We're back with our weekly installment of Home of the Year recaps. Last night, judges Hugh Wallace, Suzie McAdams and Amanda Bone visited three very different homes, all in Dublin. The line-up showed us that no matter what your square footage, you can still create a wonderful space with the use of clever design.
House 1
Kevin Desmond's home needed extensive work when he bought it in 2019. Passionate about period homes, Kevin and his partner Joe undertook a big restoration. It was very important to them to protect the integrity of the property and to be sympathetic to its era.
After undergoing an extensive renovation that saw the original features of the 1830s house be restored, the home's heat retention was also improved. The sash windows were replaced and roof was redone. The original timber floors, doors and coving was restored, which give the home its distinctive character.
Interiors-wise, all three judges agree that Kevin's choice in luxe fabrics, antique furniture and extensive art collection conjure up the feeling of being in a Parisian hotel. Not a bad comparison at all, eh!
House 2
Artist Isobel Henihan and her husband Ian Kenny built their house in the garden of Isobel’s family home. They had many constraints as the site is in a protected area, so thankfully, Isobel’s dad is a retired architect who was able to bring their vision to life.
Their home now reflects their love of nature and art, with plants, Isobel's stunning artwork and murals featuring prominently. Her work even inspired some of the colour choices used in the interiors. Lots of earthy, relaxing tones like blue, green and beige are in both the décor and in Isobel's landscape scenes.
With three young kids, the space needs to be calm and both practical and easy to maintain. Their style has evolved with their growing family and a need to create a calm environment in a compact home. Isobel - and the judges- loves how adaptable it is. Everything is moveable and they change the layout regularly to best suit their needs at the given time. The two courtyard gardens off the living area become like bonus rooms, which Suzie likens to a bohemian festival feel.
House 3
Mark O’ Neill’s two-bedroom apartment in Dublin is pretty much all you could want in apartment-living. It feel spacious yet cosy, it's cleverly designed and is oozing with style. Luckily for Mark, it also boasts large windows and a view overlooking trees and a small river.
When he bought the home, Mark wanted a new kitchen, bathroom and floors, but had to settle for painting. He painted walls, doors, the kitchen (units and appliances!), some of the floors, the window frames, and parts of the bathroom, including the shower frame!
Once he has the perfect blank canvas, Mark set about furnishing the home. Being an art director, he carefully selected pieces of furniture and art, and says his friends describe his place as ‘curated but comfortable’. All three judges enthusiastically agree.
Catch Home of the Year Tuesdays at 8.30pm on RTÉ One.
Imagery courtesy of Joe McCallion and ShinAwil.
