5 Reasons To Consider A Passive House, With Builder Mark van Haandel

We’ve been big fans of Sydney-based brand ELLISON STUDIOS. since it launched in 2017.Now, it has a cult following after dominating the internet with retro-inspired designs like a coffee-coloured velvet sofa created in collaboration with Pantone, and the viral Huggy Armchair. In this episode, ELLISON STUDIOS. CEO and co-founder Leigh McKeown shares the origin story behind the brand, and how they found international success without ever opening a retail store.Read the article featuring the highlights from this interview over at The Design Files here, and shop ELLISON STUDIOS. full collection online here. 

Building a successful brand is no mean feat, but lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Alyce Tran knows a thing or two.After co-founding the wildly popular accessories brand The Daily Edited, she’s since gone on to work for influencer marketing platform LTK and you’ve probably heard of her side hustle, In The Roundhouse — the tableware brand known for its playful plates, cutlery and tablescaping accessories.In this episode, Alyce shares how In The Roundhouse began in 2018, how her products spark joy in people's everyday lives, and he her best business advice for budding entrepreneurs! Read the article featuring the highlights from this interview over at The Design Files here, and shop In The Roundhouse's online store here. You can follow Alyce on Instagram at @alyce_tran.

Since launching in 2019, Baina has taken the humble towel from a utilitarian textile to a must-have design product with a cult following, including A-list celebrities like  Cindy Crawford and Dakota Fanning.Even if you don’t know Baina by name, we bet you’ve spotted their checkerboard towels at your local beach, or in some of your favourite bathroom inspo photos. In this episode, founders and childhood best friends Bailey Meredith and Anna Fahey share how they used their backgrounds in the fashion industry to elevate the everyday ritual of bathing in their bestselling designs! Read the article on this interview over at The Design Files here, and visit Baina's website to shop their collections.

Have you ever lived in a house that just wouldn’t stay warm, or a place that felt like a perpetual sauna in summer? Passive Houses are all about solving these problems before the home is even built, and using as little energy as possible to do so.In today’s episode, we speak to certified passive house builder and MVH Constructions founder Mark van Haandel who talks us through everything you need to know about this voluntary building standard — which uses 90 per cent less energy than a typical home! Read the article featuring the highlights from this episode here, and find out more about MVH Constructions here, and explore the resources on the Passivhaus Association here. Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Momentum Energy. 

Saul Griffith is a visionary engineer, scientist, author, and inventor with a plan to fight climate change. The Rewiring Australia founder says the key to urgently reducing Australia’s emissions is by turning everything electric — from our homes to our cars, and entire suburbs — and embracing renewable energy.We speak to Saul in this episode about how Australia could successfully get off fossil fuels and save the average household money. Read the article featuring the highlights from this episode here, and follow Saul's personal Instagram here. Plus, find out more about his project Electrify 2515 here.Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Momentum Energy.

Voice actor Sarah Aubrey is a bit of an accidental expert in sustainability, who started posting educational videos on Instagram after being astonished by how much she saved when she got off the gas and turned her draughty old home all-electric. Now with more than 68k followers, she's on a mission to educate others to do the same! In this episode, Sarah shares how much she spent retrofitting her house, how she's already earning back the investment, and why she's so passionate about electric vehicles.Read the article featuring the highlights from this episode here, and follow Sarah at @electrify_this.Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Momentum Energy. 

Tamara DiMattina is passionate about promoting low-waste, sustainable living. So much so, that she actually hasn’t bought anything new for more than 20 years — aside from food and the occasional personal hygiene essentials. Instead, she’s been shopping for her clothing, shoes, furniture, and (literally) everything else, second hand! In this episode, Tamara shares how she founded the annual Buy Nothing New Month, The New Joneses, and her journey to change people's attitudes about excessive consumerism.Learn more about Tamara's work in the full story on The Design Files here, and head to The New Jones website to watch their free episodes on sustainability.Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Momentum Energy.

Interior designer and TV presenter Sibella Court is an expert at creating spaces that feel like they have a storied past, and her Bundeena family home is the perfect example. It took a five-year renovation to bring the interiors to life (designed around the character of an imagined sailor!), using salvaged materials and vintage treasures that fill the house with character! Hear how the project evolved into her own 'experimental design lab', along with her tips and tricks for creating eclectic interiors. See photos of this unique abode in the full story on The Design Files here, and follow Sibella for more on Instagram here.Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Koala. Head to Koala to check out their full range of Australian-designed furniture at down-to-earth prices.

Landscape architects Joel Barker and Hannah Pannell are the husband-and-wife team behind See Design Studio who built their beautiful Perth family home on the smallest possible footprint — in order to save most of their block for the garden of their dreams. The resulting house is just 110-square-metres, and it's one of the most energy-efficient properties we’ve ever featured!Hear why building small goes hand in hand with sustainability and affordability, and how they achieved an incredible NatHERS rating of 9.3 out of 10. See images of the home and highlights from the interview here. Follow Joel and Hannah's landscape design practice here.Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Koala. Head to Koala to check out their full range of Australian-designed furniture at down-to-earth prices!

Courtney Adamo has renovated houses before, but nothing compared to the process of designing and building her family’s beach home. She shares the highs and lows of the design and build process — plus what she'd do differently if building a house again.See images of the home and read the interview highlights here.Follow Courtney at @courtneyadamoFollow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletterThis episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Koala. Head to Koala to check out their full range of Australian-designed furniture at down-to-earth prices!