Starting a simple home refresh often leads to unforeseen complications and a complete overhaul of your original plan. Many homeowners enter the renovation process underestimating the hidden problems, especially in period properties, which can quickly turn a quick paint job into a full ground-up restoration.
This episode dives into the brutal honesty of the renovation learning curve: discovering wood rot, damp, and losing original features. We talk about developing confidence in your decisions, designing a compact 65 square metre space, and how thrift shopping and personal style choices can keep you motivated when the budget is swallowed by unglamorous foundational work.

We are joined by Gráinne Gillett, a content creator who meticulously documented the transformation of her small red-brick cottage on Instagram. Gráinne shares her expertise in combining vintage finds and colour, along with her practical, honest approach to compact living

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Always budget for emotional contingency
Demolition grows your renovation confidence
Focus on foundations before furniture
Design a small space for yourself
Build style from objects you love

GUEST DETAILS

Gráinne Gillett is a content creator who documented the renovation of her period cottage from start to finish on her Instagram account, @grainnegillett. She is skilled in developing a clear and confident interior style, combining colour and vintage finds, and finding practical solutions for compact living spaces.

Connect with Gráinne:
Website: https://www.grainnegillett.com
Instagram: @grainnegillett
TikTok: @grainnegillett

QUOTES

You don't really know until you start uncovering things. So just to have a contingency, an emotional contingency, and a financial one as well. - Gráinne Gillett
I spent like, a few days there, just like, walking around the different streets, going to the cafes, and just got a real good sense of the place. - Gráinne Gillett
If you take the wallpaper down, you uncover everything. - Gráinne Gillett

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

#PeriodPropertyRenovation #DublinCottage #SmallSpaceDesign #InteriorDIY #VintageFinds

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

Retail finance shouldn't feel intimidating—it should feel as natural as paying for Netflix monthly.

Adam Sullivan, Head of Sales at humm finance, explains how his Australian FinTech company transformed arduous phone applications into two-minute digital approvals whilst maintaining ethical lending standards that protect customers.

From helping first-time homebuyers furnish entire homes with up to €30,000 interest-free credit to understanding post-COVID psychology shifts towards quality investment pieces, discover why humm invented buy-now-pay-later, how 0% APR actually works, and why biometric heartbeat payments represent retail finance's future.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How humm finance evolved from phone-based applications to making retail finance as seamless as logging into social media
• Why 0% APR finance allows first-time homebuyers to furnish entire homes with up to €30,000 credit.
• How consumer psychology shifted post-COVID with people spending more time evaluating furniture quality
• Why humm maintains lower approval rates than buy-now-pay-later competitors
• How biometric payments and AI automation will shape retail finance's future

GUEST DETAILS

Adam Sullivan is Head of Sales for UK and Ireland at humm finance, bringing 12 years of experience with the Australian-founded company that's been operating globally for approximately 40 years. Regulated across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland and the UK, humm transformed from stereotypical phone-based finance into a fully digital FinTech platform under Adam's tenure.

His role encompasses sales, marketing and partnership development with retailers like EZ Living Interiors, where he champions ethical lending practices and consumer-first approaches. Adam's philosophy centres on "AI versus AI"—artificial intelligence balanced with actual interaction ensuring technology enhances rather than replaces human connection in financial services.

A passionate advocate for transparency, responsible lending and regulatory compliance, Adam navigates the complex intersection of innovation and consumer protection in Ireland's evolving retail finance landscape

Connect with humm finance:

• Website: shophumm.com
• Apply for finance through partner retailers like EZ Living Interiors

QUOTES

• What is retail finance? Just a way to get everything that you actually want, not need, but what you want, have the ability to spread out that across a certain term that suits your budget. - Adam Sullivan
• If we can make it feel the same way as Facebook or Instagram, then you're comfortable. - Adam Sullivan
• It's their choice. They get to choose. We're not enforcing a certain programme on a customer. - Adam Sullivan
• When you are showing a monthly price and your budget sofa is maybe five euro less than the sofa that you really want per month, it just makes it attainable - Adam Sullivan

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

#retailfinance #0percentAPR #hummfinance #furniturepaymentplans #BlackFridayshopping

When Sabrina Hill's 2-year-old Robin's juice landed on her Santorini sofa, it didn't soak into the fabric—it just rested on top, thanks to aquaphobic texture she didn't even know she'd chosen.

The owner of Cork's Kopper salon, known for its urban jungle aesthetic with copper planters and hanging greenery that makes people ask "is that a restaurant?”.

Sabrina perfectly blends creativity, style and business know-how. From building a salon designed entirely around Instagram lighting (they closed for a full training day just to find best filming spots) to creating a family home that transitions from dark Georgian-boho living room to bright ocean-inspired kitchen, Sabrina's philosophy is simple: trust your gut, prioritize texture over trends, keep your five closest people supportive, and never paint walls before choosing furniture.

Planning to build soon with 20 years of design lessons learned, she's trading five-bedroom mansion dreams for functional multi-generational spaces—because home is really about the people inside

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Santorini sofa's aquaphobic fabric survives toddler juice spills remarkably well
• Texture matters more than trends for creating unique personal style
• Dark moody colors work beautifully when you trust your gut instinct
• Kopper salon's urban jungle aesthetic creates clients' Hollywood experience feeling
• Building family home prioritizes functionality over five-bedroom mansion dreams now

GUEST DETAILS

Sabrina Hill is the owner of Kopper, one of Cork's most loved and respected hair salons, known for its beautiful aesthetic and incredible reputation.

As a true expert in the hair industry, Sabrina now shares her knowledge on Ireland AM, bringing professional hair insights to a wider audience.

She's a creative business owner who has built Kopper from the ground up with a distinctive vision creating an urban jungle atmosphere with copper planters, hanging greenery over wash basins, and a large communal table running through the salon that makes passersby mistake it for a restaurant or café.

Connect with Sabrina

• Kopper Salon: Cork, Ireland
• Follow Sabrina on social media for hair tips and interior inspiration
• Watch her segments on Ireland AM

QUOTES

• I've never been drawn towards a trend, I think I was always trying to shine through with my own personal style, whether it's in my home or whether it's in my business or with what I'm wearing. I always love texture and styles. - Sabrina Hill
• The feeling of home really is everybody together in it, and all my family. My happiest when I am at home is when my older son Aaron, he's 24, when he's at home, Robin is there running around the place, and my mom and dad come over for dinner. And then I really do feel I've actually made a beautiful home. - Sabrina Hill
• "I had the vision of Kopper in my head. It was literally a Pinterest type salon that I wanted. I knew that I wanted that big, huge table running down through the salon where we do toning and different services. People still stand outside the window looking in, asking 'is that a restaurant, or is it a café?' I wanted to look entirely different. - Sabrina Hill

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.

Our podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors

KEYWORDS

#TextureOverTrends #UrbanJungleStyle #InteriorDesignHacks #FunctionalDesign #DesignPhilosophy #MoodyInteriors

Creating a home that looks beautiful on Instagram is one thing but building a space where your family actually lives—with mess, fingerprints, and scattered shoes—requires a completely different approach.

Vicki, the creative force behind Elibank, shares her four-year self-build journey from breaking ground during COVID to evolving her Georgian-meets-modern home into a true family sanctuary.

Discover why she prioritizes storage over aesthetics, how historic houses influenced her bold woodwork choices, and why that natural smile when you walk through your door matters more than any design trend.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How prioritizing function over aesthetic creates homes that truly work for busy families.
• Why building through COVID and Brexit became a blessing when compared to today's costs.
• The psychology behind choosing dark woodwork inspired by historic Georgian houses,
• How breaking a self-build into achievable phases allows your home to evolve naturally
• Why that natural smile when you arrive home matters more than Instagram perfection

GUEST DETAILS

Vicki is the creative mind behind Elibank, a beautifully designed self-build family home in Cork that has captivated the Irish interiors community for four years. Together with her husband, Vicki spent years renovating homes in both Ireland and Edinburgh before embarking on their dream build in 2020. Their 18-month build journey through COVID, supply chain challenges, and Brexit taught them invaluable lessons.

Vicki shares her build journey, design tips, and family life honestly on Instagram, where she has built a loyal following through her emphasis on function-first design, clever storage solutions, and creating homes that feel like sanctuary rather than showrooms. A passionate advocate for supporting Irish businesses and championing local craftspeople, Vicki balances full-time work with raising three children while continuing to evolve Elibank room by room.

Connect with Vicki: Instagram: @elibank_hous

QUOTES

• A home should just make your body relax and forget whatever's happened during the day - Vicki
• It is not easy building or renovating. Don't rush it, and don't feel the pressure of social media having to have this picture perfect home. - Vicki
• I'm looking at a room going, what will I use this for? And where can I store all the stuff I need to come in here and relax so it's not on show? - Vicki
• It's not about walking in and seeing this pretty space. It's that feeling of being able to release everything that's gone on and just sit and enjoy what you have now. - Vicki

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 EZLiving-Interiors.ie to learn more. This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors

KEYWORDS

#selfbuild #interiordesign #familyhome #homerenovation #irishinteriors

Emmy-winning broadcaster Baz Ashmawy joins EZ Living Style Stories to share the profound lessons he's learned from DIY SOS Ireland—where transforming homes means transforming lives.

From heartwarming stories of community volunteers rallying around families in need to his own renovation journey and the design tricks that have inspired his personal space, Baz reveals why homes should tell our stories, the power of changing things up, and his one golden rule for creating spaces that truly support how you live.

Whether you're here for the laughs, the tears, or practical design advice, this conversation goes beyond the surface.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How DIY SOS reveals the extraordinary kindness of Irish communities
• Why homes should evolve with your life rather than staying static
• The transformative power of thoughtful design details
• Learning to be comfortable with failure and building resilience through repeated attempts
• How communication and talking to people remains the most undervalued foundational skill
• The importance of seeking expert advice along with being open minded

QUOTES

• I think sometimes people get very tied to things being a certain way. You need to just mess it up a bit, change an atmosphere or a mood. Sometimes it's good to do drastic things. It's good to change things up - Baz Ashmawy
• Pitying people does nothing for them. Being empathetic and thinking, if I was that kid in a wheelchair, what would help me live a better life? What would give me confidence? That's what DIY does. - Baz Ashmawy
• "The biggest problem people have is they go, I'm too old, I'm too late to do this. You're just not at all. I think people have a terrible fear of failing at things. It's not luck, I've just failed more times than you've tried. - Baz Ashmawy
• Be careful what you say about yourself to yourself. The world will beat you, it'll do all the beating you need. You just don't need to do that to yourself. So it's nice to be nice to yourself. - Baz Ashmawy
• Sometimes you might have a clear vision of what you want, but talk to someone who knows what they're talking about because they can just give you a great steer. Have an open mind and be able to take people's advice and mix it with your own feelings. - Baz Ashmawy

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

#homedesign #interiordesign #DIYSOS #homerenovation #communityspirit