Home of the Year: See all 10 finalists in the running for the title
Interior photography of four of the ten properties through to the final in the 2026 series of RTÉ's 'Home of the Year'. Pictures: Kelan Molloy/RTÉ
Bijou city nests that offer birds-eye views and pretty perches to go with them. A radiant residence that reflects South African style savvy on the Ring of Kerry. A turreted escape fit for a fairytale, twisting its way into our imaginations.
And now that Mike and Steve's revamped residence in Kildare has joined their ranks, as the last finalist chosen in this series, it’s time to grab the popcorn ahead of tuning into the 2026 conclusion on April 21, when the judges deliberate the winner in Palmerstown, Co Kildare.
For the first time ever, each judge on the RTÉ series was awarded one golden key to use at their discretion. With this, architects Hugh Wallace and Amanda Bone and interior designer Siobhán Lam selected one home to bring a runner-up from an episode, straight through to the final, meaning ten rather than seven finalists have eyes on the prizes this year.
So who will it be?
In 2005, Lorcan and Adrian built their forever home on family land in Co Kildare.
Inspired by two traditional farm-style buildings, the couple worked together with their architect to create a space that is unique and true to them.
The house features an eclectic mix of elements inspired by their travels and passions.
The couple are both involved in floristry and horticulture, and as such, the garden is a passion of theirs and very much an extension of the home, with beautiful planting and hidden rooms (such as a tearoom) to make the absolute most of the space.
Áine, an architect, designed this new-build house, which is A1-rated with an exhaust air heat pump, PV-solar panels and ground-floor underfloor heating. The house is brick-built and a contemporary interpretation of the existing 1930s redbrick terraces in its area.
They built the home in a side garden plot and spent a long time designing the house to fully maximise the site and to develop a home which has the unique quality of having sunlight all day long.
- Amanda Bone used her golden key for this home
Built in 2023, Toni and Fionán’s home in Co Kerry is their pride and joy. The couple poured hours of work into creating a home that acts as a hub for their family and loved ones.
The build is an open-plan, free-flowing home, featuring a warm and contemporary aesthetic with design details inspired by the couple's time travelling and working together.
Toni says their house is everything they love encompassed in one and that they feel "extremely blessed to wake up in it every day".
They have recently started a homestead where they get eggs from their chickens and honey from their bees, and love that they have created such a wonderful and sustaining place for their son to grow up.
Tara lives in a former gate lodge in Co Down. Prior to renovating, the building hadn’t been lived in for over 30 years, and the renovation process was extensive, as the cottage had no running water or electricity, with the ceiling on the verge of collapse.
The house was gutted entirely and has now been transformed into a cosy cottage featuring a blend of traditional and fun elements.
Tara’s love for old homes inspired the decor of the gate lodge, creating a home that she says makes her genuinely happy to live in each day.
When it came to the decor, Tara has always loved old homes, so she ensured there is an element of tradition — as well as a sense of the property's big, fun personality.
Marie and Jo live in a detached, 20-year-old neo-Georgian house with their daughter Emily in West Cork.
When they first bought the home, it was structurally sound; however, 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 designed every inch of the property. The interiors are a blend of classical style and artisan quirk, all of which is highlighted by Marie’s own beautiful artwork.
Marie describes the home as "a joy to live in".
- Hugh Wallace used his golden key for this home
Karen and Paul live in an apartment located in the heart of Dublin city. The house was completely functional and ready to live in when Karen first bought it, but she felt that it needed updating and a new lease of life and decided to renovate.
The couple have now transformed the apartment by creating an open-plan layout with a real sense of space and flow.
The interior design 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 with the practicality and polish of a Dublin city apartment".
Robert and Grace live in Dublin with their two children. When the couple found their property, they knew they wanted to add space for their family of four.
The house had an area to the side where the front door was, and an overly large shed which took up space in the garden.
Knocking down the shed and extending the house out to the boundary wall gave them additional space and even a larger back garden.
The original kitchen was smaller, and access to the garden was through it, so with this clever redesign for the ground floor, they were able to maximise the sense of flow throughout the home and add doors to access the garden, which brings great connection to the inside and outside.
Grace describes the interior design of the home "as refined and timeless with an understated touch of luxury".
Finbarr and Gareth live in a two-storey brick house in Dublin and have spent the last few years renovating the home in stages, with Finbarr taking the lead on the design of the home.
Together, with each other’s hard work and some handy YouTube tutorials, the couple crafted a relaxing and creative space that they feel is full of colour and personality, reflecting who they are and what they’re passionate about.
- Siobhan Lam used her golden key for this home
Laoise lives in a turret-style home in Galway.
The house is a top-down property, featuring an upstairs kitchen and dining area, to make the most of the view, with the two bedrooms located downstairs.
It was not in a liveable condition when Laoise first moved in, and so she carried out renovations, gutting the building, only leaving the internal doors and fireplace.
After a deep retrofit, the house now has an open-plan kitchen and dining area with new plumbing and wiring, which makes the most of the space.
The interior style is classic and timeless, the rooms decorated with minimal pieces of furniture that Laoise believes will stand the test of time.
Mike and Steve live in Co Kildare with their dog, Finley. In 2022, the couple purchased their new-build home and had plans drawn up, as well as kitchen installers on speed-dial, all while eagerly waiting for the sale to go through.
Since moving in, they've given the house a completely different look, from new light fittings, doors and panelling, whilst also having the front and back garden professionally landscaped and developed.
The home has changed so much that the couple revealed that their neighbours asked if it had a different design from the rest of the new builds in the estate.
Mike and Steve love how they have adapted their property to suit their lifestyle, creating a balance between everyday practicalities and a sense of luxury.
- The final airs on Tuesday, April 21, at 7.30pm, on RTÉ One and on RTÉ Player
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