You asked, we listened. Now it’s your turn to listen! The Edit podcast from the team at Home Beautiful is a brand new space to connect and belong to a growing group of our audience who want to go behind the scenes of our glossy pages to discover exactly what makes a house a home.
We’re talking to our favourite people in the interiors world – designers, retailers, homewares heroes, and some unexpected interiors enthusiasts who’ll share what makes their own homes special, from the first memories of the spaces they inhabited in childhood to how they live and entertain today.
In this episode of The Edit, Home Beautiful editor Elle Lovelock sits down with Lauren Mahoney, creative director of luxury interior design studio Studio Trio, to turn the spotlight where it really belongs: on the client. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Lauren gently unpacks what it actually feels like to work with an interior designer, from that first nerve-wracking meeting to the moment you finally exhale in a finished room that feels like you.
Lauren debunks the biggest myths about designers being “judgy” or only interested in perfect homes, explaining why she believes “the best interiors start with listening, not imposing a look.” She shares how to ask the awkward money questions, what a realistic budget looks like, and why clarity around scope and expectations is the real secret to a happy project—for both client and designer. If you’ve ever hesitated to contact a designer because you were scared of being criticised, this is the episode that holds your hand.
Packed with practical, friendly advice on how to find an interior designer, how to brief an interior designer, and how to navigate interior design costs, Lauren walks through each step of a collaborative design process that feels empowering instead of intimidating. She talks about reading a client’s home like a story, explains why “every detail should reflect the people who live there,” and shares moving personal anecdotes about transforming heritage homes and family spaces through Studio Trio’s work.
A listener dilemma ‘Room For Improvement’ brings into focus: how do you blend two completely different styles in one shared home without it turning into a battleground? Lauren offers smart, down-to-earth strategies for mixing tastes, negotiating non‑negotiables, and creating a space that feels like “ours” instead of “yours versus mine.” Along the way, Elle and Lauren explore the deeper side of design—identity, relationships, and why the most successful interiors are never about trends, but about the people who wake up there every day.
If you’re curious about interior design for real people, working with an interior designer for the first time, or creating a home that feels emotionally and visually right, this conversation is your essential guide. Hit play to hear Lauren’s philosophy in action, explore more of her work at Studio Trio, and start seeing your own home—with all its quirks, compromises, and potentials—as a beautifully evolving story.
If you love refining your home sanctuary, interior design, home makeovers and real-life renovation advice, this episode of The Edit is your ultimate starting point. Hit play to get inspired, get practical tips you can use this weekend, and see your home with fresh eyes.
“I know how to make homes beautiful – what I do is to make people happy and make people love to come home when they’ve got busy lives.”
Lauren Mahoney
The Edit Episode 2
The Edit by Home Beautiful
Our newest space, “The Edit” – a podcast from the team at Home Beautiful, supported by OZ Design and Luxaflex.
Discover the real stories, personalities, and inspiring ideas behind how Australians create their style and sanctuary.
We’re talking to experts, tastemakers, design gurus and real-life listeners about more than just design. We share their heartfelt stories, practical tips, and uplifting voices, to discover what it takes to transform houses into homes, one small edit at a time.
Whether you’re looking for a burst of inspiration, clever home ideas, or a little audio comfort, this show is for anyone who wants to make their space truly their own.
Listen now: Episode two of The Edit is available via the iHeart app, homebeautiful.com.au, or wherever you get your podcasts watch below or listen here.
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