Kildare couple to feature on Home of the Year
Mike and Stephen Farrell-O'Callaghan
A KILDARE Town couple has turned their house standard new-build property into a bold, boutique-inspired home, earning them a spot on the popular RTÉ series .
Stephen Farrell-O’Callaghan, managing director of a long-established recruitment firm in Naas, Clark Recruitment, and his husband Mike, who manages the business alongside him in HR and operations, are set to showcase their creatively designed home on the programme tonight (Tuesday) 14 April at 7pm.
After applying to take part in the competition, the couple learned they had progressed to the next stage, just weeks before filming was due to begin.
“We still had a list of jobs to get done,” Stephen explained. “We had to pull in every favour from contractors and family members to make sure everything was finished in time.”
Despite the pressure, the pair completed the final touches before cameras arrived in October.
“It was nerve-wracking at first,” he admitted, “but the production crew were fantastic and really put us at ease.”
Located in a development where homes share a similar exterior, the couple set out to ensure their interior would stand apart.
“From the outside, every house looks the same,” Stephen said. “But we wanted ours to feel like our home, something that reflects who we are.”
Their vision? A space inspired by boutique hotels, combining comfort with creativity. The result is a home filled with rich tones, layered textures and carefully chosen statement pieces.
The couple embraced risk in their design decisions, particularly when it came to colour.
One standout feature is a downstairs bathroom “drenched entirely in denim blue”, complete with dramatic wallpaper and a chandelier.
Elsewhere, a main bathroom inspired by a trip to Marrakesh features earthy brown tones throughout, an unconventional choice that Stephen noted “works beautifully in reality.”
Their bossy Bichon Frise, Finlay, loves their yellow-coloured guest bedroom, and has managed to take it over for himself. Decorated in vibrant yellow with bold ceiling wallpaper, the space has surprised more than a few overnight guests:
“People wake up and look at the ceiling thinking, ‘Oh my God, I wasn’t expecting that,’” Stephen said.
While the couple initially planned a simpler design, their ideas evolved after moving in.
“You have to live in a house before you know how you want it to feel,” said Stephen. “We started safe, but became more indulgent as we went along.”
One major structural change saw them completely reconfigure their living room layout, blocking up an existing doorway and creating a new one to better suit the space.
“When we get an idea, we act on it quickly,” he added. “Otherwise, it goes on the long finger.”
Creativity has long been central to the couple’s lives. Their wedding, a three-day celebration in Cork, featured themed décor and carefully curated details, an approach they carried into their home design.
Now, as their episode prepares to air, the couple is eagerly awaiting feedback from the show’s judges.
“We were always a big fan of Home of the Year, but particularly Hugh Wallace, and since his passing, I suppose we were the last house to be judged in the series. So it's really nice that we get to see what Hugh, Amanda and Siobhan have to say about it.
“I'm eager to find out how they interpreted the space that we've created.”
They are planning to mark the occasion with friends, hosting a viewing party at home with a few nibbles and drinks.
“You have to do it,” he said. “You only live once!”
Viewers can decide for themselves when the episode airs this Tuesday on RTÉ.
