It's that time of year, folks. Our beloved Home of the Year returns to our screens for its fifth series. Over the next eight weeks, a total of twenty-one homes across Ireland will compete for the prestigious title of 'Home of the Year' in 2019.
Making the tough decisions will be our three expert judges; design legend Hugh Wallace, renowned interior designer Deirdre Whelan, and award-winning architect Peter Crowley.
Each week, the team will dive into three very different properties - you can click through our gallery above for a glimpse of tonight's homes.
New series: Judges Hugh Wallace, Deirdre Whelan and Peter Crowley examine 21 properties as they compete for the title of Home of the Year. Starts Tuesday at 8:30pm on @rteone pic.twitter.com/HEnzdH424U
— RTÉ (@rte) February 17, 2019
We caught up with judge Hugh Wallace ahead of tonight's show to discuss Irish people's love for interiors and their growing confidence in decorating their own homes.
"I think the quality of houses on the show just keeps getting better and better," says Hugh. "And I think that shows that people are looking at the many books and TV shows on houses that are out there - and I think that's giving them the confidence to go off and do their own versions of it.
"I think Instagram and websites like that are inspirational but sometimes we need assistance in getting colour right or learning how to combine different colours - that's what those kinds of websites are great for but you need to consult an interior designer or an architect depending on the work you're going to do.
"There are different levels. You can turn around to an interior designer and buy a 'half morning' to go through some ideas - it depends on your competence. They can assist you in the right direction, it might cost you a couple of hundred euro but it would be a couple of hundred euro well spent if you need that help."
How dreamy is all the natural daylight in this home? 🔆#HomeoftheYear pic.twitter.com/7mxLWxGwP1
— RTE One (@RTEOne) February 19, 2019
On tonight's episode...
Robin Wilson lives with his wife Julie and their daughter Zara in this architectural self-built home in Down. The home is locally known as the ‘Goldeneye’ house.
Robin and Julie fell in love with the idea of the views out over Belfast Lough and their architect designed an upside-down home to capitalise on the view creating a loft style living area above the bedrooms.
The contemporary concept is carried through to the interior with an open plan living, dining and kitchen situated at the top of the house and a viewing platform above it.
Chára Nagle lives with her partner Alan Crosbie in a horseshoe-shaped converted stable in Dublin with their family.
Chára, an artist from Wicklow has owned this home since 2006 and has been living here with Alan for the past four years. The building dates back to 1674 and was originally part of an estate.
The couple renovated the home to make it more conducive to modern family living. Their aim was to make it a modern-day gingerbread cottage (hence the pink exterior).
Dee Noone and her husband Evan live in an 1800’s cottage with extension in Co. Galway with their two dogs.
Dee, who works as a window display merchandiser, had been living in Dublin for eight years when she and her husband decided to move back to Galway. They bought a small cottage in 2012 and lived there for four years before renovating and extending in 2016.
The old cottage was modernised and they wanted to build a new extension that had a completely different feel to the existing cottage.
Watch Home of the Year every Tuesday on RTÉ One at 8:30pm.
