She's the woman behind some of the most well-designed homes in FNQ, likely the ones so special you may never get a chance to step inside. Lisa Mackee sees what others are unable to visualise, whether it be the potential of a renovation project or creating homes from the ground up. When she's not experimenting with colour or new dishes in the kitchen you can find this true creative enjoying the best of Cairns' art scene. Enjoy getting to know Building Designer Lisa Mackee.
Q: Can you tell us about Urban Abode Building Design and what your role is?
LM: I’m the owner and lead designer at Urban Abode Building Design; we specialise in new houses and renovations in the North Queensland region from Port Douglas to Mission Beach and across the Atherton Tablelands.
Q: What is the best part of your role?
LM: I love being able to present a design that my clients are absolutely blown away by, especially with renovations where it can be hard for clients to visualise what might be possible with their property.
Q: What is your favourite building design element?
LM: Tiling – I’m loving seeing more people experiment and be brave with colour.
Q: What is one thing you wish people would consider when designing a residential home?
LM: With rising prices, I’d love to see more people embracing smaller homes which allows more of the budget to go toward finishes, fixtures furniture and landscaping which is what really makes the house a home.
Q: How do you work with the harsh Far North Queensland climate when designing, are there any special considerations?
LM: Material choices in the tropics are a big consideration, people definitely underestimate the harshness of the climate. The next consideration would be the weather implications on the specific site – where the sun and breezes are coming from, but also how that works with other constraints such as neighbours and views. Often the best orientation for view is also the worst orientation for weather so it’s a tricky balance to get the best outcome for both.
Q: Do you have a favourite designer or creative and why?
LM: That’s a tricky one! Probably Richard Neutra a modernist / mid-century architect designing buildings from the 1920’s through to 1970 when he passed away – he worked under both Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolph Schindler and his homes are a perfect example of that era of architecture.
Q: What does a typical morning look like for you?
LM: I like either walk the dogs or do a workout or yoga in my home gym – or both if time allows - followed by a coffee or matcha before heading into my home office to start the day.
Q: What are you listening to right now?
LM: My music taste is very eclectic – but I am a huge fan of podcasts and audiobooks too – at the moment I’m listening to The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom. Super inspiring and highly recommended.
Q: What is your all-time book recommendation?
LM: A Little Life, by Hanya Yanagihara.
Q: Who inspires you?
LM: My husband Lachlan who has just left a 15 year career in the police force to become a wood-fired potter, he’s thrown himself whole heartedly into a new venture and I know it’ll be successful.
Q: What are you looking forward to?
LM: We are looking to ‘move to the country’ (just up to the Tablelands) over the next 12 months which will hopefully involve buying and renovating an interesting old house and setting up a pottery with a wood fired kiln for Lachlans business.
Q: Where would we find you on a typical Friday night?
LM: If there’s nothing happening at The Tanks or CPAC then I’m at home on the couch with my hubby and our chihuahuas.
Q: What is your most beloved dish to cook? Does it evoke any special memories?
LM: I usually prefer to experiment with new dishes rather than tried and true, sometimes it works, other times not so much.
Q: What’s in your online shopping cart or on your wish list?
LM: Always homewares, but I can never make a decision and follow through.
Quickfire - this or that! 🔥
Birks or Boots? Definitely birks – my feet need to be free!
Tea or coffee (or margs)? Matcha
Sun or snow? Sun
Thrift store or Designer? Designer, because I never seem to find the good stuff at the thrift stores
Sunrise or Sunset? Sunrise
You can follow Lisa Mackee over at @search_yourself @urbanabodebuilding design and @nayahaus or by visiting www.urbanabodebuildingdesign.com.au