Grand Final House of the Year

So, good evening

and a very big welcome to the final of House of the Year 2012.

Our search is almost over and I'm delighted you can join us

for what promises to be a great evening.

It's been an absolutely fantastic series.

The standard really has never been higher.

All 12 houses are now in with a chance

to win the overall coveted title

and one of these bespoke sculptures, by local goldsmith, Diane Lyness.

Also up for grabs is the Individual Merit award,

which goes to the property the judges feel deserves special commendation.

Talking of judges, here they are to present the awards tonight.

Please welcome head judge and internationally-renowned architect, Des Ewing.

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And interior designer to royalty, Suzanne Garuda.

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And from Manhattan, interior designer to pop royalty, Michael Tavano.

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So, they have scored each of tonight's properties

in several categories,

including architectural integrity, interior design, use of space,

circulation and layout, external merit

and overall ambience and appeal.

It's all very exciting.

Without further ado, let's look at the first of tonight's contenders.

Episode one featured two properties in County Fermanagh.

Molly and Jimmy Armstrong's Japanese church house

in Tattykeeran near Tempo

and Richard Cooper's lakeside family home in Enniskillen.

We also had Lee and Kate Jenkinson's contemporary beach house in Cloughey, County Down.

So, what did our judges think of them?

First, it's Molly and Jimmy Armstrong's

Japanese church house in Tattykeeran.

Originally a mid-nineteenth century church,

it was redesigned by their architect son, Nathan, who lives in Tokyo.

It's a fascinating marriage of East meets West.

I've seen nothing like this in Northern Ireland before.

I've seen extensions and renovations,

but the way this is produced is unique.

Its style of architecture is just so simple, but yet harmonious.

The panel loved this house.

The interior of it and especially that little link part just seemed to capture the imagination

and I think it was down to the detail of it and the warmth of the oak.

In the individual categories, it's got to score well for architectural integrity

in that it's just such a simple solution to the issue that's here -

the fact that they're re-using an existing building

is also environmentally very sound.

I think people in Northern Ireland will not all get this house

because it just looks so different,

but if you just spend a little time there

and you get a feeling of the texture and warmth of this building,

I think most people will love it.

I could live in this house very easily.

I love something so clean and so simple.

The Japanese church house is a beautifully simple,

clean solution to extending a listed building.

This house has got to be a contender for the title.

Next, we've got Lee and Kate Jenkinson's

contemporary beach house in Cloughey County Down.

It's a stylish pad that wouldn't look out of place in Malibu,

but it was realised on an extremely modest budget.

When I came to Northern Ireland,

I wasn't expecting homes like I'd been seeing, especially this one.

I really did feel like I was walking into a Malibu bungalow.

I'm speechless and that's unusual for me.

They did this on a small budget.

They paid great attention to detail.

It was really exciting to walk through it

and see how they use the space.

That view was incredible, just brilliant.

This house is really going to score high in a lot of categories.

Lee was really successful with the exterior,

how he messed his materials

and how he used the turnstile in the driveway

to be able to get cars in and out.

The interior details that they put into it were really brilliant,

that open well that went down...

In the final, I think this house will be right up there.

They had a great piece of property, they had a small budget,

and they created this spectacular home.

And last, we've got Richard Cooper's lakeside family home in Enniskillen,

an impressive new-build on a stunning site with breathtaking views of Lough Erne.

Richard's house is a fabulous big family home in a spectacular setting.

It's got space, circulation, great views, good use of materials.

It's got a great backdrop and a great foundation.

It's a real statement home.

It's got that cottage wall that comes into the kitchen

with the stone and it has a real warmth and cosiness.

The kitchen, living and dining area with the snug really worked so well

because of the stonework and also the different levels in that room.

That is a clever use of circulation,

to divide those areas without putting walls or doors in.

There was a real sense of history there.

In terms of the contrast between the downstairs,

upstairs was trying to be a bit more contemporary.

I think Richard has achieved what he set out to do,

which was build a lovely big family home

which has great circulation, use of space,

good materials and fabulous views

and I think it'll stand the test of time.

Wow, some extremely stylish and sophisticated properties there.

Who'd have thought you'd find a Japanese church house in Fermanagh?

Episode one set the bar for the competition extremely high.

However, I can tell you now, for true,

episode two can follow it easily.

It featured Jacqui and Alan Fraser's contemporary coastal house in Ballycastle

Eileen and Pat Hanna's Victorian gentleman's residence in Lurgan

and Vivienne Busby's monochromatic mansion in Portadown.

So, did they impress the judging panel?

Our first house is Jacqui and Alan Fraser's

contemporary coastal house in Ballycastle,

with its stunning views of Fair Head and Rathlin Island.

The house in Ballycastle was so luxurious when you walked in.

It was amazing. Incredible in every sense of the word.

In fashion terms, it's like the Armani suit of design.

The fabrics are good, all of that beautiful design.

I mean, what a location - absolutely stunning.

The back, obviously with all the gazing,

was so right for the setting and really maximised the view.

I really liked the elements that they'd used from the sea,

from the stone around, all those organic colours

they'd brought inside, I thought they were quite brave in that.

I felt it was very sophisticated, very elegant.

I think it reflected them and their personality.

That worked very well for me.

It's absolute luxury living in the most magnificent setting

and I think it is an aspirational home.

Alan and Jackie's house has got to have an amazing chance at winning.

It hasn't put a foot wrong. It's got the absolutely best setting.

It's got really top-class materials, beautiful interiors.

I think it's going to do incredibly well.

Next, one of the few period properties in the competition.

Eileen and Pat Hanna's Victorian gentleman's residence in Lurgan.

Together, they've worked to restore this 19th century home

to its former glory.

This is an original Victorian house

and how do we compare the traditional layout

to some of the very modern houses that we've been looking at?

If we look at the detail on the outside, the fenestration, the corbels,

the timber details, they're still the original pieces there

and that's something that makes this building a little bit unique.

The judges, I think they felt that maybe some of the interior finishes

were good but maybe it could have been simplified

that you just saw the Victorian detail shine through.

It was all there and it was getting a little bit lost.

This is not going to score very well

in terms of its environmental category.

This is part of the issue with these buildings - they cost a lot to run.

The high point for the property was the extension.

The pool, I'm not sure how often that was used,

but it really, for me, was a great attraction on the property.

It's got a kitchen parlour where everything happens

and it's got the formal rooms.

Internally, the plan is pretty much what was there when it was originally constructed

and to find something like that intact is a bit of a find.

Finally, Portadown and the monochromatic mansion of Vivienne Busby.

Her love of natural light has created bright and airy living spaces,

all with as little colour as possible.

As soon as you walk into it,

you understand she loves entertaining and having people in.

This big grand foyer

with the sweeping staircase that I'm sure she makes many entrances down,

automatically, I want to party in there.

There was a black and white theme throughout the house.

It was moderately successful for me.

I wanted more colour, because it is a house that she loves to entertain in

and I wanted to see more.

She made a decision and she stuck with it and to me, that's the most important thing.

I felt like I was in Florida with the big open glass.

This house was full of light.

She also had this kitchen that was a big Eden kitchen.

That black that she used in there,

that's really a strong statement to make.

She managed the project, she did on the interior design,

she worked with the architect.

Bravo, bravo for what she's created.

Indeed, bravo to all three

and amongst those contemporary new-build properties,

it was lovely to see a familiar face with a beautiful period property there in Lurgan.

We're now at the halfway stage. Six down, six to go.

Episode three saw some very strong contenders.

There was Gillian and Dylan Morris's rural new-build in the Clougher Valley.

There was Conn Auld's fascinating, very personal seaside cottage retreat in Portbraddan.

And Drew and Pamela Wylie's contemporary barn near Saintfield.

So, let's find out what our judges thought.

First, it's Gillian and Dylan Morris's rural new-build in Tyrone.

Their dream home, many years in the planning.

It's a well thought out, stylish and contemporary residence,

beautifully sited in the Clougher Valley.

This house is a conundrum.

It's traditional but yet it's got a very modern feel to it internally.

When I approached the house,

I just loved the drive and the way it's set within the trees.

What leapt out to me was the space around the building,

especially the space at the back.

It's connected with the kitchen, it's got a fire in it,

and it's just so sheltered.

It's a room, it's a room for free.

The panel were very keen on the interior of this house.

It had a certain freshness to it.

The circulation in the building seemed to impress them as well

and the kitchen-living-dining area in particular.

Environmentally, it's a new-build which will be very well insulated

and it's got solar panels, so that's something that gives good points.

Its circulation and internal use of space is very economical.

It's a lovely family house and it's just a very good feel to this home.

This house is up against some very stiff competition in the final.

In certain aspects it's very strong.

Whether those aspects are enough to take it through to win, who knows?

Next, we've got Conn Auld's seaside cottage retreat in Portbraddan.

An enchanting and eclectic home, reflecting the life and travels of its owner

and it's even got its own church.

When I walked into Conn's house I was blown away. I wanted to stay.

I wanted to talk to Conn all day

I wanted to find out about everything, every detail.

It's like somebody came along with a little magic wand

and just whisked it out of nothing.

I think the viewers will be fascinated by Conn's house,

because it's so interesting.

He's in every nook and cranny and piece of wood.

I mean, everything about that house tells a story.

It's such an expression of him and his life.

It's like a museum rather than a house.

Every house in this programme has been so different

but Conn's is totally unique.

I don't know how we can possibly compare it to anything else.

Architecturally, there's bits of every kind of architecture in there.

Interior design, who has been more creative?

Who has been more resourceful than Conn?

I think it'll do very well because it is utterly unique.

Lastly, there is Drew and Pamela Wylie's contemporary barn near Saintfield.

An exquisitely stylish home, with state of the art gadgets,

beautiful artworks, even a proper kids' playground.

This house just bursted with joy for me.

It had colour, it had texture, it had style, personality.

It had harmony between rooms,

brought together in a cacophony

of design and brilliance,

living art and refined taste.

Every detail was thought out. It is their style, their taste.

They carried that through to the exterior

by doing these very formal gardens.

Again, they've treated the entire property like artwork

so you're not sure when you're looking at this house

whether it's a piece of modern art sculpture or it's a barn.

It's them, it expresses them.

It's one of the homes that we all really agreed upon.

All these components coming together with the quality of design,

you create brilliance.

I think this house is really going to score high on everything

because it does really have it all.

So, we're down to our fourth and final trio.

This episode featured Myrtle and Leslie Miller's

multi-generational seaside home in Portstewart.

We had Craig and Lesley Jefferson's charming barn conversion in Claudy.

And Eamonn and Louis McMullan's

1930s inspired new-build family home in Omagh.

Let's hear what the judges thought.

This new-build started out as a home to retire to but

as Myrtle and Leslie's house neared completion, they loved it so much, they decided to move in permanently.

Well, Myrtle is no turtle.

This house inside was overwhelmingly colourful, full of life, well done.

Chic, very quiet kind of chic.

Did not expect that from the exterior of this house.

I know I'm saying this,

but I was so surprised from the outside walking in.

The highlight in this house for me

was the spectacular kitchen, all custom or bespoke,

that just worked so well, was very rich looking.

They both wear colour, so it definitely expressed them.

I think all of us judges kind of felt the same way about the exterior -

it needed to be softened more.

We all would have liked to have seen it with some more landscaping done.

It had a very hard front to it.

It didn't match the inside, that was lush and elegant.

I think Myrtle and Leslie's house is going to score very high on the interior.

Their downfall may be the exterior.

I think people are going to be

really surprised when they see what she's done on the interior.

On to the north-west

and to Craig and Lesley Jefferson's country barn conversion.

This fun-filled family home has retained

many of the barn's original features

and now boasts the addition of a round tower,

complete with a spiral staircase.

Craig and Lesley's barn was a real labour of love for Craig.

The couple have put an enormous amount of energy,

they've breathed new life into that building.

I love to see that happening in the countryside.

Craig is a craftsman, so he's done the restoration really well.

The use of salvage is particularly good -

all the old beams and the floors.

I think they could have even played that up a bit more,

they could've made more of a feature of that.

There's a lot of good use of the outbuildings

and I think, because it's a difficult site, it's very close to the road, they had to sort of add on.

An aspect of that is the entrance and staircase,

which I think from Des's point of view, overshadowed the main building,

which should have been the focal point because of the stone.

I liked the kind of playfulness. This was by far the most fun house to me.

It was full of little personal anecdotes which mean something to them and their family.

It had a bar in the kitchen.

These people want a house they can enjoy,

so you have to applaud them for that.

And finally, the last house in the competition,

a 1930s-inspired home in the leafy lanes of Omagh.

Designed for practical, open-plan living,

this is the home of Louise and Eamonn McMullan

and their three daughters.

This family-focused home is so understated

and that, for me, is a strength.

Every house in the road cannot be competing to be king of the road.

The proportion of the windows are very good.

The eaves detail is good and appropriate.

The materials that they've used has got a mixture of textures to it.

It's focused around the large kitchen area at the back

and the circulation issues impressed all the judges.

And then, the connection between it and the garden is something

that is a real feature for me in the house.

The judges liked the fact that elements were thought about,

that the storage is concealed.

With three girls running around, that's important.

Also, the earthy colours that she had in the kitchen

and throughout the ground floor

just seemed to be appropriate for the house.

They've taken the small pieces of family life that are so important

for this type of home and they've thought about it

and they've done it in a very understated sort of way,

and that makes it a successful home.

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We've now seen all 12 of this year's contenders

and it's finally time to find out the results.

To announce the winner of third place,

please welcome our newest member of the judging panel, from Manhattan,

Michael Tavano.

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This house is an extremely sophisticated piece of work.

It simply screams style, style, style.

It's sleek, chic and totally deserves a spot in our top three.

The award for third place goes to

the contemporary coastal home

in Ballycastle,

home of Jacqui and Alan Fraser.

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Congratulations.

Now, I'm hoping that's suitably tasteful enough to find a home

-in that exquisite house of yours.

-It's perfect, as there's so much walnut wood in our home

-and stainless steel.

-Do you think we had you in mind when we designed it?

-Absolutely.

-It's an exquisite house.

-Thank you.

-So many people have said

they're moving in with you next week. Is that all right?

That's perfect.

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

Thank you, Michael. Thank you very much to Alan and Jacqui.

Very, very well done indeed.

Moving on to second place,

and to announce the winner, please welcome

the ever-glamorous Suzanne Garuda.

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This house is a unique and detailed style statement

which totally impressed all the judges,

so much so that it was only beaten to the top spot by one single mark.

So second place goes to...

..the Japanese church house of Mollie and Jimmy Armstrong.

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Very well done.

There you go.

Now, Jimmy, this house was something the judges just kept talking about.

Are you surprised to find yourself so close to the top spot?

-Yes, I am, I have to say!

-And Molly, how do you now feel about the house?

Now to know that something so personal,

something that you worked on with Nathan has been publicly recognised

as the second most beautiful home in Northern Ireland,

how does that feel?

I always knew it was special, Lawrence.

-Hmm. And now you've got the award to prove it.

-Yes.

-Again, I think that's going to look lovely on your mantelpiece.

-Yes!

-Thank you.

-Congratulations to Molly and Jimmy. Very, very well done.

And well done, Suzanne.

Well, there we are. It's getting very exciting, isn't it?

But just before we hear which property has won first place,

we're going to announce a very special prize.

This is the Individual Merit award,

and it's made to the homeowner or homeowners

who the judges feel have excelled in their personal efforts

to achieve their dream home despite challenges or constraints.

Here to announce this year's result

is head of the judging panel, Des Ewing.

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Thank you.

Times have altered very rapidly over the past few years.

We're all feeling a bit less well off now.

A house has once again become a place we live in

rather than just an investment opportunity.

How do we, as designers and homeowners,

create stylish yet practical homes

that respond to the financial restraints

and energy concerns of our time?

The winner of our Merit award has embraced both of these challenges

and bestows hope for the future.

This home was fashioned on a budget,

making the most of a challenging site with testing planning restrictions.

The end result is a building of beauty, distinction,

perfectly reflecting its wonderful location,

and provides no-nonsense family accommodation.

The winner of this year's Merit award is...

..the contemporary beach house,

home of Lee and Kate Jenkinson.

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Well done!

-Well done, congratulations.

-Thank you.

Well done, you two, well done.

This was an extraordinary achievement as far as the judges were concerned,

as that Malibu-style beach house was achieved on such a small budget.

Do you hope that this gives hope to the building industry

that it's not about money, it's about style?

I do hope that. Especially, the reason we were able to achieve that

was the quality of tradesmen and craftsmen

here in the Lower Ards Peninsula.

They're second to none.

And they can do that on that sort of budget.

Kate, are you still playing with that turning circle?

Yes, using it more and more now.

Well, we all want one, don't we?

Well done. Congratulations, you two.

Very, very well deserved indeed.

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Extremely well done, Kate and Lee Jenkinson.

Excellent work. But, now,

onto the moment of moments,

the moment we've all been waiting for,

because the winner of House Of The Year 2012 is about to be announced.

Over to the judges.

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The panel were unanimous that this house should be winning top prize.

It scored highly in every category

and it's a statement of what good design in Northern Ireland should be.

On behalf of the judging panel, it gives me great pleasure to announce

that the winner of the House Of The Year 2012 is...

..the contemporary barn of Drew and Pamela Wylie from Saintfield.

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Well done, look at you!

Nice to see you. Well done, nice to see you.

Well, there we are. There we are.

Well, it was such an incredibly close-run thing this year,

unbelievably close-run. So I think your achievement is all the greater.

What's it like living in Northern Ireland's House Of The Year?

-It's just our home, and we love it.

-Yeah?

-We just love it.

-I heard a dirty rumour

that the reason that clinched it was the play park.

-Well...

-That's the way forward.

-It was hard getting you out of it.

Exactly! Literally, I got stuck in a swing at one point.

But really, very well done

because I think all the judges agreed that it was a real statement

of what architecture in Northern Ireland should be moving towards.

Wonderful integration with the landscape.

It's our home, and it was a team effort. It was ourselves,

the builders, our contractors and subcontractors, gardening,

everyone had some part to play

-and we're lucky enough to live in it.

-You'd be good at making an Oscar speech.

We only missed the makeup artist. Congratulations, well done.

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Many, many, many congratulations, once again,

to Pamela and Drew Wylie, very worthy winners.

Well, that's it. What a show it's been.

I'd sincerely like to thank all of our homeowners for taking part.

I hope you'll agree, each of them brought something special,

something highly individualistic, to this year's show.

And it's given all of us a lot of pleasure over the last few weeks.

Thanks also to our esteemed judges,

the gorgeous Suzanne Garuda,

the even more gorgeous Michael Tavano

and...Des Ewing, head of the judging panel.

And indeed, thanks to all of you.

I sincerely hope you've enjoyed watching this series

as much as we've enjoyed making it

so, from all of us here in Belfast,

goodnight.

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