Design Buy Build – July-August 2026

Summary

House Willett takes the cover of Design Buy Build's July-August 2026 issue, numbered 81, which pairs a completed home with features on renovation budgets, materials and a products spread for Australian builders.

Design Buy Build's July-August 2026 issue, numbered 81, leads with House Willett on the cover, then follows the project from plans to completion. Features cover renovation budgets and how costs were managed, while a materials piece looks at finishes used in the build. A products section gathers fixtures, surfaces and fittings with supplier details, and later features profile the builders and designers behind recent homes. The issue includes advice on working with trades, plus news of projects and products across the Australian market.

Regular departments keep owner-builders and renovators informed. A products spread lists new items with specifications, and a news section covers industry movement. Practical pages include budgeting and planning guidance, while the back pages gather a directory of suppliers and services for readers building or renovating in Australia.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Features

p.4 · HOUSE WILLETT cover story
House Willett takes the cover story, following the home from plans through to completion. The piece details the build and its design decisions. Review one design decision from House Willett for your own build.

p.? · RENOVATION BUDGETS AND COST CONTROL
Features cover renovation budgets and how costs were managed on real projects, with figures where given. Set one cost-control step from this feature before your reno starts.

p.? · MATERIALS AND FINISHES IN THE BUILD
A materials piece looks at the finishes used in the build, covering specification and sourcing. Specify one finish from this feature in your next project.

▸ People / Products

p.? · BUILDERS AND DESIGNERS BEHIND RECENT HOMES
Later features profile the builders and designers behind recent homes, covering their work. Contact one builder named here for a quote this month.

p.? · PRODUCTS: FIXTURES, SURFACES AND FITTINGS
A products section gathers fixtures, surfaces and fittings with supplier details for builders. Get one sample from a supplier in this spread this week.

▸ Regulars

p.? · WORKING WITH TRADES
Advice pages cover working with trades on a renovation or new build. Get one trade quote in writing before work begins.

p.? · NEWS: PROJECTS AND PRODUCTS
A news section covers projects and products across the Australian building market. Note one new product from this page for your shortlist.

p.? · SUPPLIER AND SERVICES DIRECTORY
The back pages gather a directory of suppliers and services for Australian readers. Add one supplier from this directory to your contacts.

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Editor's Take

House Willett is the clear highlight of issue 81: following a single home from plans to completion gives owner-builders a real reference rather than a photo spread. The renovation budget feature is the most practically valuable part, and the working-with-trades advice is usable immediately. The weakness is the middle and back, where the products spread and supplier directory take over and several pages read as promotion. Builder profiles are short. Best for Australian owner-builders and renovators managing their own project; readers outside Australia will struggle with the supplier detail.

Strengths
• House Willett followed from plans to completion
• Renovation budget feature with cost-control detail
• Working-with-trades advice is immediately usable
• Directory serves Australian builders directly

Weaknesses
• Products and supplier pages dominate the back half
• Builder profiles are short and light on detail

Verdict: Recommended — House Willett and the budget feature make this a strong issue for owner-builders.