Home of the Year is set to return to our screens on February 18th and we couldn’t be more excited.
Not only will we get a gaggle of glamorous new gaffs, we also have a brand new judge.
Siobhan Lam has joined the judging team alongside Hugh Wallace and Amanda Bone for series 11.
The interior consultant and founder of April and the Bear, will replace previous judge Sara Cosgrove. And she will bring her own love of quirky interiors to the show.
VIP Magazine caught up with Siobhan ahead of the show returning and what she’s looking forward to on the show.
What was your initial reaction when you were asked to join the panel on Home of The Year? Was it an instant yes, or did you have to think about it?
To be honest, it was an instant yes for me! I was so surprised to get the phone call, but I was absolutely delighted. It’s such a fantastic show. Any opportunity for me to poke around Irish homes, I’m in 100 per cent!
What is something, in your opinion, that elevates a home’s design? What do you look for when you’re viewing houses?
I think one of the most important things for judges when we walk into a home is clever design. How does the design of this home make my life better as a homeowner? How does it make life easier? That’s one of the most crucial aspects for both a judge and anyone with a home. But beyond that, as a judge, I was particularly looking for the homeowner’s personality. I wanted to walk in and immediately see their individuality shine through. Nobody wants to step into a super generic showroom, we want to see their individuality! I also loved seeing the creativity of the homeowners. So, those were the key things we were looking for when we entered a home.
Following that question, are there any common mistakes you see homeowners make that prevent their home from reaching its full potential?
There is one thing, lighting! One very common mistake I see, especially in a lot of new homes, is an overuse of spotlights. There’s no need for so many! Lighting needs to be carefully considered because overhead spotlights are not the solution for every room in the house. Give me some ambient table lamps, give me some secondary lighting! It can really change the mood and atmosphere of a space. You could design the most gorgeous living room, and then harsh spotlights could completely ruin it. So I would say, always consider lighting carefully.
In your opinion, what are the key things that make a house truly feel like a “home”?
For me, and this is based on how I have my own home and how I run my business, design for yourself. Trust your gut and only fill your home with things you truly love. Don’t think about anybody else. Don’t worry about your cousin who visits once a month and hates pink. Don’t think about your neighbour who might disapprove of your leopard print curtains. None of those people matter, it’s your home! Embrace what you love because your home is your haven. It should reflect you (and your family) alone. Fill it with what makes you happy, and you’ll be happy in it.
Sustainability is becoming a huge focus in design. Do you think homeowners in Ireland are embracing more eco-conscious interiors?
Yes, absolutely. We have to consider these things. Building and cosmetic work on a home have a huge impact on the environment, so we need to integrate sustainability into how we live and decorate. This season, we visited so many homes that incorporated second-hand furniture. Homeowners were out there sourcing unique older pieces and reintroducing them into their homes in creative ways. It was so inspirational. Wait until you see the episodes, there are a couple of houses that did this beautifully, but one in particular blew me away. Every single room had second-hand furniture, vintage pieces, or reclaimed wood. It was absolutely brilliant. Beyond sustainability, from an aesthetic perspective, it just looks incredible. I love that raw, industrial, and authentic look.
Have you noticed any shifts in how Irish people approach interior design? Are there any new, common themes?
I don’t really follow trends, I’m all about following your heart and choosing what you love. But in terms of our clients, I’ve definitely noticed a shift in the past few years. People are becoming braver with their design choices. In the past, many clients would opt for the safer option. Now, they’re more daring! They’re going for darker colours and wild prints, things they wouldn’t have considered before.
Is there a particular design trend that you’d love to see make a comeback?
I don’t know about a comeback, but one trend I’ve been obsessed with for a while is colour drenching. It’s when you fully embrace a single colour in a room, on the walls, ceiling, floors, even the radiator. It creates such an incredible, atmospheric look. It’s a bold move, but it makes a huge impact in a space. I think it’s such a cool trend.
You’ve built a career around beautiful interiors. What originally sparked your passion for design?
It all started when my partner and I bought our first home. We didn’t intend to get a fixer-upper, but that’s what we ended up with. So, we started renovating it ourselves, and I just became completely obsessed with interiors, finding cool furniture, unique home accessories, everything. At the time, believe it or not, there weren’t that many options in Ireland, especially if you wanted homeware that wasn’t generic. We didn’t want just functional pieces; how it looked and how it performed were really important to us. That’s when I realised there was an opportunity in Ireland to introduce a homeware store that offered something a bit different. And that’s where the idea of April and the Bear came from.
What is one item from April and the Bear that you think every home should have?
That’s a tough one! I could talk about this all day and even make you an Excel sheet. But our Bestseller, the one piece that people have loved from the moment we started selling it, is our Grá print. “Grá” means “love” in Irish and it was actually a commission I requested from an artist years ago, just for myself. When I saw it, I thought, this is the most intensely beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. So, I asked her if we could sell it in the store, and she agreed. Since then, it has become such a favourite. Now, it comes in multiple colours, we have it on a jumper, it’s just a simple yet meaningful sentiment that really resonates with Irish people.
If you could give some advice to someone designing their own home, what would it be?
Apart from coming to April and the Bear? [Laughs] Prioritise what’s important to you. When you move into a new home, no matter its condition, you’ll need to make changes. The key is to sit down and figure out your priorities. Where do you spend the most time? Are you constantly in the kitchen? Do you work from home and need a desk setup? Thinking about how you actually live will help you decide which areas to focus on first. Everyone has a budget, some big, some small, but you need to plan where to allocate your budget monthly or every six months. Breaking it down will give you peace of mind and help you make the best decisions for your space.
Do you and your fellow judges always agree, or have there been moments of serious debate over a home?
Oh, absolutely! We’re all so passionate about homes and interiors, but we come at it from different perspectives. Amanda and Hugh are both architects, Amanda has an amazing eye for architectural integrity, and Hugh loves architectural drama. Meanwhile, I’m all about colour and personality. We definitely have our own viewpoints, and sometimes we really disagree, but that’s what makes it work!
What’s something about judging Home of The Year that surprised you, maybe something viewers don’t get to see?
To be totally honest, I was surprised by how passionate I got in some of the homes. There were certain homes that I developed such a soft spot for, and I didn’t want to let go of them, I was shocked at how attached I got to certain homes. Really, you’re being let into someone’s personality, you get to know the owners without meeting them. Some houses didn’t make it as far as I wanted, which was tough, but I can’t wait to see what the viewers think!
Home of the Year returns on Tuesday, 18th February, at 8.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
