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
52 episodes
Episode 46 - Dr. Laura on Renovating a Home, Building a Clinic, and Top Skincare Tips
Today we're joined by Dr Laura Lenihan (@drlauragp), the skincare guru who somehow bought AND renovated her home in Galway, grew a skincare business, and built a clinic on-...
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Season 4
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Episode 46
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41:56
Listener Questions 5 - X-Mas Gift Guide
Sorted for Christmas - you're welcome! Thomas Lynham CeramicsOrla Walsh ArtistCiara O’Neill ArtMartina’s PaletteTina Reid ArtLuke Reidy ArtButton StudioIntelligent ...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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22:53
Episode 45 - the SEAI Traditional Homes Pilot Scheme
This is the second of two episodes that we recorded with the SEAI's Housewarming podcast. In this episode, we talk to Steven Farrell from the SEAI about the new Traditional Homes Pilot Scheme. This is for you if you are doing up a period home a...
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Season 4
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Episode 45
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29:21
Listener Questions 4 - What Is the Best Fabric for a Sofa? Your Complete Guide
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 on Instagram at @ripitup_podcast_offic...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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11:00
Episode 44 - Dining in Style
This week we’re diving into dining - from compact kitchen nooks to dramatic dining rooms, we'll go through design, layouts, materials, and lighting to help you create a dining room that is both beautiful and practical for everyday living.
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Season 4
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Episode 44
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26:51
Listener Questions 3 - Cafe Curtains and Frosted Windows
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 on Instagram at @ripitup_podcast_offic...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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10:20
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