Send us a text Does Renovating Add Value in 2025? | Home Renovation ROI Explained Wondering if renovating your home is worth the investment in 2025? In this episode of How To Renovate, I break down down the financial pros and cons of renovating vs. moving, UK renovation trends, return on investment for loft conversions and extensions, and how to budget smartly. Discover when it makes sense to renovate. With UK house prices still rising and the cost of moving continuing to soar, more hom...

Send us a text Have you ever visited somewhere that influenced changed how you think about design? That’s kind of what happened during my five-week Barcelona getaway. Buzzing Barcelona captured my heart and reinforced my love of cities, just like London did. The medieval alleyways, sunny squares, arty influences, and modern buildings alongside Gaudí’s dreamlike architecture collide to create a place that is historic, modern, endlessly alive, and really quite special. Our fam...

Send us a text After a long, inspiring summer in Barcelona, I’m back—and filled with ideas sparked by the incredible, playful architecture of Gaudí. In this episode, we dive into the joy of designing with a sense of play and freedom. Gaudí's bold use of curves, colour, and nature-inspired forms reminded me just how powerful it can be to bend the rules and follow your imagination when it comes to designing our homes. We’ll explore breaking the “design rules”, exploring using all the laye...

Send us a text In this week's episode of How To Renovate, I’m kicking things off with a little personal update — I’m heading off to Barcelona for a month! It’s a working holiday (with some well-deserved tapas and sunshine), and while the podcast will be on pause, I’ll be soaking up fresh inspiration, sourcing new ideas, and lining up brilliant guests for when I’m back in September. But back to this episode: it’s a topic I’ve learned countless lessons on – and not always the easy way! We’re ta...

Send us a text In this episode, I dive into one deceptively simple yet absolutely crucial mantra for any renovator: never assume anything! From wonky walls and uneven floors to miscommunications with your builder, assumptions can cost you time, money, and peace of mind. Come on in as I share my hard-won insights (so you don’t have to learn the hard way), I’ll walk you through some of the most common renovation assumptions—and how to avoid them. Learn why double-checking measurements is a supe...

Send us a text Every renovator should be a little concerned about what lurks behind those walls they’re about to tear down! What unseen challenges are waiting to topple your carefully planned budget and timeline? From old wiring to unsupported chimney breasts and even asbestos, in this episode I walk you through the common issues that can crop up once your build begins. The financial implications of these unexpected surprises are obvious, but don't underestimate the emotiona...

Send us a text If you’ve renovated before, you’ll know that it can be very exciting—but let’s face it, it can also be overwhelming. In this episode of I’m talking about something not often discussed but absolutely essential: the power of a well-timed pause. A strategic breather can give you clarity, reduce costly mistakes, and help you reconnect with your vision. Join me inside where I’ll share signs you might need a pause (I’ve been there many times myself!) and how to use that time wi...

Send us a text Recently, a well-designed home office has become one of the most requested rooms in the renovation projects I work on. As more and more people are working from home a few days a week, or even permanently, creating a dedicated workspace that's comfortable and functional, is essential for productivity and wellbeing. The shift to remote work has revolutionised how we think about our homes—no longer relegated to spare corners or temporary setups, home offices have become esse...

Send us a text This episode delves into the art of designing with heritage, exploring how to preserve the soul of your period property. We talk about what to preserve, what can be adapted, and how to blend the charm of historic details with the functionality of modern living. I also share stories from my own renovation projects, from Victorian terraces to Art Deco apartments, and the joy of sourcing reclaimed treasures that breathe character back into a space. And for homes where previo...

Send us a text Today’s episode is a gentle but firm permission to break the floor plan! Stop letting outdated room labels or cookie-cutter layouts dictate how you live in your home. Estate agents may have labelled the rooms, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in them that way. Maybe you need a yoga space. A music nook. A second office. Or just a calm, sunlit corner to drink your morning coffee and take a breath. Renovating is not just about moving walls or chasing square footage. We want ...

Send us a text Renovating your home isn't just about floorplans, finishes, or finding the perfect team — as much as those are important, it's also about managing your energy and emotions. In this episode, I’m getting real about renovation burnout. It’s a challenge that rarely gets discussed in the renovation world, yet it affects many homeowners when their lives don't stop during major home transformations. So, let’s talk… inside, I’m covering what it is, how to spot it, and most ...

Send us a text In this episode I talk about art adds personality, depth, and soul to your home, and how it can be a powerful guiding force when planning your interiors too. I unpack how to plan for art early on in your renovation—from considering sight lines and lighting, to using art to influence colour palettes, textures and floor plans. We’ll also cover how to add sentimental pieces, and how to find something unique that doesn’t break the bank. And at the end there are some quick tip...

Send us a text Today I share the renovation mistakes you don’t know you’re making – until it’s too late. I'm going to help you avoid those mistakes that I find people find out just a little bit too late. They've spent years thinking about their renovation, they've spent months and months carrying out their renovation, only to move into their finished home and find that a few things are just not quite right. So, today's episode is dedicated to helping you spot and think about those sma...

Send us a text Sometimes in renovation, you hit a wall—literally. Whether it's a support column smack in the middle of your open-plan dream, or a chimney stack that you just can’t remove… every home has its quirks. But here's the thing: some of those stubborn features can be opportunities in disguise. In this episode I’m walking you through how to reframe those unchangeable features—the ones that can’t be moved or removed—and turn them into standout elements of your design. Stick with me here...

Send us a text In this episode of How To Renovate, I’m helping you see around corners when it comes to your renovation budget. It's so easy to focus on the big, shiny items like kitchens and bathrooms — but what about the hidden costs that quietly creep up on you? Today, we dive into the often-overlooked expenses that can derail your project if you're not prepared, from the real costs of late-stage changes to sneaky permit fees and unexpected accommodation costs. Grab a pen and paper, because...

Send us a text Light isn't just about brightening a space, it fundamentally transforms how we feel in our homes. When you walk into a light-filled room, there's an immediate sense of warmth and energy that simply can't be replicated with artificial lighting. In this episode I share a personal experience of how dramatically different educational environments—one dark and oppressive, one flooded with natural light—shaped my understanding of how buildings affect our emotional state. When I thin...

Send us a text Do you ever open your wardrobe and feel instantly… annoyed? Overflowing drawers, crammed rails, mystery piles of socks — we’ve all been there. But here’s the thing: wardrobe storage doesn’t have to be a daily frustration. In this week’s episode of How To Renovate, I’m sharing my go-to strategies for designing wardrobe storage that actually works. This episode is full of practical tips I use with clients all the time. Inside I share how to work out exactly how much space you nee...

Send us a text What makes a house truly feel like home? Beyond beautiful furniture and perfect paint colors lies something more profound – the personal stories woven into your living space. Taking inspiration from a recent client project where we've moved beyond renovation to thoughtfully selecting meaningful objects, this episode explores why surrounding yourself with items that tell your story creates a deeper connection to your space. Your identity is essentially a collection of sto...

Send us a text This is the 50th episode of How To Renovate. When I started the podcast, back in February 2024, the idea was to focus on short informative episodes about the renovation process. And although I’ve mainly stuck to that, I’ve also found so much joy in interviewing some incredible people and exploring just how much our homes mean to us. Our homes are powerful, they can either support our needs, daily lives and our well-being, or they do not. Home is more than just four ...

Send us a text Renovation inspiration doesn’t always have to come from a screen. It doesn't have to come from Pinterest and Instagram and TV, useful as they may be sometimes! In this episode, I want to help you explore other places and ways to get that inspiration for your home. Seeing something on a screen and trying to copy it can look, well, copied. I find that best design ideas come from unexpected places, and sometimes the smallest things can spark the best ideas. So let’s get into it an...