The Rural Renovator, Design with Country Sense
Hello, I’m Pip.
I live and work near Dubbo in Central West NSW, and was born and raised on a sheep station near Bourke.
For the past six years, my husband Damian, a builder, and I have been designing and renovating homes across Far Western NSW, while raising a family of our own. Through our work, we have supported families at many different stages of farm life. The next generation returning to the homestead. Parents finally renovating once children have finished boarding school. Couples transitioning into the town house or stepping back from the main house to retire.
I understand how rural homes evolve alongside the people who live in them.
The Rural Renovator is my pivot into a design practice that extends beyond the full service model of interior design. It is a way to work with like-minded people who value thoughtful guidance, practical process and a sense of community while navigating renovation in isolation.
Our Story
Who We Are
The Rural Renovator is an online community for people living, renovating and building in rural and regional Australia.
We are homestead owners, farmers, station families, small-acreage dreamers and regional homeowners who care deeply about how our homes function and feel.
We believe:
• A homestead is more than a house — it is a working hub
• Practical design matters more than trends
• Beauty and functionality can live together
• Rural homes have different needs to city homes
• Good design supports calm, workflow and family life
We understand dust, heat, distance, contractors travelling hours, delayed deliveries, tank water, boots at the back door and budgets that must prioritise the farm before the sofa.
We are designing for real life on real land.
What We Stand For
Practical Guidance
Clear, grounded advice that respects rural constraints.
Function First
Workflow, storage, durability, climate response.
Authenticity
Homes that reflect region, history and lived experience.
Confidence
Helping rural homeowners make decisions without overwhelm.
Community
Sharing knowledge so we are not doing this alone.
Here at The Rural Renovator, we’re about creating spaces that work hard, feel right, and reflect who you are: with clarity, confidence, and a bit of country common sense.
We’re up to date with contemporary design trends but that isn’t our focus, I’m more concerned that materials and finishes are fit for purpose and reflect your own story values.
Our Why
Rural Renovator is where people stay connected.
Where you can ask questions, share suppliers, compare solutions and learn from how others have solved problems in real country homes.
It is peer knowledge, lived experience and practical support.
The Rural Renovator exists to bridge the isolation of renovating in rural Australia.
Distance from designers.
Distance from trades.
Distance from experienced renovators.
In the country, decisions carry more risk and fewer second chances. Freight costs more. Mistakes travel further. Support is often hours away.
The Rural Renovator connects rural homeowners to practical design knowledge, a clear renovation process and a community of people living the same realities.
It reduces isolation.
It builds confidence.
It helps rural families create functional homes that genuinely support life on the land.
If you’ve ever thought:
“I don’t know where to start.”
“I’m overwhelmed by the decisions.”
“I just want it to feel like me, not my mother-in-law.”
You’re not alone. And this is where you begin.
Introducing The Homestead Edit
Our First Program
The Homestead Edit is our foundational online program — step-by-step guide to designing your rural home with clarity before you start spending serious money.
It helps you define your direction, avoid costly mistakes, and approach your renovation with confidence instead of confusion.
This is not about copying a Pinterest aesthetic. It’s about creating a home that fits your land, your lifestyle, and your season of life.
Who This Is For
People renovating in the bush or small towns
Those who want function, flow, and beauty without blowing the budget
Women managing the build or renovation process without formal design support
Anyone who believes their home should feel true to who they are and where they live
What we cover:
How to map your current and ideal workflow
Zoning your homestead for real rural living
Designing kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces and bedrooms with purpose
Storage that reduces mental load
Materials and finishes that handle country conditions
Communicate clearly with builders and suppliers
Short, mid and long term planning so you can stage your renovation wisely
What The Homestead Edit Includes
Finding Your Style Workbook
Moodboard and Design Brief Templates
Style Reflection Prompts
Project Vision Builder
Your Renovator’s Companion Bundle
Including:
Materials and Selections Planner
Optional Printable Design Statement
Bonus: Reno Etiquette for Trades
This is practical guidance shaped by lived experience — both on the land and inside real renovations.
You do not need to be “designy.”
You do not need a huge budget.
You do need clarity.
And that’s exactly what this community is here to give you.
What you will gain
Meet your Interior Designer
Pip Stalley-Batten
I’m Pip, I was raised on a sheep station outside Bourke in Western NSW. My work is shaped by a deep love for the land, an appreciation for the beauty in the practical, and a belief that good design should be grounded, intentional, and built to last. I am also the Co-Director of our construction company which I run with my husband Damian. I am dealing with tradies on a daily basis, I know all too well how important it is to have a good relationship, clear communication, boundaries and documentation onsite.
I created The Rural Renovator because I know how it feels to renovate in the bush. You might be far from design studios and supplier showrooms, but full of heart, heritage, and hands-on grit. I believe your home should reflect who you are and where you live, not just what’s trending on pinterest and insta.
With every guide, workbook, and story I share, my goal is to help rural Australians design spaces that are functional, soulful, and timeless. We focus using whatever you’ve got access to: handed-down pieces, local trades, and your own good sense.
My values:
Honesty. Practicality. Beauty with purpose.
Design that fits your lifestyle, not the other way around.
Testimonials
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“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”
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“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”
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“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”
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“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”
Enroll Now
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