RTÉ LIFESTYLE: Neville Knott presents the new interior design makeover programme which showcases interior designers giving real homeowners the chance to makeover their home.
After five successful years on RTÉ One, MY SHOWHOUSE gives top rating interior design series SHOWHOUSE a new twist. The popular show, which was reaching over half a million viewers per episode in 2009, will see professional designers create interiors for people who wish to transform their own homes.
MY SHOWHOUSE links up with all kinds of homeowners from first-time buyers who have just purchased their starter home, to young families completing a new build, to homeowners who have lived in their house for many years and feel it’s time to update the tired interior. Whatever the property type, they all want professional help to transform the interior of their home and make it as good if not better than a showhouse.
Neville Knott, SHOWHOUSE’s expert presenter introduces two top designers each week to the homeowners. The designers take the brief and have to create a real life moodboard, which they then present to the homeowner(s). This is a snapshot of what their home could become and based on this presentation, one designer will be chosen to create an interior with the “wow” factor.
The homeowners, working closely with their chosen designer, have only one week to transform the house. On the final day, the house is opened to the public. With brutal honesty, the public view and rate the new interior before answering the ultimate question ‘Would You Live In A House Like This?
Episode 1
Ken and Ann Treacy are hoping to restore Ken’s home place in Drumcondra in Dublin. Ken has very fond memories of growing up as a child here and now that his mum has passed away, they want to bring it back to the homely family setting it once was. Kenneth and Anne are excited to return to the street where all their old friends reside and rekindle memories.
This is an emotional journey for the Treacy’s and there’s huge pressure on the chosen designer to deliver the vision Ken and Ann want to achieve.
Episode 2
Martin & Fiona Casey live with their two children Aoife and Conor in a three bedroom bungalow outside Navan, Co. Meath. On the surface their house looks like it doesn’t need much work but the reality was that it didn’t function as a comfortable family home for any of them.
The décor has barely changed since they first built it and with a special needs son and daughter entering her teens, they felt that it was time to turn their house into a home that all of the family can cherish.
Episode 3
Frank and Neala Keating have spent the last two years building their dream house on Frank’s family farm in Ballyfin in Co. Laois. They’ve been together for 12 years and their two year old daughter Moya is their pride and joy.
The Keatings have a budget of €48,000 to turn the house into a family home and with five bedrooms, it was always going to be a tough task to decorate it. So, that’s why they asked for Neville’s help in finding two designers to take on the task.
Episode 4
Breda Gleeson hails from Co. Tipperary but has lived in her three-bedroom neo-Georgian style mid-terraced house in Terenure, Dublin 6W for the past 16 years.
The interior has remained untouched since she moved in and after years of saving, she is about to realise her long-standing dream of changing the dated appearance and character of her home
Episode 5
Eimear & Dermot Cullen have been married for three years and live in Eimear’s home village of Moycullen, Co. Galway. Dermot, a sales manager from Tyrone has been working around the clock on building their first family home over a two year period.
They’ve now finally gotten to the stage where the inside needs to be completed. Eimear was originally going to tackle the task herself but looking after their one year old Blaithín on top of her job as a teacher meant there was very little time for anything else so they turned to My Showhouse.
Episode 6
Dublin couple Fiona and Robert (25) have bought their first home together in Carpenterstown, Dublin 15 for €295,000.
The property is a 3 bed semi-detached house and they’re looking to bring it up to date with a budget of €23,000.
Episode 7
Teachers Grainne and Liam O’ Neachtain are hoping to transform their one palette abode with a budget of €53,000.
With a very clear vision in theory mind, the big question is, will the chosen designer get a look in?
Episode 8
Stephen and Julieann purchased their 3 bed mid-terrace house in Drumcondra in Dublin . They both fell in love with it’s beautiful Victorian character and are keen to bring it back to it’s former glory.