https://katrinaleedesigns.com/ [Life & Design] Fri, 22 May 2026 01:50:30 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.5 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/cropped-mylogohouse-1-32x32.png https://katrinaleedesigns.com/ 32 32 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/4-ways-thinking-about-energy-efficiency-early-can-save-you-money-on-your-new-build-or-renovation/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/4-ways-thinking-about-energy-efficiency-early-can-save-you-money-on-your-new-build-or-renovation/#respond Fri, 22 May 2026 01:49:58 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=89056 There’s a conversation that doesn’t happen nearly enough on building sites and in design meetings across Australia, and it’s the one about energy efficiency. Not because people don’t care, but because most of us don’t realise that the decisions made early in a project, often before a single wall goes up or a tile gets...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/4-ways-thinking-about-energy-efficiency-early-can-save-you-money-on-your-new-build-or-renovation/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-read-a-floor-plan-and-spot-the-problems-before-you-renovate/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-read-a-floor-plan-and-spot-the-problems-before-you-renovate/#respond Tue, 19 May 2026 00:23:47 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=89005 A floor plan looks simple enough at first glance. Just a bunch of boxes and lines, right? But there is so much information packed into those boxes and lines and if you know how to read them properly, you can spot problems before a single wall goes up or a single dollar gets spent. This...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-read-a-floor-plan-and-spot-the-problems-before-you-renovate/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-style-a-room-on-a-budget-without-it-looking-cheap/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-style-a-room-on-a-budget-without-it-looking-cheap/#respond Tue, 19 May 2026 00:16:25 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=89002 Here is something I believe wholeheartedly: a beautiful room is not about how much money you spend. It is about knowing where to spend it, where to save it, and how to pull everything together so it feels intentional rather than thrown together. I have styled rooms on tiny budgets that look like a million...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-style-a-room-on-a-budget-without-it-looking-cheap/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-choose-a-paint-colour-that-actually-works-in-your-space/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-choose-a-paint-colour-that-actually-works-in-your-space/#respond Mon, 18 May 2026 05:14:30 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=88999 Can I tell you how many people I’ve spoken to who have painted a wall, stepped back, and felt their stomach drop? The colour looked perfect on the chip. It looked great in the store. And now it’s on the wall and it’s completely wrong. This happens all the time and it is not your...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-choose-a-paint-colour-that-actually-works-in-your-space/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-pull-a-room-together-when-you-have-no-idea-where-to-start/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-pull-a-room-together-when-you-have-no-idea-where-to-start/#respond Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:47:42 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=88827 If you’ve ever stood in your living room thinking“Why does this still not feel right?”you’re not alone. Most people don’t have bad taste. They just don’t have a process. Here’s the order I always design in, and it changes everything. Step 1. Start with the layout Before you buy anything, figure out how the room...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-pull-a-room-together-when-you-have-no-idea-where-to-start/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-make-your-home-feel-custom-without-a-custom-build/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-make-your-home-feel-custom-without-a-custom-build/#respond Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:45:02 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=88824 There’s a big difference between a house that looks “builder grade” and one that feels custom. And no, it’s not always about spending more. It’s about being intentional with a few key decisions that most people overlook. Here’s where the magic actually happens. 1. Go full height wherever you can Cabinetry that stops short of...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-make-your-home-feel-custom-without-a-custom-build/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/10-things-i-would-do-again-if-i-built-a-house/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/10-things-i-would-do-again-if-i-built-a-house/#respond Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:06:08 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=88800 After going through a full house build, you end up with a long list of lessons. Some things you would change, and some things you are so glad you did. Building is a huge process and there are hundreds of decisions along the way. But looking back, there are definitely a few things that made...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/10-things-i-would-do-again-if-i-built-a-house/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/the-biggest-design-mistakes-people-make-when-building-a-new-home/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/the-biggest-design-mistakes-people-make-when-building-a-new-home/#respond Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:03:34 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=88796 Building a new home is exciting, but it is also where a lot of small decisions add up to big consequences later. Over the years I have noticed that many of the same design mistakes keep appearing in new builds. Often they happen because people are focused on finishes and styling, while the underlying design...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/the-biggest-design-mistakes-people-make-when-building-a-new-home/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/8-star-energy-rating-explained-what-it-actually-means-for-your-home/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/8-star-energy-rating-explained-what-it-actually-means-for-your-home/#respond Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:58:26 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=88793 You might have heard builders talk about a 6 star, 7 star, or even 8 star home, but a lot of people are not really sure what that actually means. It sounds impressive, but what does the number really represent, and does it actually make a difference to how your home feels to live in?...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/8-star-energy-rating-explained-what-it-actually-means-for-your-home/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-design-an-energy-efficient-home-in-australia/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-design-an-energy-efficient-home-in-australia/#respond Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:54:55 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=88789 When people talk about building an energy efficient home, the conversation usually jumps straight to solar panels, fancy glass, or expensive upgrades. But the truth is, the biggest gains in comfort and efficiency usually come from simple design decisions made right at the start. Things like how the house sits on the block, where the...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/how-to-design-an-energy-efficient-home-in-australia/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/the-little-finishing-touches-that-made-my-8-star-home-feel-finished/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/the-little-finishing-touches-that-made-my-8-star-home-feel-finished/#respond Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:39:41 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=88780 Getting to the end of my 8 star energy efficient build has been such a good feeling. All the big decisions matter, insulation, windows, orientation, but once those are locked in, it’s the smaller details that really make the house feel like home. I put a lot of thought into the areas around our doors,...]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/the-little-finishing-touches-that-made-my-8-star-home-feel-finished/feed/ 0 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/why-we-chose-weathertex-cladding-and-why-i-love-the-look/ https://katrinaleedesigns.com/why-we-chose-weathertex-cladding-and-why-i-love-the-look/#respond Tue, 17 Feb 2026 02:43:47 +0000 https://katrinaleedesigns.com/?p=88772 One of the most asked questions I get about our home is about the cladding. People love the exterior and want to know exactly what it is and how we achieved the look. We used Weathergroove Natural 150mm by Weathertex, finished with Intergrain Charred Black, and it’s honestly been one of my favourite design choices....]]> https://katrinaleedesigns.com/why-we-chose-weathertex-cladding-and-why-i-love-the-look/feed/ 0