Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast

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

In the final episode of this season of Unpacking Iconic Homes, we head to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to explore Kendall Jenner’s mountain retreat, designed by acclaimed interior designer Heidi Caillier.
This is definitely the most divisive home we've covered. Kate loves its warmth, personality and unexpected elements. Jenny thinks the bold design choices start competing with each other rather than working together.
From Viola marble and burgundy bathrooms to giant floral sofas, patterned wallpaper, and eclectic vintage-inspired details, we unpack what makes this house so memorable - and why it has sparked such strong reactions online. 
What we cover:
 Heidi Caillier's signature layered and eclectic design style 
 Why this home feels completely different from Kendall's previous Los Angeles house 
 The rise of cosy, collected interiors and the rejection of minimalist perfection 
 Pattern mixing, colour clashes and where personality becomes visual noise 
 Why some people see warmth and others see chaos 
 The psychology of "lived-in" luxury 
 What makes a home feel cohesive (or not!!)
 Which design ideas are worth borrowing and which are best left to Wyoming mountain chalets 
Design details mentioned
 Viola marble kitchen 
 Lacanche range cooker 
 Lee Jofa Hollyhock fabric sofa 
 Design Frères stools 
 Jefferson West bookshelves 
 Zia Tile 
 Farrow & Ball Brinjal 
 Farrow & Ball Salon Drab 
 Lisa Fine Textiles wallpaper 
 The Water Monopoly yellow sink 
 Charles P. Rogers bed 
 Finline Willow chair (similar to blue armchair in main bedroom)
Things we loved
 Open fireplaces 
 Timber-clad bathrooms 
 The wood kitchen island 
 The kitchen flooring 
 Kendall's use of books, art and personal collections 
 The sense of individuality running through the home 
The big debate:
Does the house feel beautifully layered and collected?
Or does it feel like several strong design ideas competing for attention?
This episode is less about whether the house is objectively "good" and more about what happens when a designer prioritises personality over perfection. 
Link to Kendall's Architectural Digest house tour: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/kendall-jenner-mountain-home
Link to Heidi Caillier's stunning portfolio: https://heidicaillierdesign.com/portfolio/
Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

In this episode of Unpacking Iconic Homes, we explore one of the most famous interiors in television history: Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment from Sex and the City.
Unlike many of the homes we've covered, Carrie’s apartment isn't iconic because it was luxurious or perfectly designed. It's iconic because it conveyed Carrie's personality and a lifestyle many of us coveted. From the walk-in wardrobe and writing desk to the mismatched furniture and mint-green walls, every corner reflected the character who lived there.
We unpack why this tiny(ish) Manhattan apartment captured the imagination of an entire generation - and what it can teach us about creating homes with personality rather than perfection.
What we cover:
 Why Carrie's apartment became as famous as the character herself 
 The fantasy of independent city living in New York 
 How the apartment expresses Carrie's personality
 The famous walk-in wardrobe
 The writing desk as the true heart of the home 
 Mixing furniture, colours and styles without everything matching 
 How the apartment evolved alongside Carrie throughout the series 
Design details discussed:
 The iconic brownstone stoop 
 Coloured walls - mint green / dusty blue / lavender / blush
 Parquet floors
 Layout - circular floorplan with kitchen in the middle
 Eclectic vintage-inspired furnishings 
 Open shelving and personal collections 
 The writing nook at the window
 Carrie’s walk-in closet 
 Art, books and meaningful objects used as décor 
How to recreate this look:
Use your books and magazines as decor
Create a reading/writing nook by a window
Mix furniture styles
Add colour to rental walls (if allowed)
Use freestanding storage
Key takeaways:
 Our homes should express our personalities 
 Character is more important than perfection 
 Mixing styles can feel more authentic and interesting than matching everything 
 Homes should evolve as your life evolves 
 The best interiors feel personal, not staged 
This episode is a reminder that great homes don't need to be perfect - they need to feel like you.
Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

In this episode of Unpacking Iconic Homes, we explore the home and design philosophy of Athena Calderone, founder of EyeSwoon and one of the most influential voices behind the rise of organic luxury interiors.
If you've ever admired a kitchen filled with richly veined marble, open shelving, vintage bar stools, artisan ceramics, oversized clay pots full of gigantic branches, and a luxuriously lived-in feel, there's a good chance Athena Calderone had something to do with it.
We unpack the kitchen that helped redefine modern interiors and explore how her approach to beauty, texture and restraint influenced an entire generation of homeowners.
What we cover:
 How Athena Calderone helped popularise the organic luxury aesthetic 
 Why her Brooklyn kitchen became one of the most copied spaces on Instagram 
 The rise of travertine, limewash and natural materials 
 Layering vintage and contemporary pieces without creating clutter 
 Athena's bold, contrasting colour combinations
 The art of styling shelves, surfaces and open spaces 
 Organic minimalism versus cold minimalism 
 How to recreate the EyeSwoon look on a realistic budget 
Design details & products mentioned
 Limewash walls and textured finishes 
 Travertine and boldly veined marble 
 Vintage wooden stools and antique furniture 
 Artisan ceramics and stoneware 
 Steel-and-glass window walls 
 Apparatus horsehair light fixtures 
 Annie Sloan Chalk Paint 
Key takeaways
 Stay true to the original character of your home
 Mix antique pieces with new
 Texture, texture, texture
 Imperfection creates warmth and authenticity 
 Organic luxury is more about atmosphere than expensive products 
This episode is a practical guide to one of the most influential interior styles of the last decade - and how to borrow the principles without needing a Brooklyn townhouse or a marble budget.
Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines