How To Renovate

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I'm back and in this episode, I’m sharing a personal update on why the podcast returned a little later than planned… and where it’s heading next. 
Life, business, a new renovation project, RenoVersity updates, and even a book in the works have all been bubbling away behind the scenes.
But more than that, I wanted to talk about something many of us are quietly carrying right now: the weight of the world.
When global news cycles feel relentless, economic pressures build, when identity and belonging feel fragile, it can all feel very overwhelming. 
Inside I look at some small, simple things we can all do at home to gently reset and find a moment of sanctuary from the outside world, and these cold, dark months of the year.
From simple rituals to finding reasons to celebrate, lets explore what can we do inside our homes to feel steady again?
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Hi I'm your host, Tash South I'm an Interior Designer and Renovation Consultant, and I'm here to help you design, renovate and style your home better. Let's create your dream home together.

Each episode of How To Renovate is short, but brimming with practical advice to help you manage your renovation project with confidence and success.

Grab some more renovation advice & free resources and become part of the South Place Studio Renovation Community at
https://www.southplacestudio.com/freebies

Everything I teach about renovation falls within my Five Pillar Process for A Successful Renovation, to learn more about the process, head to
https://www.southplacestudio.com/pillars

Or if you want to get social, you can find us here:

Instagram: @southplacestudio
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/south-place-studio
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/southplacestudio

Send a text
This time of year always brings a certain pressure to our homes; guests, dinners, family staying over.
And suddenly, those little niggles about layout and functionality become glaringly obvious. 
In this episode, I talks about how to harness that end-of-year reflection to kick off your renovation plans the right way. 
In this episode, I go over the method I’ve developed over many, many years of renovating both for myself, and for my clients.
I want to help you make a confident, stress-free start to your dream home. 
If you happen to have a few free days during the holidays, it is the ideal time to start planning, and for this part, you don’t even need an architect, designer or contractor.
Just download my free Renovation Checklist and start 2026 with a strong renovation plan!
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Hi I'm your host, Tash South I'm an Interior Designer and Renovation Consultant, and I'm here to help you design, renovate and style your home better. Let's create your dream home together.

Each episode of How To Renovate is short, but brimming with practical advice to help you manage your renovation project with confidence and success.

Grab some more renovation advice & free resources and become part of the South Place Studio Renovation Community at
https://www.southplacestudio.com/freebies

Everything I teach about renovation falls within my Five Pillar Process for A Successful Renovation, to learn more about the process, head to
https://www.southplacestudio.com/pillars

Or if you want to get social, you can find us here:

Instagram: @southplacestudio
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/south-place-studio
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/southplacestudio

Send a text
In this episode, I cover one of the sometimes overlooked elements of your interior: window dressings. 
Most people leave curtains and blinds until the very end of a renovation, then panic-choose something “good enough” and wonder why the room still doesn’t feel quite right. 
In this episode I walk you through how to think about your windows like a designer: starting with the view outside, privacy, the light you want to invite in (or block out), and the mood you’re trying to create. There really is more than you might think to choosing the right window dressings. 
I’ll go through the curtains vs blinds vs shutters debate, to what on earth to do with radiators under windows, to why short curtains really get my goat. 
Plus lots more - I didn’t realise just how much I had to say about window dressings! If you’ve ever felt stuck on how to dress your windows, this one’s for you. 
So if you have a window that needs some power dressing, I’ll see you inside.
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Hi I'm your host, Tash South I'm an Interior Designer and Renovation Consultant, and I'm here to help you design, renovate and style your home better. Let's create your dream home together.

Each episode of How To Renovate is short, but brimming with practical advice to help you manage your renovation project with confidence and success.

Grab some more renovation advice & free resources and become part of the South Place Studio Renovation Community at
https://www.southplacestudio.com/freebies

Everything I teach about renovation falls within my Five Pillar Process for A Successful Renovation, to learn more about the process, head to
https://www.southplacestudio.com/pillars

Or if you want to get social, you can find us here:

Instagram: @southplacestudio
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/south-place-studio
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/southplacestudio

Send a text
*******************

Hi I'm your host, Tash South I'm an Interior Designer and Renovation Consultant, and I'm here to help you design, renovate and style your home better. Let's create your dream home together.

Each episode of How To Renovate is short, but brimming with practical advice to help you manage your renovation project with confidence and success.

Grab some more renovation advice & free resources and become part of the South Place Studio Renovation Community at
https://www.southplacestudio.com/freebies

Everything I teach about renovation falls within my Five Pillar Process for A Successful Renovation, to learn more about the process, head to
https://www.southplacestudio.com/pillars

Or if you want to get social, you can find us here:

Instagram: @southplacestudio
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/south-place-studio
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/southplacestudio

Send a text
In this week’s episode was unexpectedly inspired by the  kids’ TV show—Bluey—watching this episode with my daughter sparked a reflection on the mental load many of us carry, particularly mothers and caregivers, 
and how our homes can either add to that load… or ease it.
Inside, I dive into the emotional impact of our home environments and explore how design—both big and small—can actively support relaxation, calm, and our wellbeing. From clutter and storage to sensory cues and micro-zones, this episode offers practical and thoughtful ways to make your home a place where you can actually exhale.
If, like me, you’ve ever felt like you should be relaxing but just can’t switch off… this one’s for you.
What we’ll cover:
Why your home isn’t a neutral backdrop—and how it can impact your stress levels
How visual clutter affects your brain and your ability to relax
Big and small ways to reduce stress through design
How to create intentional "micro-zones" for calm
The importance of mini systems, and why they’re not just for productivity
Simple sensory shifts that make a big impact on wellbeing
Mentioned in this episode:
Bluey – S3 E40 “Relax” (yes, it's brilliant—even for grown-ups)
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Hi I'm your host, Tash South I'm an Interior Designer and Renovation Consultant, and I'm here to help you design, renovate and style your home better. Let's create your dream home together.

Each episode of How To Renovate is short, but brimming with practical advice to help you manage your renovation project with confidence and success.

Grab some more renovation advice & free resources and become part of the South Place Studio Renovation Community at
https://www.southplacestudio.com/freebies

Everything I teach about renovation falls within my Five Pillar Process for A Successful Renovation, to learn more about the process, head to
https://www.southplacestudio.com/pillars

Or if you want to get social, you can find us here:

Instagram: @southplacestudio
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/south-place-studio
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/southplacestudio