Home of the Year – Thursday March 17rd RTÉ One
Over eight weeks, 21 homes will compete for the Home of the Year title, with three very different and unique properties featured each week.
From unusual conversions to architectural gems and countryside retreats, Home of the Year features people who have built their dream home, just the way they want it. The series will showcase homes from all across Ireland including a converted workshop, a modernist inspired new build, a barn turned dream home, and a radically transformed Dublin terrace to name just a few.
Making the tough decisions on which homes go through to the final are our three expert judges; design legend Hugh Wallace, acclaimed architect Declan O’Donnell and award winning interior designer Deirdre Whelan.
Looking for individuality, functionality and clever design, the judges will individually score each of the homes out of 10, the home with the highest combined score in each programme will go through to the final, where the ultimate winner will be crowned.
Programme 3 of 8
In Episode 3 of the series the judges travel to three very different homes across the country. First they visit a two storey thatched cottage in North Leitrim, then a cabin in the woods in County Westmeath, and finally an architectural remodelled bungalow in County Galway.
Derval McGovern – North Leitrim. Derval owns and runs Teapot Lane Glamping, a glamping business in North Leitrim www.glampingireland.ie.
Derval, lives in a 19th century thatched cottage. When she bought her home it was a single storey cottage with a tin roof and only three rooms. She set about renovating it while staying mindful of its rich history. She added an extra storey and replaced the tin roof with thatch. Derval has created a country cottage style on the interior with bursts of colour throughout. She is constantly working on her home and has a keen eye for salvage pieces which she uses throughout her home.
Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin – County Westmeath. Egon is an interior designer (www.egondesign.co.uk) and Richard is a management consultant. Egon and Richard split their time between London and Ireland.
Egon inherited this lakeside cabin after his father passed away in 2010 and carried out significant renovations. He wanted to preserve the memory of his parents and the time they had spent together as a family in the cabin, while also creating a colourful, playful modern, country styled home which reflected the beautiful woodland and lakeside setting. Major renovations took place between 2013 and 2014. Egon and Richard knocked down the internal walls and opened up the ceilings to create an open plan living space with sliding glass doors opening to their decking and beautiful lakeside views.
Cathal and Joan Walsh live with their daughter Roisin near Clifden in County Galway. They own and run Walsh’s Bakery, their family run bakery and coffee shop in Clifden town – www.walshsbakery.ie.
When Cathal and Joan bought their classic 1980’s bungalow, they immediately set about remodelling it to create their dream home. With a very clear idea of what they wanted, they dramatically redesigned and renovated the house adding features such as a curved roof and transforming the bungalow into a unique, architectural family home. They describe the style of the home as classic contemporary and particularly enjoy the views of the surrounding landscape from their home.
JUDGES BIOGS
Hugh Wallace MRIAI, MIDI
Company: http://douglaswallace.com
Interior Designer and Architect Hugh Wallace has over 30 years’ experience in the interior design industry, and is world renowned for his insight and knowledge as a leader in design. In 2014 he received a life time achievement for this contribution to the Design Industry in Ireland.
Graduating in architecture from Dublin’s Trinity College in 1980, he immediately set up in practice with his then business partner Alan Douglas, a conservation architect. In his own words, “at that time there was no architectural work, only interior design,” so he focused on interiors and soon became the go to man for luxurious design in Ireland.
Working at the highest end of residential design in Ireland and aboard, Hugh also works with word renowned brands to create prestigious and glamorous design for exacting clients. His clients include Brown Thomas, The G Hotel, Ritz-Carlton, Dunnes Stores, Peter Mark, Harrods and Espa International. Hugh is now working on a number of residential projects in Dubai and Oman while continuing with hotel and residential projects in Ireland.
To Hugh, design is about creating a unique environment where people’s imagination can take flight. The design he creates is about inspiration, desire and creating a place that people are happy in and enjoy as a result.
Deirdre Whelan
Company – http://deirdrewhelandesign.com
Deirdre Whelan is an award winning Interior Designer based in Dublin.
Deirdre has over 25 years’ experience in the interior design industry in both residential and commercial projects.
Having established her own private practise in 1996 she has since collaborated as lead interior designer with a selection of highly respected architectural firms on high end projects including the Clarion Hotel Dublin and Cork, Dublin’s Gibson Hotel, several of Dublin’s best known restaurants and most recently the Marker Hotel in Dublin.
Declan O’Donnell
Company – http://www.odkmarchitects.com
Declan O’Donnell is a highly respected award winning architect based in Dublin.
Declan studied architecture at Queen’s University Belfast and the Mackintosh School of architecture in Glasgow. On completion of his Postgraduate Degree he was invited to join the international architecture firm, Foster + Partners in London. During his time there he took a lead role in the design of some of the most significant and challenging projects across the globe at the very cutting edge of contemporary architecture.
In 2008 he returned to Dublin to setup ODKM Architects, who have developed a reputation for delivering bespoke eye-catching architecture, and with an impressive selection of residential projects already completed, he has quickly established himself as an Architect with a difference.