CLARE interior designer Trish O’Brien will be opening up her home to the nation this Tuesday as RTÉ’s popular Home of the Year returns to our screens. Trish will be showcasing her re-designed early 1900s farmhouse, which she has transformed to create a modern family home for her family.
She designed a modern extension that linked to the original farmhouse with Limerick-based architect Shane O’Neill of SONARC. They gutted the farmhouse back to its original state so they could keep the traditional exterior. The extension is very modern with open plan spaces downstairs and has a glass link to the original house. The home has four bedrooms and was a big passion project for Trish. The interior style is bright, modern with a mix of textures.
Her home will be one of three featured in Home of the Year on Tuesday, February 16 on RTÉ One at 8.30pm. The show returns for a seventh series with two new judges at the helm. This year returning judge, architect and founding partner of Douglas Wallace Consultants, Hugh Wallace is joined by two new judges, award winning interior designer Suzie Mc Adam and award-winning architect Amanda Bone.
Hugh Wallace said, “It’s brilliant to have two new judges on board this year. Suzie and Amanda add a different dynamic to the series with their knowledge and experience. Since I started presenting the show I’ve seen almost 150 homes. Every door I open I’m just so surprised – it’s just amazing to see the owners’ passion for these family homes. I found this year the most extraordinary yet as I think that homeowners’ confidence has grown hugely in recent times.”
Suzie Mc Adam said, “It’s my first year as a judge on Home of the Year, I’ve been a fan of the show for many years, so I’m super excited to be a part of the judging team and also to have the privilege of discovering so many different types of homes across Ireland.”
Amanda Bone said, “It was great to be involved as a judge on the show this year because it provided me with an opportunity, which I otherwise might not have had, to visit and spend time in some beautiful spaces which was very uplifting and badly needed! There are a couple of really interesting contemporary new build one off houses in this series and it was a privilege to be able to spend time in these houses and learn all about the ideas behind the designs.”
The series features homes in Antrim, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Down, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Louth and Westmeath.
The seventh series of the hugely popular Home of the Year will champion creativity and showcase individuality and clever design. Over eight weeks, 21 homes will compete for the Home of the Year title in 2021.