Suzie McAdam: Home Design, Armada House & Life After ‘Home of the Year’

Suzie McAdam, the Dublin-based interior designer, has spoken of the creative freedom she experienced renovating her own Regency-style Georgian home, a project that followed her time as a judge on RTÉ’s Home of the Year. “Some people say I’m like a swan. Floating calmly on the surface even as the legs are going a mile a minute underneath,” McAdam remarked, reflecting on balancing her workload and personal projects.

McAdam’s home, which has featured in architectural publications, allowed her to deviate from the constraints of client briefs. This freedom enabled a more playful approach to design, a contrast to the professional demands of her work. She recently completed another significant project: the revamp of the historic Armada House in Spanish Point. The timeline for Armada House was particularly tight, completed within six months.

Her time on Home of the Year also provided valuable experiences, including a collegial relationship with fellow judge Hugh Wallace. McAdam fondly recalled Wallace’s warmth and wisdom, noting that he ensured the judging panel regularly socialized outside of the show’s demands. “He was wise and comforting. He also made sure we went for dinner regularly for light relief,” she said.

The loss of Hugh Wallace has been widely felt within the design community, with many expressing their sadness and respect. Suzie McAdam described him as “a gent, what a loss.”

Beyond specific projects, McAdam has also voiced her opinions on common interior design choices in Irish homes. She expressed a particular dislike for L-shaped sofas, arguing that they often result in unusable space. “Sometimes they do work but more often they don’t because you have a chunk of the room, and even the sofa, that isn’t usable. So people should consider how to use an L-shaped sofa,” she stated. She also criticized the use of “postage stamp rugs,” advocating for larger rugs that offer comfort and define a space. McAdam also noted a tendency among Irish homeowners to underutilize color and tone, a consequence, she believes, of the country’s often-grey climate.

McAdam’s work extends beyond individual homes, encompassing larger-scale renovations like Armada House, and her design philosophy emphasizes both functionality and aesthetic appeal.