PodcastsArtsRip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

Jenny Sheahan and Kate O'Driscoll
Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast
Latest episode

60 episodes

  • Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

    #53 - The A-Z of Irish Home & Renovation Suppliers ☘️

    19/03/2026 | 26 mins.
    To celebrate Paddy’s Day, we’re doing something a little different this week - an A–Z of our favourite Irish home, renovation and interiors suppliers.
    From big renovation essentials to smaller finds, these are the brands, makers and shops we come back to again and again - whether we’re working on our own homes or recommending to others.
    If you’re renovating, decorating or just love discovering great Irish suppliers, this is a brilliant place to start.
    What this episode is about:
    Our go-to Irish suppliers across home, interiors and renovation
    A mix of well-known names and hidden gems
    Brands we’ve used ourselves or consistently recommend
    Ideas and inspiration for sourcing locally in Ireland
    🔤 The A–Z List
    A - April and the Bear
    B - Browsers
    C - CA Design 
    D - Des Kelly
    E - EZ Living Furniture
    F - Finline Furniture
    G - Grove Home
    H - Havwoods
    I - Industry & Co
    J - Jam Art Factory
    K - Kilkenny Architectural Salvage
    L - LoftStyle 
    M - Mullan Lighting
    N - Newbridge Fabric Outlet
    O - Oriana B
    P - POD Furniture 
    Q - Quirkes Homevalue 
    R - Rosalin’s
    S - Savvy Kitchens
    T - Tiles and Terrazzo 
    U - Ulster Carpets
    V - Vintage Dublin
    W - Woo Design
    X - XO Tile
    Y - Yeats Country Antiques
    Z - Zozimus Gallery
    🎧 Who this episode is for
    Homeowners planning a renovation
    Anyone sourcing furniture, finishes or homewares in Ireland
    Listeners looking to shop more locally
    People who love discovering new brands and suppliers
    💡 Save this episode! It’s one you’ll come back to when you’re shopping for your own home or for gifts.
    Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines
  • Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

    #52 - Bathroom Layouts & Planning - Bathroom Design Explained

    12/03/2026 | 29 mins.
    Bathroom design starts long before you choose tiles or taps. In this episode, we break down the layout and planning decisions that make a bathroom comfortable, functional and easy to live with.
    What we cover
    Why bathroom layouts should be decided early in a renovation
    Planning clearances - it's recommended to have a space 800mm wide and 700mm deep for your toilet
    Keeping the toilet out of the main sightline where possible
    Wall-mounted taps, channelled walls, and other early plumbing decisions
    Shower planning, including tileable shower trays (only when the area is properly tanked)
    Lighting and electrics - we love wall lights and demister pads
    Storage solutions - alcove shelves
    Items mentioned
    IKEA FAXÄLVEN mirror with integrated light
    Roberto Tiranti concrete sink (Etsy)
    Naka shower shelves
    This episode focuses on the planning stage of bathroom design - getting the layout right before plumbing, electrics and finishes are locked in.
    Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines
  • Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

    #51 - Kitchen Layouts Explained - Flow, Storage & Planning Decisions (Part 1)

    05/03/2026 | 29 mins.
    Before you choose cabinet colours, you need to lock down layout, flow, storage, and how the room actually works day to day. In this episode we break down the early decisions that will make your kitchen renovation successful.
    What we cover
    Why kitchens are usually the first major design decision in a renovation
    The layout choices that affect plumbing, electrics and budget
    Why the classic “kitchen triangle” is outdated
    Designing kitchens in practical zones: storage, prep, cooking and cleaning
    Storage strategies that make kitchens easier to live with
    Floor-to-ceiling units, drawers vs cupboards and corner solutions
    Planning sockets, appliances and everyday countertop clutter
    We also share the biggest kitchen regrets - from narrow islands to nowhere to hide clutter.
    This is part 1 of a two-part kitchen episode - in the next episode we’ll cover appliances, materials and kitchen lighting.
    Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines
  • Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

    #50! Sockets, Switches, and Spotlights: Electrical Plans Explained for your Renovation

    26/02/2026 | 26 mins.
    Designing your electrical plan isn’t just about picking lights - it’s about how your home actually works every day. In this episode (our fiftieth!), we break down the lighting, sockets, switches and electrical decisions that happen during the first fix and second fix stages of your renovation. This is the second of a two-part episode on creating your M&E plan - we covered the mechanical plan in our previous episode.
    💡 What we cover in this episode:
    Lighting basics: lumens, kelvins and how to create a plan
    Creating layered lighting - general, task and soft mood lighting
    Choosing adjustable spotlights, LED strips, and avoiding mixed light tones
    Where to place sockets, switches and other controls
    Planning for charging points, vacuum routes and future flexibility
    Data points, Wi-Fi planning and avoiding dead zones (especially in older Irish homes)
    First fix vs second fix - when you need to make your key electrical decisions
    👉 If you’re planning a renovation, this episode will help you avoid harsh lighting, missing sockets and costly changes later.
    Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines
  • Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

    #49 - Poo, Plumbing & Heating: Mechanical Plans Explained For Your Renovation

    19/02/2026 | 26 mins.
    Early in your renovation, you need to lock down your M&E plan - mechanical and electrical. In this we deep dive into the dirty business of mechanical plans - waste pipes, connection points, pumps, heating, toilets, showers, drainage, and more. The decisions you make here will have a big impact later in your renovation, and there are some important things you should know.
    We will be covering electrical plans (including Jenny's favourite topic - lighting!) next week.
    Key Topics in This Episode:
    Why plumbing, drainage and heating plans must be decided early in a renovation.
    Toilets, waste pipes and the impact of pipe routes on layout and design.
    Boxing off waste pipes.
    Hidden vs visible toilet cisterns.
    Macerators (e.g. Saniflo).
    Common bathroom planning mistakes.
    Boilers, water tanks, combi-boilers, and other hot water systems.
    How gravity affects water flow.
    Radiators, zoning and smart heating decisions to be aware of.
    Pumps, drainage challenges and avoiding costly issues later.
    BTU calculator for checking radiator requirements.
    Pipe to pipe distance between radiators.
    Temperature knobs on radiators.
    Sump pump if your drain pipes are low compared to the water table.

    Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

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About Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

In the Rip it Up podcast, RTE's Home of the Year winner Jenny and finalist Kate step the listener through everything they've learned in buying a wreck of a house and turning it into a dream home. They demystify the entire renovation journey, from finding the right house, all the way through the renovation process, from picking a builder, to choosing wallpaper. No brick will be left unturned. As well as being a management consultant, Jenny writes a weekly home column in a national Irish newspaper as well as being a regular guest on national Irish radio. Kate, before branching out into renovation consulting full time, worked in technical roles in engineering and sustainability.Together, they make an expert team, ready to inspire and motivate would-be renovators and DIYers alike. Follow them on Instagram to see more of their renovation journeys - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines
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