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Home of the Year

Every Tuesday from February the 14th 2023, join the judging panel of Hugh, Amanda, and Sara as they explore 21 outstanding homes across Ireland. Episode 5 features homes in Antrim, South County Dublin and Dublin City Centre.

Episode 7

Donna McGrath and Mark Rusk

Donna McGrath and Mark Rusk live with their 3 girls in South Co. Dublin.

When the couple bought the site in 2015 they wanted to build a home that was light filled with a strong connection between the inside and outside. To achieve this, they used floor to ceiling windows, a double height light well and lots of different types of wood. They also designed the layout so that every room downstairs leads to the garden and that  the main living area is open plan.

The couple wanted the property to have a Mediterranean feel and used tiled floors and the colour white to add to that sense of the home as a retreat from the rest of the world.

Donna and Mark are very proud of what they’ve achieved and feel they’ve created something unique, family orientated, bohemian and functional for their family.

Ella de Guzman and Stephen Ryan  

Ella de Guzman and Stephen Ryan live in an 1800’s home in Dublin City Centre. 

The couple bought the home in 2011 and with it, took on a massive renovation project. The Georgian home had originally been broken into a number of flats and so they set about turning it back into a single dwelling property.

Over the last 11 years they have continuously fixed up the house and renovated everything from the kitchen, bathrooms, landscaping, roof, electrical, plumbing, living room and basement. Ella and Stephen admit that the scale of the project was extensive, but they are thrilled with the home that they’ve created. The couple feel like their home is laid back and somewhere you can put your feet on the furniture, in particular, they love the basement level they’ve created with the cosy cinema room. 

Ella and Stephen, the owners of Siopaella, are collectors, be of it of vintage finds or modern pieces, and use these items throughout the home to create texture and layers

Rob and Janice McConnell

Rob and Janice McConnell live in an architectural new build in Co. Antrim.

The couple fell in love with the site first, which is situated on the Antrim coast with rich woodland and stunning sea views. They wanted their modern home to fit in with its surroundings and so decided to build a single storey home and to use as many natural materials as possible

It was important to the couple that the home was renewable and that they made the most of their location by maximising the relationship between the interior and exterior of the home. The home has panoramic sea, forest and mountain views and so they made sure to create a patio area with overhang so that these areas could be enjoyed all year round.

The couple love the home that they’ve created and how it feels rooted in its location.

Home of the Year 2023 Donna McGrath and Mark Rusk
Home of the Year 2023 Rob and Janice McConnell
Home of the Year 2023 Ella de Guzman and Stephen Ryan