Home of the Year judges were transported back in time for the first episode of series 11 that aired on Tuesday night.
Judges Hugh Wallace, Amanda Bone and Siobhan Lam were amazed as they walked through the door of a renovated 160-year-old old shop in Co. Tipperary, transformed into an eclectic and thoughtful home.
Homeowners Claire and Seán Fox bought this 1860s shop and restored it to all its glory while repurposing it as their forever home by keeping integral pieces of its former structure.
The couple, who bought the property in 2020, worked tirelessly alongside Claire's father, a retired engineer, to ensure that they could keep as much integrity from the shop's former self as possible.
This meant giving a new lease of life to old furniture including dressers, spindles and wardrobes that were inside the property, and even making a backsplash from the copper water cylinder and turning a bunk bed into kitchen cabinets- a well-deserved winner indeed!
Judge Hugh Wallace gushed that this home is the essence of what Home of the Year is all about and gave them a score of 10, saying: 'It has an abundance of clever design, individuality and creativity.'
Amanda Bone also loved the sense of personality and history visible throughout this home and said: You get the sense that everything in this room has had a former life.' However, she felt the layout of the home itself was impractical and scored it a seven.
New judge to the panel, Siobhan Lam, awarded the retro house an eight, and added: 'These homeowners have created a home that is full of fabulous trinkets and is bursting with personality.'
Viewers took to X to share their thoughts on the eclectic property, with one user writing: 'Bye bye sterile bland grey/black and white architectural masterpieces and hello warm, colourful homes. A great start, and home number 1 a well-deserved winner.'
Bye bye sterile bland grey/black and white architectural masterpieces and hello warm, colourful homes. A great start, and home number 1 a well-deserved winner. #HomeOfTheYear
— Eileen O'Duffy (@_eileenoduffy) February 18, 2025
Another user penned: 'What a fabulous house with that step back in time feel to it,' while a third agreed with the judge's verdict saying: 'No. 1 was the best of the week.'
Thankfully, Claire and Sean decided to go for a modern bathroom and not one from the time the property was built- I don't think anyone fancies using an outhouse these days.
The bedroom is just as character-filled as every other room, with the walls drenched in a bright and fun mustard yellow.
The second bedroom in the house is also bursting with colour as the homeowners went for a lime green on the walls- go big or go home as they say.
We are obsessed with the maroon coloured cabinets and the Belfast sink, this home is just oozing with taste.
We cannot wait to see what else this season has in store for us.
