on their
style.
Like that, I think that helpsthem feel confident, as you say,
Lisa.
Speaker (12:16):
Yeah, it does definitely.
And because there's so much toselect from when you're coming
in to do when you're buildingwith uh any builder, but you
know, you're coming in throughsuch a big long process to make
one part of that as easy aspossible, you know, that's our
goal.
So yeah, the display visitationis their inspiration, the
lookbook online, and then theycome in through Studio M in in
(12:36):
each of our states, and youknow, the the lookbook will be
highly visible and they'llhopefully be able to take some,
you know, really simple quickquizzes and you know, answer
some questions and they'llunderstand, you know, what style
they're trying to achieve.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Yeah, and it's a good roadmap moving forward for all
of the other decisions they haveto make.
Yeah, yeah, that's it, Lauren.
Speaker (12:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
So when I look at the lookbook styles, is it okay if
I just read some of these out?
Because I think it might helppaint the picture.
So you've got moderncontemporary, you've got Palm
Springs, Beach House,mid-century, French Provincial,
Japandy, Nordic, Coastal Lux,Classic Hamptons.
And that was just a list whereyou've actually given me before
(13:15):
our chat all of the locationsyou can actually go all around
Australia and experience thoselooks.
I think I captured them allthere.
And they're they're veryconjuring, you know, like Palm
Springs.
It's so very, oh, it justbrings to mind such a strong
image of lifestyle, sunshine,relaxation, like and
(13:36):
entertaining sort of spaces.
Like, yeah, the names thatyou've you've come up with,
they're really, they're reallygreat.
Speaker (13:41):
Yeah, and I think they're relatable.
I think palm, I think PalmSprings is everything that you
said then, and it's playful, andyou can have a play with
colour, which uh, you know, alot of people are scared to do,
but they can do that in just asmall way by it might just be
the colour of the front door.
Yeah.
And and might just be a fewdecor items throughout the
inside.
So I think the night thelanguage and the naming
(14:04):
conventions that we've come upwith, our customers um will find
it easy to follow and easy touse.
But also the the styles and thethe expressions underneath,
they're not so far out therethat you've got to, you know, go
and chat GBT to understand whatit means.
So you're gonna resonatestraight away.
It's aspirational and it'sinspirational at the same time.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
And um I love the yeah, the simplicity of it.
I think that's well, notsimplicity, but I think the the
recognizable names is reallyimportant so that exactly that
we don't have to be an expert ininterior styles to know what
it's talking about.
And the fact that, you know,you would have I assume
photography of each one of thosehomes that it represents too.
(14:48):
So they've got great examplesand not just kind of conceptual
examples, so they can actuallysee how it plays out in real
life, right?
Speaker (14:54):
Yeah, we've got some amazing new photography that
we're about to launch, which isreally exciting.
And and yeah, it is it is asimple and easy tool to use.
It was also really for ourwhole team of really experienced
designers, it was it was areally great process because it
really made us look and questionand say, well, is that is that
right?
Is that something that acustomer's gonna resonate with?
(15:17):
Is that style and thatexpression so far out there that
it's not gonna be suited to anyanywhere in Australia?
Like, you know, it's so it waslike a process of elimination to
work out, well, how doAustralians live?
And we get all that informationfrom, you know, constant
surveys and visitation throughiStudio.
So we we understand we do havea really like in-depth
understanding of how Australianslive and what our customers do
(15:39):
want, and that really fed intohow we structure it.
So simplicity was the key.
We needed simplicity, we neededsimplicity for us because this
lookbook isn't just a tool forour customers either.
This is a tool that we'refollowing and using for our
display interior team.
Yeah, gives you that footprint.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Yeah, and sometimes I think designers have a knack
for overcomplicating things.
Yeah, definitely.
And um, I think it's reallyimportant to, you know, speak to
who these families are that aregoing to be, you know, trying
to work out for the first timeperhaps, or even for the second,
third time, you know, you don'tgo and buy a house every day.
(16:18):
You're not worded up in thedesigners speak.
So you really, I think theseare really great to the point
descriptions.
So you mentioned then that youhave like customer surveys, like
what are some of the ways thatyou get a read on what people
are wanting in their homes?
Speaker (16:32):
Yeah, we gather direct feedback from our customers if
they're coming through,particularly our studio, our
studio M showrooms.
Um, that's probably the bestpoint of feedback that we get in
relation to what interiordesign our customers would like
to see.
We do follow um design and andtrend style shifts, obviously.
Um, working from home,multi-gen living, you know,
(16:54):
trends change, as you know,could be global economic um
uncertainty in the world, andthat just drives everything.
So we do a lot, we do a lot ofresearch around the trends and
the shifting trends.
So just to keep everything upto date in our lookbook, make
sure that our display homes areon point.
And so customers, when they'recoming to try and pick their
style, they're seeing whatthey're gonna get.
(17:15):
And you know, there's lots ofthings that are evolving.
You know, home theaters arestill really popular, but they
need to become a multi-usespace, perhaps.
They need to be able to turninto a home gym or a home
wellness center or a study spacefor our children.
So adaptability.
Um, yeah, we're just constantlylooking at how at how
everything goes, listening toyou guys on podcasts.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
We are a wealth of information.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
I was curious about that home theater actually,
because um I wondered if it wasstill something that people are
wanting, because um I feel likethere is a bit of a shift from
sitting down watching one screencollectively.
We all sit down and watch onescreen.
Whereas even in my family, Isee that everyone's on their own
laptop screen device.
(18:00):
Like, yeah, so I was wondering,I think that's uh makes sense
as you're saying to make thathome theater a multi-purpose
space that can adapt.
Speaker (18:08):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
I have I have a suggestion for you for a room.
Okay.
A podcast studio.
We need a podcast studio.
Speaker (18:16):
Yeah, that is a great suggestion.
You know, we do and um we wehave such a diverse customer
base as well.
So, you know, outdoor cooking,prayer rooms, um, the wellness
space is massive at the moment.
And you're right, podcastrecording studios.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Write that down.
Speaker (18:36):
Well, I've had cupboard with good lighting.
Yeah, with good lighting.
Well, even when you think aboutwork from home, when you think
about work from home and thelighting, I mean if we've all
sat on a team meeting and gosh,my gosh, I just look, I I need I
need something here, but youknow, like the right lighting
would be perfect.
It changes everything.
And the right acoustics.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Nice backdrop.
Yeah, we'll we can talk aboutlighting till the cows come home
cut when you're in a cow andhow to get it, how to get it
right.
But I think flexibility andadaptability are probably two of
the biggest, I guess, yeah,things that have changed, right?
And are we still seeing um theother thing that we will talk
about is like, you know, butlerspantries and and really big
(19:17):
homes.
Are they is there a shifttowards smaller footprints or
are we looking at still quitelarge homes, or are they because
they're multi-generational?
Like what are the what's thesort of direction there?
Speaker (19:29):
The probably the only shift towards smaller homes is
the size of land availabilityand the affordability issue,
which for us is a builder ismassive.
Customers still, I mean, youknow, they still want that
kitchen that has the beautifulappliances and the as much space
as possible.
Butler's pantries are stillactually, you know, in demand.
So despite footprints, youknow, reducing, people still
(19:52):
like to have that butler'spantry, the option to room to
move everything out behind soyou can't see what's going on
while you're entertaining.
It's still popular.
But I mean, with forecastingand looking ahead,
multi-generation is going to behuge.
And trying to fit um all thatspace into a smaller footprint
on a smaller block of land isgoing to be difficult.
Particularly to, you know,you're trying to uh you know
(20:14):
meet livability criteria.
So we're thinking aboutaccessibility for for for
customers.
So yeah, it all comes intoplay.
We still love lots of texture,lots of finishes in those
kitchens, but like, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Um, just for for the the layman who when we talk
about livability, that's that'smaking sure that you can, I
guess, stay in uh plan to sortof stay in place, isn't it, as
you as you age?
Speaker (20:38):
Yeah.
Can you just explain a littlebit about how that plays into
I'm not an expert on it, butjust so um basically it's it's
about aging in aging in place.
So that you know, obviously, aswe uh as the population's
grown, there's just not that thefacilities out there.
So I guess the government cameup with the concept that if we
build homes that can cater for,you know, mobility and
(21:00):
wheelchair issues, et cetera, aswe all age, um, then it'll be
less of a strain in the futureand and you'll be able to stay
in your home.
So which would be nice, youknow.
You see the older generationand they've got to move on.
It's gonna be a long timeuntil, you know, all the
Australi all Australian homesare have that accessibility
feature.
But I I I believe it's greatthat we're at least looking at
(21:21):
it now and doing something aboutit.
It does limit some of thedesign constraints that design,
you know, this designconstraints that you have around
the home, but it's likeanything, once it's introduced
in a few years' time, it's justgonna be the norm.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Yeah, I was pretty um pretty shocked actually when um
I attended your MetriconSummit.
What was it actually calledagain?
Speaker (21:41):
The Metricon Masters of Design, uh Metricon Design
Summit that we had, yeah, backin 24, which was the first one
we'd ever held.
Um and that was on the back ofall the NCC and livability work
that we've been doing or ourdesign team have been doing.
They'd spent a couple of yearsjust locked in a room, redoes,
you know, redesigning our plansto suit these new regulations.
(22:02):
So the design summit was thesort of first chance to come out
and have a look and what are wedoing in the future and what's
going to happen with designinteriors as we move forward.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Yeah, it was it was such a great all of your design
team gathering in Tasmania.
It was it was amazing.
My mind was blown that everysingle floor plan you had to
adapt to meet that new criteria,which was uh one of the ones
that um I remember was just aramp into the front door.
Like it's so impactful on somany floor plans.
(22:35):
And I guess does that read intoyou know wider doors and as you
were saying before, likeaccessible bathrooms?
But then sometimes some ofthese things don't make sense if
it's an upstairs bathroom andyou can't even get up there in a
wheelchair if you wanted to,like a few little loopholes that
aren't quite closed up, butyeah, it's uh so uh must have
(22:56):
been the most enormousundertaking to tick all those
boxes and yeah, it was anenormous undertaking, and that's
why it's nice that now we'rebehind that and we really were
ahead of the curve, and youknow, and it's nice now that
we're behind that and we'refocusing on design because you
know we've got this massivecreative team across our
architectural and interiordesigns across all of our
(23:18):
states.
Speaker (23:18):
So for them to be able to actually use their skills now
and design for the for thefuture in a creative way is you
know it's great.
It's it's been um it's been areally good 12 months.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
And um, you know, you mentioned before, I was so
curious because you know,Metricon is such a big, you
know, volume builder inAustralia, everybody knows it.
And I I started thinking aboutyou know different uh different
cultures within Australia andhow you design for that.
Could you just touch on that abit?
Like we sort of talked aboutmulti-generational living, and I
mean that's probably more morecultures kind of live like that
(23:49):
than others.
What else does MetroCon kind oflook at?
Speaker (23:53):
You know, Australia is a really diverse country, and so
I guess that's really quiteexciting from a design and
interiors point of view, is thatwe're delivering for a really
diverse range of cultures andpeople throughout throughout our
full building state.
So that's where we we reallyneed to make sure that you know
our layouts and our styling isadaptable, um, that it's that it
doesn't pigeonhole anybody.
(24:14):
We really want to ensure thatevery family is seen and that
they're comfortable that so thateveryone is comfortable in a
metricon home.
Yeah.
And yeah, the the diversity isexciting in Australia.
I think we're really lucky.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
It's cool.
I do too.
That's what makes us Australia,in my opinion.
I agree, Brie.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Even the outdoor kitchens, you know, that's in
terms of Western culture,probably uh northern European,
it's not really a thing.
But then, you know, you thinkabout uh maybe Italian cooking,
and that's very normal to cookoutside in Asian culture.
It's outdoor cooking.
So I feel like that's somethingthat a lot of cultures have
been doing for a long time.
And I think maybe may some ofthe more Western or Northern
(24:52):
Europe northern Europeancultures have gone, oh, this is
such a great thing.
It's beyond just barbecuing,it's an outdoor kitchen and it's
in a whole extended livingarea.
Um and you see that a lot inMetricon homes.
And you mentioned like a prayerroom as well.
I've never, I've never known ofa home to have a prayer room
before.
Speaker (25:08):
Yeah, well, I mean, we get all we get lots of these
requests.
So that's why we really need tomake sure that our design and
style is really adaptable.
And it's not just being anoutdoor kitchen, as you
mentioned, it's actually anoutdoor living space.
It's an extended space from theindoor to the outdoor.
We like to make sure that itfeels completely connected as
you go from one to the other.
Um it feels like you're noteven stepping outside.
(25:30):
It's just so open out, youknow, with our designs being so
open with open plan living.
And then, you know, we wereally show customers how you
can move from your indoorkitchen through your family to
your outdoor living space,straight into your garden.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Oh, how beautiful.
Yeah.
And I love that connection.
Yeah.
It's fun.
I always find it fun to evenjust like go through some
display homes just to see, youknow, they're obviously kind of
put together, so they're kind ofthe elite best version of
themselves, the display homes.
It's so fun to walk through andsee for me, like how far a lot
(26:03):
of that has come in terms ofreally having a great
understanding of like just theflow and how um a floor plan
works.
Like, I get quite excited aboutby that stuff.
Floor plans, like I I couldeven just looking them at them
on the website.
I love looking at floor plansand just seeing, you know, how
something's been broughttogether.
But it's always so exciting tosee it, you know, in a display
(26:24):
home as well.
Speaker (26:25):
Yeah, I love it too, Brie.
And you know, I spend a lot oftime in our display homes.
And you know, but it'simportant too that our display
homes are so curated and wecreate these beautiful homes so
people can actually see how theycan live.
But when you're doing your ownhome, you're not staging it like
that.
Um you know, your home isfilled with all your artifacts
that you've collected on yourtravels and it's inspired by
(26:47):
your fashion and your love ofarchitecture and whatever it is.
So, you know, the displayhome's beautiful.
We encourage obviously lots ofvisitors, and we do get a lot of
visitors that even aren'tlooking at building a home,
they're renovating.
They might come to one of ourdisplays to have a look at the
landscaping.
Um yeah, of course.
Yeah, but they're but they're agreat, I mean, they're a real
life living visual tool that youcan walk through.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
And and how rare?
Like, I mean, when else can youjust like look snoop around
someone's house?
Yeah, so something quite funabout that to have a lot of.
Speaker (27:16):
Yeah, like you go in and look at a home and think,
I'm not sure what kind oflighter or artwork or what color
sofa should I get.
I don't want just a cream sofa.
Yeah, um, you know, what otherfabrics can I put with it?
It's like where.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Do you have a personal favorite or favorite
style?
Speaker (27:30):
Or is it like probably I'm probably quite contemporary,
but I'm also a little bittransient.
You know, I I kind of getcaught up in some of the latest
styles and I love it.
Same.
And and it's I guess I have tobe a little bit because
otherwise I'd be directing andsort of, you know, we'd be going
down the same path with all ofour with all of our displays.
So yeah, you've got to be open.
(27:52):
Yeah, I love, I love Japan.
I love the warmth and thesimplicity around that.
I think you know, there's somany times in our lives that you
just create that you, you know,you crave that calm, simple
life.
So that kind of tends, Ireckon, to, you know, lead me
down to a style that I like atthe time.
My home's contemporary, butyeah, I mean, it's it's probably
my favorite.
It's a safety, it's a safetystyle, isn't it?
(28:14):
Yeah.
There's so many expressionsunderneath that that you can
use.
So true.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
And can you talk about the wellness?
You sort of touched on thatbefore.
How are people wanting toinclude a sense of wellness in
their home?
Speaker (28:27):
People are really wanting that space that they can
probably separate from from therest of their home and um, you
know, for the yoga mats andtheir Pilates boards and and
everything else.
So um people like to be able toaccess sort of one of those
rooms and walk straight out intoa pool.
It's really it's just about thequiet time.
(28:48):
It's about the shutdown space.
It's important, you know, youcan have those rooms and not
even have any power in them sothat you know you could
disconnect it from the rest ofthe house.
So you don't have white.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
What about my phone?
Yeah, but it is.
Or maybe just like we need likea blocker.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
I thought just like when you go in, you start power,
but it doesn't allow connectionto the outside.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
I probably actually do really need that to be
honest, like just to have aspace where you can see.
Speaker (29:15):
But see, that's what you need a recording studio for
your podcast.
So you can go from you know,full digital social media onto
um on into a room where you canreally unwind and relax.
Yeah, we're just seeing it comethrough as just a bigger trend
at the moment.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
And what about in terms of um bathroom spaces?
Does that kind of merge into uhyou know?
Speaker 3 (29:38):
Yeah, there was a point there where bathrooms
became quite big, right?
And then they almost became thewellness space and not just a
kind of functional, but theyactually, you know, wanted a
little chair in there or a seator somewhere you would actually
relax and wind down and do allthe rituals.
Speaker (29:54):
Yeah, more of a it was almost like a at home spa.
And you know, one of our um oneof our new styles in the
lookbook is um escape and sounderneath that we're just
looking at what you know whatwe're going to put in under that
one at the moment and thatwhole retreat is really big
everyone wants to feel likethey're on a holiday and if you
(30:16):
design your bathroom so it'syour own you know at-home
resorts bar you get to do thator have that opportunity each
weekend sounds like heaven yeahit does sound it does heaven
yeah um you know you mentionedbefore that people will come to
the display homes to even ifthey're renovating just for
ideas so how important is thatstyling aspect decor furniture
(30:39):
yeah it it is really importantyou know it's getting the right
balance though don't want to youdon't want to over style I mean
custom you know people thatvisit um at a spray homes want
to feel like they can live thereyou know they might not go they
might not go to the excess ofusing cushions with full detail
on it because that might notnecessarily work with the
children when they're throwingthe cushion cushions or you know
(31:01):
the partner when they screw thecushion up and put it under
their head to watch TV.
But um yeah we um it isimportant it's important that a
customer can understand howtheir home will look and how and
the styling in our homes is akey is a key part in that but
you also don't want it to bepolarizing either.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Well that's yeah that that would be hard can make or
break it couldn't it as in likewhether you feel like you could
live there.
Because there's this there'sthis fine line I think where
people people who can'tvisualize and then you show them
something if it's not the thingthat they connect to sometimes
it can push them away from thatidea instead of kind of because
they're not able to kind ofthink through oh but we don't
(31:42):
have to have this exact XXX oreven if it comes down to
finishes etc that are in adisplay home.
So it can be really trickysometimes to keep it broad and
yet um hit a style that you'retrying to represent and also
still feel like it could be ahome and not too stylized.
Like it is a real skill Ithink.
Speaker (32:00):
Yeah yeah you don't want to overstyle do you yeah
yeah and you know great stylingcan or bad styling can make or
break a really good floor plan.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Yeah totally I agree.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
But as you say Lisa there's that um there's that
tipping point of it lookingamazing very tightly presented
and then looking unlivablepeople are like oh God I can't
even like be myself in here likeit's too it's too uptight.
Like there's sort of like atipping point there like
obviously you're not gonna haveuh family photos on there
because it's not a real homeit's it is a display home so can
(32:35):
I just touch on we were talkingabout styling and how important
that is in the display homes.
Speaker (32:40):
How when you're approaching the styling sort of
how what is it that you'retrying to are you trying to get
the customer to have a certainfeeling yeah I mean it's
essential isn't it it helpspeople imagine how they live in
that space be you want it to beaspirational but achievable
achievable um you know use lotsof textures and more than
practical layouts but but whenyou over style it as we just
(33:03):
talked about it can just feelstaged and and not a home that
you can live in and greatstyling tells a story.
It show it it it shows it showshow your home can feel not just
how it looks and we know thatthat's the important thing how
do you feel not how it looks sotrue that emotive connection
yeah and you're in you you gotthem you hooked them in do you
(33:26):
have like a do you have like acustomer avatar or some someone
in mind like specifically whenyou're styling like a family and
they with a son or daughter orsomething I don't know.
Yeah definitely yeah yeahabsolutely and that is almost
and that's really you knowgeographically dependent on
where the display home is youknow we know that if we're
styling a home in um an estateor an area that really is and I
(33:51):
don't want to use the term youknow you know two parents two
kids but but you know that's thesort of that that's kind of
what you have in mind and we'llgo well this is an area where
there is lots of young familieswas probably is probably the
best term to use where there isyoung families we you we style a
lot of nurseries we love doingnurseries they're so fun and a
lot of kids' rooms because youcan really have a bit of fun
(34:12):
even in a home that that is alittle bit more toned down.
So yeah we we do think aboutwho the potential um visitors
would be to this home um andwhat the target market is.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
Yeah and I'm sure you'd have so much data on that
so you know they're walking inand they're like this is our
home this is my room this isyour room this is where I'm
gonna do this and this is whereI'm gonna when we have our um
gatherings our you know takethat don't you oh you totally do
that like I remember doing thatwith as a kid even like okay so
(34:45):
then this is what we would dohere and oh this would be my
room and you'd find it no thisis my room I want this room yeah
yeah and when my friends comeover this is where we're gonna
hang out yeah and this is wheremum and dad need to be when my
friends come over you go throughall of that.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
The other end of the house.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Yeah the door closed yeah no definitely I do think
that um you know as we said thatthe styling can absolutely make
or break that connection so youcan have the best floor plan
and then the wrong styling andthey and you just miss the
opportunity of connecting tothat person when they're walking
(35:20):
through the home the styling iskind of the layer that creates
I guess the more emotionalresponse to a space because you
love the way it feels and if itwas just an empty home would
just you'd never get that evenwith great finishes you still
wouldn't have that kind of finalfeeling and creating that I
guess total mood and connection.
Speaker 1 (35:41):
Yeah you need it's like the jewelry on top isn't it
yeah isn't it funny that thoseare the things that people could
really connect with emotionallybut they don't come with the
house though.
You don't that's true though,isn't it?
Speaker (35:56):
Yeah do people have a lot of the fun that's part of
the fun going out and having alook and seeing what's out there
and if you've got if you've gota good base and you and you
know where your hard finishes isare going to end up it does
help.
I mean yeah we do sorry whatdid you ask oh you asked Lauren
if we do do um offer that um insome of our higher segments
(36:17):
because we build from you knowfirst home buyers and investment
builders through to foreverhomes or downsizers we do um we
do have with with a fewcompanies to offer that extra
service but you know that's partof that's a part of the fun for
people.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Definitely and I mean as you said for inspiration you
know people think think oh weneed a neutral sofa but then
they see a beautiful blue sofaand they're like that that
sounds wild in my head to say acolored sofa but when I see it
in a space it's absolutelybeautiful and it makes sense so
it's yeah giving thatinspiration to people as well um
(36:53):
good style and good design iswhat you remember when you walk
out of a home and you it needsto be tailored to how you live.
Speaker (37:00):
Yeah do you live in a rural area do you live you know
in the city and yeah you can'thave it definitely can't have it
over style and staged nobodylives like that.
We don't live like that.
I've tried that at home um we'dgo crazy if we all tried to
live like that and keep ourhomes exactly like that every
day.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
Totally I don't think I could do it even if I lived
on my own I'd still make a mess.
Speaker (37:21):
Yeah or you just move it from room to room don't you
so make sure you think aboutyour storage.
So when you're moving your messfrom room to room you've got
plenty of storage to do that.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
Yeah um I'm curious when you're when you're going
through and I guess finalizingthis new lookbook and all the
styles and stages obviouslythere's a lot of discussion
about what stayed and what goador what went what got kind of
thrown out what goad I'm makingup words about.
It's really natural to me atthe time too I like the
(37:54):
confidence that you just um whatI guess was there anything that
you were surprised that stayedor do you feel like it's all or
you know that you thought wouldhave had its time that has
become kind of a classic look.
Can I say Hamptons?
Speaker 2 (38:10):
I was about to say I reckon that'd be Hamptons we're
a bit sick of it.
Like what's but it has become aclassic style hasn't it so
classic.
Speaker (38:18):
I think it's merged now it's a close door Hamptons
isn't it so yes not as uptight.
No the buzzword was Hamptonsbut that's you know really over
style like oversized furnitureand a lot of dark pieces and you
know when you think about yougoing on a summer holiday to the
Hamptons and you've watched youknow we've all watched those
shows on Netflix.
(38:39):
But I think I'm so I'm notsurprised sorry that Hamptons is
still around yeah but I'msurprised at how many people are
still asking for it.
But when you look at whatthey're trying to achieve it's
really a coastal version of theHamptons.
Speaker 3 (38:55):
Just because Hamptons is on the coast over there it's
really a coastal style is it noit's far more decorative and
uptight I use the word uptightmeaning it's it's not a formal
yeah whereas I think theAustralian version of Hamptons
is far more coastal.
And I think people can get abit confused by it.
(39:16):
I think what they love aboutthe idea of Hamptons and this is
just my opinion is that it hasa I guess a freshness about it
from the Australian version.
There is sort of like whitesand blues and pale timbers and
and you know flowing blindsthrough the breeze of the
coastal air or whatever.
I don't know.
Speaker (39:34):
Yeah you said that really well holiday ish maybe is
the yeah yeah it's how we wantto live isn't it we want to live
like I said before we want tolive on holidays we want to live
in the resort.
Yeah um so yeah Hamptons Ithink Hamptons is evolving
that's what we're seeing andthat's what we're definitely
doing.
So but you know this is wherelookbook helps a customer when
they come in and they sayHamptons when they start working
(39:56):
through it.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
You're not really you're coastal yeah yeah um I
watched um something's got togive the other week Diane Keaton
that was a bit sad to hear myfavorite it was the interiors I
was like pausing it I was sayingto my daughters look at this
look at this kitchen howgorgeous is it they're like it's
not really my style and I meanit's not really it's not a
(40:17):
hundred percent my style but Iabsolutely love it and
appreciate it and I and and it'sno surprise that those movies
oh who's the um who's thedirector again I can't remember
anyway they are so iconic youwatch those films director yeah
it's kind of annoying I wastrying to yeah and then you're
like I want to live like that Iwant white walls I want white
(40:37):
linen sofas I want to the sightlines from room to room like
they just move through nicelybig pitched ceilings um hat and
that's that's a that's alocation specific to New York in
America.
But I feel like you know inAustralia we have kind of made
it our own style which is whatyeah we call it the Hamptons
look and it definitely you doget that Australian version of
(40:59):
it conjures in your mind andit's probably a bit of the
shiplap it is the whites it'sfresh it's a subway dial but uh
yeah and it's no surprise thatit's so popular because it it
also has a sense of familiaritylike it feels comfortable it
feels like home even if has itbecome nostalgic yeah maybe it
has it's sort of messed like seethis is a thing like I'm gonna
(41:22):
throw the word sophisticatedit's like a sophisticated
coastal isn't it yes yeah somaybe more refined it's it's
moved into that isn't it funnyhow I feel like there's a
there's a stage where somethingcan feel dated and then it moves
into nostalgic which is thepositive version of dated yeah
yeah and do you think that'swhere a style such as like
mid-century modern which ishaving a real comeback now in
(41:46):
our world it is anyway sobecause that was dated for a
while but it's like the cycle ofeverything it's a cycle of
fashion isn't it it so is trueyeah yeah very cyclic.
Speaker 3 (41:54):
Yeah uh wow yeah so good Lisa thank you so much for
our chat well thank you thanksfor having me I've been super
interesting to hear about Iguess things that we already
know but like just like talkingabout all those different styles
and how impactful that is onAustralian living is yeah huge
super huge.
Speaker 1 (42:14):
So this this new lookbook when can we sort of be
when can we kind of see that?
When's that going to belaunched do you know?
Speaker (42:21):
We'll be launching January 26th.
Okay so soon exciting so verysoon yeah we've just finished
you know ph photographing someof our amazing new displays
we've hoped opened over the lastfew months so we've got some
beautiful photography and it'sso exciting.
Cool um yeah look out for it atthe beginning of next year.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
Beautiful can't wait to see it Lisa nicely done thank
you thank you ladies and thanksfor having me.
You're welcome thanks for thechat we've got the utmost
respect for the Wurundjeripeople of the Kulin Nation.
They're the OG custodians ofthis unceded land and its waters
where we set up shop, createand call home and come to you
(43:03):
from this podcast today.
A big shout out to all of theamazing elders who have walked
before us, those leading the wayin the present and the emerging
leaders who will carry thetorch into the future.
We're just lucky to be on thisjourney together.
Welcome to Design Anatomy, the interior design
podcast hosted by friends andfellow designers, me, Lauren LI,
and me, Bree Banfield, withsome amazing guest appearances
along the way.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
We're here to break down everything from current
trends to timeless style.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
With a shared passion for joyful, colour-filled, and
lived-in spaces, we're excitedto share our insights and
inspirations with you.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Yes, and in this episode, we are getting a look
behind the curtain of what it'slike to shape the way
Australians live or how theyaspire to live in their homes.
We've got a special guesttoday, haven't we, Lauren?
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah, so this is Lisa.
Hi Lisa.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Hi.
Hey Lisa.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
And it's very likely that you have been in one of
their homes, or maybe you evenlive in one.
Their ethos is love where youlive, which is something that we
believe in wholeheartedly aswell.
They are hugely influential inhow Australians live in their
homes every day.
Their homes celebrate familylife and we love that.
So, yes, it is Australia'sfavourite volume builder,
(01:08):
Metricon.
So today we are talking to LisaGoodsall, the National Display
Home and Studio M retail managerat Metricon.
Welcome, Lisa.
Hi, thank you for having me.
Thanks for being here.
Um yeah, I mean, it's prettyincredible when you think about,
you know, the impact of avolume builder like Metricon has
(01:29):
just on the Australianlandscape as a whole.
And, you know, I think it ispretty fair to say if we haven't
been in a Metricon home, wedefinitely know of Metricon.
So I guess to get started, I'djust be curious, like from your
background, how did you, what'syour role in Metricon and how
did you sort of move into thatrole?
Speaker (01:46):
Yeah, so I lead the Studio M retail um retail team
and oversee the design directionfor um, I think we've got 150
displays open nationally at themoment.
So, and that's constantlygrowing across four states South
Australia, New South Wales,Victoria, and of course
Queensland.
My role connects design withwith our customers and how they
(02:06):
truly live.
So it's a connection betweenour displays and and our studio
and showrooms.
And I've been here for a longtime, 22 years yesterday,
actually.
Oh wow.
Congratulations.
Yeah, that's amazing.
Yeah.
So I mean, I think I just Ijust love the building industry.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Yeah, right.
How did you find your way intoMetricon?
Speaker (02:25):
I started in um with another builder and and I was
there for about five, six yearsand realized that I actually did
love the building industry.
I loved, I loved everythingabout the building industry.
Um and then I moved across toMetricon and I was really
focused on the customer serviceside to start with.
And then, you know, that justevolved.
Always had a love and passionfor design and and interior
(02:48):
design.
But I I really just I reallyfocused in on that connection of
you know what we can do andwhat you know amazing designers
can do, but how how do wedeliver that for our customers?
Uh so that's where I landedbetween in this role that really
is the connection.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Yeah, I think it's so interesting because it what
what I want to get into in ourchat is how your designs can
really impact how Australianslive in their home.
Um so yeah, I think the thething with Metricon, and it's
quite mind-blowing that you'vegot 150 display homes around
Australia.
And that's so much.
That's just wild.
(03:24):
Um and what um what we're quiteinterested to know is this um
new sort of lookbook that youguys are currently working on.
And it's like a Bible ofdifferent styles.
So it's like the lookbook, itand am I right to say it pulls
together some of the mostpopular styles that your
customers around Australia areloving?
So that must be such afulfilling project to work on.
(03:46):
How do you develop thosestyles?
Speaker (03:48):
Yeah, I think I think the whole thing is rewarding
when you're looking at you knowwhat we do and and how designs
come to life, how they inspire.
The lookbook, and actually ourMetricon lookbook, it it starts
really with a lot of local andum global trend forecasting.
So we start to try and identifywhat do Australians love, how
do Australians live?
Um, and then each each look isa collaboration, not just with
(04:11):
our interior design team, but umwith our architectural
designers as well, given thatum, you know, we work so
closely.
So, and then we we go through,we combine, you know, fresh
trends, we look at what whatelse is timeless out there and
how how are we going to bringthat that enduring style through
to our customers.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
So um how and how did you just still all of those
before we started recording?
You mentioned you've got like350 different styles or
something.
Speaker (04:37):
350 different sort of floor plans and and and designs.
Um, yeah.
And then our current lookbookthat that we have at the moment,
I I don't I couldn't even giveyou the number of different
images over there.
There that's been collatedover, you know, 15 odd years of
presenting display homes.
And we've had some amazingaward-winning homes out there
over the time.
(04:58):
So what we've done is we'vecome up with our um new 2026
lookbook, and I think we've goteight or nine overarching
headstyles, and then underneaththat we've got about 19 or 20
expressions, is what we'recalling that.
And yeah, I mean, because it'sconfusing.
You ladies both know out thereand you're seeing customers and
um clients all the time.
(05:18):
It's just so confusing forsomebody to try, I guess,
pigeonhole what style they are.
Yeah, yeah.
And a lookbook is designed, youdon't need to be pigeonholed,
it has to be authentic to you aswell.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
And probably the location.
That's so important.
Yeah, for sure.
Like, because not allAustralians live exactly the
same way.
I mean, there's definitelysome, I guess, common things
that Australians tend to do,which is probably outdoor living
is probably one of the bigthings that connecting indoor
and outdoor.
But we all kind of havedifferent lives and different
family setups, and and that canchange just depending on where
(05:51):
you live as well.
Are there particular looks thatyou know resonate well with
different cities in Australia?
Speaker (05:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.
You know, some styles justnaturally align with the
geographic area or um or thedemographic area that they are,
you know, coastal, obviously,you know, it's no surprise that
really resonates withQueenslanders, but you know,
Nordic and Japandy um are reallyresonating, and we're seeing a
lot of that through our SouthAustralian and our Victorian,
(06:18):
um, through our Victoriancustomers.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Okay.
I think that's so fascinating,just regionally, what what
styles people are gravitatingto.
And, you know, it is sointeresting as you say, people
Brie and I, and probablyyourself, Lisa, definitely.
We live in a lovely littledesign bubble.
We live and breathe it, wethink about it all the time.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
So true.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
But you know, your average Australian, whatever
that means.
Probably not.
So it's when you ask clients,like if I have clients I work
with, they don't know what stylethey they like.
That's what they've come to mefor to figure that out.
So it might, it must be, itmust be great to be able to pull
together those key looks, thosekey styles.
And then you've got um thoseother expressions as well.
(07:01):
Because I think it's that thingwhere what is it?
It's like, uh, have you everstood like at the tomato sauce
aisle?
I just want tomato sauce.
I don't need a 50 differentvarieties.
I'm looking at them all and Ijust walk away because I can't
even decide.
Like, and it could be like thatwith all the houses.
If you go onto the website andthere's 350 different houses,
you can't even, you don't evenknow where to start.
(07:22):
So is that is that part of thereason why that is tomato sauce
as the random reference.
Speaker (07:29):
Yeah, I'm a little bit I'm a bit chocolate sauce.
I was just trying to picturemyself standing at the tomato
sauce aisle and trying to gaugewhat I am.
I'm like not so sure.
Maybe if I was selectingolives, I might be a bit more
confused.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
But um But I think the thing is I don't have a tr I
don't have a problem choosingthe right chocolate biscuits.
I know which ones I like.
But tomato sauce.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Oh, okay.
I don't know.
Because you don't know enoughabout it.
Is that what you're sort ofsaying?
Speaker 1 (07:56):
I don't know.
I really don't know what I'mtalking about.
Speaker (07:58):
But even as an experienced, even as an
experienced designer, do youstill have do you still have do
you still struggle to selectcertain items?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I do.
Yeah.
For myself, I would.
Probably not as much for otherpeople.
I think we've we've talkedabout this before.
For some reason, when it comesto my own um design, I find that
quite difficult to decide.
But I think if I was someonewho didn't know a lot about it,
and maybe they're just starting,like let's say they've come to
you, they know they want tobuild a home, they're only
(08:27):
really just starting to look atthings and and they only knew
kind of this much, like a tiny,a tiny amount.
And then they realize there'sso much more to choose from.
And then it becomes soimportant for them to work out
what they like because they canget overwhelmed with that,
right?
And then go down a path thatactually isn't really them, but
they just hadn't seen it beforeand maybe they do like it.
Speaker (08:48):
So yeah, yeah.
And that's where the lookbookis important because it really
empowers our customers and givesthem confidence in their
selections because they come in,they think they know what they
want.
They've done hours and hours ofresearch.
We all do that every night,don't we?
We're all spending on you knowsocial media and everywhere
else.
And they think they know whatthey want, but then there's
something that's just not quitefitting into you know the square
(09:11):
box for them.
So our lookbook is designed togive them the confidence that
this is their style.
But you know, there's all theseother expressions underneath
these styles.
And you don't have to fit intoone box.
You you you might cross over acouple of different paths.
So the lookbook is kind of likea guideline for them when they
come in.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
I can see that it would be so useful because
you're right.
We we could say, Oh, I I likethe aspects of this style here,
but then I also like the waythat this one has the da da da.
So not everyone's gonna justwant to pick from 10 different
types.
You've got to it's a good wayto explain.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
But it sort of allows a level of customization,
doesn't it?
Oh, I mean, you know, likewithin the yeah, yeah, the look
you want.
Yeah.
Speaker (09:53):
It gives them that confidence, as I said, but it's
also, you know, here's here's alot of in, you know, we've got a
they're quite curated enduringstyles.
Um, but you've got your ownpersonal style.
And that personal style is whatextracted from travel, family,
geographic, demographic.
So it it really just it, youknow, doesn't give them a
guideline.
(10:14):
It hits like a loop, it's likea loose lane, isn't it?
And then um they're they'reconfident when they walk out
that they haven't gone, youknow, too rogue, I guess, in in
their decision, and that andthey take and they take the
confidence that you know ourexperts know what they're doing
and they follow this look bulk.
So the end result is gonna beum exactly what they're after.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
And do they do you start um before they even come
in?
As you said, they're doing alot of research.
Do you sort of point them intothe lookbook beforehand and say,
have a look, see, you know,what kind of resonates with you
so that they have a startingpoint when they come in?
Speaker (10:47):
Yeah, yeah.
I mean, the first point ofcontact could be the website
where um where our lookbook 2026is going to sit.
So that'll be a great resource.
Display visitation, um, whereyou can really see all the
inspiration across these 150homes.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
I'm kind of excited to see it from myself.
I find all that stuff quite Ilove doing the whole, you know.
It's like taking the um theCosmo quiz or something, isn't
it?
You know, when you were youngerand you took the quiz?
Speaker (11:11):
The old, the the old oh you might do you remember the
old dolly quiz that you take.
I used to love those.
Yeah, it's been a great idea.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
We all knew what we were gonna get at the end, but
we still wanted someone out.
It's like it's the the thrillof someone else understanding
you.
That's what those quizzes are.
So you think there's anunderstanding.
So that's what you'representing them.
You're sort of when they whenthey get excited because they
find their style and they'relike, oh my god, this is me.
Then they're you're creatingthat connection, right?
That you understand what theywant.
Speaker (11:40):
Yeah, and it just gives you that, yeah.
I mean, I can't say the wordconfidence again, but you go,
Oh, actually, you know what?
I'm normal.
This is it, there this is it,this is.
I'm not just coming up withsomething that, you know, when
my friends and family come tovisit my home, they're not gonna
think, oh my gosh, what youknow, what is this?
Is this just a house full ofjoyful landfill or something
(12:01):
like that?
But it's it's something that'sgonna be enduring and it's gonna
be timeless, but still ontrend.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Yeah, it's still them as well.
I think people really like toput also a a name on their
style.
Like that, I think that helpsthem feel confident, as you say,
Lisa.
Speaker (12:16):
Yeah, it does definitely.
And because there's so much toselect from when you're coming
in to do when you're buildingwith uh any builder, but you
know, you're coming in throughsuch a big long process to make
one part of that as easy aspossible, you know, that's our
goal.
So yeah, the display visitationis their inspiration, the
lookbook online, and then theycome in through Studio M in in
(12:36):
each of our states, and youknow, the the lookbook will be
highly visible and they'llhopefully be able to take some,
you know, really simple quickquizzes and you know, answer
some questions and they'llunderstand, you know, what style
they're trying to achieve.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Yeah, and it's a good roadmap moving forward for all
of the other decisions they haveto make.
Yeah, yeah, that's it, Lauren.
Speaker (12:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
So when I look at the lookbook styles, is it okay if
I just read some of these out?
Because I think it might helppaint the picture.
So you've got moderncontemporary, you've got Palm
Springs, Beach House,mid-century, French Provincial,
Japandy, Nordic, Coastal Lux,Classic Hamptons.
And that was just a list whereyou've actually given me before
(13:15):
our chat all of the locationsyou can actually go all around
Australia and experience thoselooks.
I think I captured them allthere.
And they're they're veryconjuring, you know, like Palm
Springs.
It's so very, oh, it justbrings to mind such a strong
image of lifestyle, sunshine,relaxation, like and
(13:36):
entertaining sort of spaces.
Like, yeah, the names thatyou've you've come up with,
they're really, they're reallygreat.
Speaker (13:41):
Yeah, and I think they're relatable.
I think palm, I think PalmSprings is everything that you
said then, and it's playful, andyou can have a play with
colour, which uh, you know, alot of people are scared to do,
but they can do that in just asmall way by it might just be
the colour of the front door.
Yeah.
And and might just be a fewdecor items throughout the
inside.
So I think the night thelanguage and the naming
(14:04):
conventions that we've come upwith, our customers um will find
it easy to follow and easy touse.
But also the the styles and thethe expressions underneath,
they're not so far out therethat you've got to, you know, go
and chat GBT to understand whatit means.
So you're gonna resonatestraight away.
It's aspirational and it'sinspirational at the same time.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
And um I love the yeah, the simplicity of it.
I think that's well, notsimplicity, but I think the the
recognizable names is reallyimportant so that exactly that
we don't have to be an expert ininterior styles to know what
it's talking about.
And the fact that, you know,you would have I assume
photography of each one of thosehomes that it represents too.
(14:48):
So they've got great examplesand not just kind of conceptual
examples, so they can actuallysee how it plays out in real
life, right?
Speaker (14:54):
Yeah, we've got some amazing new photography that
we're about to launch, which isreally exciting.
And and yeah, it is it is asimple and easy tool to use.
It was also really for ourwhole team of really experienced
designers, it was it was areally great process because it
really made us look and questionand say, well, is that is that
right?
Is that something that acustomer's gonna resonate with?
(15:17):
Is that style and thatexpression so far out there that
it's not gonna be suited to anyanywhere in Australia?
Like, you know, it's so it waslike a process of elimination to
work out, well, how doAustralians live?
And we get all that informationfrom, you know, constant
surveys and visitation throughiStudio.
So we we understand we do havea really like in-depth
understanding of how Australianslive and what our customers do
(15:39):
want, and that really fed intohow we structure it.
So simplicity was the key.
We needed simplicity, we neededsimplicity for us because this
lookbook isn't just a tool forour customers either.
This is a tool that we'refollowing and using for our
display interior team.
Yeah, gives you that footprint.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Yeah, and sometimes I think designers have a knack
for overcomplicating things.
Yeah, definitely.
And um, I think it's reallyimportant to, you know, speak to
who these families are that aregoing to be, you know, trying
to work out for the first timeperhaps, or even for the second,
third time, you know, you don'tgo and buy a house every day.
(16:18):
You're not worded up in thedesigners speak.
So you really, I think theseare really great to the point
descriptions.
So you mentioned then that youhave like customer surveys, like
what are some of the ways thatyou get a read on what people
are wanting in their homes?
Speaker (16:32):
Yeah, we gather direct feedback from our customers if
they're coming through,particularly our studio, our
studio M showrooms.
Um, that's probably the bestpoint of feedback that we get in
relation to what interiordesign our customers would like
to see.
We do follow um design and andtrend style shifts, obviously.
Um, working from home,multi-gen living, you know,
(16:54):
trends change, as you know,could be global economic um
uncertainty in the world, andthat just drives everything.
So we do a lot, we do a lot ofresearch around the trends and
the shifting trends.
So just to keep everything upto date in our lookbook, make
sure that our display homes areon point.
And so customers, when they'recoming to try and pick their
style, they're seeing whatthey're gonna get.
(17:15):
And you know, there's lots ofthings that are evolving.
You know, home theaters arestill really popular, but they
need to become a multi-usespace, perhaps.
They need to be able to turninto a home gym or a home
wellness center or a study spacefor our children.
So adaptability.
Um, yeah, we're just constantlylooking at how at how
everything goes, listening toyou guys on podcasts.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
We are a wealth of information.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
I was curious about that home theater actually,
because um I wondered if it wasstill something that people are
wanting, because um I feel likethere is a bit of a shift from
sitting down watching one screencollectively.
We all sit down and watch onescreen.
Whereas even in my family, Isee that everyone's on their own
laptop screen device.
(18:00):
Like, yeah, so I was wondering,I think that's uh makes sense
as you're saying to make thathome theater a multi-purpose
space that can adapt.
Speaker (18:08):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
I have I have a suggestion for you for a room.
Okay.
A podcast studio.
We need a podcast studio.
Speaker (18:16):
Yeah, that is a great suggestion.
You know, we do and um we wehave such a diverse customer
base as well.
So, you know, outdoor cooking,prayer rooms, um, the wellness
space is massive at the moment.
And you're right, podcastrecording studios.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
Write that down.
Speaker (18:36):
Well, I've had cupboard with good lighting.
Yeah, with good lighting.
Well, even when you think aboutwork from home, when you think
about work from home and thelighting, I mean if we've all
sat on a team meeting and gosh,my gosh, I just look, I I need I
need something here, but youknow, like the right lighting
would be perfect.
It changes everything.
And the right acoustics.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Nice backdrop.
Yeah, we'll we can talk aboutlighting till the cows come home
cut when you're in a cow andhow to get it, how to get it
right.
But I think flexibility andadaptability are probably two of
the biggest, I guess, yeah,things that have changed, right?
And are we still seeing um theother thing that we will talk
about is like, you know, butlerspantries and and really big
(19:17):
homes.
Are they is there a shifttowards smaller footprints or
are we looking at still quitelarge homes, or are they because
they're multi-generational?
Like what are the what's thesort of direction there?
Speaker (19:29):
The probably the only shift towards smaller homes is
the size of land availabilityand the affordability issue,
which for us is a builder ismassive.
Customers still, I mean, youknow, they still want that
kitchen that has the beautifulappliances and the as much space
as possible.
Butler's pantries are stillactually, you know, in demand.
So despite footprints, youknow, reducing, people still
(19:52):
like to have that butler'spantry, the option to room to
move everything out behind soyou can't see what's going on
while you're entertaining.
It's still popular.
But I mean, with forecastingand looking ahead,
multi-generation is going to behuge.
And trying to fit um all thatspace into a smaller footprint
on a smaller block of land isgoing to be difficult.
Particularly to, you know,you're trying to uh you know
(20:14):
meet livability criteria.
So we're thinking aboutaccessibility for for for
customers.
So yeah, it all comes intoplay.
We still love lots of texture,lots of finishes in those
kitchens, but like, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Um, just for for the the layman who when we talk
about livability, that's that'smaking sure that you can, I
guess, stay in uh plan to sortof stay in place, isn't it, as
you as you age?
Speaker (20:38):
Yeah.
Can you just explain a littlebit about how that plays into
I'm not an expert on it, butjust so um basically it's it's
about aging in aging in place.
So that you know, obviously, aswe uh as the population's
grown, there's just not that thefacilities out there.
So I guess the government cameup with the concept that if we
build homes that can cater for,you know, mobility and
(21:00):
wheelchair issues, et cetera, aswe all age, um, then it'll be
less of a strain in the futureand and you'll be able to stay
in your home.
So which would be nice, youknow.
You see the older generationand they've got to move on.
It's gonna be a long timeuntil, you know, all the
Australi all Australian homesare have that accessibility
feature.
But I I I believe it's greatthat we're at least looking at
(21:21):
it now and doing something aboutit.
It does limit some of thedesign constraints that design,
you know, this designconstraints that you have around
the home, but it's likeanything, once it's introduced
in a few years' time, it's justgonna be the norm.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Yeah, I was pretty um pretty shocked actually when um
I attended your MetriconSummit.
What was it actually calledagain?
Speaker (21:41):
The Metricon Masters of Design, uh Metricon Design
Summit that we had, yeah, backin 24, which was the first one
we'd ever held.
Um and that was on the back ofall the NCC and livability work
that we've been doing or ourdesign team have been doing.
They'd spent a couple of yearsjust locked in a room, redoes,
you know, redesigning our plansto suit these new regulations.
(22:02):
So the design summit was thesort of first chance to come out
and have a look and what are wedoing in the future and what's
going to happen with designinteriors as we move forward.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Yeah, it was it was such a great all of your design
team gathering in Tasmania.
It was it was amazing.
My mind was blown that everysingle floor plan you had to
adapt to meet that new criteria,which was uh one of the ones
that um I remember was just aramp into the front door.
Like it's so impactful on somany floor plans.
(22:35):
And I guess does that read intoyou know wider doors and as you
were saying before, likeaccessible bathrooms?
But then sometimes some ofthese things don't make sense if
it's an upstairs bathroom andyou can't even get up there in a
wheelchair if you wanted to,like a few little loopholes that
aren't quite closed up, butyeah, it's uh so uh must have
(22:56):
been the most enormousundertaking to tick all those
boxes and yeah, it was anenormous undertaking, and that's
why it's nice that now we'rebehind that and we really were
ahead of the curve, and youknow, and it's nice now that
we're behind that and we'refocusing on design because you
know we've got this massivecreative team across our
architectural and interiordesigns across all of our
(23:18):
states.
Speaker (23:18):
So for them to be able to actually use their skills now
and design for the for thefuture in a creative way is you
know it's great.
It's it's been um it's been areally good 12 months.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
And um, you know, you mentioned before, I was so
curious because you know,Metricon is such a big, you
know, volume builder inAustralia, everybody knows it.
And I I started thinking aboutyou know different uh different
cultures within Australia andhow you design for that.
Could you just touch on that abit?
Like we sort of talked aboutmulti-generational living, and I
mean that's probably more morecultures kind of live like that
(23:49):
than others.
What else does MetroCon kind oflook at?
Speaker (23:53):
You know, Australia is a really diverse country, and so
I guess that's really quiteexciting from a design and
interiors point of view, is thatwe're delivering for a really
diverse range of cultures andpeople throughout throughout our
full building state.
So that's where we we reallyneed to make sure that you know
our layouts and our styling isadaptable, um, that it's that it
doesn't pigeonhole anybody.
(24:14):
We really want to ensure thatevery family is seen and that
they're comfortable that so thateveryone is comfortable in a
metricon home.
Yeah.
And yeah, the the diversity isexciting in Australia.
I think we're really lucky.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
It's cool.
I do too.
That's what makes us Australia,in my opinion.
I agree, Brie.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Even the outdoor kitchens, you know, that's in
terms of Western culture,probably uh northern European,
it's not really a thing.
But then, you know, you thinkabout uh maybe Italian cooking,
and that's very normal to cookoutside in Asian culture.
It's outdoor cooking.
So I feel like that's somethingthat a lot of cultures have
been doing for a long time.
And I think maybe may some ofthe more Western or Northern
(24:52):
Europe northern Europeancultures have gone, oh, this is
such a great thing.
It's beyond just barbecuing,it's an outdoor kitchen and it's
in a whole extended livingarea.
Um and you see that a lot inMetricon homes.
And you mentioned like a prayerroom as well.
I've never, I've never known ofa home to have a prayer room
before.
Speaker (25:08):
Yeah, well, I mean, we get all we get lots of these
requests.
So that's why we really need tomake sure that our design and
style is really adaptable.
And it's not just being anoutdoor kitchen, as you
mentioned, it's actually anoutdoor living space.
It's an extended space from theindoor to the outdoor.
We like to make sure that itfeels completely connected as
you go from one to the other.
Um it feels like you're noteven stepping outside.
(25:30):
It's just so open out, youknow, with our designs being so
open with open plan living.
And then, you know, we wereally show customers how you
can move from your indoorkitchen through your family to
your outdoor living space,straight into your garden.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Oh, how beautiful.
Yeah.
And I love that connection.
Yeah.
It's fun.
I always find it fun to evenjust like go through some
display homes just to see, youknow, they're obviously kind of
put together, so they're kind ofthe elite best version of
themselves, the display homes.
It's so fun to walk through andsee for me, like how far a lot
(26:03):
of that has come in terms ofreally having a great
understanding of like just theflow and how um a floor plan
works.
Like, I get quite excited aboutby that stuff.
Floor plans, like I I couldeven just looking them at them
on the website.
I love looking at floor plansand just seeing, you know, how
something's been broughttogether.
But it's always so exciting tosee it, you know, in a display
(26:24):
home as well.
Speaker (26:25):
Yeah, I love it too, Brie.
And you know, I spend a lot oftime in our display homes.
And you know, but it'simportant too that our display
homes are so curated and wecreate these beautiful homes so
people can actually see how theycan live.
But when you're doing your ownhome, you're not staging it like
that.
Um you know, your home isfilled with all your artifacts
that you've collected on yourtravels and it's inspired by
(26:47):
your fashion and your love ofarchitecture and whatever it is.
So, you know, the displayhome's beautiful.
We encourage obviously lots ofvisitors, and we do get a lot of
visitors that even aren'tlooking at building a home,
they're renovating.
They might come to one of ourdisplays to have a look at the
landscaping.
Um yeah, of course.
Yeah, but they're but they're agreat, I mean, they're a real
life living visual tool that youcan walk through.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
And and how rare?
Like, I mean, when else can youjust like look snoop around
someone's house?
Yeah, so something quite funabout that to have a lot of.
Speaker (27:16):
Yeah, like you go in and look at a home and think,
I'm not sure what kind oflighter or artwork or what color
sofa should I get.
I don't want just a cream sofa.
Yeah, um, you know, what otherfabrics can I put with it?
It's like where.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Do you have a personal favorite or favorite
style?
Speaker (27:30):
Or is it like probably I'm probably quite contemporary,
but I'm also a little bittransient.
You know, I I kind of getcaught up in some of the latest
styles and I love it.
Same.
And and it's I guess I have tobe a little bit because
otherwise I'd be directing andsort of, you know, we'd be going
down the same path with all ofour with all of our displays.
So yeah, you've got to be open.
(27:52):
Yeah, I love, I love Japan.
I love the warmth and thesimplicity around that.
I think you know, there's somany times in our lives that you
just create that you, you know,you crave that calm, simple
life.
So that kind of tends, Ireckon, to, you know, lead me
down to a style that I like atthe time.
My home's contemporary, butyeah, I mean, it's it's probably
my favorite.
It's a safety, it's a safetystyle, isn't it?
(28:14):
Yeah.
There's so many expressionsunderneath that that you can
use.
So true.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
And can you talk about the wellness?
You sort of touched on thatbefore.
How are people wanting toinclude a sense of wellness in
their home?
Speaker (28:27):
People are really wanting that space that they can
probably separate from from therest of their home and um, you
know, for the yoga mats andtheir Pilates boards and and
everything else.
So um people like to be able toaccess sort of one of those
rooms and walk straight out intoa pool.
It's really it's just about thequiet time.
(28:48):
It's about the shutdown space.
It's important, you know, youcan have those rooms and not
even have any power in them sothat you know you could
disconnect it from the rest ofthe house.
So you don't have white.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
What about my phone?
Yeah, but it is.
Or maybe just like we need likea blocker.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
I thought just like when you go in, you start power,
but it doesn't allow connectionto the outside.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
I probably actually do really need that to be
honest, like just to have aspace where you can see.
Speaker (29:15):
But see, that's what you need a recording studio for
your podcast.
So you can go from you know,full digital social media onto
um on into a room where you canreally unwind and relax.
Yeah, we're just seeing it comethrough as just a bigger trend
at the moment.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
And what about in terms of um bathroom spaces?
Does that kind of merge into uhyou know?
Speaker 3 (29:38):
Yeah, there was a point there where bathrooms
became quite big, right?
And then they almost became thewellness space and not just a
kind of functional, but theyactually, you know, wanted a
little chair in there or a seator somewhere you would actually
relax and wind down and do allthe rituals.
Speaker (29:54):
Yeah, more of a it was almost like a at home spa.
And you know, one of our um oneof our new styles in the
lookbook is um escape and sounderneath that we're just
looking at what you know whatwe're going to put in under that
one at the moment and thatwhole retreat is really big
everyone wants to feel likethey're on a holiday and if you
(30:16):
design your bathroom so it'syour own you know at-home
resorts bar you get to do thator have that opportunity each
weekend sounds like heaven yeahit does sound it does heaven
yeah um you know you mentionedbefore that people will come to
the display homes to even ifthey're renovating just for
ideas so how important is thatstyling aspect decor furniture
(30:39):
yeah it it is really importantyou know it's getting the right
balance though don't want to youdon't want to over style I mean
custom you know people thatvisit um at a spray homes want
to feel like they can live thereyou know they might not go they
might not go to the excess ofusing cushions with full detail
on it because that might notnecessarily work with the
children when they're throwingthe cushion cushions or you know
(31:01):
the partner when they screw thecushion up and put it under
their head to watch TV.
But um yeah we um it isimportant it's important that a
customer can understand howtheir home will look and how and
the styling in our homes is akey is a key part in that but
you also don't want it to bepolarizing either.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Well that's yeah that that would be hard can make or
break it couldn't it as in likewhether you feel like you could
live there.
Because there's this there'sthis fine line I think where
people people who can'tvisualize and then you show them
something if it's not the thingthat they connect to sometimes
it can push them away from thatidea instead of kind of because
they're not able to kind ofthink through oh but we don't
(31:42):
have to have this exact XXX oreven if it comes down to
finishes etc that are in adisplay home.
So it can be really trickysometimes to keep it broad and
yet um hit a style that you'retrying to represent and also
still feel like it could be ahome and not too stylized.
Like it is a real skill Ithink.
Speaker (32:00):
Yeah yeah you don't want to overstyle do you yeah
yeah and you know great stylingcan or bad styling can make or
break a really good floor plan.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Yeah totally I agree.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
But as you say Lisa there's that um there's that
tipping point of it lookingamazing very tightly presented
and then looking unlivablepeople are like oh God I can't
even like be myself in here likeit's too it's too uptight.
Like there's sort of like atipping point there like
obviously you're not gonna haveuh family photos on there
because it's not a real homeit's it is a display home so can
(32:35):
I just touch on we were talkingabout styling and how important
that is in the display homes.
Speaker (32:40):
How when you're approaching the styling sort of
how what is it that you'retrying to are you trying to get
the customer to have a certainfeeling yeah I mean it's
essential isn't it it helpspeople imagine how they live in
that space be you want it to beaspirational but achievable
achievable um you know use lotsof textures and more than
practical layouts but but whenyou over style it as we just
(33:03):
talked about it can just feelstaged and and not a home that
you can live in and greatstyling tells a story.
It show it it it shows it showshow your home can feel not just
how it looks and we know thatthat's the important thing how
do you feel not how it looks sotrue that emotive connection
yeah and you're in you you gotthem you hooked them in do you
(33:26):
have like a do you have like acustomer avatar or some someone
in mind like specifically whenyou're styling like a family and
they with a son or daughter orsomething I don't know.
Yeah definitely yeah yeahabsolutely and that is almost
and that's really you knowgeographically dependent on
where the display home is youknow we know that if we're
styling a home in um an estateor an area that really is and I
(33:51):
don't want to use the term youknow you know two parents two
kids but but you know that's thesort of that that's kind of
what you have in mind and we'llgo well this is an area where
there is lots of young familieswas probably is probably the
best term to use where there isyoung families we you we style a
lot of nurseries we love doingnurseries they're so fun and a
lot of kids' rooms because youcan really have a bit of fun
(34:12):
even in a home that that is alittle bit more toned down.
So yeah we we do think aboutwho the potential um visitors
would be to this home um andwhat the target market is.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
Yeah and I'm sure you'd have so much data on that
so you know they're walking inand they're like this is our
home this is my room this isyour room this is where I'm
gonna do this and this is whereI'm gonna when we have our um
gatherings our you know takethat don't you oh you totally do
that like I remember doing thatwith as a kid even like okay so
(34:45):
then this is what we would dohere and oh this would be my
room and you'd find it no thisis my room I want this room yeah
yeah and when my friends comeover this is where we're gonna
hang out yeah and this is wheremum and dad need to be when my
friends come over you go throughall of that.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
The other end of the house.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Yeah the door closed yeah no definitely I do think
that um you know as we said thatthe styling can absolutely make
or break that connection so youcan have the best floor plan
and then the wrong styling andthey and you just miss the
opportunity of connecting tothat person when they're walking
(35:20):
through the home the styling iskind of the layer that creates
I guess the more emotionalresponse to a space because you
love the way it feels and if itwas just an empty home would
just you'd never get that evenwith great finishes you still
wouldn't have that kind of finalfeeling and creating that I
guess total mood and connection.
Speaker 1 (35:41):
Yeah you need it's like the jewelry on top isn't it
yeah isn't it funny that thoseare the things that people could
really connect with emotionallybut they don't come with the
house though.
You don't that's true though,isn't it?
Speaker (35:56):
Yeah do people have a lot of the fun that's part of
the fun going out and having alook and seeing what's out there
and if you've got if you've gota good base and you and you
know where your hard finishes isare going to end up it does
help.
I mean yeah we do sorry whatdid you ask oh you asked Lauren
if we do do um offer that um insome of our higher segments
(36:17):
because we build from you knowfirst home buyers and investment
builders through to foreverhomes or downsizers we do um we
do have with with a fewcompanies to offer that extra
service but you know that's partof that's a part of the fun for
people.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Definitely and I mean as you said for inspiration you
know people think think oh weneed a neutral sofa but then
they see a beautiful blue sofaand they're like that that
sounds wild in my head to say acolored sofa but when I see it
in a space it's absolutelybeautiful and it makes sense so
it's yeah giving thatinspiration to people as well um
(36:53):
good style and good design iswhat you remember when you walk
out of a home and you it needsto be tailored to how you live.
Speaker (37:00):
Yeah do you live in a rural area do you live you know
in the city and yeah you can'thave it definitely can't have it
over style and staged nobodylives like that.
We don't live like that.
I've tried that at home um we'dgo crazy if we all tried to
live like that and keep ourhomes exactly like that every
day.
Speaker 3 (37:16):
Totally I don't think I could do it even if I lived
on my own I'd still make a mess.
Speaker (37:21):
Yeah or you just move it from room to room don't you
so make sure you think aboutyour storage.
So when you're moving your messfrom room to room you've got
plenty of storage to do that.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
Yeah um I'm curious when you're when you're going
through and I guess finalizingthis new lookbook and all the
styles and stages obviouslythere's a lot of discussion
about what stayed and what goador what went what got kind of
thrown out what goad I'm makingup words about.
It's really natural to me atthe time too I like the
(37:54):
confidence that you just um whatI guess was there anything that
you were surprised that stayedor do you feel like it's all or
you know that you thought wouldhave had its time that has
become kind of a classic look.
Can I say Hamptons?
Speaker 2 (38:10):
I was about to say I reckon that'd be Hamptons we're
a bit sick of it.
Like what's but it has become aclassic style hasn't it so
classic.
Speaker (38:18):
I think it's merged now it's a close door Hamptons
isn't it so yes not as uptight.
No the buzzword was Hamptonsbut that's you know really over
style like oversized furnitureand a lot of dark pieces and you
know when you think about yougoing on a summer holiday to the
Hamptons and you've watched youknow we've all watched those
shows on Netflix.
(38:39):
But I think I'm so I'm notsurprised sorry that Hamptons is
still around yeah but I'msurprised at how many people are
still asking for it.
But when you look at whatthey're trying to achieve it's
really a coastal version of theHamptons.
Speaker 3 (38:55):
Just because Hamptons is on the coast over there it's
really a coastal style is it noit's far more decorative and
uptight I use the word uptightmeaning it's it's not a formal
yeah whereas I think theAustralian version of Hamptons
is far more coastal.
And I think people can get abit confused by it.
(39:16):
I think what they love aboutthe idea of Hamptons and this is
just my opinion is that it hasa I guess a freshness about it
from the Australian version.
There is sort of like whitesand blues and pale timbers and
and you know flowing blindsthrough the breeze of the
coastal air or whatever.
I don't know.
Speaker (39:34):
Yeah you said that really well holiday ish maybe is
the yeah yeah it's how we wantto live isn't it we want to live
like I said before we want tolive on holidays we want to live
in the resort.
Yeah um so yeah Hamptons Ithink Hamptons is evolving
that's what we're seeing andthat's what we're definitely
doing.
So but you know this is wherelookbook helps a customer when
they come in and they sayHamptons when they start working
(39:56):
through it.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
You're not really you're coastal yeah yeah um I
watched um something's got togive the other week Diane Keaton
that was a bit sad to hear myfavorite it was the interiors I
was like pausing it I was sayingto my daughters look at this
look at this kitchen howgorgeous is it they're like it's
not really my style and I meanit's not really it's not a
(40:17):
hundred percent my style but Iabsolutely love it and
appreciate it and I and and it'sno surprise that those movies
oh who's the um who's thedirector again I can't remember
anyway they are so iconic youwatch those films director yeah
it's kind of annoying I wastrying to yeah and then you're
like I want to live like that Iwant white walls I want white
(40:37):
linen sofas I want to the sightlines from room to room like
they just move through nicelybig pitched ceilings um hat and
that's that's a that's alocation specific to New York in
America.
But I feel like you know inAustralia we have kind of made
it our own style which is whatyeah we call it the Hamptons
look and it definitely you doget that Australian version of
(40:59):
it conjures in your mind andit's probably a bit of the
shiplap it is the whites it'sfresh it's a subway dial but uh
yeah and it's no surprise thatit's so popular because it it
also has a sense of familiaritylike it feels comfortable it
feels like home even if has itbecome nostalgic yeah maybe it
has it's sort of messed like seethis is a thing like I'm gonna
(41:22):
throw the word sophisticatedit's like a sophisticated
coastal isn't it yes yeah somaybe more refined it's it's
moved into that isn't it funnyhow I feel like there's a
there's a stage where somethingcan feel dated and then it moves
into nostalgic which is thepositive version of dated yeah
yeah and do you think that'swhere a style such as like
mid-century modern which ishaving a real comeback now in
(41:46):
our world it is anyway sobecause that was dated for a
while but it's like the cycle ofeverything it's a cycle of
fashion isn't it it so is trueyeah yeah very cyclic.
Speaker 3 (41:54):
Yeah uh wow yeah so good Lisa thank you so much for
our chat well thank you thanksfor having me I've been super
interesting to hear about Iguess things that we already
know but like just like talkingabout all those different styles
and how impactful that is onAustralian living is yeah huge
super huge.
Speaker 1 (42:14):
So this this new lookbook when can we sort of be
when can we kind of see that?
When's that going to belaunched do you know?
Speaker (42:21):
We'll be launching January 26th.
Okay so soon exciting so verysoon yeah we've just finished
you know ph photographing someof our amazing new displays
we've hoped opened over the lastfew months so we've got some
beautiful photography and it'sso exciting.
Cool um yeah look out for it atthe beginning of next year.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
Beautiful can't wait to see it Lisa nicely done thank
you thank you ladies and thanksfor having me.
You're welcome thanks for thechat we've got the utmost
respect for the Wurundjeripeople of the Kulin Nation.
They're the OG custodians ofthis unceded land and its waters
where we set up shop, createand call home and come to you
(43:03):
from this podcast today.
A big shout out to all of theamazing elders who have walked
before us, those leading the wayin the present and the emerging
leaders who will carry thetorch into the future.
We're just lucky to be on thisjourney together.
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