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BBC News
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Artful sanctuary' is 2025 Scottish Home of the Year
A contemporary conversion described as "an artful sanctuary" has scooped the 2025 title of Scottish Home of the House near Pitmedden in Aberdeenshire has been revealed as the winner of the grand finale of the popular BBC Scotland house was built on the natural footprint of the surrounding farm steading and is home to Jessica Zanoni and husband Chris Labrooy, who live there with son Chase, 18, and dogs Enzo and couple said it felt fantastic to see their effort and passion recognised. Hilltop House brings together mid-century and Californian cool style that reflects their own taste and by Jessica and Chris, the home is filled with colourful statement pieces from bright yellow sofas to a pastel pink bathroom. The couple - who run their own art business - were inspired by nature and led by sustainable design principles, filling their home with items which will last for told BBC Scotland News what her first impressions were of the plot that would become their new home."I came up here first without Chris. It was just a dilapidated farm steading. But as soon as I saw it and saw the view I knew I had to get Chris up here." She said the living room was her favourite part of the house."The gable faces east and you see the sunrise very morning," she said."I also enjoy the differences between the aesthetic of the outside and the inside. I think it makes the interior even more surprising."Also, the view. It was the reason we bought the plot and we have really used it almost as a piece of art. It definitely adds to the interior and it changes every day."Chris agreed: "I feel the home's location and east-facing gable give it a special character. I love the sunrises here – so much so that I'm up before 06:00 every morning just to take them in."I work from home so I really appreciate the quality of light throughout the day. It's a very easy going home to live in." The SHOTY judges – interior designers Anna Campbell-Jones, Banjo Beale and architect Danny Campbell - chose Hilltop House from a shortlist of six finalists from across Scotland. Campbell Jones said: "This home managed to feel perfect in every way whilst still feeling like a place where real people live. I particularly loved the way their art was reflected in their choices of colour and furniture managing to create the perfect balance between playfulness and sophistication."Mull-based Beale agreed: "It's an artful sanctuary - every corner tells a story, and it's quiet and charismatic all at once."Campbell added: "This was a home that manages to be both deeply personal and architecturally ambitious. Every corner feels considered, every material honest, every space deliberate and thought through. "It felt like the building was completely in tune with the people who lived there, which is especially impressive for a conversion." The big reveal took place at Glasgow's House for an Art Lover - designed by Charles Rennie six finalists came face-to-face, meeting the judges for the first time as well as getting a chance to cast their eyes over each other's Jessica, meeting the other finalists was a highlight: "We met all of the finalists and had such a great day talking to them. "We have a WhatsApp group now that we keep in touch through. It's easy to get on with people that are like minded and have put their heart and souls into the design of their homes. "So, everything from building and designing and filming SHOTY were all shared experiences for us. It was so interesting to see all their ideas." The 2025 series of Scotland's Home of the Year visited 18 exceptional properties across other finalists were Sandstone Bungalow in Giffnock, Wee City Nook in Edinburgh, The Tree House in Broughty Ferry, An Cala Cottage in Skye and Craigmount near Danny Campbell said: "This year's line-up was outrageously good. From bold conversions to quirky self-builds, every home had its own personality and inspirational touches. "It felt like homeowners across Scotland have taken things up a level. Not just in terms of design but in how fearlessly they made their homes truly their own. It was a joy - and a nightmare - to judge."The eighth series of the property show will begin filming in locations around Scotland later this month.
The National
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Aberdeen farmhouse bags title of Scottish Home of the Year
Hilltop House, built atop a farm near Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire, was featured in the second episode and took home the top prize in the 2025 series of Scotland's Home of the Year, beating out competitors in Edinburgh, Giffnock, Broughty Ferry, the Isle of Skye and Dalbeattie. The home, designed and owned by artist couple Jessica Zanoni and Chris Labrooy, blends styles like California Cool and mid-century modern, and was selected as the winner by top architects and interior designers. READ MORE: BrewDog news, interviews and updates on Scottish pub chain Zanoni said: 'It has been such a lovely experience all around, and to win it has been fantastic. After watching the shows and getting to see our competition in detail, it really must have been a hard decision to make.' Labrooy added: 'It's great to win. The house is a reflection of our tastes and personalities and we are proud of what we have created.' The couple met with other contestants and the judges in Glasgow's House for an Art Lover — designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh — for the finale, where their home won the top prize for its colourful interiors and sustainability-based design choices. The judging panel consisted of interior designers Anna Campbell Jones and Banjo Beale, alongside architect Danny Campbell. Isle of Mull-based Beale called the farmstead "unforgettable", saying: 'Hilltop House just felt alive. The home had been brought back to life in the most bold and beautiful way." The couple received high praise from the judges for the pops of colour incorporated throughout the house (Image: Kirsty Anderson)Jones added: 'I love to see an old building brought back to life, recycled into something new that will last for generations. 'Hilltop House was a brilliant example of finding that balance between history and modernity whilst honouring its necessary function as a country home.' READ MORE: UK to build up to 12 new attack submarines and invest £15bn in warheads Zanoni, originally from California, called meeting the other finalists a 'whirlwind' and said her and husband Labooy's artistic backgrounds were what helped their architectural vision come to life and bag them the top prize. She said: 'Every home is distinctive and unique because of the people that live there. So, our home is different because we are different. With me being from California and Chris being an artist, I think our tastes are just naturally a little bit unique. 'There isn't really anything in our house that we found at shops near us. Everything was specially sourced in a way. '[The view] was the reason we bought the plot and we have really used it almost as a piece of art. It definitely adds to the interior and it changes every day.' Filming for the next series of Scotland's Home of the Year will take place in June, and this season is available to view now on iPlayer.
Scotsman
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Inside the arty and cool property that's won Scotland's Home of the Year
There were so many beautiful properties in the running, it was a tricky one to call, but Scotland's Home of the Year 2025 has been unveiled. The winner of the BBC Scotland seven-part series is Hilltop House - an airy and contemporary converted farm steading that combines a unique blend of arty mid-century style and insouciant Californian cool. This property, near the Aberdeenshire village of Pitmedden, is home to Jessica Zanoni and husband Chris Labrooy, who own an art business, as well as their teenage son, Chase, and dogs Enzo and Dino. The couple's interior design look is a joint effort that was inspired by nature and their sustainable ethics. They have taken home their SHOTY trophy to display in their very stylish open-plan living room and kitchen, which features artfully mis-matched light fittings and chairs. Hilltop House's other winning features included a slouchy mustard yellow sofa, a collection of graphic prints, and a peachy pink bathroom with a line drawing of a sausage dog on the wall. SHOTY judge and interior designer Anna Campbell-Jones said: 'This home managed to feel perfect in every way whilst still feeling like a place where real people live. I particularly loved the way their art was reflected in their choices of colour and furniture managing to create the perfect balance between playfulness and sophistication'. Interior Designer Banjo Beale added: 'It's an artful sanctuary - every corner tells a story, and it's quiet and charismatic all at once'. While the third judge, architect Danny Campbell said: 'This was a home that manages to be both deeply personal and architecturally ambitious. There's a clarity of vision that's rare: every corner feels considered, every material honest, every space deliberate and thought through. It felt like the building was completely in tune with the people who lived there, which is especially impressive for a conversion'. The property qualified as a finalist when it won episode two, North East and Northern Isles, which was screened in April. For the grand final at Glasgow's House For an Art Lover, it competed against five other shortlisted homes - Sandstone Bungalow in Giffnock; Wee City Nook in Edinburgh; The Tree House in Broughty Ferry; An Cala Cottage on the Isle of Skye, and Craigmount, near Dalbeattie. Ms Zanoni said: 'It has been such a lovely experience all around, and to win it has been fantastic. After watching the shows and getting to see our competition in detail, it really must have been a hard decision to make.' Mr Labrooy added: 'It's great to win. The house is a reflection of our tastes and personalities and we are proud of what we have created.' A new eighth series of the popular property show, which is made by IWC Media, will begin filming in locations around Scotland from later this month and applications on the BBC website are currently open to those who want to enter their home in the competition.
