How to Find Meaning in Nature: Matt Smith

Anna Bougharbel: Create a Calm Intentional Home

Creating a truly unique and calming home feels out of reach for many renovators and builders. This week, we explore the process behind a light-filled Cork bungalow that has mastered intentional design, proving that textured finishes and thoughtful architectural decisions can transform a living space into a safe haven. Host Laura O'Keeffe sits down with Anna Bougharbel, the creator behind the celebrated Iaorana House and founder of Maison Anna B.  Anna shares her journey of building a home around natural light and the Irish landscape, detailing her passion for applying finishes like micro cement and lime wash herself.  If you dream of a home that is entirely your own and designed to evolve with your family, this conversation is essential listening. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Site location influenced by sun and views Learning to apply textured wall finishes Finding home's name in Tahitian culture Letting your home evolve over time Investing in quality long-lasting materials GUEST DETAILS Anna Bougharbel is the founder of Maison Anna B and the creator behind the beautifully designed Iaorana House in Cork. Trained by French craftswomen, her expertise lies in applying textured wall finishes such as micro cement and lime paint. Anna is highly respected for sharing her knowledge on designing intentional homes and was recently featured in House and Home magazine. Connect with Anna: Website: https://www.maisonannab.com QUOTES Whatever the others are saying, if this is what you want for your own house, go for it. - Anna Bougharbel Make less choices, and that would help big time with the decision fatigue that you feel at one stage. - Anna Bougharbel Surround yourself with people who understand what you want, really, and don't hesitate to actually push. - Anna Bougharbel 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. This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors. KEYWORDS #InteriorDesign #HomeBuilding #LimeWash #MicroCement #HomeRenovation

Doireann Garrihy: Life at Home, On Air and On Tour

Balancing a demanding, high-profile media career with a significant home renovation and the chaos of new motherhood presents a unique challenge to personal space. For Irish broadcaster Doireann Garrihy, life is currently a chaotic but embraced mix of nationwide tours and family focus. This episode explores how she navigates this high-octane life. Doireann shares her strategy for furnishing her Dublin fixer-upper, finding balance between career fulfilment and a fulfilling family life, and creating a truly intimate environment on stage and at home. Get her essential advice for anyone making a change to their home or lifestyle. Our guest is Doireann Garrihy, an award-winning Irish broadcaster, comedian, and host of the hugely successful podcast The Laughs of Your Life. Known for her work on RTÉ radio and co-hosting Dancing with the Stars. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Logistics of touring with a baby Creating intimacy on a live stage How to invest in home key pieces Importance of living in the space Balancing work and new motherhood GUEST DETAILS Doireann Garrihy is an award-winning Irish Broadcaster and Podcast Host. She is known for presenting on RTÉ radio and co-hosting Dancing with the Stars. Doireann hosts the chart-topping podcast, The Laughs of Your Life, and is celebrated for her comedy and strong on-air presence. Connect with Doireann: Website: www.doireanngarrihy.com QUOTES So if the person is physically comfortable, they're going to be emotionally comfortable, mentally comfortable. - Doireann Garrihy He's like, not everything has to match.- Doireann Garrihy You have to be in the space. And you have to go, Okay, I actually do sit in that corner a lot, so I'm going to give that corner some love. - Doireann Garrihy 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. This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors KEYWORDS #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #KeyPieces #LiveInTheSpace #CosyHome

How to Find Meaning in Nature: Matt Smith

Ireland's natural environment is in a frighteningly degraded position, with minimal native woodland cover and vital ecosystems under threat. This critical challenge requires collective action, innovative financing, and a renewed human connection to the land. In this Earth Day special, discover the surprising reality of Ireland's temperate rainforests, learn how even a tiny houseplant can spark change, and explore the path to large-scale ecological restoration. Host Laura O'Keeffe sits down with Matt Smith, the most senior person at Hometree, EZ Living Interiors' sustainability partner, an organisation dedicated to restoring woodlands and connecting people to nature in Ireland. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Hometree's nature restoration work Impact of business partnerships Connecting to nature at home Rarity of Irish temperate rainforests Financing the large ecological challenge GUEST DETAILS Matt Smith is the CEO at Hometree, driven by a deep passion for ecological biodiversity and regeneration. He has a unique background, having founded and successfully led two major Irish environmental organisations.  Connect with Matt: Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/matthew-smith-enviro QUOTES People leave having the microbiome of the soil, having their hands in the ground, but also kind of knowing each other a little bit more, which is quite sweet. - Matt Smith A tree in the garden is a fascinating experience. - Matt Smith if you've got tiny garden, plant the trees or cut them down, you know, after a few years, if they're too big or you don't like them, and, you know, love them in a bush... - Matt Smith 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. This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors KEYWORDS  #NatureRestoration #WoodlandCover #IrishRainforest #RuralBuyIn #SmallAction

Creating Comfort for Outdoor Spaces: Brendan Courtney

Many people struggle to find outdoor furniture that offers true comfort and style without compromise. They often feel they have to choose between a durable piece or a beautiful one. Discover how the brand new ‘Brendan Courtney Home and Garden Collection’ bridges the gap between indoor luxury and outdoor durability. This episode explores the inspiration behind the collection, from a home renovation in Wicklow to choosing waterproof, wipe-clean fabrics. We discuss valuing your living space and why comfort must never be overlooked in design. Joining the podcast is presenter and designer Brendan Courtney. Known for his passion for renovation and his instinctive approach to interiors, Brendan shares his move into furniture design and how to create a home that feels safe, considered and entirely your own. He is currently hosting The Great House Revival, having stepped in for the remainder of the season following the passing of his close friend, Hugh Wallace. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT - Wicklow renovation sparked furniture collection - Creating comfortable indoor-outdoor spaces - Why design comfort is vital - The joy of pottering at home - How home should feel safe GUEST DETAILS Brendan Courtney is a renowned presenter and fashion designer with a long creative industry career. He currently hosts The Great House Revival. Brendan is a passionate renovator and house developer, having explored hard surfaces, tiles, and finishes for over a decade. He uses his creative experience to channel his passion for design into his new furniture collection with EZ Living Interiors. Connect with Brendan:  https://www.brendancourtney.com/contact QUOTES - I felt that what I wanted in terms of indoor, outdoor furniture, I didn't see anything I loved, and I suppose that's where the inspiration for this collection came from. - Brendan Courtney  - First of all, the choice of wood, the acacia wood, you know, it has the FSE cert. It's completely sustainable, which is really important. It's also highly durable. - Brendan Courtney - I always had this idea of a set of furniture that could move between the two spaces if you wanted to. You could just put it outside in summer or keep it inside if you wanted to. - Brendan Courtney 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. This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors KEYWORDS  #OutdoorLiving #InteriorDesignTips #BrendanCourtney #HomeAndGarden #StyleStories

How To Restore A Period Home with Rob Hennessy

Tackling a period property renovation project often feels like an impossible feat when facing massive costs, unexpected structural issues, and the need to preserve history. It requires more than design skill; it demands grit and perseverance. This episode reveals the grit and creativity needed to transform a derelict 170-year-old Cork house into a modern family home. Rob shares how he stretched a tight budget with DIY labour, blended original Georgian features with contemporary style, and pushed through relentless construction challenges. We discuss uncovering hidden history, finding invaluable mentorship, and the ultimate reward of building a space you fought for. Joining Laura O’Keeffe is Rob Hennessy, a restorer and educator who gained national recognition for his work on RTÉ’s The Great House Revival. Rob is an advocate for restoring Ireland's vacant housing stock, demonstrating that passion and a strong DIY spirit can bypass the traditional housing market. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT High ceilings dictated the house purchase. Hugh Wallace advised keeping original layout. How living on-site saved the budget. Overcoming wet rot and structural setbacks. Trust your ability and hire experts GUEST DETAILS Rob Hennessy is a restorer and educator currently working as a school teacher in Cork. He is best known for his high-profile Victorian home renovation project in Passage West, Co. Cork. Rob gained national recognition after appearing on RTÉ’s The Great House Revival. He is a leading voice in the Irish restoration community, demonstrating how a strong DIY spirit can bring life back to vacant housing stock.  Hear the complete conversation on Style Stories with EZ Living Interiors Podcast available on all podcast apps now Connect with Rob: QUOTES I knew the minute I walked to the front door I wanted it. I knew I wanted the house. - Rob Hennessy I wanted to respect the history of the house and try and look after as much of the original features as I possibly could on the opposite side. Then I was conscious, I'm not living in the museum either, right? I wanted to kind of put my own stamp on things.. - Rob Hennessy I was also very conscious of, you know, not going super cheap on finishings or orange like that, because I wanted a nice finish. - . - Rob Hennessy 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. This podcast is produced by dustpod.io for EZ Living Interiors KEYWORDS #PeriodRenovation #DIYBudget #PeriodProperty #HughWallace #RestorationAdvice