Style Stories with EZ Living Interiors

Ireland's natural environment is in a frighteningly degraded position, with minimal native woodland cover and vital ecosystems under threat. This critical challenge requires collective action, innovative financing, and a renewed human connection to the land.
In this Earth Day special, discover the surprising reality of Ireland's temperate rainforests, learn how even a tiny houseplant can spark change, and explore the path to large-scale ecological restoration.
Host Laura O'Keeffe sits down with Matt Smith, the most senior person at Hometree, EZ Living Interiors' sustainability partner, an organisation dedicated to restoring woodlands and connecting people to nature in Ireland.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Hometree's nature restoration work
Impact of business partnerships
Connecting to nature at home
Rarity of Irish temperate rainforests
Financing the large ecological challenge
GUEST DETAILS
Matt Smith is the CEO at Hometree, driven by a deep passion for ecological biodiversity and regeneration. He has a unique background, having founded and successfully led two major Irish environmental organisations. 
Connect with Matt:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/matthew-smith-enviro
QUOTES
People leave having the microbiome of the soil, having their hands in the ground, but also kind of knowing each other a little bit more, which is quite sweet. - Matt Smith
A tree in the garden is a fascinating experience. - Matt Smith
if you've got tiny garden, plant the trees or cut them down, you know, after a few years, if they're too big or you don't like them, and, you know, love them in a bush... - Matt Smith
MORE INFORMATION
EZ Living Interiors is a family-owned home furnishing retailer which sets the standards for quality, style, and design in the industry. We advise on how individuals and families should furnish their living spaces to create homes that are both beautiful and functional. 
Our mission is to inspire and elevate the art of interior design through the promotion of high standards of product sourcing, craftsmanship, and customer service. We achieve this by providing innovative and thoughtful design solutions for our customers to support them to create stylish and comfortable living spaces.
Visit EZLivingInteriors.ie to learn more.
This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors
KEYWORDS  #NatureRestoration #WoodlandCover #IrishRainforest #RuralBuyIn #SmallAction

Many people struggle to find outdoor furniture that offers true comfort and style without compromise. They often feel they have to choose between a durable piece or a beautiful one.
Discover how the brand new ‘Brendan Courtney Home and Garden Collection’ bridges the gap between indoor luxury and outdoor durability. This episode explores the inspiration behind the collection, from a home renovation in Wicklow to choosing waterproof, wipe-clean fabrics. We discuss valuing your living space and why comfort must never be overlooked in design.
Joining the podcast is presenter and designer Brendan Courtney. Known for his passion for renovation and his instinctive approach to interiors, Brendan shares his move into furniture design and how to create a home that feels safe, considered and entirely your own.
He is currently hosting The Great House Revival, having stepped in for the remainder of the season following the passing of his close friend, Hugh Wallace.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
- Wicklow renovation sparked furniture collection
- Creating comfortable indoor-outdoor spaces
- Why design comfort is vital
- The joy of pottering at home
- How home should feel safe
GUEST DETAILS
Brendan Courtney is a renowned presenter and fashion designer with a long creative industry career. He currently hosts The Great House Revival. Brendan is a passionate renovator and house developer, having explored hard surfaces, tiles, and finishes for over a decade. He uses his creative experience to channel his passion for design into his new furniture collection with EZ Living Interiors.
Connect with Brendan:
 https://www.brendancourtney.com/contact
QUOTES
- I felt that what I wanted in terms of indoor, outdoor furniture, I didn't see anything I loved, and I suppose that's where the inspiration for this collection came from. - Brendan Courtney 
- First of all, the choice of wood, the acacia wood, you know, it has the FSE cert. It's completely sustainable, which is really important. It's also highly durable. - Brendan Courtney
- I always had this idea of a set of furniture that could move between the two spaces if you wanted to. You could just put it outside in summer or keep it inside if you wanted to. - Brendan Courtney
MORE INFORMATION
EZ Living Interiors is a family-owned home furnishing retailer which sets the standards for quality, style, and design in the industry. We advise on how individuals and families should furnish their living spaces to create homes that are both beautiful and functional. 
Our mission is to inspire and elevate the art of interior design through the promotion of high standards of product sourcing, craftsmanship, and customer service. We achieve this by providing innovative and thoughtful design solutions for our customers to support them to create stylish and comfortable living spaces.
Visit EZLivingInteriors.ie to learn more.
This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors
KEYWORDS 
#OutdoorLiving #InteriorDesignTips #BrendanCourtney #HomeAndGarden #StyleStories

Tackling a period property renovation project often feels like an impossible feat when facing massive costs, unexpected structural issues, and the need to preserve history. It requires more than design skill; it demands grit and perseverance.
This episode reveals the grit and creativity needed to transform a derelict 170-year-old Cork house into a modern family home. Rob shares how he stretched a tight budget with DIY labour, blended original Georgian features with contemporary style, and pushed through relentless construction challenges. We discuss uncovering hidden history, finding invaluable mentorship, and the ultimate reward of building a space you fought for.
Joining Laura O’Keeffe is Rob Hennessy, a restorer and educator who gained national recognition for his work on RTÉ’s The Great House Revival. Rob is an advocate for restoring Ireland's vacant housing stock, demonstrating that passion and a strong DIY spirit can bypass the traditional housing market.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
High ceilings dictated the house purchase.
Hugh Wallace advised keeping original layout.
How living on-site saved the budget.
Overcoming wet rot and structural setbacks.
Trust your ability and hire experts
GUEST DETAILS
Rob Hennessy is a restorer and educator currently working as a school teacher in Cork. He is best known for his high-profile Victorian home renovation project in Passage West, Co. Cork. Rob gained national recognition after appearing on RTÉ’s The Great House Revival. He is a leading voice in the Irish restoration community, demonstrating how a strong DIY spirit can bring life back to vacant housing stock. 
Hear the complete conversation on Style Stories with EZ Living Interiors Podcast available on all podcast apps now
Connect with Rob:
QUOTES
I knew the minute I walked to the front door I wanted it. I knew I wanted the house. - Rob Hennessy
I wanted to respect the history of the house and try and look after as much of the original features as I possibly could on the opposite side.
Then I was conscious, I'm not living in the museum either, right? I wanted to kind of put my own stamp on things.. - Rob Hennessy
I was also very conscious of, you know, not going super cheap on finishings or orange like that, because I wanted a nice finish. - . - Rob Hennessy
MORE INFORMATION
EZ Living Interiors is a family-owned home furnishing retailer which sets the standards for quality, style, and design in the industry. We advise on how individuals and families should furnish their living spaces to create homes that are both beautiful and functional. 
Our mission is to inspire and elevate the art of interior design through the promotion of high standards of product sourcing, craftsmanship, and customer service. 
We achieve this by providing innovative and thoughtful design solutions for our customers to support them to create stylish and comfortable living spaces.
Visit EZLivingInteriors.ie to learn more.
This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors
KEYWORDS #PeriodRenovation #DIYBudget #PeriodProperty #HughWallace #RestorationAdvice

Most of us overlook the bedroom when designing our homes, giving more thought to living and dining spaces, despite spending a third of our lives asleep. This misplaced priority severely impacts our mood, energy, and overall health the following day, leading to poor lifestyle choices and reduced productivity.
The key to unlocking quality rest is understanding the sleep surface beneath you and making small, informed changes to your routine and environment. This episode breaks down mattress myths, explains how to choose a mattress for back pain and different sleep positions, and reveals simple, actionable habits for deep, restorative sleep.
Our guest is Conor Stapleton, Marketing Officer at King Koil, Ireland's number one luxury bedding brand. Conor shares his expert insight into King Koil's handcrafted, durable mattresses, which are designed with long-term comfort and healthy back support in mind
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Keeping cool improves sleep quality simply.
Choose mattress that adapts to back curvature.
Side sleepers require contouring for shoulder pressure.
Pocket springs minimise partners' movement disruption.
Cool bedroom and regularity are key habits.
GUEST DETAILS
Conor Stapleton is the Marketing Officer at King Koil, Ireland’s number one luxury bedding brand. King Koil mattresses are known for their healthy back support, durability, and hand-crafted construction. The brand is also Ireland's largest furniture maker and deeply committed to community and sustainability. Conor is our guest on the podcast.
Hear the complete conversation on Style Stories with EZ Living Interiors Podcast available on all podcast apps now
Connect with Conor:
https://kingkoil.ie/contact-us/
QUOTES
What you're looking for is a mattress that will retain its shape, firstly and secondly, adapt to the curvature of your back. – Conor Stapleton.
Look for something that has centre third support underneath the lower back, because that is going to ensure that your back and your lower spine does not dip overly in the mattress at night." – Conor Stapleton 
If you're a side liar, you have more prominent hips, you have more prominent shoulders, and the problem is going to be, if the mattress is too firm, you're going to get excess pressure on the hips and the shoulders. – Conor Stapleton
MORE INFORMATION
This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors
EZ Living Interiors is a family-owned home furnishing retailer which sets the standards for quality, style, and design in the industry. We advise on how individuals and families should furnish their living spaces to create homes that are both beautiful and functional. Our mission is to inspire and elevate the art of interior design through the promotion of high standards of product sourcing, craftsmanship, and customer service. We achieve this by providing innovative and thoughtful design solutions for our customers to support them to create stylish and comfortable living spaces.
Visit EZLivingInteriors.ie to learn more.
KEYWORDS #SleepHealth #MattressBuyingGuide #BackSupport #KingKoil #SleepHabits

The journey to finding a home is often fraught with uncertainty and moments where confidence can drop, long before the keys are officially in your hand. This search phase can feel emotional and overwhelming in a challenging property market. 
This episode tackles building confidence, developing resilience, and setting realistic expectations. We discuss knowing when to hold your ground, when to expand your search options, and how having professional support can completely change how the home buying process feels.
Joining us is Liz O'Kane, a highly respected Buyer's Agent and TV host of Help Me Buy A Home. Liz works exclusively on the purchaser side, advocating, advising, and guiding people through every complex step.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Buyer's agent exclusively represents the purchaser.
The slow, antiquated Irish property process.
Bidding strategically and leveraging relationships.
Expand home thinking; consider extension options.
Advice for buying during uncertain market times.
GUEST DETAILS
Liz O'Kane is a Buyer's Agent who runs her business, Get-Sorted. She is also known as the TV host of Help Me Buy A Home. Liz pioneered the service of acting exclusively for the purchaser in Ireland to source and negotiate their new home. She is known for her firm, no-nonsense approach in providing sound advice to clients. Additionally, she hosted House Hunters and House Hunters in the Sun for seven seasons.
Connect with Liz:
Website: lizokane.ie
Media: storied.ie
Instagram: lizokanebuyersagent
QUOTES
If you want to engage with a buyer's agent, for them to take your hand and lead you from A to Z successfully, you have to have complete faith in that individual. - Liz O'Kane
My job is to know everybody involved in the property industry on this island, and if they don't answer the phone when they see my name coming up, I'm doing my job wrong. - Liz O'Kane
It's knowing how to bid strategically. And the average punter who's out there in the bidding market doesn't really know how to bid on a property. - Liz O'Kane
MORE INFORMATION
This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors
EZ Living Interiors is a family-owned home furnishing retailer which sets the standards for quality, style, and design in the industry. We advise on how individuals and families should furnish their living spaces to create homes that are both beautiful and functional. Our mission is to inspire and elevate the art of interior design through the promotion of high standards of product sourcing, craftsmanship, and customer service. We achieve this by providing innovative and thoughtful design solutions for our customers to support them to create stylish and comfortable living spaces.
Visit EZLivingInteriors.ie to learn more.
KEYWORDS #IrishPropertyMarket #BuyersAgent #HomeBuyingAdvice #StrategicBidding #PropertyIreland