How To Renovate
Hi, I’m Tash South, interior designer, renovation consultant, and founder of South Place Studio. In this podcast, I share practical renovation advice, along with deeper insights into home and belonging.
Episodes
87 episodes
EP83 Umwelt: Why Your Home Doesn’t Feel Like You Yet
Have you ever walked into a space and felt instantly calm… while someone else feels completely unsettled?In this episode, I’m introducing you to a concept I’ve recently discovered called Umwelt, and I think it will completely reframe how...
EP82 Guest Episode: Emma Forrest: How to Make a Home That Heals After Life Changes
In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant, Emma Forrest, in her gorgeous, cosy, feminine home. Emma, is a novelist, memoirist and filmmaker, and her work is known for its emotional precision and unflinching honesty, exploring l...
EP81 Your Home Is Shaping Your Habits. Whether You Realise It Or Not.
What if your home was quietly shaping your habits… without you even realising?In this episode, I explore one of the most powerful ideas from Atomic Habits by James Clear, that our environment plays a huge role in the habits we build (or ...
EP80 How Our Home’s Layout Affects How We Feel
Layout is more than just where walls go, it’s how your home feels to live in every day.In this episode, I’m talking about all the the subtle but powerful ways layout shapes our mood, stress levels, and how easily (or not) our lives...
EP79 Guest Episode: Eva Sonaike: Exploring Heritage At Home
Some designers create beautiful things.Others create work that carries a story.And today’s guest is someone whose work does both.In this episode I talk Eva Sonaike, a London-based textile and interior designer whose work is in...
EP78 Simple Things We Can Do At Home When The World Feels Overwhelming
I'm back and in this episode, I’m sharing a personal update on why the podcast returned a little later than planned… and where it’s heading next. Life, business, a new renovation project, RenoVersity updates, and even a book in the ...
EP77 Planning a Renovation Next Year? Start Here.
This time of year always brings a certain pressure to our homes; guests, dinners, family staying over.And suddenly, those little niggles about layout and functionality become glaringly obvious. In this episode, I talks about how...
EP76 How To Choose The Right Window Dressings
In this episode, I cover one of the sometimes overlooked elements of your interior: window dressings. Most people leave curtains and blinds until the very end of a renovation, then panic-choose something “good enough” and wonder why...
EP74 Can’t Relax? How to Make Your Home Relax-Ready
In this week’s episode was unexpectedly inspired by the kids’ TV show—Bluey—watching this episode with my daughter sparked a reflection on the mental load many of us carry, particularly mothers and caregivers, and how ou...
EP73 Designing Kids’ Bedrooms That Grow With Them
Today I dive into into a space that’s often joyful, chaotic, and ever-changing — kids' bedrooms. I'm sharing advice on how to design children's bedrooms that grow and adapt over time, without constant costly overhauls.You’ll learn how to...
EP72 How To Renovate Without A Divorce
Hi my lovely renovators! Today, we're diving into something I don’t talk about often but is absolutely crucial—how to survive a renovation with your relationship intact. It’s a little tongue-in-cheek, sure, but the...
EP71 Designing For Entertaining
If you're someone who loves having people over—whether it’s lively dinner parties, relaxed drinks with friends, or chaotic but joyful kids' parties, this episode is made for you. Today, I’m walking you through how to...
EP70 Utility Rooms–The Most Important Room In The House?
Okay, confession time…One of my favourite rooms to design in the home is the utility room. I know — it sounds boring. But trust me, it's one of the hardest-working and most overlooked spaces in a home.In this week’s...
EP69 How To Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger
Hello, I’m back this week with a little love for the small but mighty kitchen. If your kitchen didn’t get top billing—this episode is for you. Kitchens often have to work the hardest in the home, and when expanding isn’t an option, it’s all abo...
EP68 Does Renovating Make Financial Sense?
Does Renovating Add Value in 2025? | Home Renovation ROI ExplainedWondering if renovating your home is worth the investment in 2025? In this episode of How To Renovate, I break down down the financial pros and cons of renovating...
EP67 Design Details I Learned & Loved From Our Barcelona Apartment
Have you ever visited somewhere that influenced changed how you think about design? That’s kind of what happened during my five-week Barcelona getaway. Buzzing Barcelona captured my heart and reinforced my love of cities, just like ...
EP66 The Importance Of Play When Designing Your Home
After a long, inspiring summer in Barcelona, I’m back—and filled with ideas sparked by the incredible, playful architecture of Gaudí. In this episode, we dive into the joy of designing with a sense of play and freedom. Gaudí's bold ...
EP65 What Can I Do Now to Make Things Easier Later?
In this week's episode of How To Renovate, I’m kicking things off with a little personal update — I’m heading off to Barcelona for a month! It’s a working holiday (with some well-deserved tapas and sunshine), and while the podcast will...
EP64 Never Assume Anything!
In this episode, I dive into one deceptively simple yet absolutely crucial mantra for any renovator: never assume anything!From wonky walls and uneven floors to miscommunications with your builder, assumptions can cost you time, money, a...
EP63 What’s Behind the Walls?
Every renovator should be a little concerned about what lurks behind those walls they’re about to tear down! What unseen challenges are waiting to topple your carefully planned budget and timeline? From old wiring to unsupported chi...
EP62 The Power Of A Pause: Why a Mid-Renovation Breather Can Be a Smart Move
If you’ve renovated before, you’ll know that it can be very exciting—but let’s face it, it can also be overwhelming. In this episode of I’m talking about something not often discussed but absolutely essential: the power of a well-timed pause.&n...
EP61 Creating a Home Office that Works
Recently, a well-designed home office has become one of the most requested rooms in the renovation projects I work on. As more and more people are working from home a few days a week, or even permanently, creating a dedicated workspace that's c...
EP60 Designing with Heritage: How to Honour the Soul Of An Old Home
This episode delves into the art of designing with heritage, exploring how to preserve the soul of your period property. We talk about what to preserve, what can be adapted, and how to blend the charm of historic details with the functionality ...
EP59 Breaking the Floorplan: Rethinking the Way You Live in Your Space
Today’s episode is a gentle but firm permission to break the floor plan! Stop letting outdated room labels or cookie-cutter layouts dictate how you live in your home. Estate agents may have labelled the rooms, but that doesn’t mean you have to ...