HOME OF THE YEAR RETURNS FOR A SIXTH SERIES IN 2020
RTÉ One 8.30pm from Tuesday the 25th February 2020
What makes a House a Home?
Championing creativity, individuality and clever design, Home of the Year features homeowners around Ireland who have done something special to the place they call home.
The hugely popular series Home of the Year is back for a sixth series. Over 8 weeks, 21 homes will compete for the Home of the Year title in 2020, with three very different properties featured each week. From restorations, new builds, renovations and re-design Home of the Year features people who have created their dream home. The series showcases very different homes located all over Ireland and homes in this series include a lighthouse keepers’ cottage, converted buildings such as a former carriage house and a former shop, re-imagined semi-detached homes, architectural homes, DIY homes, restored period homes and new builds. The judges making the tough decisions are three expert judges; design legend Hugh Wallace, interior designer Deirdre Whelan and architect Peter Crowley. 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. Home of the Year is produced by ShinAwiL for RTÉ ONE.
HOME OF THE YEAR SERIES 6 – EPISODE 1
House 1
When interior designer Kerry Hiddleston and Patrick O’ Grady bought a two-hundred-year-old home in Dublin it was in poor condition. They gutted it, renovated and added an extension. The house had no original features left and they wanted a contemporary fun home for their family of six. Kerry is an interior stylist and designer who describes her style as a mix of contemporary and classic with a few statement art pieces plus occasional strong colours. Kerry designed her house herself as she wanted the house to look like it was their family home. Kerry and Patrick have four children so they wanted their home to be fun and good for kids. Kerry designed fun bedrooms for the children with bunk beds with a fireman’s pole and a secret door in the wardrobe that interconnects two of the bedrooms. Kerry painted her hallway a striking deep blue and says she tends to change the house to suit artwork. Kerry added some curves in her home including a curved wall in the living room and a curved stair. They have an open plan living, kitchen and dining room with a glass sliding doors.
Kerry’s website: https://www.hiddlestonfoyinteriors.com/
House 2
Interior Designer Alannah Monks lives with her husband Patrick and her two daughters in a new build home in county Dublin. They built the house in 2013 and said it has evolved over the years. They tried to make it as much a self-build as possible and each room has its own style and colour scheme. Alannah describes her style as eclectic and views her home as a playground for trying out new designs, colour schemes and ideas. She constantly has new ideas and inspirations and says she would not put something into a client’s house if she was not happy to live with it herself. Alannah and Patrick’s describe their home as a reflection of them as a family and it’s very unique to them. Alannah and Patrick were very hands on in creating their family home and do most of the DIY themselves.
Alannah’s website:
https://theabodestylist.com/home
House 3
Building contractor Seamus Harrington wanted a to create a home for his family that nestles into its county Meath landscape. The house looks like three separate barns from the outside and the style is minimalist. Seamus and his wife Karen love their minimalist style the materials they have used are stripped back; they don’t have skirtings or architraves plus they like the “no clutter” approach. They have used materials such as polished concrete and have a concrete island in the kitchen. The charring of the external larch boards creates a self-protection for the timber. The result is an unusual and striking blackened timber on the exterior of the home. They went for a yellow front door and have pops of yellow throughout the house. They describe the creation of their home as a labour of love and they feel very lucky to have a home like it. Seamus worked with studio red architects to create his family home.
More information on the three judges below:
Hugh Wallace MRIAI, MIDI
Company: http://douglaswallace.com
Hugh Wallace is a well-respected award-winning architect and founding partner of Douglas Wallace Consultants. Hugh has been a judge on the series every year for six years. He loves working on the show and says “this year I was gob smack by the creativity and passion every home owner showed. They just get better and better every year.” Hugh has a passion for creative design that engages with its audience to create conversation and comment. He believes that good architecture is essential to create social cohesion and enhance our enjoyment of our landscape and living environment whether in the city or country side. He loves homes that create a sense of place, belonging and smile on your face. Hugh 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. Hugh was past president of Institute of Designers of Ireland and is a member of the R.I.A.I.
Peter Crowley – MRIAI
Company – https://pacstudio.ie/
Peter Crowley is back for his second series of Home of the Year and he says ‘this year’s journey around Ireland brought myself, Deirdre, and Hugh to a fantastic mix of unique homes, amazing locations, and great creativity.’ He is a founding director of award-winning architectural firm PAC Studio, a design-led practice where environmental considerations are central to making places and spaces that feel good. At PAC Studio Peter is currently working with the team on large social and private housing projects, public and commercial fit-out’s, high-end retail design, and some of the most prestigious domestic projects in the country. Peter believes that the fundamentals of great architecture are quite simple – the best buildings respond to their context and environment first and foremost, and create sustainable, warm, bright, healthy spaces to live, work and relax in. Peter is a Member of the Royal Institute of Architects.
Deirdre Whelan-BA Design Interiors & Furniture
Company: https://www.stwarchitects.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. After 20 years of private practice she is now an associate in one of Dublin’s highly respected architectural practices, Scott Tallon Walker Architects. She and her colleague Raffaella Roncoroni run the Interiors Department in there. Commercial interiors are her forte, and range from hotels such as the Gibson and the Marker, office fit outs for some of the big law firms, healthcare, and occasionally some high end residential. This is Deirdre’s fifth year as a judge on the series.