Sometimes it’s the most unexpected TV shows that leave you in absolute pieces, and so it was with last nights RTE Home Of The Year – we were welling up for the entire episode.
Danish grandmother Gitte Trench shared her absolutely gorgeous Wicklow cottage on the show, but left viewers wiping their eyes after she also shared the tragic story behind it.
Speaking on the show, Gitte said how she downsized from her larger family home after her husband has to go into full-time care.
“I found it necessary to sell the home we had and downsize because my husband had to go into care. It’s traumatic. It’s difficult. I started to try and learn how to live without someone you care for and I found the house helped me to do that,” she said.
Gitte explained to the judges how she felt that she didn’t want to bring her Scandinavian style didn’t represent the darkness that was in her life now that she didn’t have her husband at home.
“I could never have a Scandinavian style again because my life has changed. I’ve changed. The whole idea of having white walls and sun pouring like when I was young and we were happy together.
I could never live that way again. You need the light and the shadows and the dark walls in order to feel yourself a bit.”
Her favourite place in the house is the yellow lounge, which Gitte says helps to cheer her up.
“Maybe the future isn’t so bad. Here I am. I can say I’m happy here. I think I’ve made that”, Gitte added.
Gitte’s Wicklow home was named the winner of Thursday’s show and will be entered into the final of Home of the Year – you go Gitte, you go <3
All images: RTE
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