BBC Scotland crown winner of ‘Scotland’s Home of the Year’ 2025

A contemporary farm steading near Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire crowned Scotland’s Home Of The Year 2025…

Hilltop House near Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire – a bright, contemporary home built on the natural footprint of the surrounding farm steading – has been crowned winner of 2025’s Scotland’s Home of the Year in the finale of the popular BBC Scotland series filmed at Glasgow’s House For An Art Lover. The home beat five others to take the title.

Home to Jessica Zanoni and husband Chris Labrooy, their teenage son Chase (18) and dogs Enzo and Dino, Hilltop House fuses together mid-century and Californian cool style, creating a dream home for all the family, full of character. Designed by Jessica and Chris, the home is filled with colourful statement pieces from bright yellow sofas to a pastel pink bathroom. Chris and Jessica – who run their own art business – are inspired by nature and led by sustainable design principles, purchasing items which will last for decades.

The SHOTY judges – interior designers Anna Campbell-Jones and Banjo Beale and architect Danny Campbell – crowned Hilltop House the winner of Scotland’s Home of the Year 2025 from a shortlist of six finalists found across Scotland.

Homeowner Jessica is thrilled Hilltop House won the coveted title: “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!” Husband Chris adds: “It’s great to win. The house is a reflection of our tastes and personalities and we are proud of what we have created.”

SHOTY Judge and interior designer, Anna Campbell Jones believes Hilltop House is a very worthy winner of the prestigious title:

“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.”

For winners Jessica and Chris – who have their SHOTY winner’s trophy in pride of place in their open plan kitchen and living room – it was lovely to hear the judges’ praise for their home. Jessica says: “I mean who wouldn’t feel joy in hearing the kind things the judges had to say about our home!? It’s nice to know that our house communicates who we are even to complete strangers.”

Isle of Mull based Interior Designer Banjo Beale:

“It’s an artful sanctuary – every corner tells a story, and it’s quiet and charismatic all at once.”

The couple’s artistic abode scored universal praise from all three SHOTY judges, making it truly unique. Banjo says: “Hilltop House just felt alive. The home had been brought back to life in the most bold and beautiful way. For me, the raised lounge – light filled, cozy, characterful, and completely unforgettable.”

Adds Anna: “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. I loved the thoughtful planning and interconnectedness of the spaces as well as the ingenious harnessing of natural light and vistas. The joyfully colour drenched pink shower room was a delicious desert; a surprise amuse bouche in a home where the walls in all the other spaces were calmingly neutral.”

Architect Danny Campbell adds:

“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.”

Chris agrees: “It’s always fascinating to hear different perspectives on our project. The judges clearly understood our goals for the home – and their comments reflected that insight.”

In the finale, filmed at Glasgow’s House for an Art Lover – designed by the iconic architect Charles Rennie MacIntosh – 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.

Danny says: “The level of detailing was genuinely exceptional. Every junction, every transition, every surface had been meticulously considered. What stood out most was how that detail was used to create a rich material palette that was respectful to the building’s heritage while confidently propelling it into a contemporary context. It was clever, layered design that didn’t feel forced — just incredibly well thought through.”

For Jessica, what makes Hilltop House ‘unique’ is hard to pinpoint: “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.

She continues: “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 says: “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 6.00am 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.”

For Jessica, meeting the other finalists was a real highlight of the day: “The finale was a whirlwind of a day! 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.”

Adds Chris: “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 exceptional properties across the length and breadth of Scotland. The eighth series of Scotland’s Home of the Year will begin filming from June. For more information on how to enter, please head to bbc.co.uk/shoty for full terms and conditions.

The series is available to view on BBC iPlayer.