Hilltop House near Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire, has been named Scotland’s Home of the Year 2025.
After what one judge described as an “outrageously good” line-up this year, four of the six contenders for the title went into the final at Glasgow’s House For An Art Lover with perfect scores of 30 each.
But it was Hilltop House, a bright, contemporary home built on the natural footprint of the surrounding steading, that took the title.
Home to Jessica Zanoni and husband Chris Labrooy, their son Chase and dogs Enzo and Dino, Hilltop House fuses mid-century and Californian cool style, creating a dream home full of colour and character.
Designed 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, are inspired by nature and led by sustainable design principles, purchasing items which will last for decades.
Jessica said being in the competition had been a lovely experience all round. “After watching the shows and getting to see our competition in detail, it really must have been a hard decision to make.”
Anna Campbell-Jones, SHOTY judge and interior designer, 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.”
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Isle of Mull-based interior designer Banjo Beale agreed: “It’s an artful sanctuary - every corner tells a story, and it’s quiet and charismatic all at once.”
Architect Danny Campbell added: “This was a home that manages to be both deeply personal and architecturally ambitious.”
Chris feels 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 6.00 every morning just to take them in. I work from home, so I appreciate the quality of light throughout the day. It’s a very easy-going home to live in.”
In the finale, the 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 homes.
For Jessica, meeting the other finalists was a highlight of the day: “We have a WhatsApp group now that we keep in touch through.”
Chris adds: “It was a really interesting day with a lovely bunch of people. It’s great to see behind the lens of a TV show - how it is made and put together is fascinating.”
The 2025 series of Scotland’s Home of the Year visited 18 properties across the length and breadth of Scotland.
Reflecting on series seven, Danny says: “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 both a joy and a nightmare to judge, he adds.
Banjo says: “Every home was a knockout - so different, so daring, and all straight from the heart.”
SHOTY has been a hit for BBC Scotland at home and with the wider UK audience on iPlayer. The audience has in the past been split 50/50 between Scotland and the rest of the UK, and SHOTY is regularly in the top 15 “most watched” programmes for audiences on BBC iPlayer.
The full seven-part sixth series, made by IWC Media (a Banijay UK company) for BBC Scotland, is available to view on BBC iPlayer.
The eighth series will begin filming from June. For more information on how to enter, please visit bbc.co.uk/shoty
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