Are you tired of seeing flawless, highly-stylised homes that feel more like a show-house than a sanctuary? Many people are feeling weary of the 'perfect' life presented on social media, leading to a shift in how we approach our living spaces. The perfect-looking home often comes at the cost of feeling truly relaxed.

This episode explores how homes are becoming warmer, softer, and more personal cocoons against the outside world. We dive into the colour trends set for 2026—from dark, moody shades to terracotta and green—and discuss how to confidently incorporate textures, antiques, and art. Listen for essential tips on finding your own style, from the right paint finish to incorporating global design influences.

Our guest is Penny McCormick, the Contributing Editor at The Gloss. Penny is a respected tastemaker with a unique perspective on interiors, drawing from her extensive travels and work shaping conversations around what is truly relevant and enduring in design.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Imperfection and personalisation are key
Dark, moody colours replace stark white
Comfort, colour, print are future essentials
Reclaiming home spaces from work clutter
Mixing vintage pieces with modern design

GUEST DETAILS

Penny McCormick is the Contributing Editor at The Gloss. Her primary specialties are interiors, luxury women's fashion, and international travel, and she is known for securing exclusive interviews with high-profile figures.

Connect with Penny:

linkedin.com/in/penny-mccormick

QUOTES

I think art is something that is very personal, and you should never pick piece of art to match your sofa. - Penny McCormick
I think homes are becoming a cocoon and sanctuary, and that is shown in lots of different ways. - Penny McCormick
You can't beat investing in comfortable chairs and a sofa. - Penny McCormick

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

#InteriorDesignTrends #HomeDecorating #ColourInInteriors #InteriorStyling #HomeSanctuary

Modern life teaches us to perform constantly, rushing from task to task whilst our homes blur into workspaces and rest becomes guilt inducing luxury.

Niall Breslin's new album The Place That Has Never Been Wounded emerged from complete rejection, dropped by label, publisher, manager and podcast platform within two weeks, forcing him back to classical roots with mother as violinist and piano teacher.

This conversation explores morning rituals preferring quiet over rushed starts, meditation room design separating work from rest, breathing techniques marking transitions between spaces, and community peer support as radical acts against cultural division.

Niall Breslin is musician, former professional athlete, mental health advocate and PhD researcher whose classical neoclassical album invites listeners to slow down, breathe and rediscover wonder through a beginner's mind approaching the world with curiosity rather than cynicism.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Morning rituals seasonal approach waking
Meditation rooms separating work rest spaces
Album creation rejection creative direction
Community peer support mental health
Wonder curiosity experiencing world freshly

QUOTES

I don't rush into the day. I work for myself so it's important for me to take time to get into my day. - Niall Breslin
There has to be rooms in your house where you're not allowed work. - Niall Breslin
Our walls are black, but it very quickly feels like a nightclub, and that's not what I want in my home. So we've just completely rejigged it and painted. - Niall Breslin

GUEST DETAILS

Niall Breslin is musician, former professional athlete and mental health advocate whose new classical album The Place That Has Never Been Wounded explores stillness and emotional honesty. He is currently completing PhD research examining 200 years mental health intervention in Ireland focusing on community and peer support importance. His diverse career spans professional rugby, songwriting across multiple genres, The Voice of Ireland, and founding meditation practice rooted in Buddhist mindfulness principles.

Connect with Niall:
https://www.niallbreslin.com/contact

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

#Breathingtechniques #TransitionRituals #StressManagement #MindfulLiving #NervousSystemRegulation

Join us to discover more about the art and science of exceptional retail, celebrating EZ Living Interiors' Sandyford store being crowned Furniture Store of the Year. We unpack the 10 core pillars of retail excellence, the power of visual merchandising, and the surprising trends shaping the future of physical stores and e-commerce.

Joining us is Matthew Brown, one of the world's leading retail trend futurists and founder of Echochamber. As the lead judge for the Retail Excellence Awards, he shares his global perspective, tracing the evolution of retail and explaining what elevates a physical space into a destination.

EZ Living's Regional Visual Merchandising Manager, Aimee O Donovan, also joins to take us behind the scenes on the creative, passion-driven effort behind the store's award-winning visual displays and major store openings.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Retail excellence is all customer journey
Physical stores offer unique inspiration
Responsible retail goes beyond sustainability
Omnichannel must link online and offline
Only own things both useful/beautiful

GUEST DETAILS

Matthew Brown is a world-leading retail trend futurist and the founder of Echochamber, a global creative retail consultancy. For over two decades, he has documented and analysed the most innovative stores and customer experiences globally. He is a high-demand keynote speaker known for his energetic insights, and he serves as the lead judge for the Retail Excellence Awards in Ireland, bringing a global perspective to recognise outstanding retail experiences.

Connect with Matthew:

https://echochamber.com/contact

QUOTES

The great retailer is there to surprise and delight. - Matthew Brown
This is the real unique advantage that physical stores have, and they also pull you into the brand and the story and show the expertise and the passion and creativity behind it - Matthew Brown
The point of a room set is to create different enclosed worlds, each that have their own style, their own feeling, their own flavour - Matthew Brown

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

#RetailExcellence #FurnitureStoreOfTheYear #VisualMerchandising #OmniChannelRetail #RetailFuturist