Home of the Year: Inside the Dublin apartment and Cork house through to the final
The Dublin apartment, a finalist in Home of the Year. Pictures: RTÉ
A serene city-centre apartment in Dublin and a creative West Cork house have booked their places in the final of the 12th Home of the Year competition.
Judges Hugh Wallace, Amanda Bone and Siobhán Lam appreciate the calm atmosphere of the urban living space while they credit the neo-Georgian Cork property for giving them “a nostalgic journey” back through time on the RTÉ One show.
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Interior designer Siobhán says she enjoys the Dublin apartment’s “warm, inviting atmosphere, thoughtful styling and clever zonings” but feels there is a disconnect between the main living area and the rest of the home.
But architect Hugh disagrees: “The homeowners have zoned the space beautifully, giving it a wonderful sense of flow. To be honest, I’m a bit envious.”
The apartment’s owners, Karen and Paul, have completely transformed the property.
While it was functional and ready to live in when she first bought it, says Karen, she felt that it needed updating and a new lease of life and decided to renovate.
The couple revamped the interiors by creating an open-plan layout with a real sense of space and flow.
The design style of the home is bright, modern and neutral with a rustic, earthy edge, and they describe the space as a mix between the relaxed charm of a countryside retreat and the practicality and polish of a city apartment.
Architect Amanda Bone gives it a score of nine, and interior designer awards it eight marks.
The apartment is through to the final on a score of 27.
Meanwhile, Hugh uses his “golden key” to ensure the “creative” home in West Cork is a finalist.
Marie and Jo live in this detached, 20-year-old neo-Georgian house with their daughter Emily.
When they first bought the property, it was structurally sound, but all rooms were in need of a renovation to be more in keeping with their own style.
The family took on the work themselves, and the interiors are a blend of classical style and artisan quirk, all of which is highlighted by Marie’s own beautiful artwork.
Their home is “a joy to live in,” says Marie.
Saying he is “thrilled” to give it top marks, Hugh says: “The homeowners’ creative passion and talent shine through in this masterpiece.”
As they wander through the rooms, he and Amanda reminisce about their childhoods, including Amanda’s fun-fact memory of knitting brown tea cosies.
All much to Siobhán’s bemusement.
While the interior designer enjoys the “nostalgic journey through time”, she finds it “confusing” in places.
The home earns an overall mark of 23.
Sean and Catherine, Armagh Sean and Catherine’s self-build journey began back in 2018. After living abroad for several years, the couple returned to Ireland to start a family and build their forever home on family land.
Catherine, an architect, designed the home to “feel like it was carved from the mountains” surrounding it.
To achieve this, the house uses locally sourced stone on the ground floor and is topped with a wild meadow green roof.
The couple describe the home's interiors as earthy and relaxed, reflecting the quietness of the area and its closeness to nature.
They regard the space as "a gamechanger for a family that has lived in apartments for years".
Amanda loves the connection with the landscape: “This home sits within its natural surroundings, and its immediate landscaping, and that’s what makes this house different and gives it its sense of place.”
Siobhán is taken by the homeowners’ use of colour: “I love this comfortable and harmonious family home’s subtle use of colour, particularly pink.
"It’s fun and impactful, although it left me wanting more.”
The judges award it a score of 24.
- Home of the Year series 12 airs on Tuesdays at 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
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