Alison Rowat

2 days ago | heraldscotland.com | Alison Rowat

Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp, Location, Location, Location (Image: IWC Media/C4) Location, Location, Location Channel 4 **** COME on, we’ve all been tempted. It’s that moment at the end of Location when Kirstie asks if you would like help finding your next home. Like it? I’d bite your hand off, mate. Imagine: Kirstie and Phil, Allsopp and Spencer, swooping in like the fourth emergency service, putting in the hard yards and sourcing that dream home no one else has found.

3 days ago | heraldscotland.com | Alison Rowat

River City is being axed (Image: free) Well, that was exciting, wasn’t it? Nigel Farage coming all the way to Scotland just to hide from the press. He could have done that in a cupboard at home and saved everyone the bother. In even more thrilling news, a letter has arrived in these parts. An actual letter from a real person who had taken the trouble to compose their thoughts, find a stamp, and hike to a post box.

4 days ago | heraldscotland.com | Alison Rowat

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.

4 days ago | heraldscotland.com | Alison Rowat

Chris and Jessica from Hilltop House, Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire - finalists representing the North East & Northern Isles in Scotland's Home of the Year 2025 (Image: PHOTOGRAPHER: Kirsty Anderson/IWC Media/BBC Scotland) Anyone switching over to the grand final of Scotland’s Home of the Year would have caught the last few minutes of a Panorama cheerfully titled, “Is Britain broke?” Not in Scotland, mate.

6 days ago | heraldscotland.com | Alison Rowat

Since its arrival in the BBC Scotland schedules in 2019, SHOTY has become an audience favourite for its mix of design chat, architectural observations, and the banter between Campbell-Jones and fellow judges Banjo Beale and Danny Campbell. This year has seen standards reach new heights, with an incredible four out of six finalists scoring top marks of 30. The remaining two were a whisper behind at 29.