A special bonus episode featuring snippets from the top 5 episodes from The Interior Podcast's first 50 episodes since launching in 2022.

These feature Susan McGowan of Ashen & Cloud, Eilish Rickard Interiors and Po McNamee (all interior designers) and builders/QS/engineer respectively, Shay Lally of Houses to Restore and Kieran McCarthy who you may know from RTE's Cheap Irish Homes.

Have a listen, find the original episodes if you like what you hear, and please subscribe, share and stay tuned as we continue with our new weekly cadence!

Host and interior designer Tanya Neufeld Flanagan discusses the emotional challenges of home renovations, offering insights into managing stress, burnout, and relationships during the process.

She shares her own personal experience renovating a Georgian protected structure as well as practical advice on navigating the stress and expectatons from the very beginning of your home journey through to snagging.

Takeaways

• Understand that stress and disappointment start to build up from the buying process
• Expect cumulative "micro-frustrations" throughout the renovation, and energy will ebb and flow
• Do as much as you can when you're excited about the project as it will stand to you when you hit roadblocks or have to make a lot of decisions in quick succession
• Stand up for your role as client, but also know when to walk away/hire different people
• Divide tasks based on skillset within your family to manage workload effectively
• Adapt to the informal nature of the trades industry to avoid resentment
• Keep detailed records of instructions to avoid misunderstandings
• Be prepared for unexpected costs and have a contingency plan
• Use creative energy from others to overcome challenges

Sound bites

• "Front-load decisions to avoid fatigue."
• "Adapt to the informal trades industry."
• "Keep detailed records of instructions."
• "Be prepared for unexpected costs."
• "Divide tasks based on skillset."

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Introduction to Renovation Challenges
• 00:03:00 Managing Stress and Burnout
• 00:09:00 Planning and Design Insights
• 00:15:00 Navigating Unexpected Hurdles
• 00:21:00 Conclusion and Personal Reflections

In this episode, Tanya Neufeld Flanagan interviews Grace McNally from McNally Joinery, discussing the importance of joinery in interior design and architecture.

They explore the evolution of McNally Joinery, the services offered, the design process, and the benefits of bespoke joinery. Grace shares insights on material choices, the significance of specialization, and the collaboration with clients and other trades.

The conversation highlights the value of investing in key joinery pieces and the unique aspects of timber compared to other materials. Grace also discusses exciting current projects and encourages listeners to reach out for bespoke joinery solutions.

Takeaways

• Joinery is essential in transforming spaces.
• McNally Joinery has a rich history since 1978.
• Bespoke joinery offers unique solutions tailored to clients.
• Specialization in joinery leads to better quality and efficiency.
• Supply and installation options are flexible based on client needs.

Sound bites

"Specialization is key in joinery."
"Bespoke means the sky's the limit."
"Don't be ashamed to ask for a price."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Joinery and McNally Joinery
03:09 Specialization in External Joinery
07:40 Design Process and Client Collaboration
11:12 Combining Materials and Collaborating with Other Trades
12:12 Benefits of Bespoke Joinery
15:02 Investment in Key Joinery Pieces
16:21 Material Choices for Bespoke Joinery
18:57 Timber vs. Metal in Joinery
22:53 Weatherproofing and Structural Integrity
29:18 The Aesthetic and Emotional Value of Timber
30:54 Choosing the Right Materials for Durability
32:11 Understanding MDF vs. Solid Timber
33:59 Timber Selection for Internal Doors
36:16 The Role of Veneering in Joinery
41:03 Exciting Projects: A Unique Front Door
43:16 The Impact of Bespoke Joinery on Space
45:04 Managing Staircase Changes in Renovations
47:20 Getting Started with Your Joinery Project
50:08 Understanding Lead Times for Custom Work
53:31 The Importance of Budget Conversations

In this mini episode of the Interiors Podcast amidst a choatic move, interior designer and host Tanya Neufeld Flanagan discusses the five biggest misconceptions about interior design.

She emphasizes that interior design is not just a luxury for the wealthy, but a crucial aspect of improving quality of life and maximizing space.

The conversation covers the importance of understanding the true nature of interior design, which goes beyond mere aesthetics to include functionality, budget considerations, and the need for a cohesive design strategy.

Takeaways

• Interior design is a transformational tool for improving quality of life.
• It's not just a luxury; it's essential for maximizing space.
• Interior design involves optimizing layouts, not just choosing furnishings.
• Budgets for quality interior design can be significantly higher than expected.
• Interior design can save on construction costs by optimizing existing spaces.
• It's better to execute interior design projects all at once for efficiency.
• Interior designers help question and refine client assumptions about their needs.
• The bespoke nature of interior design contributes to its cost.
• Interior design overlaps with essential renovation finishes.
• A cohesive design strategy is crucial for successful interior projects.

In this episode, host and interior designer Tanya Neufeld Flanagan shares her extensive journey of designing her kitchen, which has been three years in the making.

She discusses the importance of functionality in kitchen design, the challenges faced during the process, and how design decisions were influenced by the architecture of her home.

Tanya emphasizes the need for a kitchen that not only serves its purpose but also complements the overall aesthetic of the house. She provides insights into the workflow of the kitchen, the significance of the kitchen triangle, and the creative solutions she implemented to maximize space and storage.

Takeaways

• The kitchen is often the most significant investment in a home
• Functionality should be prioritized over aesthetics in kitchen design
• Personal preferences play a crucial role in kitchen decisions
• Iterative design processes lead to better outcomes
• The kitchen triangle is essential for efficient workflow
• Storage solutions should be cleverly integrated into the design.
• A kitchen should be designed to blend with the architecture of the home.
• Consider the orientation of rooms when designing a kitchen.
• Using existing rooms creatively can eliminate the need for extensions.

Timestamps

00:00 The Kitchen Design Journey
09:47 Creating a Functional Space
19:52 Final Design Considerations