This week we’re diving into dining - from compact kitchen nooks to dramatic dining rooms, we'll go through design, layouts, materials, and lighting to help you create a dining room that is both beautiful and practical for everyday living.

Editor's note: We were short on time today and are talking super fast to fit everything in - we understand if you need to play this episode at half speed, sorry! ;)

Items mentioned:

• We both have a tulip-style dining table (Eero Saarinen style) 
• Ghost chairs - Philippe Starck style
• Carver chairs with arms that can double up as bedroom chairs
• Bench seating with hinged lid (preferred over drawers)
• Slope the back of the seat 5-7 degrees
• Poly-velvet fabric is ideal for easy-to-clean upholstery
• Bar stools should be 65-70cm maximum (assuming standard countertop height of 90 - 95cm)
• Solid wood tables - seal well with oil - we love Ethnicraft wood tables
• The Interior Design Handbook by Frida Ramstedt has great dining measurements
• Dr. Beckmann’s (fabric cleaner)

Jenny's dining dimensions:

• 90cm diameter round table
• 175 x 185cm bench seating

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

In between full episodes we will be fielding listener questions about their renovations. So if you have a burning question send us a voice-note on Instagram at @ripitup_podcast_official or via email to [email protected].

Items mentioned:

• Ikea curtain fabrics
  • Hilja - Kate’s original
  • Stockholm - new and improved
• Wundaweb - iron-on hemming tape
• Net curtain wire + hooks
• Tension rods for cafe curtains
• Glass film suppliers:
  • Coatek
  • Glassfilm.eu
• Link to Kate’s cafe curtain tutorial

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

This week we are bringing you a shared episode which we recorded with Kim Buckley, host of SEAI's House Warming podcast, to talk about the range of energy upgrades that we both made across our various home renovations. Visit SEAI.ie to check out the range of supports they have available if you're planning to make energy efficient upgrades to your home, and keep your ears tuned for a follow-up episode where we will discuss SEAI's Traditional Homes pilot scheme, designed with period homes in mind.

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

In between full episodes we will be fielding listener questions about their renovations. So if you have a burning question send us a voice-note or a message at @ripitup_podcast_official on Instagram or [email protected].

Our favourite (off)white paints:

• Slaked Lime - Little Greene
• Subtle - Colourtrend
• Arctic Blonde - Colourtrend
• Powdered Shell - Colourtrend
• Soda Bread - Colourtrend
• Trigg - Farrelly & Co
• Wimborne White - Farrow & Ball
• Old White - Farrow & Ball
• Schoolhouse White - Farrow & Ball
• Shaded White - Farrow & Ball
• Shadow White - Farrow & Ball
• Dropcloth - Farrow & Ball
• Designer White - Fleetwood (for outdoors)

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

Are you bamboozled by kitchen countertops? Can’t tell your quartz from your quartzite or think marble is just a fancy tile? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From the grit of quartzite to the ease of porcelain and the affordability of laminate, we’ll help you choose the perfect countertop material for your kitchen.

PLUS - do you have a burning question for us? Send a short voicenote to [email protected] or via DM @ripitup_podcast_official on Instagram and we’ll answer on the pod!

Catch us on the DFS stage at the Ideal Home Show this weekend.

Items mentioned

Quartz brands:

• Concertino group (silestone)
• Sapienstone

Man-made materials:

• Laminate
• Quartz
• Porcelain

Natural materials:

• Quartzite
• Marble (including Connemara marble)
• Granite
• Wood

Types/names of patterns mentioned (there are many more):

• Calacatta
• Carrara
• Calacatta Violo
• Arabescato 

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

In between full episodes we will be fielding listener questions about their renovations. So if you have a burning question send us a voice-note at @ripitup_podcast_official on Instagram or [email protected].

Items mentioned:

Floating shelf with drawers:

• Sklum floating shelves
• Kave home floating shelves
• Zara Home floating shelves

Headboard with built-in shelves:

• Kate’s Moebe bed frame
• Kave Home 
• IKEA Nordli
• Ikea Brimnes

Brands mentioned for good quality bedside lockers:

• Homesense
• West Elm
• Kave Home
• Zara Home
• Ikea Tonstad
• April and the Bear - metal side table / coffee table

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

We feel every home should come with a manual, and if it’s your first time owning a home there may be things that you don’t know about how to keep things running smoothly or what to do if things go wrong. From shutting off water to testing your smoke alarms and having an emergency kit at the ready, here are all of our best tips to avoid disaster and keep your home in great shape.

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

 This is episode 40 and to celebrate, we're playing our top 40 hits - a rapid fire discussion of a favourite highlight from each of our previous episodes. If you're a longtime listener, this episode is a great summary of all of our best tips. If you're new here, this is the perfect place to start to help you to find which of our previous episodes will be the most useful for you.

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

From budget hobs to luxury fridges that cost more than most peoples' first car, today we're diving into the wonderful and some times bewildering world of kitchen appliances. Whether you're a microwave only chef, or a combi-oven connoisseur, we've got the low down on what's hot, what's cool, and what's just plain overpriced.

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

Last week Jenny and Kate spoke about renovation snag lists - but what if your builder doesn't come back? Small issues like hairline cracks in paint or needing to re-seal a bathtub are normal and totally doable yourself. This episode is all about how to do just that so you can tackle basic home maintenance with confidence (and a can of WD40).

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@Rip-It-Up

Courses Mentioned

• DIY evening courses: https://www.adulteducationireland.ie/diy/
• Furniture re-upholstering course: https://www.oldchairs.ie/weekend-courses/

Basic DIY Tool Kit Recommendations

• WD40
• Magic erasers
• Flexible sanding sponges
• Lightweight poly filler
• Two-part filler (with hardener)
• Good quality paintbrush
• Painter’s tool (multi-purpose scraper)
• Silicone gun
• Screwdrivers (manual preferred over electric for small jobs)
• Stud finder with live wire detection
• Caulk gun (good quality)
• Staple gun
• Spirit or laser level

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