Click through the photo gallery above to see inside the winning home.
Kildare couple Lorcan and Andrew have been crowned as the winners of Home of the Year 2026, beating out nine other incredible finalists from across the country.
Each week, viewers tuned into the show to see judges Hugh Wallace, Amanda Bone, and Siobhan Lam score three homes on their individuality, functionality, and clever design, with the 10 highest-rated homes proceeding to tonight’s grand final. You can see all the finalists here.
Speaking with RTÉ Lifestyle, homeowner Lorcan said that he was absolutely thrilled with the result, especially given the high-level of competition.
“We were completely blown away,” he insists. “We had never expected to get as far as we did. I felt rather unworthy when I saw all the other beautiful homes, but it was lovely to be, in a sense, with your tribe, with people with a passion for interiors and their homes.”
Lorcan and Andrew’s light-filled abode, which was built in 2005 on family land, stole the show thanks to their practical and stylish design.
The couple are both involved in floristry and horticulture, and as such, the garden is a true love of theirs and very much an extension of the home, with beautiful planting and hidden rooms (such as a tearoom) to make the absolute most of the space.
“When we were designing the house, it was designed with garden in mind, first and foremost,” confirms Lorcan.
As well as building around a long-standing weeping willow tree that had ties to Adrian’s late father, the couple worked to orient the house to make the most of natural light, allowing for both a morning and afternoon patio.
“When we were building the house, we wanted a house that we would use every bit of every day,” he explains. “Lots of light, lots of space, and we use it all.”
The latest season of Home of the Year was somewhat bittersweet as it was filmed just weeks before judge Hugh Wallace’s death, leaving the episodes to stand as a monument to the architect, whose quick wit and undeniable warmth have featured on the long-running programme.
As fans of the show, being crowned as Wallace’s final winners has been an especially moving part of the journey for the Kildare couple.
“Seeing him [Hugh] coming into our hallway and just going, ‘oh wow’, and taking in the tiles and our feature wall… sometimes when you’re in a home, you become complacent and take for granted your own space, so when you see somebody like Hugh compliment it, it’s lovely.”
When we speak, the final is still days away from airing, and Lorcan and his partner have had to keep a tight lid on the news of their win.
“I’ve nearly convinced myself we haven’t won it,” he insists. “I’ve lied so much, at this stage, I believe it myself.”
To celebrate the achievement, the two have invited friends and family to their local pub to watch the final episode – and keep everyone out of their award-winning home.
“It just keeps the house tidy,” he says, smiling.
You can watch season 12 of Home of the Year back on RTÉ Player now.