Kirstie McDermott

1 month ago | irishtimes.com | Kirstie McDermott

Ask any Irish homeowner what’s top of their list when it comes to home improvements, and the smart money will be on the kitchen. It’s the heart of the home, a place for family meals, social gatherings, and preparing food. Despite that, many of us know the misery of a bad kitchen. A poor layout, cramped space and inadequate storage and lighting can make this a room that feels stressful to spend time in; never mind cooking or eating in.

1 month ago | irishtimes.com | Kirstie McDermott

Maybe it’s thanks to Monty Don, or even our homegrown gardening heroes of past and present like Helen Dillon, Diarmuid Gavin, Gerry Daly and Dermot O’Neill, but gardening has never been so popular, especially in urban areas. That’s evidenced by the rise of allotments and community gardening spaces. From Mud Island in Dublin’s North Strand to the Togher Community Garden in Cork, these shared spaces bolster community, teamwork, and our love of the outdoors.

1 month ago | irishtimes.com | Kirstie McDermott

We’re in a trend frenzy these days. Echoing the dizzying fashion trend cycle which moves at a faster pace than ever before, our homes are following suit. Recent years have seen numerous interior trends rise and fall: mid-century modern style is enduring, but we’ve said a firm goodbye to both millennial pink and millennial grey, as well as that short-lived fad for pineapples everywhere, and on everything.

1 month ago | thehill.com | Kirstie McDermott

At the start of the year, a survey from workplace platform Modern Health identified that a huge 75 percent of the American workforce said they were experiencing some form of low mood. Unsurprisingly, politics and current events are the key drivers of U.S. workers’ worries. Workers’ mental health is taking a beating as a result, with 74 percent saying they want mental-health resources specifically addressing global political turmoil. For many employees, things are as bad as they’ve ever been.

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Kirstie McDermott

At the start of the year, a survey from workplace platform Modern Health identified that a huge 75 percent of the American workforce said they were experiencing some form of low mood. Unsurprisingly, politics and current events are the key drivers of U.S. workers’ worries. Workers’ mental health is taking a beating as a result, with 74 percent saying they want mental-health resources specifically addressing global political turmoil.