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HOME OF THE YEAR ***FINAL***

Finalists Susan Gorman & Alan Ross Image Name: Finalists Susan Gorman & Alan Ross Description: Home of the Year Episode 8 - series finale Thursday April 27th RTÉ One Finalists Susan Gorman & Alan Ross Copyright: RTÉ 2017
Finalists Philip & Delphine Geoghean Image Name: Finalists Philip & Delphine Geoghean Description: Home of the Year Episode 8 - series finale Thursday April 27th RTÉ One Finalists Philip & Delphine Geoghean Copyright: RTÉ 2017
Finalist Gitte Trench & son Robert Trench Image Name: Finalist Gitte Trench & son Robert Trench Description: Home of the Year Episode 8 - series finale Thursday April 27th RTÉ One Finalist Gitte Trench & son Robert Trench Copyright: RTÉ 2017
Finalist Esther Gerrard & Ed Coveney Image Name: Finalist Esther Gerrard & Ed Coveney Description: Home of the Year Episode 8 - series finale Thursday April 27th RTÉ One Finalists Esther Gerrard & Ed Coveney Copyright: RTÉ 2017
Home of the Year Finalist Alec Darragh Image Name: Home of the Year Finalist Alec Darragh Description: Home of the Year Episode 8 - series finale Thursday April 27th RTÉ One Finalist Alec Darragh Copyright: RTÉ 2017
Home of the Year series 3 Image Name: Home of the Year series 3 Description: Declan O’Donnell, Hugh Wallace and Deirdre Whelan Copyright: RTÉ
Home of the Year  Series 3 Image Name: Home of the Year Series 3 Copyright: RTÉ
Home of the Year Series 3 Image Name: Home of the Year Series 3 Copyright: RTÉ
Home of the Year Series 3 Image Name: Home of the Year Series 3 Copyright: RTE
Home of the Year finale 2017 Finalists Colin & Ruth Donnelly son Garron Image Name: Home of the Year finale 2017 Finalists Colin & Ruth Donnelly son Garron Description: Home of the Year 2017 Finalists Colin & Ruth Donnelly son Garron Copyright: RTÉ 2017

EPISODE 8 – THE FINAL

Having selected the seven finalists, the judges must now select the overall winner. The homeowners come together for the very first time at Palmerstown House in County Kildare, where the judges will deliberate and ultimately crown the winner of Home of the Year.

Meet 6 of the 7 finalists: (1 still to be revealed)

Episode 1 Winners: Esther Gerrard and Ed Coveney are landscape architects, Ed is also a stonemason, designer and maker (www.elementsofaction.net.) They live in an apartment in the Georgian building they have restored in South Dublin City with their three small children.

Esther and Ed bought the house with Esther’s brother in 2013. It was an 18 bedroom B&B when they bought it. Together they have sensitively restored the building and separated it into three apartments. Esther and Ed live in the duplex apartment which is the ground floor and basement of the house.

Stripped back walls reveal the original wall colours from the 19th century and original cornicing and hand restored sash windows are combined with a contemporary marble kitchen and bathroom and an eclectic mix of furniture throughout. Much of the furniture in the apartment is designed and made by Esther and Ed themselves including their spalted beech dining room table. The couple also designed and carried out a lot of the modern elements in the apartment such as their pink marble clad bathroom and marble backed kitchen.

 

Episode 2 Winner: Alec Darragh lives in an aluminium clad contemporary end of terrace home in North Dublin. Alec is a Company Director and also restores vintage racing bicycles. (www.oldvelos.com)

Alec, a cycling enthusiast, originally set out to build a garage, but ended up deciding to build an entire house.

Alec knew he wanted to build something modern and had a clear idea of what his requirements were – he wanted his living space on the top floor, a garage/workshop space for his bikes, a front terrace to relax in the evening sun and lots of light throughout the home. The result is a contemporary aluminium clad home flooded with natural light by floor to ceiling picture windows and a roof light that runs the length of the building.

 

 

Episode 3 Winners: Architects Philip and Delphine Geoghegan (www.ballymurrinquakerfarmstead.eu) live in a 17th century farmhouse originally built by Quakers. It is one of the few buildings of its kind that remain in this country.  

Phillip and Delphine Geoghegan bought their farmhouse in 1994. The house dates back to the 17th century and was built by Quakers who settled in Ireland at this time. Philip and Delphine have stayed respectful and true to the heritage of their home. They have gently restored and conserved the building over the course of over two decades. With massive stone inglenook fireplaces, 17th century bread ovens and an original blacksmiths forge dating from the period, Phillip and Delphine’s home is a rare glimpse into the past.

 

Episode 4 Winner: Gitte Trench lives in a bungalow in County Wicklow which is filled with her own unique style.

Gitte had to sell the home she shared with her husband and downsize to a smaller house after her husband had to go into full time care. On a tight budget Gitte has completely transformed this 1980s bungalow. Using a dark colour palette and atmospheric lighting throughout, Gitte has designed calm and peaceful spaces and a warm, welcoming and very stylish home. With the use of wallpaper throughout, art deco influences, a red and gold painted ceiling and a bright orange ladder leading to a mezzanine area where Gitte can do her art and where the grandkids can play, this is a bungalow with a difference.

 

Episode 5 Winners: Susan Gorman and Alan Ross have turned a 19th century railway goods shed in County Wicklow into their home.

Starting with just four stone walls, Susan and Alan spent 8 years turning this 150 year old railway building into a dream home. They spent weekends, evening and holidays on the renovation works, doing most of it themselves including roofing and re-pointing the stonework throughout.

Preserving some of the traditional elements of the building and combining them with their own modern touches, they have created a truly unique home. Features include exposed stone walls, flagstone floors, a Victorian freestanding bath and a terrace at the rear of the house mimicking an old railway platform where the train used to pull up in days gone by.

Episode 6 Winner:

Ruth and Colin Donnelly live with their son Garron in this modern architectural home they have built in the Antrim countryside. Ruth is a childminder and Colin is a building contractor.

They bought the site in 2006 and set about building their unique home –  it took them 9 years to complete due to having to pause work during the recession but was fully completed in 2016.  With a curved roof reminiscent of farm buildings in the countryside and windows and glass doors along the back elevation, the home has stunning views across 4 counties, a bright orange kitchen and a floating mezzanine area. Colin and Ruth describe their home as modern, yet homely.

PLEASE NOTE: 

Episode 7 winner photo and synopsis will be available after broadcast on April 20th

Group shot of all finalists together will be available on April 21st.