In this episode of The Interiors Podcast, I am speaking with designer Sophie Lundstrom Halbert, who along with her husband, Architect Ronan Kenny, moved back from the US to Ireland to their unique red brick Victorian terrace townhouse in Portobello, Dublin. Sophie and Ronan's home recently featured in House and Home Magazine, and looking at this illustration I can see why, its so beautiful with so much personality. Sophie stresses the importance of embracing the ongoing process of decorating and evolving your space, rather than striving for a finished, perfect home. She explains that your taste in decor can change over time, and it's okay to switch things up or rearrange furniture. By relieving the pressure of having a "done" home, you can make better decisions and enjoy the process of creating a space that reflects your personality and style. Sophie speaks about being inspired by her and Ronan's travels and experiences and bringing elements of those experiences into their home. We discuss the importance of taking your time when making decisions and finding pieces that truly fit your space and style. The episode also emphasizes the importance of considering the context of your home and the overall style of your space when making decorating choices. This was such a wonderful episode as I got to chat with Sophie about how creating a home that tells a story of your journey and personalities is essential and can be achieved by balancing smart decisions and splurges when decorating. This episode is perfect for anybody who is not ready for a full makeover, instead would like a refresh.   Resources: Follow Sophie on Instagram @__thesoph__ Sophie's brand @thermakota

This episode of The Interiors Podcast features Kieran McCarthy from KMC Homes and the hit tv show Cheap Irish Homes. Kieran talks about his background in civil engineering and how he eventually ended up in the house building business.   This episode is jam packed with so much essential information for anybody who is looking to purchase a home, renovate their existing home or considering extending. Kieran has information that will allow you gauge where your budget can be spent and how far it could stretch.    For so many facing into these types of projects, this world can be daunting and hard to navigate, Kieran gives us some guidance on where we should start, what we should be looking for and how to make the most of what you have.    Resources: KMC Homes - https://kmchomes.ie/ Check out Kieran's podcast on all platforms: Built Around You Podcast Follow Kieran on Instagram: @kierankmc

In this episode of The Interiors Podcast, I am chatting with Kate O’Driscoll.  Kate and her husband took on huge renovation works on their Victorian home in Rathmines, Kate documented this journey on her Instagram page @victorianrathmines.  Their home also was a finalist on RTE’s Home of the Year in 2021.    In this episode, Kate talks about her experience renovating a derelict Victorian house in Dublin for eight months with her husband.   We delve into this mammoth job, from preserving original elements like stairs and architraves, to electric’s and plumbing.  Kate details the process of flipping a house and the complexities that come with it.   Kate imparts so much knowledge and experience in this episode, so if you are considering any kind of renovation project, even if it’s a smaller one than their Victorian home, this is a great episode for you.    She tells us how renovating a house yourself can be a daunting task, but it can also be immensely rewarding. Doing your own renovations can save you money, give you a sense of accomplishment, and let you add your own personal touch to your home. For people who are up for the challenge, taking on a renovation project can be a very rewarding experience.   Because of her experience and her background in design, Kate has now established a career as a renovation consulting expert, offering services to help others renovate their own home projects, check out Kate’s website via the resources below.   Resources: Follow Kate on Instagram: @victorianrathmines Check out Kate's renovations consulting business: https://victorian-rathmines-renovation-consultant.myshopify.com/ Kitchen: Savy Kitchens - @savvy.kitchens  

In Episode 21 of the Interiors Podcast, we are joined by Danny and Anna from Dogwood Designs, a specialist joinery business based in Westport, County Mayo.    Dogwood Designs specialize in custom made kitchens and bathroom vanities, primarily using birch ply and hardwoods. They have a contemporary and sleek style, with no hardware, influenced by their backgrounds in both Ireland and Australia. This episode explains the role of a specialist joiner, such as themselves, and how they can help customers with design and fitting. We walk through the difference between a carpenter and a joiner and the importance of contacting a kitchen designer early on in a project. This episode also sets out where homeowners can potentially save money, such as having their builder fit the joinery, and provides insights into joinery aesthetics, functionality, durability, and sustainability   This episode will provide you with an abundance of helpful tips and education on joinery if you are looking to invest in your home right now or in the future.    Custom joinery specialists like Dogwood Designs are essential for creating unique, functional, and beautiful spaces. With their attention to detail and expertise, they are able to craft custom joinery products that meet the needs and desires of their customers, and designs that will last for so many years.    This episode really is a 101 of all things joinery, which I know you will love!   Resources: Website: Dog Wood Joinery https://www.dogwooddesigns.ie/ Instagram: @westport.dogwood  

Episode 20 of the Interiors Podcast is a very special episode.   Today I am sharing the story of my own home which we are delighted to say was featured on RTE's Home of the Year 2023 competition.   Before finding this home myself and my husband had been living in rentals, and we were always keeping our eyes open for potential homes to buy. We knew the areas we wanted to live around and after a looking at a few houses we found our current home which was for sale, we decided to have a look inside and we knew right away that this was for us.   I am sharing my experiences of how we got the absolutely best from our spaces, how we incorporated our love for our surroundings, and how we brought our family history into our home.   Our home was my first project in my journey into interiors, and I have thoroughly loved every moment. We really do hope that you enjoy the episode of Home of the Year.   Watch the episode   Resources Home of the Year Episode - WATCH NOW Follow me on Instragram @tanyaneufeldflanagan Follow the Interiors Podcast on Instagram @theinteriorspodcast