Scotland’s Home of the Year is revealed: Unassuming croft house in Stornoway that lay empty for 40 years beats an ultra-modern eco-home and Edinburgh period property to take the top prize
- 20th century croft house in Stornoway lay empty for four decades until artist Tom Hickman bought it in 2006
- He spent 15 years restoring the home to its former glory (and adding his own touch) filling it with his own art
- The property beat off competition from modern and period homes to be crowned Scotland’s Home of the Year
- Winner Tom said he is his own worst critic, and was surprised to scoop the award – but also very pleased
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An early 20th Century croft house in the Western Isles has been crowned the winner of Scotland’s Home of the Year 2022.
The two-bedroom house in New Tolsta, Stornoway, on Lewis, which is owned by artist Tom Hickman, beat out properties in Kirkwall, Edinburgh, Kippen, Rhu and Hawick to earn the title, awarded by the BBC Scotland property show.
Before Mr Hickman bought the property in 2006, it had lain empty for almost four decades.
The artist spent 15 years decorating the traditional two-up, two-down, which has a kitchen, living room and bathroom on the ground floor and two bedrooms upstairs, creating a vibrant interior, despite the home’s grey, somewhat unassuming exterior.
The master bedroom in the winning home; the Lewis property, a two-up, two-down, has two bedrooms
The living room in the winning home is another quirky space. The artist has mixed textures, colours, and patterns for an eccentric look
The kitchen in the winning home is filled with traditional items like the stove and crockery, put together in in the artist’s quirky style
The home has an unassuming exterior, and owner Tom Hickman said he was glad the judges didn’t ‘judge a book by its cover’ when they saw it
The three judges – lifestyle blogger Kate Spiers, interior designer Anna Campbell-Jones and architect and lecturer Michael Angus – unanimously picked the property, near Stornoway, as the winner.
According to Mr Hickman, who has filled the house with his paintings and other artwork, which includes embroidered pieces, he was surprised by the win.
He said: ‘Well I have to admit it does bring an unexpected smile – winning is not something I’m used to.
‘I’m certainly surprised, but way down deep somewhere there is a little voice saying ‘At last’. As artists, we are all our own worst critics, so yes, it’s nice to receive praise.’
Inside the winning home: Artist Tom Hickman bought the property in 2006, after it had lain empty for four decades
Winner Tom Hickman, an artist, bought the property in 2006, after it had lain empty for four decades
He added: ‘I was fascinated to firstly see Anna, Michael and Kate’s nicely understated reaction to the exterior, and they did well to not judge the book by its cover.’
The home was among 27 the judges visited during the series.
On top of the winning house, there were eight other finalists, Lorne Cottage, Fort William; Ostro Passive House, Kippen; The Pastel House, Kirkwall; Firestation House, Hawick; The Victorian Terrace, Edinburgh; Pentland View, Elsrickle; Rhu Boathouse, Rhu, and The Old Waterworks, Fife.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk