Rip It Up: The Renovations Podcast
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
Episodes
46 episodes
Episode 43 - House Warming Podcast cross-episode
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 ou...
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Season 4
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Episode 43
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34:26
Listener Questions 2 - Fifty Shades of White
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_offic...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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14:42
Episode 42 - Quartz, Porcelain, or Natural Stone?
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 laminat...
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Season 4
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Episode 42
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30:36
Listener Questions 1 - Bedside Tables
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 In...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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12:26
Episode 41 - Every Home Should Come With a Manual
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 ...
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Season 4
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Episode 41
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46:05
Episode 40 - Top 40 Hits
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. I...
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Season 4
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Episode 40
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51:21
Episode 39 - Latest and Greatest Kitchen Appliances
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'...
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Season 4
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Episode 39
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56:07
Episode 38 - Fix It Yourself: Essential Home Repairs
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 abou...
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Season 4
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Episode 38
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43:21
Episode 37 - The Snag List
Jenny and Kate discuss what happens as you near the end of your renovation. How much retention can you expect, what should you look for in your final walkthrough, and our tips for handling difficult conversations when something inevitably goes ...
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Season 3
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Episode 37
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48:31
Holiday Break and a Quick Update
Register your interest for our early bird list at ripitupearlybird@gmail.com - just send us your name and say "I'm interested!", and we will add you to the list.We'll be back in two weeks with our next episode!
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1:12
Episode 36 - Should You Project Manage Your Own Renovation?
Today Jenny and Kate are discussing the pros and cons of project managing your own renovation versus enlisting the services of renovation professionals such as architects, designers, and quantity surveyors. Is it worth the stress to save some m...
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Season 3
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Episode 36
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43:05
Episode 35 - Rip It Up // The Interiors Podcast
Today you lucky listeners are getting two for the price of one! Jenny and Kate are joined by Tanya Neufeld Flanagan - interior designer and host of The Interiors Podcast. This episode delves into the biggest renovation mistakes, helping you ski...
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Season 3
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Episode 35
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1:03:52
Episode 34 - Decluttering
We are in full spring cleaning mode. So for this episode, we're giving you all our best tips for decluttering and staying reasonably organised (we're not Marie Kondo!).Items mentioned:Clossy CoVacuum bags (t...
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Season 3
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Episode 34
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39:42
Episode 33 - Lighting Revisited
Jenny and Kate dive into the second installment of their lighting series, sharing clever hacks to upgrade your lighting without having to rewire, plus a big bonus list of favourite brands and suppliers. Featuring an exclusive reveal of Kate's g...
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Season 3
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Episode 33
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45:27
Episode 32 - Live at the Ideal Home Show April 2025
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 32
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26:33
Episode 31 - Hiding Chaos in Style: Clever Laundry and Utility Room Design
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 31
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40:08
Episode 30 - Pump up the Heat
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, r...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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31:18
Episode 29 - The Gaff Goddess: Laura de Barra
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 ...
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55:19
Episode 28 - Avoid These Renovation Mistakes
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 th...
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38:34
Episode 27 - Grainne Gillett's Victorian Cottage Renovation
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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44:26
Episode 26 - Christmas Gift Guide
For the last episode of 2024, Kate and Jenny take you through their ultimate Christmas gift guideBest homewares / interiors gift we gotJoseph Joseph nesting bowlsPrints / artwork / framed photographyDried f...
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32:05
Episode 25 - Christmas Decorations
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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35:07
Episode 24 - Window Dressings
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 blindsEmma J ShipleyHilja (ikea voile fabric)...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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38:53
Episode 23 - Live at the Ideal Home Show
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 ab...
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25:43
Episode 22 - Temporary Fixes for Rentals or Pre-Renovation
Maybe you are in a short-term rental or maybe you are living in your home before you renovate it. Either way, this episode is all about quick fixes that you can implement easily and without breaking the bank to make your home feel a little bit ...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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28:36