TDF Talks is fortnightly podcast by The Design Files — Australia’s go-to destination for design inspiration since 2008. Join founder and host Lucy Feagins as she interviews inspiring local creatives to discuss renovating, sustainability, and more!
You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or listen along right here in your web browser.
Restoring One Of Melbourne's Oldest Mansions, With Julie + Vincent Fodera
In our last episode for the year, we speak with lawyers-turned-renovators Julie and Vincent Fodera who are restoring one of Melbourne’s oldest mansions, a historic homestead in Caulfield known as Heatherbrae. They share how they’ve been sympathetically updating the grand abode and the importance of preserving heritage builds.
A First Home Buyers' Never-Ending Renovation, With Pat + Ruby Shields
Melbourne couple Patrick and Ruby Shields bought their first home in Mount Evelyn in 2018. Since then the carpenter and interior designer have landed new jobs, gotten married, but they’re still working on their renovation — five years later! Hear how they bought the house in a half-renovated state, Ruby’s tips for styling on budget, and why it’s taken them so long to complete.
Building A Sustainable Home From Scratch, With Al + Imo Roberts
When furniture makers Al and Imogen Roberts found themselves priced out of Torquay’s real estate market, they decided to buy a block of land and build their sustainable dream home themselves. They join us to share how the challenges of this ambitious project, the hidden costs that come with new builds, and why they decided to start from scratch rather than renovate.
The Highs + Lows Of Renovating A Beach Shack, With Lucy And Gordy
We speak to our very own Lucy Feagins and her husband Gordy Johnson about the amazing transformation of their family’s Blairgowrie beach shack! They reveal the biggest costs, challenges, and how they navigated working together as a married couple to create their idyllic coastal retreat.
Australia's Path To Renewable Energy, With Momentum Energy’s Lisa Chiba
When we ditch fossil fuels, where will we get our energy from instead? And what’s really driving the challenges of the grid? Momentum Energy’s Lisa Chiba breaks down some of these questions and explains Australia’s pathway to a future with greener energy!
Making Melbourne The World’s First ‘Self-Sufficient’ City, With Consultant Will Young
Could Melbourne become a self-sufficient city with its own energy by 2030? Environmental engineering consultancy Finding Infinity’s ambitious project ‘A New Normal’ is hoping to turn this vision into a reality, and the organisation’s Will Young joins us in this episode to share how!
How To Improve Australia’s Poorly-Built Houses, With Energy Advisor Tim Forcey
Hear chemical engineer turned energy advisor Tim Forcey’s practical advice for making your home more energy efficient, for the benefit of the environment, your health and your finances.
The Future of Sustainable Housing, With Architect Jeremy McLeod
To kick off our new mini-series on sustainability, leading architect Jeremy joins us to talk about the challenges of the housing market, his tips for first-home buyers, and how sustainability and affordability can co-exist!