How To Renovate

southplacestudio.com/renoversity
I have some exciting news - the doors to RenoVersity are open once again!
Over my many years in this reno world, I’ve seen people struggle with renovating in so many ways, and that’s exactly why I created RenoVersity - my clear 5 Pillar step-by-step system that helps you plan, design and deliver your renovation in the right order. So you avoid costly mistakes, overwhelm and constant second-guessing.
It's been a little while since the course was last available because, behind the scenes, I've been busy working on a new renovation project of my own: an auction apartment that I completely renovated back to brick and have now rented out above market value. The entire project went from purchase to tenant in just five months using the very same RenoVersity system I teach inside the course. (But that's definitely a story for another podcast episode!)
I've also been busy adding some exciting new features, including the On-Demand AI RenoVersity Companion, so you can get answers to your renovation questions whenever you need them, and a Private Audio Series, so you can learn while you're commuting or on the go.
RenoVersity is packed with everything I've created and refined while managing real renovation projects over the years: video lessons, planning guides, calculators, templates, cheat sheets and practical resources to help you plan and manage your renovation with confidence.
The course is now open for enrolment, and in this episode, I'll walk you through exactly what's included, who it's for, and how it can help you create your dream home.
The course is now open for enrolment and inside this episode of the podcast, I talk you through exactly what RenoVersity is all about. 
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PLEASE CAST YOUR KIND VOTES HERE!
This podcast has been shortlisted for a UFurnish Home Award in the Best Interior Content Creator Category.
https://homeawards.ufurnish.com/2026/en/page/vote?nomination=9fce-tash-south 

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Hi, I’m Tash South — interior designer, renovation consultant, and founder of South Place Studio.
In this podcast, I share practical renovation advice, along with deeper insights into home and belonging.
If you’d like more resources and support, head to:
https://www.southplacestudio.com/freebies
If you’re navigating your own renovation, my RenoVersity programme offers a structured, guided and thoughtful approach to renovating with clarity, confidence and intention https://www.southplacestudio.com/renoversity
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

I'm doing things a little differently this week. Instead of our usual episode, I've decided to share a special masterclass with you because I think it's one of the most useful lessons I've ever created for homeowners planning a renovation. 
Most homeowners don't save £40,000 through one big decision. They save it through a series of smart decisions made before the renovation begins. 
In this masterclass, I share three strategies used on real projects to help homeowners avoid unnecessary costs, reduce expensive mistakes, and make better renovation decisions from the outset. 
Join me inside this masterclass to learn my 3 Big Strategies on how to save over £40,000 on your home renovation project. 
In this value-packed class, I’ll show you: 
Strategies I’ve used before in my 20 years of home renovation experience, using real project examples 
Exactly where you can make savings on your reno without compromising on the luxe result you’re after 
The architect and interior designer secret that can save you over £7,000 
What to do before hiring your builder or architect 
This masterclass is for you if you’re planning a renovation or extension and want to feel in control and You want to get it right, without expensive mistakes 
Knowledge = Confidence = Savings 
https://www.southplacestudio.com/save40masterclass
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PLEASE CAST YOUR KIND VOTES HERE!
This podcast has been shortlisted for a UFurnish Home Award in the Best Interior Content Creator Category.
https://homeawards.ufurnish.com/2026/en/page/vote?nomination=9fce-tash-south 

*******************
Hi, I’m Tash South — interior designer, renovation consultant, and founder of South Place Studio.
In this podcast, I share practical renovation advice, along with deeper insights into home and belonging.
If you’d like more resources and support, head to:
https://www.southplacestudio.com/freebies
If you’re navigating your own renovation, my RenoVersity programme offers a structured, guided and thoughtful approach to renovating with clarity, confidence and intention https://www.southplacestudio.com/renoversity
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

In this episode, I reflect on the meaning of belonging in a world that can often feel divided, uncertain and increasingly hostile.
As an immigrant, I've been thinking a lot about what it means to feel at home and how fragile that sense of belonging can sometimes be. I explore how our earliest experiences of belonging, or not belonging, shape the way we move through the world and influence what we seek from our homes as adults.
When we move countries, cities or go through major life changes, home often becomes something we are trying to recreate rather than simply a place we live. I talk about our deep human need for connection, safety and acceptance, and why creating a home that reflects who we truly are matters more than ever.
This is a conversation about identity, home, community and finding your place in the world. Because belonging isn't something someone else gives you. It's something we can create for ourselves through the spaces we live in, the people we welcome in and the life we choose to build.
It's not about having the biggest home or the most beautiful one. It's about having a place where you can be fully yourself.
*******************
PLEASE CAST YOUR KIND VOTES HERE!
This podcast has been shortlisted for a UFurnish Home Award in the Best Interior Content Creator Category.
https://homeawards.ufurnish.com/2026/en/page/vote?nomination=9fce-tash-south 

*******************
Hi, I’m Tash South — interior designer, renovation consultant, and founder of South Place Studio.
In this podcast, I share practical renovation advice, along with deeper insights into home and belonging.
If you’d like more resources and support, head to:
https://www.southplacestudio.com/freebies
If you’re navigating your own renovation, my RenoVersity programme offers a structured, guided and thoughtful approach to renovating with clarity, confidence and intention https://www.southplacestudio.com/renoversity
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

Maybe the goal isn’t to ‘finish’ your home… maybe the goal is to create a foundation that allows it to grow with you.
We’ve all had that thought… “Once the renovation is done, everything will finally feel complete.”
But I have to say, that moment does come, but also… life evolves.
In this episode, I’m unpacking this idea, because the goal isn’t perfection, it’s creating a home that can grow, shift, and evolve with your life and your family needs.
If you’re in the middle of a renovation, planning one, or just feeling like your home is never quite “there”… I’m hoping that this episode will shift your perspective. 
Inside, I chat about The illusion of the finished home and how we’ve been conditioned by before-and-after shows and social media to believe there’s a perfect end point, but real homes just don’t work like that. Homes are living, evolving spaces that need to adapt as your life changes, whether that’s family, work, routines, or unexpected life events.
I also cover a very important point that has been at the core of this podcast from day one, the power of getting the base right. Layout, light, flow, and storage are everything. These are the hardest (and most expensive) things to change later, so getting them right from the start is gold.
A meaningful home is layered slowly and built over time with pieces that reflect your life, memories, and identity, so join me inside to dive deeper – I’ll see you there.
*******************
PLEASE CAST YOUR KIND VOTES HERE!
This podcast has been shortlisted for a UFurnish Home Award in the Best Interior Content Creator Category.
https://homeawards.ufurnish.com/2026/en/page/vote?nomination=9fce-tash-south 

*******************
Hi, I’m Tash South — interior designer, renovation consultant, and founder of South Place Studio.
In this podcast, I share practical renovation advice, along with deeper insights into home and belonging.
If you’d like more resources and support, head to:
https://www.southplacestudio.com/freebies
If you’re navigating your own renovation, my RenoVersity programme offers a structured, guided and thoughtful approach to renovating with clarity, confidence and intention https://www.southplacestudio.com/renoversity
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

Have you ever walked into a space and felt instantly calm… while someone else feels completely unsettled?
In this episode, I’m introducing you to a concept I’ve recently discovered called Umwelt, and I think it will completely reframe how we think about our homes.
I came across the German word, Umwelt in my recent research, and it piqued my interest. I've come across so many different words over the years, in terms of interiors and design, from Danish Hygge to Swedish Legom, to Dutch gezelligheid, to Japanese Ikigai and Wabisabi - all these beautiful words come from all these beautiful different cultures, and what they all point to really, is the same concept of our homes being not just visual, they are emotional, sensory, and deeply personal spaces.
The concept of Umwelt comes from a biologist called Jakob von Uexküll, who was fascinated by how different animals, like elephants, bats, dogs and even insects, each experience the world in their own unique way. And I think this is also so relevant when it comes to our homes, because our senses are experiencing our homes and the spaces around us, whether we are conscious of it or not.
Umwelt is a German word with no direct English translation, but at its core, it describes something quite powerful, the unique way each of us experiences the world around us. 
We don’t experience our homes or our surroundings as they are. We experience them as we are.
I think the concept of Umwelt connects so beautifully back to home, and back to these deeper conversations I'm starting to have about what home means to us and our sense of home and belonging, and how we experience what is around us.
Come and join me inside this episode to explore this more, I chat about how your personality, your past, your sensory preferences, and even your daily habits shape how your home feels to you.
Inside This Episode
How Umwelt shows up in real homes
Hidden factors shaping how we perceive our space (light, clutter, layout & more)
How to design for your Umwelt
Resources & Mentions
Episode 1: Common Renovation Regrets & Concerns
Episode 2: What is a Successful Home Renovation?
Episode 9: Dreaming
Loved This Episode?
If you found this helpful, I’d be so grateful if you left a review on Apple, YouTube or Spotify, or even shared it with a friend who’s renovating, or just wants to create a better home.
*******************
PLEASE CAST YOUR KIND VOTES HERE!
This podcast has been shortlisted for a UFurnish Home Award in the Best Interior Content Creator Category.
https://homeawards.ufurnish.com/2026/en/page/vote?nomination=9fce-tash-south 

*******************
Hi, I’m Tash South — interior designer, renovation consultant, and founder of South Place Studio.
In this podcast, I share practical renovation advice, along with deeper insights into home and belonging.
If you’d like more resources and support, head to:
https://www.southplacestudio.com/freebies
If you’re navigating your own renovation, my RenoVersity programme offers a structured, guided and thoughtful approach to renovating with clarity, confidence and intention https://www.southplacestudio.com/renoversity
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