Episode 2
Angela Lee, Cork
Angela, her husband and their children live in this one-of-a-kind home in Cork. For Angela, interiors are her absolute passion. Though they bought the home as a new build in 2000, it is almost unrecognizable to what it looked like all those years ago. Through a combination of structural changes and more importantly upcycling and DIY elements she has created a unique home that gives Angela a great sense of pride.
For her, the biggest thing is to be fearless when it comes to mixing styles and colours and to create something truly unexpected.
Bernard & Liz Lyons, Dublin
When Bernard and Liz first purchased the home in 1986, it was a semidetached dormer bungalow in need of renovation and they spent the first few years doing up each room, one by one. Then, in 2004, they felt very lucky when the other half of the semi – d became available to buy so they could achieve more living space. Years later, in 2023, they undertook a major remodel of the house with the help of architect, Brendan Money of RMA architects to give a new lease of life to the home.
They wanted more light, more indoor plants, sustainability, better flow from area to area, and to increase their BER rating to A2. Their son, Drew, an interior designer, helped the couple to embrace the concept of biophilic design bringing the benefits of green space & nature inside. This was inspired by Bernard and Liz’s passion for organic vegetable gardening where they really feel the benefits of spending time in nature. The family love what they have been able to achieve and how their home is everything they could have dreamed of.
Lynne Clarke and Nick Drew, Wicklow
Lynne and Nick live in Wicklow with their young daughter and dog. Their home, built in 1862, was formerly a nursing home which had been left vacant for nearly a decade. The couple bought the house in 2022 and with it, took on a massive project.
Over the next 2 years an extensive renovation took place where they demolished the entire rear, built an extension, replaced all windows with appropriate period style sash windows whist retaining any original features they could. The family also worked hard to bring the entire house up to a BER A3 rating.
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
