Programme 7 – Schull, West Cork
Presented by top interior designer Neville Knott, Showhouse RTÉ’s interior design show sees two professional interior designers take over two identical new houses and compete to create the winning Showhouse.
The seventh programme in the current series takes us to the seaside holiday spot of Schull in West Cork. The development Copper Point is a mixed development of virtually eco friendly luxury holiday homes over looking Schull bay.
The Development: Copper Point, Airhill, Schull, West Cork
The development site is 6 acres in size – it is elevated and enjoys spectacular views out over the Colla Road and across the harbor to Coosheen.
Although the majority of the houses will be three bedroom, there are also some two-bed houses available. There are four different categories of houses in the development each with their own distinctive features.
The materials used throughout Copper Point are a blend of the contemporary and the traditional. The rich copper history that is associated with Schull is acknowledged through the use of copper cladding on some of the signature buildings throughout the development. The Valentia slate is in keeping with the traditional coastal cottages that can be found dotted around the locality. Both of these materials are complemented by the use of zinc cladding and cedar panels which add to the overall contemporary feel of the development.
The two interior designers competing in this programme are Simon Paul and Valerie Hogan.
After studying design in Dublin, Simon moved home to Cork where he joined one of Cork’s longest established design firms, Designer’s Library. Simon feels that the extensive agencies and knowledge that Designer’s Library has built up over the last 30 years has proved invaluable to him in insuring that each project results in a unique outcome. An active member of the Irish Georgian Society, it is the saving and proper restoration of older buildings that he feels is one of the nicest aspects of his profession. Simon has undertaken a huge variety of jobs in both the private and commercial sectors and works throughout the country.
Valerie Hogan from Cork has 17 years experience in interior design and has a large portfolio of completed projects ranging from single room renovations through to whole dwelling refurbishments such as nursing home, beauty salon, prayer room, show houses and offices. Valerie has built up a substantial and exclusive range of fabrics, poles, flooring and wallpapers from around Europe. Valerie has a very flexible service and clients can choose the level of involvement they wish to have on their projects and how much they would like Valerie to provide.
The pair have several weeks to plan and purchase the interiors and then just six days to turn their properties into Showhouses. On the seventh day the public will vote on the winning interior. On this occasion the largest audience to date showed up in their hundreds to vote on the winning design.