Meet this year’s finalists for Home of the Year: From a lavish LA-style apartment block to a downtown hideaway
In the past seven weeks RTÉ‘s Home of the Year has brought viewers inside some of the most innovative homes scattered in scenic parts of the country.
ith this season’s finale, which airs tonight at 8.30pm on RTÉ One, here are the seven homes that made the hard-fought shortlist.
Tony and Imogen McManus, Co Kerry
Tony and Imogen McManus outside their newly built home in Co Kerry with their son Kai. Photo: Joe McCallion
A Los Angeles-inspired home in Co Kerry is the first home in the Home of the Year finals.
The Indo Daily: Through the keyhole – our obsession with home improvement TV shows
Tony and Imogen McManus’ home, where they live with their son Kai, wowed the judges.
Tony has lived in LA for over two decades but moved back to his hometown of Kerry a few years ago, bringing with him some interior design ideas from the sunny state.
The couple found a place and set about building a home with a traditional exterior but a very modern and contemporary feel on the inside.
The family said they love the feeling of light and space throughout their home.
Michelle and Rob McNeil, Belfast
Michelle and Rob McNeil renovated a 1920’s house in Belfast with their sons Charlie and Noah. Photo: Joe McCallion
In the second episode, Michelle and Rob McNeil showed off their renovated home, bursting with colour, imagination and functionality.
video of the day
When they bought the property they undertook an extensive renovation project and as the house is in a conservation area they had to extend and renovate it while preserving the original facade of the house.
The couple said they love the functionality of the family home they have created and how it is stylish yet homey and cosy.
Aoife and Gareth Tolerton, Co Down
Aoife and Gareth live with their children in a new modernist building in Co Down. Photo: Joe McCallion
Aoife and Gareth Tolerton’s newly designed home was built to make the most of the spectacular coastline on which it sits.
The house is an upside down house, so the bedrooms are downstairs and the living area is upstairs.
The layout aims to maximize views and make the most of light throughout the home.
Aoife, who works as an artist and graphic designer, took over the interiors and created a modern, minimalist, clean look, broken up with rustic wooden elements.
The couple said they love the modernist, rustic 1960s vibe that they wanted to recreate in their home.
Martin and Saoirse O’Dwyer, Co. Sligo
The O’Dwyer family from Co Sligo. Photo: Joe McCallion
Martin and Saoirse O’Dwyer’s renovated coastal family home in Co Sligo impressed the judges with its barrel roof extension and light-filled open plan area that makes the most of its front-facing coastal views.
The interiors were designed by Saoirse in an eclectic style, combining the antique furniture in the original house with modern furniture in the new extension.
The couple love their light-filled living space and describe it as “two worlds in one home”.
Sarah Duggan and Ian McNamee, Dublin
Sarah Duggan in front of her minimalist red brick in Dublin. Photo: Joe McCallion
Sarah and her fiancé Ian said when they discovered the property they could have seen its renovation potential.
They removed everything, redesigned the staircase, and raised the ceiling to the top of the roof to let light into the house.
Sarah works in the fashion industry and was inspired to decorate her home in a minimalist style, using clean silhouettes and luxurious fabrics to create a light, airy and calm atmosphere.
Kate and Shane Byrne, Co. Wicklow
Kate and Shane Byrne outside their 150 year old farmhouse with their son Max in Co Wicklow. Photo: Joe McCallion
Kate and Shane Byrne’s 150-year-old Co Wicklow farmhouse wowed the judges with its modern take on the multi-generational home they live in with toddler Max.
The property has been in Shane’s family for decades, but when they moved in in 2018, they ripped through all the smaller spaces and added an annex to create an open living space with lots of natural light.
The family love the sense of history in their home that their son is the fourth generation of Byrnes to grow up there and in time it will be a place for his own family.
“We’ve been working toward our forever home, we’ll never live anywhere but here,” Kate said.
“I wanted it to be a modern interpretation but with classic pieces of furniture that matched the character of the old house.”
Sinead Murphy, Cork
Sinead Murphy’s home in Cork earned a place in the final for its great use of space. Photo: Joe McCallion
Sinead Murphy has refurbished her stylish Cork townhouse which has a sheltered facade and required a full refurbishment when purchased.
Sinead’s father helped with the work and she furnished the property with a mix of 1970s, Scandi and Art Deco furniture inspired by trips to New York. She loves how central and stylish her home is, a spot where she can people-watch but is also away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/meet-this-years-home-of-the-year-finalists-from-a-lavish-la-inspired-pad-to-a-city-centre-bolthole-41506713.html Meet this year’s finalists for Home of the Year: From a lavish LA-style apartment block to a downtown hideaway