‘Home of the Year’ final: The seven properties vying for title, as Hugh Wallace predicts ‘full day of violence’

The finalists meet each other and talk about their design decisions but over in the deliberation room, things are less civilised between the judges.

“It’s a full day of violence,” judge and architect Hugh Wallace said.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 9th April 2024

According to Wallace, it’s as much a competition between himself and his fellow judges, Sara Cosgrove and Amanda Bone, as it is between the homeowners.

“It’s like playing chess, you have to be willing to lose your rook so that you can win the game,” he said. “We all have our favourites, and the object of the exercise is to make sure your favourite house wins, and you have to do that sometimes by losing another house.”

​For Wallace, any keen interior enthusiasts or home-design fanatics thinking of entering their own home in next year’s series should make sure their own personality shines through.

“Them really showing their personality, that’s what we’re looking for. Somebody who’s not afraid to express themselves,” Wallace said.

Old School House, Co Cork

Described as “magical” and “characteristic”, the first home that got through to the final was Ian Humphreys and Sarah MacCarthy’s Old School House, built in the 1900s.

The work the couple put into the home left Amanda Bone lost for words when they first entered the main room of the house, previously the old school room.

Upcycling interior was a theme found throughout and the owner’s art studio impressed all three judges, almost bringing Bone to tears. The home received an overall score of 27 out of 30, sending it through to the final.

The Gate Lodge, Co Tyrone

Built in the mid-1700s, owner Peter Carvill bought the Grade 2 listed property in 2022. Mr Carvill wanted to embrace the home’s history while putting his own stamp on it, with a cottage-chic interior and colour scheme inspired by nature.

The homeowners’ mixture of old and new stood out and decisions such as a dining nook and location of the bath impressed Wallace, Cosgrove and Bone.

All three judges scored the home a nine, a rare moment when they agreed on the programme.

The Old Rectory, Co Derry

The 250-year-old rectory was everything couple Kieran and Olivia McDaid wanted when they returned to Ireland after living abroad.

Having restored almost every room in the house, the couple didn’t hold back when designing it to their own style, with unique wallpaper and paint colours. Despite the “austere” facade, the homeowners’ personality was front and centre for the judges inside and was therefore given a score of 25.

“To me this is the perfect home,” Wallace said on the show.

The Modern-Contemporary Cottage, Co Waterford

When Craig Dee and Matthew ­O’Rourke bought the semi-derelict 1920s farm labourer’s house in 2018, the renovation project was a big task.

Six years later, the home is now a contemporary property with a modern extension. The homeowners embraced their love of hotels and travel, which inspired their interior choices.

With views of the surrounding landscape, the judges scored this home 27, which secured its place in the final.

The Reimagined Bungalow, Co Offaly

The complete renovation of the 1950s home in Co Offaly meant that just two of the original walls were kept during construction.

The homeowners, Rebecca and ­Eamonn McMackin, wanted a minimalist, Scandinavian feel to their interior design and used subtle but warm colours to achieve this.

Judges were impressed with the light in the home and the generous open-plan space in the back. Wallace loved the home so much, he scored it a 10, giving this home an overall score of 27.

The Terraced City Home, Co Dublin

The red-brick terraced home in Dublin, though smaller than other finalists, was “an example of clever design through to the final”, Bone said.

The hand-finished feel by owners Shane Murray and Marty Campbell was a positive addition and showed that all-important personality which made it special.

Cosgrove awarded the home a 10 and described it as interesting, bold and daring. The home went through to the final with a score of 28.

The Modern 1920s Home, Dublin

It was the deceptive nature of Eugene McCarthy’s home in Dublin that the homeowner liked best about his house. With a 100-year-old facade, the interior had a modern redesign and clever extension.

The judges all noted the attention to detail in the home and optimal use of space in the terraced property.

The judges were all in agreement that the home was worthy of a place in the final, and awarded it a score of 27.