Everyone dreams about their new kitchen, but what does a kitchen designer wish every homeowner knew before they started planning one?

In this episode of Trade Secrets, we hear from Dawn from Savvy Kitchens, the designer behind both Kate's kitchens and Jennifer's own kitchen renovation. Dawn shares the five biggest lessons she's learned from designing kitchens every day, from planning layouts before your drawings are finalised to avoiding the trap of designing for Instagram instead of real life.

What we cover

• Why your kitchen should be designed before construction drawings are signed off
• How kitchen layouts influence glazing, door positions, electrics and plumbing
• Where your kitchen budget is best spent, and where you can save
• Why expensive features aren't always the best investment
• The importance of communicating changes early
• Why every kitchen should be designed around your family's daily routine
• Common mistakes people make when copying Pinterest and Instagram kitchens
• Practical examples from Jennifer and Kate's own kitchen renovations

Key takeaways

• Design your kitchen around how you actually live, not how you wish you lived
• Bring your kitchen designer in as early as possible
• Invest in the features you'll use every single day
• Don't be afraid to challenge assumptions and ask questions
• A beautiful kitchen is one that works effortlessly for your lifestyle

Whether you're choosing an IKEA kitchen or a fully bespoke design, these are the principles that make every kitchen function better.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

Every renovation has a plumber, but what does your plumber wish you knew before the walls are closed up?

In this episode of Trade Secrets, we hear from an experienced plumber who shares the five biggest lessons every homeowner should know before starting a renovation. From planning bathrooms properly to investing in the plumbing you'll never see, this episode is packed with practical advice that can help you avoid costly mistakes later on.

What we cover:

• Why bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms need to be planned much earlier than most people realise
• Why quality pipework matters more than expensive taps
• The plumbing components worth investing in from day one
• Why every homeowner should attend their plumbing walkthrough
• Common bathroom layout mistakes that affect how the space functions
• The importance of thinking beyond Pinterest-perfect bathrooms
• How good plumbing decisions save money in the long run

Key takeaways:

• Lock in bathroom layouts before first fix begins
• Spend money behind the walls, not just on the finishes
• Walk every room with your plumber before pipework is installed
• Good communication prevents expensive changes
• Design bathrooms for everyday life, not just for photos

This episode is a reminder that the best plumbing is the plumbing you never have to think about.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

This episode is PACKED full of tips straight from the horse's mouth - Jason Doyle of JEMI Construction, Jenny's own main contractor. In this episode of Trade Secrets, we're joined by Jason who shares the five biggest tips from homeowners, and lessons he's learned from years of managing home renovations.

From when to order kitchens and windows, to where you should spend and save your money, Jason shares practical advice that could save you delays, stress and expensive mistakes.

What we cover

• Why kitchens, windows and other long lead-time items need to be ordered early
• Where your renovation budget is best spent (and where it isn't)
• Why trendy finishes aren't always the right choice
• The importance of clear, direct communication with your builder
• How to avoid one of the biggest renovation mistakes: under-budgeting
• Why relationships with trusted suppliers keep projects running smoothly
• Budgeting for finishes, fittings and all the hidden extras

Key takeaways

• Plan the big decisions before work starts
• Invest in the structure; you can always upgrade furniture later
• Research trends before committing to them
• Communicate early, often and directly
• Keep a detailed budget and track every decision

Guest

Jason Doyle, JEMI Construction

Jason has spent years managing full home renovations and extensions, coordinating multiple trades and helping homeowners navigate complex projects from demolition through to completion. In this episode, he shares the advice he wishes every client knew before starting a renovation.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

Every renovation has an electrician - and this episode is packed full of things they wish you knew.

In the first episode of our new Trade Secrets series, we're joined by Ronan Byrne from Eleven Electrical to uncover the five biggest lessons homeowners should know before planning their electrical work. From socket positions and lighting layouts to future-proofing and avoiding costly mistakes, this episode is packed with practical advice that can save you time, money and years of frustration.

What we cover

• Why you need to plan furniture layouts much earlier than you think
• How bed positions, sofas and TVs affect socket placement
• What is worth spending money
• Where you should save
• The most common mistakes homeowners make - and how to avoid them
• The importance of sharing updated drawings and communicating changes quickly
• Why electrical walkthroughs are one of the most important stages of a renovation
• Lighting, switching, Wi-Fi points, demister pads and all the details that are easy to overlook

Key takeaways

• Plan rooms around how you'll actually use them
• Future-proof while walls are open
• Communicate changes early and often
• Walk through every room before first fix
• Remember: you're the one who has to live with the decisions

This episode is a practical guide to creating an electrical plan that works not just on paper, but in real life.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

In the final episode of this season of Unpacking Iconic Homes, we head to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to explore Kendall Jenner’s mountain retreat, designed by acclaimed interior designer Heidi Caillier.

This is definitely the most divisive home we've covered. Kate loves its warmth, personality and unexpected elements. Jenny thinks the bold design choices start competing with each other rather than working together.

From Viola marble and burgundy bathrooms to giant floral sofas, patterned wallpaper, and eclectic vintage-inspired details, we unpack what makes this house so memorable - and why it has sparked such strong reactions online.

What we cover:

• Heidi Caillier's signature layered and eclectic design style
• Why this home feels completely different from Kendall's previous Los Angeles house
• The rise of cosy, collected interiors and the rejection of minimalist perfection
• Pattern mixing, colour clashes and where personality becomes visual noise
• Why some people see warmth and others see chaos
• The psychology of "lived-in" luxury
• What makes a home feel cohesive (or not!!)
• Which design ideas are worth borrowing and which are best left to Wyoming mountain chalets

Design details mentioned

• Viola marble kitchen
• Lacanche range cooker
• Lee Jofa Hollyhock fabric sofa
• Design Frères stools
• Jefferson West bookshelves
• Zia Tile
• Farrow & Ball Brinjal
• Farrow & Ball Salon Drab
• Lisa Fine Textiles wallpaper
• The Water Monopoly yellow sink
• Charles P. Rogers bed
• Finline Willow chair (similar to blue armchair in main bedroom)

Things we loved

• Open fireplaces
• Timber-clad bathrooms
• The wood kitchen island
• The kitchen flooring
• Kendall's use of books, art and personal collections
• The sense of individuality running through the home

The big debate:

• Does the house feel beautifully layered and collected?
• Or does it feel like several strong design ideas competing for attention?

This episode is less about whether the house is objectively "good" and more about what happens when a designer prioritises personality over perfection.

Link to Kendall's Architectural Digest house tour: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/kendall-jenner-mountain-home

Link to Heidi Caillier's stunning portfolio: https://heidicaillierdesign.com/portfolio/

Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

In this episode of Unpacking Iconic Homes, we explore one of the most famous interiors in television history: Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment from Sex and the City.

Unlike many of the homes we've covered, Carrie’s apartment isn't iconic because it was luxurious or perfectly designed. It's iconic because it conveyed Carrie's personality and a lifestyle many of us coveted. From the walk-in wardrobe and writing desk to the mismatched furniture and mint-green walls, every corner reflected the character who lived there.

We unpack why this tiny(ish) Manhattan apartment captured the imagination of an entire generation - and what it can teach us about creating homes with personality rather than perfection.

What we cover:

• Why Carrie's apartment became as famous as the character herself
• The fantasy of independent city living in New York
• How the apartment expresses Carrie's personality
• The famous walk-in wardrobe
• The writing desk as the true heart of the home
• Mixing furniture, colours and styles without everything matching
• How the apartment evolved alongside Carrie throughout the series

Design details discussed:

• The iconic brownstone stoop
• Coloured walls - mint green / dusty blue / lavender / blush
• Parquet floors
• Layout - circular floorplan with kitchen in the middle
• Eclectic vintage-inspired furnishings
• Open shelving and personal collections
• The writing nook at the window
• Carrie’s walk-in closet
• Art, books and meaningful objects used as décor

How to recreate this look:

• Use your books and magazines as decor
• Create a reading/writing nook by a window
• Mix furniture styles
• Add colour to rental walls (if allowed)
• Use freestanding storage

Key takeaways:

• Our homes should express our personalities
• Character is more important than perfection
• Mixing styles can feel more authentic and interesting than matching everything
• Homes should evolve as your life evolves
• The best interiors feel personal, not staged

This episode is a reminder that great homes don't need to be perfect - they need to feel like you.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines

In this episode of Unpacking Iconic Homes, we explore the home and design philosophy of Athena Calderone, founder of EyeSwoon and one of the most influential voices behind the rise of organic luxury interiors.

If you've ever admired a kitchen filled with richly veined marble, open shelving, vintage bar stools, artisan ceramics, oversized clay pots full of gigantic branches, and a luxuriously lived-in feel, there's a good chance Athena Calderone had something to do with it.

We unpack the kitchen that helped redefine modern interiors and explore how her approach to beauty, texture and restraint influenced an entire generation of homeowners.

What we cover:

• How Athena Calderone helped popularise the organic luxury aesthetic
• Why her Brooklyn kitchen became one of the most copied spaces on Instagram
• The rise of travertine, limewash and natural materials
• Layering vintage and contemporary pieces without creating clutter
• Athena's bold, contrasting colour combinations
• The art of styling shelves, surfaces and open spaces
• Organic minimalism versus cold minimalism
• How to recreate the EyeSwoon look on a realistic budget

Design details & products mentioned

• Limewash walls and textured finishes
• Travertine and boldly veined marble
• Vintage wooden stools and antique furniture
• Artisan ceramics and stoneware
• Steel-and-glass window walls
• Apparatus horsehair light fixtures
• Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Key takeaways

• Stay true to the original character of your home
• Mix antique pieces with new
• Texture, texture, texture
• Imperfection creates warmth and authenticity
• Organic luxury is more about atmosphere than expensive products

This episode is a practical guide to one of the most influential interior styles of the last decade - and how to borrow the principles without needing a Brooklyn townhouse or a marble budget.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @ripitup_podcast_official, or follow us - Jenny is @workerscottage and Kate is @victorianrathmines