Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

We launched a business!! If you are facing a renovation, check out https://thehomepage.ie/, and don't forget to grab one of the remaining tickets to our Renovation Ready webinar on 4th November at 7:30pm. Now, on with the show...

Would we ever buy a new build? We're two women who have spent years renovating old houses, and helping clients do the same, but are we missing a trick? Would life be easier if we just bought something brand new?

This week we're weighing up new builds versus older homes, and it turns out there's quite a lot to love about both.

Kate shares her experience of buying an unfinished new build in Galway, and we talk about how to give a brand-new house some personality without trying to make it look like an ersatz Victorian mansion. From choosing your own kitchen finishes to avoiding endless spotlights and echoey porcelain floors, there are lots of little changes that can make a big difference.

We also get into overheating in modern homes, the appeal of low-maintenance apartment living, and some truly spectacular examples of modern architecture. Plus, one rather extraordinary €2 million house in Limerick that gives us plenty to discuss!

And before all that, there's a healthy dose of Halloween enthusiasm, sick children, and Christmas tree disasters.

What we cover:

• New build or doer-upper: what would we actually choose?
• Buying off-plan, and which decisions to influence before the developer finishes your house.
• How to add character to a new build without forcing traditional features into a modern home.
• The importance of flooring, lighting, window treatments, and natural materials.
• Why some well-insulated new homes can become unbearably hot in summer.
• Beautiful modern houses that have us dreaming of lottery wins.
• New builds versus renovating older homes: maintenance, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

Links and things we mention:

• Balsam Hill – the artificial Christmas tree brand Kate has ordered from.
• HUF HAUS – Jenny's dream modern prefabricated house.
• O House, Dublin 6 – the incredible modern house designed around a circular internal garden..
• Róisín Lafferty – inspiring contemporary design and wonderful use of natural materials.
• Suzie Mc Adam Design – beautiful Irish interiors.

We'd love to know what you think. Would you rather buy a brand-new home or an old house with character? And would you renovate again?

Visit our new renovation platform at https://thehomepage.ie/ and join our live Renovation Ready webinar on 4th November 2026 at 7:30pm - tickets €29 available here.

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

We're back to regular programming after an exhilarating and exhausting week launching https://thehomepage.ie last week! Check it out if you haven't already, and don't forget to grab one of the remaining tickets to our Renovation Ready webinar on 4th November at 7:30pm.

OK, on with the show...

It seems like every dream kitchen these days comes with a enormous island, a row of uncomfortable bar stools, and enough worktop space to land a small aircraft. Do we really need all that?!

We love a good kitchen, but we're not convinced that every kitchen needs one. We're discussing what makes them so popular, where they earn their keep, and when they can end up getting in the way of a good kitchen design.

What we cover:

• Why everybody seems to want a kitchen island.
• The importance of getting your barstools right.
• The real advantages, from storage and prep space to entertaining.
• The downsides people forget: cost, clutter, awkward seating, and poor layouts.
• Islands versus peninsulas, kitchen tables, and other alternatives.
• Practical dimensions, clever storage ideas, and tips for planning your kitchen.
• What we'd choose for our own homes, and what we'd do differently.
• And we barely scratched the surface on pendants...

Whether you're planning a kitchen renovation or just wondering why yours doesn't work quite as well as it should, this one's for you.

Items mentioned:

AYTM barstools.

HAY barstools.

Visit our new renovation platform at https://thehomepage.ie/ and join our live Renovation Ready webinar on 4th November 2026 at 7:30pm - tickets €29 available here.

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

We've been keeping something from you…

After over two years, more than 80 podcast episodes, and countless conversations about renovations, we've spent the past year working very hard on something very special.

We're launching The HomePage!

We've taken everything we've learned from renovating our own homes, helping other homeowners, and making Rip It Up, and turned it into a new platform designed to make renovating a home a little less overwhelming.

In this special episode, we're telling you the whole story. How we went from two Home of the Year contestants chatting about renovations over glasses of wine to podcast hosts, business partners, and now founders of The HomePage. We talk about what we've learned, the many twists and turns along the way, and why building a business (and a tech platform!) has been quite a bit harder than either of us anticipated.

Most importantly, we explain what we've actually built and how we hope it will help you plan, budget, and manage your own renovation with more confidence.

What we cover:

• How Rip It Up began, and why we decided to take things further.
• The biggest challenges we've seen homeowners face when renovating.
• How The HomePage evolved from an idea into a renovation education platform.
• Our new Personalised Renovation Roadmap, with tailored advice, indicative costs, and next steps for your own project.
• Our upcoming renovation webinar, detailed renovation programme, workbooks, and practical tools.
• What we've learned from a year of building a business together.

Our first live Renovation Webinar is on Wednesday 4 November at 7.30pm! We'll take you through the renovation process from start to finish, the big decisions you need to make, and the common mistakes to avoid. Places are limited, and bookings will be open from Friday 16th October.

Explore The HomePage, see a sample Renovation Roadmap, and book your webinar place at https://www.thehomepage.ie/

We're also officially launching at the Ideal Home Show in the RDS on Friday 16th October, where we'll be joining Jo Linehan on the DFS Interiors Theatre stage at 4.20pm. Come and say hello!

And finally, a huge thank you to everyone who has listened, shared the podcast, sent us questions, or helped us with research over the past year. Your support and feedback have genuinely shaped what we've built.

We're not going anywhere. Rip It Up continues, and we're very excited about what comes next.

Love,

Jenny & Kate.

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

Jenny thinks tiles are one of the great joys of interiors and would happily spend the entire renovation budget on them. Kate… would not.

This week, we’re asking when expensive tiles are actually worth the money, when you can achieve almost exactly the same effect for far less, and which choices we’d make differently after living with our own renovations.

We talk overpriced porcelain, real terrazzo and limestone, Zellige tiles, trends, grout colours, clever layouts, outdoor tiles, mosaics, and the surfaces that are much harder to upgrade later.

We cover:

• Why we wouldn’t pay premium prices for ordinary porcelain
• How to make cheap tiles look expensive with layout and grout
• Where it is worth investing in tiles
• Why floors require more thought than walls
• Real stone and terrazzo versus imitation finishes
• Whether you should avoid “trendy” tiles
• Jennifer’s enduring love affair with Zellige and terrazzo
• Kate’s limestone floors, and the pattern she’s already slightly tiring of
• Why outdoor tiles need particular thought in an Irish climate
• The cleaning problem with mosaics and lots of grout

The big takeaway: work out whether tiles are something you genuinely care about. If they are, spend deliberately on materials and areas you’ll live with for years. If they aren’t, simple inexpensive tiles can look fantastic when the layout, colour and grout are well considered.

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

You’ve just spent a fortune renovating, your bank account is empty, and now you've a load of empty rooms and a massive shopping list...

Couch. Dining table. Chairs. Beds. Side tables. Armchairs. Coffee table. Console. Bar stools…

This week on Don’t Waste Your Money On…, we’re talking furniture, and why one of the most expensive mistakes you can make at the end of a renovation is trying to furnish the entire house at once.

We talk about why rooms often come together better when you buy slowly, how living in a space changes what you realise you actually need, and why we’d rather invest in one key piece and let everything else build around it over time.

We also get into secondhand furniture, Adverts finds, vintage pieces, IKEA stopgaps, reupholstery, recovering old sofas, clearance finds, and how some of the best pieces in our homes cost almost nothing.

What we cover

• Why there is no deadline to have your home “finished”
• The danger of panic-buying furniture at the end of a renovation
• Why we’d invest in one anchor piece per room
• Living in a room before deciding what it really needs
• How furniture layouts can change once you actually use the space
• Buying the bare minimum when you move in
• Adverts, DoneDeal, Marketplace, salvage yards, and secondhand shops
• Why patience makes you better at spotting good vintage pieces
• Kate’s half-price dream dining table
• €50 Aldi nesting tables that became one of the most asked-about pieces in Kate’s house
• IKEA sofas as temporary or long-term options
• Buying furniture with removable and replaceable covers
• Jenny’s €50 Vision Ireland couch
• Kate’s free BoConcept couch
• Reupholstering and recovering furniture instead of replacing it
• When custom furniture really is worth spending on
• Why mixing old, new, inexpensive, vintage, and custom pieces gives a room more character

The big takeaway

There's no deadline to have your home furnished

Buy the things you genuinely need. Invest in the important pieces. Then give yourself time to collect the rest.

Once you’ve lived in the house, you’ll know where you actually put your drink, which way you naturally sit, how many dining chairs you really use, what storage is missing, and which empty corner needs filling.

Places and products mentioned:

• Adverts
• DoneDeal
• Facebook Marketplace
• Vision Ireland
• IKEA HILLTARP sofa
• Bemz / replacement IKEA sofa covers
• CA Design
• The Vintage Hub
• Gaff Interiors
• Second Story Furnishing

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

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

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 film

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

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 Stone

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

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

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

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

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

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

After weeks of hearing from builders, electricians, plumbers, painters, and kitchen designers, we're wrapping up our Trade Secrets series by looking back at the advice that stuck with us the most.

In this season finale, we revisit the biggest lessons from the experts, share the top renovation tips they'll be taking into every future project, and reveal what they think homeowners should prioritise if they want a smoother, less stressful renovation.

What we cover

• The decisions you need to make earlier than you think
• Where it's worth spending more - and where you can save your money
• Why communication is the secret to a smoother renovation
• The biggest mistakes homeowners make time and time again
• The advice that surprised us most from this season's trade experts
• Our own biggest renovation lessons after multiple projects
• What's coming next for the podcast

Key takeaways

• Understand the renovation process before you begin
• Invest in the things that are difficult to change later
• Don't rush to furnish or finish everything at once
• Ask questions and attend every important site walkthrough
• Design your home around the way you actually live, not someone else's Pinterest board

We'll also be taking a short break during August while we recharge. We'll be re-sharing some of our most popular renovation episodes throughout the month before returning in September with brand-new episodes.

And we'd love your input.

Should we bring back more trades? Or would you like to hear from architects, quantity surveyors, interior designers, mortgage experts and other professionals involved in the renovation process? Or anything else?? Let us know below!

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

In this episode of Trade Secrets, we get top tips from paint professional Karena Hyland, Research & Development Manager at Fleetwood Paints. From surface preparation and choosing the right paint finish to how to buy the correct amount of paint and invest in quality products, this episode is packed with practical advice to help your paintwork stand the test of time.

What we cover

• Why preparation takes longer than most people expect
• The importance of filling, sanding and allowing repairs to cure properly
• Where it's worth spending more on paint, and where it isn't
• Why durable, washable paints are worth the investment in busy homes
• How to calculate the right amount of paint for your project
• The value of quality brushes, rollers and masking tape
• Why different rooms need different paint finishes
• Common mistakes people make when choosing paint based on colour alone

Key takeaways

• Great paint jobs are built on great preparation
• Choose paint for performance as well as colour
• Invest in quality products for high-traffic areas
• Don't rush surface preparation or curing times
• The cheapest paint job is rarely the best value in the long run

Items mentioned

• Wooster paint brushes
• Purdy paint rollers
• Fleetwood Prestige Multi-surface paint finish
• Fleetwood low tack Washi Masking tape
• Fleetwood Easyclean Washable Matt (ideal for kitchen areas)

Whether you're choosing a painter, taking the DIY route, painting a single room or tackling an entire house, this episode will help you achieve a better finish, and avoid some very expensive mistakes.

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

Everyone dreams about their new kitchen, but what does a kitchen designer wish every homeowner knew before they started planning one?

In this episode of Trade Secrets, we hear from Dawn from Savvy Kitchens, the designer behind both Kate's kitchens and Jennifer's own kitchen renovation. Dawn shares the five biggest lessons she's learned from designing kitchens every day, from planning layouts before your drawings are finalised to avoiding the trap of designing for Instagram instead of real life.

What we cover

• Why your kitchen should be designed before construction drawings are signed off
• How kitchen layouts influence glazing, door positions, electrics and plumbing
• Where your kitchen budget is best spent, and where you can save
• Why expensive features aren't always the best investment
• The importance of communicating changes early
• Why every kitchen should be designed around your family's daily routine
• Common mistakes people make when copying Pinterest and Instagram kitchens
• Practical examples from Jennifer and Kate's own kitchen renovations

Key takeaways

• Design your kitchen around how you actually live, not how you wish you lived
• Bring your kitchen designer in as early as possible
• Invest in the features you'll use every single day
• Don't be afraid to challenge assumptions and ask questions
• A beautiful kitchen is one that works effortlessly for your lifestyle

Whether you're choosing an IKEA kitchen or a fully bespoke design, these are the principles that make every kitchen function better.

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

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

Every renovation has a plumber, but what does your plumber wish you knew before the walls are closed up?

In this episode of Trade Secrets, we hear from an experienced plumber who shares the five biggest lessons every homeowner should know before starting a renovation. From planning bathrooms properly to investing in the plumbing you'll never see, this episode is packed with practical advice that can help you avoid costly mistakes later on.

What we cover:

• Why bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms need to be planned much earlier than most people realise
• Why quality pipework matters more than expensive taps
• The plumbing components worth investing in from day one
• Why every homeowner should attend their plumbing walkthrough
• Common bathroom layout mistakes that affect how the space functions
• The importance of thinking beyond Pinterest-perfect bathrooms
• How good plumbing decisions save money in the long run

Key takeaways:

• Lock in bathroom layouts before first fix begins
• Spend money behind the walls, not just on the finishes
• Walk every room with your plumber before pipework is installed
• Good communication prevents expensive changes
• Design bathrooms for everyday life, not just for photos

This episode is a reminder that the best plumbing is the plumbing you never have to think about.

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

This episode is PACKED full of tips straight from the horse's mouth - Jason Doyle of JEMI Construction, Jenny's own main contractor. In this episode of Trade Secrets, we're joined by Jason who shares the five biggest tips from homeowners, and lessons he's learned from years of managing home renovations.

From when to order kitchens and windows, to where you should spend and save your money, Jason shares practical advice that could save you delays, stress and expensive mistakes.

What we cover

• Why kitchens, windows and other long lead-time items need to be ordered early
• Where your renovation budget is best spent (and where it isn't)
• Why trendy finishes aren't always the right choice
• The importance of clear, direct communication with your builder
• How to avoid one of the biggest renovation mistakes: under-budgeting
• Why relationships with trusted suppliers keep projects running smoothly
• Budgeting for finishes, fittings and all the hidden extras

Key takeaways

• Plan the big decisions before work starts
• Invest in the structure; you can always upgrade furniture later
• Research trends before committing to them
• Communicate early, often and directly
• Keep a detailed budget and track every decision

Guest

Jason Doyle, JEMI Construction

Jason has spent years managing full home renovations and extensions, coordinating multiple trades and helping homeowners navigate complex projects from demolition through to completion. In this episode, he shares the advice he wishes every client knew before starting a renovation.

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

Every renovation has an electrician - and this episode is packed full of things they wish you knew.

In the first episode of our new Trade Secrets series, we're joined by Ronan Byrne from Eleven Electrical to uncover the five biggest lessons homeowners should know before planning their electrical work. From socket positions and lighting layouts to future-proofing and avoiding costly mistakes, this episode is packed with practical advice that can save you time, money and years of frustration.

What we cover

• Why you need to plan furniture layouts much earlier than you think
• How bed positions, sofas and TVs affect socket placement
• What is worth spending money
• Where you should save
• The most common mistakes homeowners make - and how to avoid them
• The importance of sharing updated drawings and communicating changes quickly
• Why electrical walkthroughs are one of the most important stages of a renovation
• Lighting, switching, Wi-Fi points, demister pads and all the details that are easy to overlook

Key takeaways

• Plan rooms around how you'll actually use them
• Future-proof while walls are open
• Communicate changes early and often
• Walk through every room before first fix
• Remember: you're the one who has to live with the decisions

This episode is a practical guide to creating an electrical plan that works not just on paper, but in real life.

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