The Edit Podcast by Home Beautiful

“Interior design’s not just about the cushion plumping. It’s about the cushion fill,” laughs creative director of luxury interior design studio Studio Trio, Lauren Mahoney, on this week’s episode of The Edit.

As we trace her path from Western Sydney kid circling IKEA catalogues to buying her own studio at 28, Lauren opens the door on what really makes a home feel expensive, calm and actually you. She also shares the hard truth: “There’s no point designing something people can’t afford. You both need to win, they get a beautiful home, and you make some money.” Lauren spills fabric-world secrets, the reality of late-night scheme sessions, and why starting “at the bottom” is still the best design school there is.

“Stick with the plan… if it’s navy and white, don’t let a random terracotta cushion derail your life.”
Lauren Mahoney

How does a Real Housewife keep five dogs, three kids, white sofas and cream carpets looking spotless without harsh chemicals or losing her mind? In this episode of The Edit, Elle Lovelock from Home Beautiful sits down with cookbook author and Real Housewives of Sydney star Krissy Marsh to unpack her no‑nonsense home cleaning tips, smart hosting rituals and the heart-first philosophy behind her Double Bay family home.

Krissy reveals why “a home is only a home with the people in it and the connections you have,” and why she’ll always choose a welcoming table over a ‘trophy’ interior. From fridge audits and Tuesday night dinners for 20, to chemical-free cleaning hacks using bicarb soda, vinegar and essential oils, this is a masterclass in creating a calm, beautiful, low-tox home that still feels luxe.

“There’s lots of little treats when you come to my place… I make a really good lemon ginger tea – it’s gotta be fresh, so I squeeze the lemon, then I grate the ginger and add big dollops of Manuka honey.”
Krissy Marsh

On this episode of The Edit, Home Beautiful editor Elle Lovelock invites you to join in on an important chat about what we actually want to do in the new year. Joining Elle is one of Australia’s most trusted home experts, Tara Dennis, to talk about something more realistic than resolutions: rituals that actually work. Tara shares how she resets her space and her head when the year has left everything feeling a bit too full – drawers, diary, and brain included. Instead of colour-coded chore charts and impossible routines, she walks Elle through small, repeatable habits that signal “you can exhale now.” Together, Elle and Tara unpack the emotional clutter as much as the physical and build home rituals that support how you really live, not how you think you’re supposed to live. In this episode, we also meet expert buyer and marketer Paula Cincotta from OZ Design Furniture, who has a razor-sharp merchant brain and a designer’s eye for how we really live. From scouting international showrooms to curating the latest sofa trends and hero coffee tables for local homes, Paula talks through colour, curves and clever styling ideas she’s learned on her travels that make big trends feel surprisingly achievable with no renovation required. 

“I’m a big believer in the classic neutrals for your base things – things that are difficult to change quickly, easily and affordably.”
Tara Dennis

With a new year around the corner, The Block alum and Holiday Home Makeover star Rachel Carr joins The Edit to talk about turning a tired coastal property into Cinque House, a luxury Mediterranean-inspired Airbnb that’s “booked up constantly”. She shares the smartest ways to get the most out of your Airbnb – from layout and storage to luxe hotel touches using the Cinque home on the NSW South Coast as the ultimate case study.

If you’re a Block fan, an aspiring host, or just obsessed with beautifully designed holiday rentals, this inspiring conversation dives into how Rachel and Ryan Carr blend luxury hotel vibes with real family practicality to create an Airbnb guests rebook again and again. Expect insider renovation tips, styling tricks and plenty of Cinque House details you’ll want to steal for your own short-stay. 

“You come off [The Block] with this sense of ‘we can do anything’, and this was the dream.”
Rachel Carr

In this episode of The Edit, Elle sits down with friend of Home Beautiful and Real Housewives of Sydney star, Krissy Marsh, for an intimate and entertaining conversation all about hosting.

Krissy Marsh, Real Housewives of Sydney OG and domestic goddess of Double Bay, joins The Edit and Editor Elle Lovelock from Home Beautiful to talk hosting that’s big on heart, not hard work. This episode is packed with Krissy Marsh’s entertaining tips, from Tuesday night special ‘family style’ dinners to Christmas feasts, plus a peek inside her chic Home Beautiful house tour. 

““Even if I am super organised and people arrive a little bit late, I’ll still give them a job because I think giving people a job makes them feel good.””
Krissy Marsh

In this festive Christmas special episode of The Edit, host Elle Lovelock is joined by home and styling expert Tara Dennis to ask a brave question: what if Christmas at home didn’t feel like a performance, but like an exhale? From her idyllic riverside house, usually sparkling with champagne-toned baubles, brass bells and warm white fairy lights, Tara shares how she creates “a warm welcome Christmas home” (and helps others do the same daily in her beautiful retail store) without losing her mind in the process. Together, Elle and Tara unpack calm‑in‑the‑chaos strategies for real families: how to decorate with laid‑back luxury on any budget, where to cut corners, and why “it’s not the season, it’s the day” that really matters.​

“It’s the little touches… don’t get overwhelmed about the whole big picture thing. It’s never going to be perfect.”
Tara Dennis

Why are more Australians than ever turning to granny flats, tiny rentals and secondary dwellings to survive the housing crisis?

This week on The Edit, host Elle Lovelock sits down with award-winning designer and our TV fave James Treble (The Block, Open Homes Australia, Renovate or Rebuild) to unpack why the most contested real estate in the country might just be… your backyard.

With more Australians squeezed by affordability pressures, one major property portal reported a 50% spike in searches for “granny flats” and related terms in just one year — a dramatic indication of how sharply the market has turned toward secondary dwellings, backyard rentals, and multigenerational living.

James brings three decades of experience, a suitcase of stories, and a refreshingly honest take on what happens when families try to solve emotional problems with architectural ones.

“There’s nothing idyllic about sitting on a toilet while looking at a washing machine.”
James Treble

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.​

“People need to let go a bit. Sometimes trusting a designer and saying, ‘You know what? I’m just going to let them do this,’ you actually really surprise yourself.”
Lauren Mahoney

In the very first episode of The Edit, we had to start with one of Australia’s most loved interior designers and long-time judge on The Block — Darren Palmer. Hosted by Home Beautiful editor Elle Lovelock, Darren breaks down exactly how to kick-start a decorating or renovation project with confidence, from clarifying your vision to avoiding the budget blowouts and design pitfalls he sees all too often.

Darren also takes us behind the scenes of Jennifer Hawkins’ incredible home, sharing juicy details from the design process, the big hero moments, and what it really takes to pull off a celebrity-level dream house. Along the way, he talks about creating “easy luxury” at home, why every space should be beautiful and liveable, and how to make design decisions you’ll still love in 10 years.

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 think if you have the capcity to, adapt your furniture to its environment rather than trying to shoehorn old stuff into a new place.”
Darren Palmer