Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

Jenny Sheahan and Kate O'Driscoll
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Home & Garden

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

  1. 1d ago

    Don't Waste Your Money On... Light Fittings

    Good lighting can completely transform a home. But that doesn’t mean you need to spend hundreds, or thousands, on every fitting before you move in. In this episode of our Don’t Waste Your Money On… series, we’re talking light fittings, and making one very important distinction: the lighting plan belongs in the bones of your renovation; the decorative fittings don’t. Prioritise the wiring, positions, switching, dimming, wall-light points, pendants, task lighting, and anything that will be difficult to add later. Then, if the budget is running out, put an inexpensive fitting on the wire and upgrade it when the bank balance has recovered.  We share where we saved and splurged in our own homes, some of our favourite sources for lighting, the inexpensive styles we think are hard to get wrong, and why the bulb itself might matter more than you think. What we cover  Why lighting design and light fittings are two different budget decisions Prioritising wiring, switching, dimming, and getting connection points in the right places  Why you shouldn’t remove wall lights or pendants from the electrical plan just because your dream fittings are expensive  Which fittings we prioritised because they would be difficult to change later  Where inexpensive high-street lighting can work perfectly well  Why we both love plaster wall lights  Built-in LED strips and the importance of hiding the strip and diffusing the light  Alabaster, stone, and stone-effect wall lights  Where we shop for lighting  Clearance sections, sales, and buying fittings later in the renovation  Vintage and secondhand lighting  Why size matters with pendant lights in large rooms  Simple fabric shades as an inexpensive interim option  Why you shouldn’t be able to see the naked bulb  The importance of choosing warm bulbs, around 2700K or below The big takeaway Wire for the dream light. You don’t have to buy it yet. If you know you want wall lights, pendants, dimmers, integrated LEDs, or particular lighting positions, put them into the electrical plan now. A decorative fitting can be swapped in minutes. Adding a missing lighting point after the walls are finished is a very different job.  Products and suppliers mentioned:  Astro Lighting  Astro Eclipse plaster wall light  Next Home  Made.com lighting  Zara Home  M&S Home  Lampmasters  Mullan Lighting  Hicken Lighting  Deco Nook  Dusk Lighting  Lamptwist  Finnish Design Shop  Light11  Vaughan Designs  Vintage / secondhand Murano and Tiffany-style glass lighting Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

  2. Sep 17

    Don’t Waste Your Money On… Curtains

    Custom curtains and blinds can add thousands at the end of a renovation. But are they something you really need to spend big on straight away? This week on Don’t Waste Your Money On…, we’re talking curtains and window treatments: one of those finishing touches that can make a huge difference to a room, but can also be very easy to upgrade later. We share what we’ve actually done in our own homes, from €5-a-metre fabric and ready-made H&M curtains to IKEA sheers, inexpensive roller blinds, DIY café curtains, and online made-to-measure options. We also talk about the details that can make inexpensive curtains look much better, why getting the measurements and hanging position right matters enormously, and the circumstances where we absolutely think custom window treatments are worth the investment.  What we cover:  Why we’d prioritise spending on the windows themselves before curtains and blinds  Why window treatments are something you can often upgrade later  Kate’s €5-a-metre Fabric Outlet curtains  Where we’ve found good ready-made curtains  Finding extra-long curtains for high ceilings  DIY café curtains for privacy  IKEA sheers and inexpensive roller blinds  Ordering made-to-measure curtains and blinds online  How doing your own measuring and installation can save significantly  The right height, width, and length for hanging curtains  Why curtains that are too short can ruin the look  Layering sheers, roller blinds, and curtains  Curtain poles versus ceiling tracks  Planning recessed tracks during a renovation  Privacy window film as a low-cost alternative  Roman blinds and why accurate measuring is critical  When custom curtains, blinds, or shutters really are worth paying for The big takeaway: Spend on the window first. Good windows, good installation, insulation, and weatherproofing are difficult and expensive to change later. Curtains and blinds aren't. If the renovation budget is disappearing, inexpensive curtains hung beautifully can get you surprisingly far, and the dream custom versions can come later.  Products and suppliers mentioned:  Fabric Outlet, Newbridge and Cork Harry Corry curtain poles  H&M curtains  IKEA HILJA sheers  IKEA STOCKHOLM sheer curtains  IKEA roller blinds  Interior Fashions, Tipperary  Gotain  Nordic Knots  Hang Man, Dublin  Window privacy filmFollow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

  3. Sep 10

    Don’t Waste Your Money On… Bathroom Vanities

    Bathroom vanities can cost hundreds, or easily thousands, of euro. But are you actually getting better quality when you spend more? In the first episode of our new Don’t Waste Your Money On… series, we’re talking about one area where we both think you can save: the bathroom vanity. We talk about why many off-the-shelf vanities are fundamentally very similar, what we’ve used in our own homes, and how a basic unit can be transformed with paint, new hardware, legs, or a beautiful countertop basin. We also look at secondhand and antique furniture as an alternative, where it is worth spending your bathroom budget, and the circumstances where we think a properly custom-made vanity is absolutely worth the money.  What we cover:  Why we wouldn’t automatically spend big on an off-the-shelf bathroom vanity  The vanity-sizing mistake we see people make  Why going wider can give you much better storage and usable countertop space  Our experience with IKEA bathroom vanities  How Kate painted her existing vanity  How Jennifer upgraded inexpensive vanities with new legs, handles, and statement basins  Using antique washstands, sideboards, and secondhand furniture as vanities  Countertop basins versus integrated sinks  Wall-mounted versus deck-mounted taps  Where we’d spend the money instead  When a custom vanity really is worth paying for  Some of the bathroom and interiors suppliers we use and recommend Our takeaway: Save on the box. Spend on the jewellery. A relatively inexpensive vanity can look far more expensive with a great basin, taps, hardware, or a clever paint finish. And if you eventually decide to replace the unit, some of those elements can move with you.  Products and suppliers mentioned:  IKEA bathroom vanities  Superfront handles and furniture legs  Etsy  Roberto Tiranti  McCarren Supply Deluxe Bathrooms  Gran Lusso  Fiora  Kave Home  Ireland Royale StoneFollow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

  4. Sep 3

    Summer Replay: When Renovations Go Wrong - Snags, Fixes & What to Do Next

    We're taking a short summer break - but we didn't want to leave you stranded! Over the next few weeks we're re-sharing some of our most popular episodes from the Rip It Up archive while we recharge for a brand-new season in September. In this episode, we talk about what happens when things go wrong, from minor snags to bigger issues, and how to handle them effectively. if you're listening for the first time, we'd love to hear what stage of your renovation you're at. We'll be back next week with brand-new episodes. Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

  5. Aug 27

    Summer Replay: Planning Permission Explained - What You Need to Know Before Renovating

    We're taking a short summer break - but we didn't want to leave you stranded! Over the next few weeks we're re-sharing some of our most popular episodes from the Rip It Up archive while we recharge for a brand-new season in September. In this episode we give your our best tips plus lessons learned from our own encounters (positive and less positive!) with local planning authorities. if you're listening for the first time, we'd love to hear what stage of your renovation you're at. We'll be back in September with brand-new episodes. Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

  6. Aug 20

    Summer Replay: Bathroom Layouts and Planning - Bathroom Design Explained

    We're taking a short summer break - but we didn't want to leave you stranded! Over the next few weeks we're re-sharing some of our most popular episodes from the Rip It Up archive while we recharge for a brand-new season in September. In this episode, we break down the layout and planning decisions that make a bathroom comfortable, functional and easy to live with. if you're listening for the first time, we'd love to hear what stage of your renovation you're at. We'll be back in September with brand-new episodes. Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

  7. Aug 13

    Summer Replay: Kitchen Layouts Explained - Flow, Storage & Planning Decisions

    We're taking a short summer break - but we didn't want to leave you stranded! Over the next few weeks we're re-sharing some of our most popular episodes from the Rip It Up archive while we recharge for a brand-new season in September. This is one of our most popular episodes ever. In this episode, we break down the early decisions that will make your kitchen renovation successful. if you're listening for the first time, we'd love to hear what stage of your renovation you're at. We'll be back in September with brand-new episodes. Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

  8. Aug 6

    Summer Replay: The Renovation Process - What to Expect Before You Start

    We're taking a short summer break - but we didn't want to leave you stranded! Over the next few weeks we're re-sharing some of our most popular episodes from the Rip It Up archive while we recharge for a brand-new season in September. This episode is one of our very first and one of our favourites! In this episode, Kate & Jenny step the listener through the building process, talk through key construction terminology and sequencing, and highlight key decisions to be made throughout. This episode was originally sponsored by Finline Furniture for making this recording possible. Book a design consultation at finlinefurniture.ie If you're listening for the first time, we'd love to hear what stage of your renovation you're at. We'll be back in September with brand-new episodes. Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Jenny Sheahan and Kate O'Driscoll
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    87
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast
  • Show Website
    Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

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