Alison Lewis is back on the show today to talk about materials. Every room in the house is a composition of different materials and it’s your skill in putting them together that either makes it work and look amazing or not. 

In this episode, Alison takes us through how to narrow down selecting the materials by looking at the hard and soft materials, fit for purpose, buildability and material type. We explore each one of these aspects to give you a clear understanding of what to look for and how to put everything together. 

There is no use choosing a material because it’s very pretty but won’t last or fit with other materials. You have to consider your hard materials very carefully because replacing cabinetry or a stone bench top is a huge undertaking. Spending the time, in the beginning, thinking about how your space will grow with you over time will save you time and money down the line. 

Alison looks at why the materials matter in a build. The goal of designing for longevity is designing a space that is timeless and will move through a period of time. In order for a design to stand the test of time, it needs to be flexible so you can change things along the way. 

We’ll run through the materials most commonly used and the ones we absolutely love playing with, including stone, marble, dolomite, granite, quartzite, porcelain, limestone, engineered stones, tiles, timber flooring, carpet and so much more. 

This conversation is jam-packed full of everything you need to know when selecting materials for your next build. Come back and listen to it again when you’re making your decisions to save you an enormous amount of time and money later.  

LINKS:

• Alison Lewis Interiors: https://www.alisonlewisinteriors.com.au/ 
• Buy our new book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating
• BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/
• BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective
• BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build
• Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer

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