Senator David Norris has beaten a host of celebrities and his home has been declared home of the year.
Other celebrities competing for the top spot were Lorraine Keane, author Melissa Hill, 2FM’s Eoghan McDermott, and rugby star Mike Ross.
Judges were in awe as they toured the Georgian home which Norris has spent 40 years restoring.
Renowned interior designer Deirdre Whelan said, “This is just incredible, it’s like a museum in a way. It just oozes character and personality”.
Senator David Norris bought his home in the 1970s and has been a key protagonist in the conservation of Georgian Dublin.
In speaking of his home, David Norris said “I bought the house nearly 40 years ago and the condition wasn’t particularly bad. I’m not a rich man and the restoration process took many years and that was the great adventure. It is lovely to live in a house like this becuase there is the space to display things.”
“My home represents comfort and relaxation and when I open the door I can breathe easy, I am at home”.
Some key features of the home include a grand piano in the sitting room, 17 portraits of Norris which have been gifted to him over the years, a tree that grows up the middle of the 5 storey staircase and countless family heirlooms making this house into a home.
Norris was pleasently surprised to find out he won saying, “I have to say I am so surprised, I have friends who are architects and sometimes they come round and say ‘well, it’s a bit eclectic’, my wonderful secretary she said ‘oh no you haven’t a hope because your kitchen isn’t big and you dont have islands’.”
As celebrity home of the year winner, David Norris was awarded €5,000 to donate to a charity of his choice.
He decided to divide it between two charities, the first being BelongTo and the second being Focus Ireland.
Designer Hugh Wallace added “What’s impressed me is that the owner has spent a lifetime preserving and restoring the house and its imperfections make it perfection. His personality and charisma oozes out of every nook and cranny in this fantastic home.”
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