Episode 1
Claire & Seán Fox Tipperary
Claire and Seán live in Tipperary in a former shop which they have turned into a home.
The property was built in the 1860’s and they purchased it in 2020, getting stuck into renovations the following year and creating a layout which suited them.
They kept as much as possible from the old building, repurposing dressers, wardrobes and the original spindles from the shop. Claire worked with her dad, a retired engineer, to adapt a lot of the furniture, including making a backsplash from the copper water cylinder and turning a bunkbed into kitchen cabinets.
The couple love how comfortable they feel in the home and are proud of the effort they put into every part of it.
Aidan O’Donovan and Barry O’ Brien, Dublin
Aidan and Barry live in a single storey Victorian Terrace in Dublin that they purchased in 2023.
The couple describe their interior design as restrained maximalist and see it as a curation of their life and travels, mixing both personalities to create a warm, welcoming and colourful home.
They love that their house is a combination of a sympathetic restoration with modern touches and feel that the home is a perfect reflection of them.
Ross and Susan O’Donovan, Cork
Susan and Ross live in Cork with their young son, Jack.
Ross inherited this manor house and farm from his grandfather. The home is 180 years old and has been in the family for over 50 years, and the couple are hugely committed to a sympathetic restoration, right down to the smallest detail. Taking the time and effort to restore many elements such as the sash windows and shutters, the original ceiling cornices and ceiling roses, and the original architraves, doors and rim locks.
When working on the house the couple have made sure to complete works that will secure the home for years to come, so that it can stay in the family for future generations. Get ready for another exciting season of Home of the Year, the popular RTÉ show that celebrates creativity, individuality, and clever design in homes across Ireland.
Series Overview: New Homes and a New Judge.
In its 11th series, Home of the Year will feature 21 stunning homes in the counties of Carlow, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, and Wicklow. From reimagined semi-detached houses to architectural marvels and restored period homes, the series promises to inspire viewers with a diverse range of design styles.
Interior consultant Siobhan Lam, founder of April and the Bear, is joining the judging panel this year. She brings her passion for quirky design, fearless colour, and statement pieces to the table. She joins returning judges Hugh Wallace, architect and founding partner of Douglas Wallace Consultants, and award-winning architect Amanda Bone of Amanda Bone Architects.
Each week, the judges will visit three exceptional homes and score them out of 10 based on individuality, functionality, and clever design. The home with the highest combined score in each episode will advance to the grand final in April, where one lucky homeowner will be crowned the winner.
Tune in and Be Inspired; Home of the Year returns on Tuesday, February 18th at 8.30 pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, and airs every Tuesday for eight weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover Ireland’s most extraordinary homes and gain inspiration for your own living spaces.
Home of the Year is produced by ShinAwiL for RTÉ.
AIB sponsors Home of the Year.
The series airs on Tuesdays at 8.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
starting February 18th 2025.
ENDS
For further information on Home of The Year, please contact Kathryn Mason –
MASONRY PR 087-2627977 or km@MASONRY.IE
NOTES TO EDITORS: – Judges 2025 Series 11
Hugh Wallace MRIAI, MIDI
Company: http://douglaswallace.com
Hugh Wallace is a founding director of Douglas Wallace Architects, Project Managers and Interior Designers, which is headquartered in Dublin (Ireland). A member of the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland, he is also a past president of the Institute of Designers in Ireland and the recipient of multiple industry and consumer awards. Hugh’s deep understanding of both architecture and the customer experience has made him one of Ireland’s most influential designers. Since starting the company in 1980 Hugh has guided Douglas Wallace Architects to become one of Ireland’s leading design and project management firms.
His reputation for creating exceptional living spaces is reflected in his creative vision and bold design. He has been responsible for designing and overseeing projects for numerous clients within the practice including projects and works on behalf of Peter Mark Hairdressing for over 40 years, The Galgorm Hotel & Spa, The Hodson Bay Hotel, Ashford Castle, Brown Thomas Group, PREM Group, The Carlyse Hotel, Antiqua and countless residential, commercial and public buildings in Europe and the Middle East.
He is widely celebrated for his work on award-winning designs and has become a household name as a judge on RTÉ’s ‘Home of the Year’ and the presenter of ‘The Great House Revival’. A regular guest on various talk shows on radio and television, and a well-known face and media personality, Hugh is often asked to take part in panel discussions on planning, design, sustainability and conservation. Meanwhile, his expertise, warm personality, charm and high-octane energy make him a popular guest speaker, brand ambassador and media spokesperson.
Hugh said of the new series “What I love most about Home of the Year is getting to see the incredible creativity, personality, and individuality that homeowners bring to where they live. A home isn’t just about good design—it needs to be functional, with a layout that works, lighting that enhances a room, and an ability to capture views. But above all, a truly amazing home should bring joy. It should be a place that makes people happy every single day. That’s what we’re looking for in Home of the Year—homes that aren’t just well-designed but that have heart and soul.”
“I’m absolutely delighted to be back on the judging panel this year and especially excited to be working alongside the brilliant Siobhán Lam, whose eye for interiors is second to none. And, of course, I’m looking forward to plenty of lively debates with my fellow judge Amanda Bone—we don’t always agree, and we certainly go ‘toe to toe’ at times, but that’s what makes the judging process so engaging. We’re all passionate about great homes, and I can’t wait to see what this year’s competition brings!
This is Hugh’s 11th series as a Home of the Year judge.
Amanda Bone Architect MRIAI
Company: www.amandabonearchitects.ie and www.dta.ie
Architect Amanda Bone worked in Paris, New York and Dublin prior to establishing Amanda Bone Architects in 2000, a multi award winning architectural practice specialising in one-off individual houses ranging from contemporary new build to the refurbishment of protected structures.
Since 2020 Amanda has also been working with DTA Architects, a design oriented practice with particular expertise in high density sites and typological innovation, and recognised as a leading practice in residential design and sustainability across various scales and sectors for both public and private clients.
Amanda graduated from UCD School of Architecture and is a Registered Architect with the RIAI. She is accredited in Conservation at Grade III (RIAI), is a Design Studio and Professional Practice Tutor at the Dublin School of Architecture, Technological University Dublin, is on the editorial board of the RIAI House + Design Magazine and is a Company member of the Irish Architectural Archive.
Amanda believes that our homes provide us with a space to enhance our well-being and quality of life. On “Home of the Year” she enjoys all styles, once executed well, and loves having her preconceptions challenged by the unexpected.
Amanda said” Series 11 was thoroughly enjoyable. Of the five series I’ve been involved in to date, it featured the most competitive, emotional, and challenging final to judge, reflecting the overall high standard of the homes in this year’s competition.”
This is Amanda’s fifth year as a judge on the series.
Siobhan Lam
Company: https://www.aprilandthebear.com/
Siobhan Lam is the founder/director and creative powerhouse behind April and the Bear, one of Ireland’s most exciting interior and lifestyle stores and interior design studios. A champion of quirky design, fearless colour, and statement pieces that make a house feel like home, she has built a brand that’s as much about personality as it is about practicality.
Siobhan’s journey into the world of interiors was influenced by her academic background and professional experience, where she started out working in fashion buying. This experience proved invaluable when she and her husband, Jamie Hughes, purchased their first home. Facing challenges in sourcing unique homewares in Ireland, Siobhan identified a gap in the market and was inspired to create a store that offered eclectic but beautiful homewares. And so, April and the Bear was born!
Under Siobhan’s leadership, April and the Bear has flourished into an inspiring home mecca for anyone looking for beautifully curated furniture, playful art, and unique home accessories that bring a space to life.
Siobhan featured in Series 1 of Home of the Year with her own home.
Speaking about joining the judging panel, Siobhan said “I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of Home of the Year! I love seeing how people express themselves through their interiors, and I can’t wait to celebrate clever and creative Irish homes. I’ll be looking for homes that push the boundaries of design, where the homeowner embraces colour and goes for the unexpected choice”
This is Siobhan’s first series as a judge.