Meet Ben Russell, founder of Goodbye Gas & BREC and his wife Georgia Cato, a doula and yoga teacher. High school sweethearts who found their way back to each other in their late twenties, their love story is every bit as special as their Alistair Knox mid-century family home, nestled amongst lush green trees and the gentle hum of wildlife.
Golden sunlight pours through every window of their charming abode. A retro corduroy couch steals the spotlight near the front door, but it’s the walls that truly stop you in your tracks, adorned with years’ worth of collected art, each piece telling its own story.
We caught up with Ben and Georgia separately, to chat about their recent backyard transformation, the paths of their creative careers, how they stay grounded and of course, their top tips for styling a home with heart.
Ben Russell, electrician and founder of Goodbye Gas
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Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Ben, an electrician and founder of Goodbye Gas - We help people create cleaner, more comfortable homes without the confusion or hassle. We make it easy to swap out old gas appliances for efficient electric ones - things like induction cooktops, heat pump hot water systems, and heating and cooling. It’s all about guiding home owners through the energy transition in a way that feels effortless.
Before Goodbye Gas, I also founded BREC, my electrical contracting business that’s been working alongside some of Melbourne’s best architects and builders for nearly 14 years - that’s where my love of great design and detail really began.
What sparked the idea for Goodbye Gas? Was there a particular moment when you realised there was a gap in the market?
After more than a decade in electrical work, I kept seeing the same thing - people wanted to ditch gas and go electric but had no idea where to start. It felt unnecessarily hard with too many barriers. I realised there was a huge gap for a service that made the process simple, elegant, and effortless… so Goodbye Gas was born.
If someone wants to make their home more sustainable but doesn’t know where to start, what’s your best advice?
An all electric home is a great place to start. Keep it simple, start with just one item. For example, when your gas hot water dies, replace it with a heat pump. When your gas cooktop dies, replace it with an induction. Once you’re all electric, then look at solar and a battery to help lower the cost to operate. You don’t have to do it all at once - just keep moving in the right direction. And if that all seems too hard - call us!
You wear a lot of hats… you own two businesses, you’re a partner and dad. How do you find pockets of calm amongst the chaos? When do you feel most relaxed throughout your busy weeks?
When you say it out loud like that it does sound quite busy, doesn’t it? I have a group of mates who I work out with 3 times a week, which is awesome and helps keeps me regulated. To relax though, I like to spend time in nature, being surrounded by trees or walks along the river definitely helps to ground me.
Describe the moment you first stepped inside this beautiful home… what thoughts were going through your mind and what made you want to buy?
It just felt right. The light, the layout, the energy - I could see how it could become a home that really reflected us. We have always loved how an Alistair Knox house feels, and the home had good bones with lots of potential to evolve over time.
You seem to have a strong appreciation for art and design - what kind of pieces or artists are you most drawn to?
I have always loved art and design. I don't really have a particular style but I love collecting things from different places, I love art that can tell a story or start a conversation.
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Your backyard feels so tranquil... Tell us about your recent landscaping project! And what tips do you have for those about to embark on a landscaping project for the first time?
Thanks! Yes this took a lot of energy, but we’re super happy with the end result. We had a design done, but it was important for us to build it ourselves (with no prior experience). Georgia did all the native plant selection - she’s got an incredible eye for texture and colour. We wanted it to feel natural and calming, like an escape without leaving home. My advice would be to keep it simple and think about how you’ll actually use the space. Oh and ask lots of questions.
You get an entire day off to yourself… How exactly would you spend it? Paint us a picture!
I’d start with an early workout, maybe a sauna, then grab a good coffee. The rest of the day would be spent with the family by the river or out on an adventure with the kids - finishing with pizza and a drink at A Boy Named Sue as the sun goes down, hanging out wth friends. That’s the dream day.
Georgia Cato, Birth and Postpartum Doula, and Yoga teacher
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Georgia Cato — a Mother, Birth and Postpartum Doula, and Yoga teacher.
Where do you draw inspiration from when it comes to styling your home?
From the journey of life, really. We’ve collected pieces over the years - secondhand treasures, things gathered on travels, and objects that carry a story. Everything has a little bit of history and heart behind it.
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Since you both share a love for art and interiors, is your home a seamless collaboration, or does someone secretly call the last shots?
Haha - it’s definitely a fair collaboration, but I’d say I mostly call the last shot (sorry, Benji!).
What architectural features or nooks of your home bring you the most joy and why?
Definitely the hallway! It’s drenched in natural light, with so many windows looking out to the garden. The timber walls give it this beautiful, warm glow - it’s such a happy, grounding space to move through every day.
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Has being a doula changed the way you view birth and motherhood in your own life? Tell us about your journey as a doula!
Being a doula has absolutely shaped how I view birth and motherhood. I’ve always been drawn to pregnant people - even before I trained, I had so many expectant mothers in my yoga classes. When I was pregnant with our first child, I met my mentor, Rhea Dempsey, and completely fell in love with her approach - she’s a no-BS kind of woman who really changed the way I saw birth.
Training with her felt like a natural next step. When I entered postpartum myself, it was a whole new world - deeply transformative and unlike anything I’d experienced before. It cracked me open, showing me just how much care, support and community mothers truly need during that time. It inspired me to walk alongside other women through those tender early weeks, months, and years.
I truly believe the way you birth deeply influences your postpartum experience, and helping women navigate that transition has become such a passion of mine.
What’s a piece of advice you find yourself giving most often to new mothers?
There’s no rush to return to the outside world - go slow and give yourself some grace. Keep eating nourishing food, and keep a thermos of warm herbal tea by your bed for those night feeds.
We live in a culture obsessed with “bouncing back” - not just physically, but emotionally. There’s this pressure to return to who you were before baby, but it’s unrealistic and, honestly, unnecessary. You’re not meant to go back; you’ve evolved. Birth changes everything - and that transformation is something to honour and celebrate, not undo.
How do you bring a sense of ritual or mindfulness into everyday life, even in small ways?
Music is a big one for me - it’s on from the moment I wake up until bedtime. Warm drinks are another daily ritual: I start my day with hot water, then peppermint tea, and my mid-morning earl grey tea time is sacred. Those small pauses help weave calm into my day.
You’ve been a yoga teacher for years… how did Yoga first find you and what made you fall in love with the practice?
Eighteen years ago, I moved next door to an lyengar yoga studio. After my first class, I was hooked - I never missed a single one! The teachers suggested I train with them and I did. It was a long, demanding training - years of practice but I’m so proud I made it through.
I’ve now been teaching yoga for sixteen years. I started with kids’ classes, then moved into regular ones, and eventually found my way to prenatal yoga, which I absolutely adore. I was never a sporty person, so finding a physical practice that made me feel incredible inside and out was life-changing. I love the precision and discipline of the Iyengar method - it’s such a powerful, transformative practice.
For some, the idea of slowing down through yoga can feel almost impossible, especially with a restless mind. What guidance would you offer to someone wanting to begin their yoga journey?
Find a style and a teacher - that truly resonates with you. Give a teacher a few classes before making a judgment; every class can feel so different depending on the vibe, the space, and your own energy that day too.
And remember: you don’t have to be calm or flexible before you start yoga. The practice itself is what helps you get there - it meets you exactly where you are.
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Now it’s your turn - how would you spend an entire day off to yourself? Describe every little detail to us!
Ooft, an entire day off - what a dream! I’d start with music on, a glass of hot water, then peppermint tea. A two-hour Iyengar class with my senior teacher, followed by my everyday favourite breakfast: crispy fried eggs on sourdough rye with avocado, cottage cheese, hemp seeds, and beetroot kraut (heaven!).
Then an earl grey tea and a walk by the river or through the bush. Maybe a little detour to a nursery, then home for some gardening. In the afternoon, I’d catch up with a friend over a healthy treat and - you guessed it - more tea.
Dinner would be something comforting - a curry with all the accompaniments or a big bowl of pasta - followed by a movie, a long shower, and a dreamy 12-hour sleep (pardon the pun - though I can only dream, right?).
Follow Ben's business on Goodbye Gas on the Instagram here and check out their website to learn more about their services here.
Follow Georgia on Instagram here and find here website here.
With a whole lotta love xx