See the seven Home of the Year contenders ahead of the final
Three of the seven finalists in this year's RTÉ 'Home of the Year'. The final will be aired on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. 8.30pm on Tuesday. Pictures: RTÉ
From converted schoolhouses to gorgeous gate lodges and ultra-sleek city terraces, we sure don't envy the Home of the Year judges this week as they decide who gets to make space on the mantelpiece for the sought-after trophy.
Architects Hugh Wallace and Amanda Bone and interior designer Sara Cosgrove will tot up the tally during the grand final tomorrow, Tuesday, at 8.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player — and the good news is it gives us a wonderful excuse to enjoy another good old-fashioned snoop through the super spaces from series 10.
The first port of call was West Cork when Hugh, Amanda and Sara visited a former schoolhouse, which is now home to artist Ian Humphreys, Sarah McCarthy and their son Jo Jo.
Ian and Sarah live in an Old School House built in the 1900s with their son, Jo Jo, which they purchased in 2019.
When they bought their home, they had several internal renovations to complete, such as removing plaster to expose the original brickwork and levelling the floor in the great room.
They aimed to bring out the character of the building and restore it back to its former glory.
They wanted the original features and the character of the building to do the talking.
They love that their creative home is an ideal spot for hosting and performing music and describe themselves as “caretakers” of the building.
Ian told Irish Examiner Home that callers often knock on their door keen to share their memories of the schoolhouse.
Peter lives in a gate lodge in Co Tyrone. The house was built in the mid 1700s and Peter purchased this property in 2022.
It is a grade two listed building, and an extension was added approximately 25 years ago by the previous owner.
Peter saw the house as an inspiration and settled on a mix of country chic and cottage core for his interiors which he felt fitted beautifully with the nature that surrounds his home, creating a warm and cosy vibe. It was also important to Peter to honour the history of the home while still putting his stamp on it.
For Peter, his home is a place of solace, somewhere to unwind after a busy workday. It is also the perfect home to entertain his friends and family whether they are sitting by the fire playing the piano having a good sing song or having a barbecue in the garden, he loves every part of it!
Olivia and Kieran live in a historic Georgian Rectory in Co Derry with their young daughter and Luna, the dog. The Rectory was built in 1774 and they purchased the property in 2020.
The building had been in use by the Church of Ireland since 1774 and Kieran and Olivia were delighted to find it in relatively good condition.
They replaced some flooring ceilings on the ground floor and breathed new life into the interior.
Olivia and Kieran were heavily inspired by their travels and filled their family home with an eclectic mix of period pieces and items from abroad.
They love the architecture, period features and high ceilings throughout their home and feel that these features lend themselves well to their bold and beautiful sense of style.
Craig and Matthew purchased their small 1930s cottage in 2018 when it was in a bad state of repair.
They rebuilt the cottage section whilst retaining the vernacular shape of the existing building and added a link corridor and a two-story extension cladded in black charred larch.
Craig and Matthew have a keen interest in Danish design and the retro -styling of the mid-century era and favoured simplistic and clean lines of contemporary living and pops of colour adding natural greenery throughout the home. Their family and friends admire the aesthetic of the home and the couple love the space they have created, and how it’s full of warmth and represents them.
Rebecca and Eamonn live in a renovated 1950s bungalow with their two young children in Co Offaly. When they purchased their home, it was in need of a full renovation, but Rebecca and Eamonn could see it had good vibes with lots of potential.
They left two original external sides of the house and gutted the rest. Their main goal was to create a large light filled functional kitchen, dining, and living space to the rear of the property, so they extended out the back.
The couple wanted to incorporate ocean blues, greens, and sand tones throughout the home to create a relaxing calming environment which is near and dear to both as Rebecca grew up in Oceanside, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Eamonn spent childhood summers in Donegal.
Shane and Marty live in a 1920s terrace home in Dublin. When they purchased the property in 2022, it was in a state of disrepair.
Renovating the home was a big project which involved upgrading the heating system, replacing windows and knocking down a wall.
They also repositioned the kitchen and gutted the interior and exterior of the home and even changed the front garden layout to allow for an electric charging station for the car.
Shane and Marty’s style was inspired by their passion for hotels and travel and they love how their home represents their personalities and their lives together.
Eugene and his son Alex live in a 1920s terraced house in Dublin. Eugene purchased this property in 2022 and completed extensive renovations both aesthetically and structurally.
The house underwent a deep retrofit and rear extension to transform it into a contemporary A-rated home.
Eugene’s main aim was to create a modern home which is sustainable, so he added solar panels and an electric car charging station in the driveway.
He describes the interior of the home as contemporary and light-filled, he sees it as the perfect home for him and his son, that meets all their needs.
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