Inside the 1970s Limerick property that won Home of the Year 2025

Over the course of the season, judges Hugh Wallace, Amanda Bone and Siobhan Lam visited 21 of the country’s most extraordinary homes on a mission to find the finest space to be crowned Home of the Year 2025.

With seven finalists to consider, it was Amy and Eoin Martin’s modernised 1970s Limerick home that reigned supreme. The couple fell in love with this ’70s-built property and set to work completely gutting and renovating the space, bringing it from a D3 BER rating to an A3.

Essentially flipping the space upside down, the main living room and kitchen are located on the first floor, making the most of their spectacular garden and natural light. The open thread stairs are another light-boosting feature, allowing you to see right through to the back garden as soon as you set foot inside the front door.

As Hugh Wallace says, “All these homes are about love, and when you walk through the front door, you get that.” “When you enter these homes, you understand what they’re passionate about, and that’s worth celebrating,” agrees Amanda Bone.

For homeowner Amy, that’s making, sewing, and crafting. The home is a passion project for her, an interior designer, who loves having the space to unleash her creativity and is always in the middle of a project in the house. Her green fingers have left their mark across the entire home, with plants and greenery dotted in every corner.

The exterior of the home is sleek, veering towards a contemporary modern aesthetic, and while the space maintains a strong physical connection to the outside world, it absolutely buzzes with fun and personality.

As judge Siobhan Lam puts it: “This home radiates joy and it’s a perfect representation of the homeowners; you could see their love and dedication to this home everywhere. From the warm, vibrant colour palette to the delicious retro details throughout, this home ticked all the boxes.”

The tones of the ‘70s—reds, oranges, browns—and bold patterns are seen throughout, a vibrant colour palette that’s embraced across each and every room. There are retro sideboards and console tables here and there, and the same flooring connects the entire home.

Details adored by the judges include the expertly designed sliding timber door leading to a hidden away sitting room, and the interesting touches such as heavy mustard curtains to be drawn in the bathroom. The homeowner’s favourite perch, however, is on a chair overlooking the serenity of the back yard, allowing for a little reverie amidst the buzz and thrum of day-to-day family life.

“We’re thrilled to have won the Home of the Year,” say homeowners Amy and Eoin. “Our home is very special to us, and we’re just delighted the judges enjoyed it as much as we do.”

Browse through our gallery below for a full virtual tour of the winning RTÉ Home of the Year 2025 property.