This episode was recorded live on the DFS stage at the Ideal Home Show in Dublin in April, 2025. Thank you to our lovely audience for listening and asking questions, to Jo Linehan for the fabulous interview, and to the whole team for having us on stage! We talked all about how to keep your renovation on budget, on time, and in style. Note as this was recorded in a busy environment there will be some background noise, but we did our best to make it sound good.

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

Today Jenny and Kate are tackling the hardest working spaces in your home - utility rooms, laundry rooms, boot rooms, and all the clever cabinets and gadgets to hide the chaos in style.

Items mentioned:

• Cordless vacuum charger dock plus attachments holder
• Adhesive broom holders
• Elfa System / Boaxel System (Ikea) - wire shelves and fittings for laundry and utilities
• Dehumidifier - Meaco and DeLonghi 
• Swedish airing cupboards - Asko and Nimo Verken
• Foxy Dry/Sheila Maid
• Laundry chute 
• Washer/dryer stacking kit
• Smart appliances - Samsung
• Foldable ironing board - Joseph Joseph
• Drawer ironing board
• Over the door hanging storage

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

Kate and Jenny are turning up the heat - that's right, it's all about heating systems. It's not a topic that we're experts on, but we will take you through how we made the decisions in our previous homes around which type of boiler to choose, radiators, underfloor heating, and heat pumps. We will tell you all about the mistakes we made and the things that we would do again.

Items mentioned:

• Combi-boilers
• Underfloor heating (gas)
• Devimats (electric underfloor heating - for small areas)
• Skirting-board heating - ThermaSkirt
• Heat pumps (for heating and cooling)
• Electric radiators
• Zoning - to control heating in different areas of your home
• Smart thermostats

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

We are joined by the inimitable Laura de Barra. She is a three-time best-selling author and "SheIY" expert who is going to tell us everything we should be looking for when viewing property as well as keeping it all running smoothly once you've moved in. So sit back and prepare yourself for a schooling by the Gaff Goddess herself.

Items mentioned:

• Laura de Barra books - Gaff Goddess, Decor Galore, and Garment Goddess
• Lighting - look for lower Kelvins for warm, cosy lighting
• Use smart bulbs for lamps
• Bosch laser measure for accurate measuring
• Cut out fabric templates for bed sizes

About the episode:
Laura shares her journey from the fashion industry to property development. She emphasizes the importance of quality tools, providing advice on using Bosch tools like laser measures and stud finders. She discusses the importance of proper home maintenance, such as resealing bathroom silicone and regular cleaning of appliance filters. Laura also provides practical tips for renters and homeowners, like measuring spaces accurately and utilizing lighting effectively. She advocates for being intentional about home improvements and maintaining a relationship with household items. Additionally, she suggests negotiating rental prices by looking at listings that have been on the market for a while and learning from neighbors about potential issues.

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

 In this episode, Kate and Jenny discuss  the main renovation mistakes that we have either made ourselves or that we have seen our clients making. We want to save you time and money by learning from our mistakes, so be sure to listen to the whole episode!

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

 Today on Rip It Up we are joined by Gráinne Gillett who became an internet renovation sensation in 2022 when she took on a seriously rundown Victorian cottage in Dublin, documenting every step of the transformation and getting very hands-on in the process. With a keen eye for interiors and an impressive DIY skill set, Gráinne has inspired countless people to take on their own renovation projects. 

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

For the last episode of 2024, Kate and Jenny take you through their ultimate Christmas gift guide

Best homewares / interiors gift we got

• Joseph Joseph nesting bowls
• Prints / artwork / framed photography
• Dried flowers (thecrate.ie)
• Anything with a gift receipt!
• Cheeseboards (personalised - check out slated.ie)
• Serving platters
• Plants
• La Boule - Villeroy & Boch
• Throw - McNutt of Donegal
• Hugo Byrne knives 
• Móinéir - Wicklow Way Wines - Irish fruit wines
• Sheepskin slippers - Irish Hide Designs
• Coffee table books - soho house, rose Uniacke, assouline, Monocle
• Candles - Sines
• Glassware-classic styles - Ferm Living
• Cocktail stuff
• High quality spirits
• Restaurant vouchers
• Plants
• Sines-candle holder
• Marble serving board
• Fancy S&P grinders
• Le Creuset
• Custom calendar
• Flower subscription/house plant 
• Bougie hand soap - Aesop, Meraki 
• Fancy versions of board games - HAY
• Candles
  • Somas
  • La Bougie
  • Sines (refillable)
• Sustainable shopping
  • Second hand
  • Consumables (food / candles / plants)
  • Locally made
  • Local restaurant / business vouchers
• DIY gifts
  • Anything baked
  • Cookie jars (layer the dry ingredients for cookies in a jar and write the recipes)
  • Hand scrub (dried coffee grounds, caster sugar, oil)

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

We don't want to cause any panic, but it is nearly time to start thinking about Christmas. So here are all of our top tips for Christmas decorations, from the beautiful and chic to the gaudy and fun; from the DIY to the sustainable to the slightly more outlandish, we've got you covered.

Items mentioned:

• Flat Christmas trees - zig zag garland on wall using Command Hooks
• Wooden Christmas Trees - from Mon Sapin Woody (monsapinwoody.fr)
• Dried fruit as decorations
• Eucalyptus garland
• Honeycomb paper balls
• Window stickers and chalk pens for window decorations
• Rockett St George for fun Christmas decor (rockettstgeorge.co.uk)
• Rustins spray paint in matte hessian for DIY baubles
• Warm fairy lights
• Disco ball fairy lights from Flying Tiger
• Hall of baubles - hang from ceiling with clear Command Hooks
• Splitter / transformer with multiple sockets to centrally control lights
• Vondels Christmas ornaments stocked at April and the Bear (aprilandthebear.com)
• DIY cookie jars - layer the dry ingredients for cookies into glass jars and write the recipe on a pretty tag
• Risk of botulism from home-made chilli oil
• Handbag hooks to hang stockings
• @foxnestfood on instagram - flavoured butters
• No Messin Mince Pies

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

In this episode, Kate and Jenny pull back the curtains (literally) to talk all things window dressings, from sleek blinds to cosy curtains.

Items mentioned:

• Roman blinds
• Emma J Shipley
• Hilja (ikea voile fabric)
• Lille - avoid
• Net curtain wire
• Cafe curtains
• Passementerie trim
• Pinch peat
• Recessed tracks
• Motorised tracks
• Switchbot - solar powered motor for opening and closing curtains and blinds
• Harry Corry for curtain rails
• The Fabric Outlet, Newbridge, Kildare

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

For this special live episode, Kate and Jenny are interviewed by the fabulous Jo Linehan from GAFF Interiors live onstage at the ideal home show in Dublin in October, 2024.

There is a little bit of background noise, but if you weren't able to make it in person then we hope you enjoy this live recording! Special shout out to Rowan for making it possible.

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