I wanted to write about the win on Scotland's Home of The Year Christmas (22). Getting involved in Scotland's Home of the Year Christmas programme was never my plan! I always wanted to enter the main programme when we had finished all our renovations, and I had that pegged in 2025.

As with most things, the plan changed! Or is there ever really a plan?!

How we got on the show

When we moved here to Easter Shian (2020), we had no furniture and had bought the house sold as seen, which had some - well, a lot of stuff in it- that's a different story as we found the oddest of things. It was as though the previous owners had just up and left- I digress. Ultimately, I wanted our stamp on the house and to restore its 1705 beauty. We found Jefferey's Dunkeld the most amazing interior shop, and we became good customers, which was very easy as they had so much of our style. That's the start of the #shoty story- Rene had been contacted by the BBC and had shared our details (after asking us, of course!). Would that be ok? I didn't think through my answer at all and said yes!

A day later, we got an email asking if we would be interested and if I could send some photos. 

We got asked if we were interested in being assessed to be part of the show, which meant being interviewed meeting Carlin, the director and Bonnie, the researcher, to see if we were suitable or even relevant for the show. I also had to have at least one room Christmassy for a potential visit a week later in October. Whilst on the call, I was already planning which room, and instantly, my head went to the hall - the smallest room of the house- which seemed less work and meant nothing lost if we didn't get through.

Have a look 

When the kids were growing up, Christmas was usually after December twelfth, as our middle child G's birthday is on the 11th, so it was always a December plan, and as a parent, Christmas is a thing, right? A big thing, we had many little traditions like making Christmas Eve pillow case stockings with the kids drawing their name labels on them so Santa would know who was who; we had a Disney tree on which we collected personalised baubles for each child, the star "putter upper" on the top was always a row. I would only wrap all the presents on Christmas Eve, sitting up till 2,3 a.m. One year even wrapped the bedroom doors in wrapping paper so they could burst through. What I am sharing is Christmas was a thing.

The Christmas of now has been very different. With five adult kids, families and spouses, and partners of their own, we have not been "doing "Christmas much since moving to Easter Shian (2020, well, really since 2017 when we moved to Mallorca), as they now with their plans and its also such a dilemma and pressure so we float to not add to what pressure may exist for them. We have substituted the time with our work travel, client work or going away plans. So when I got an email a day later saying they were very interested and wanted to do a recce, which meant I had five days to pull something together by October twenty-eighth, Christmas was starting very early; indeed, a TV show timeline adds a new focus for sure as Christmas starts early for TV! 

The theme

I am an all-or-nothing person, and 2022 Christmas is an excellent example. I needed a theme because it could help me plan if we got chosen, and I could manage to do a single room with a theme, too. I started doodling my ideas out. Also, I could actually work out what I would talk about, "my Christmas style" because I was sure they would ask me, and at this point, I didn't have a clue! It needed to be something in line with the house style I came up with - Wild, Foraged & Found? 

What was I envisioning with this- lots of foliage, that dried look and greens, lots of types of green, tress lots of trees, browns, heathers, bracken, ferns, natural colours, loads of texture, branches and foliage everywhere, oodles of white lights (never been a colour light person), festoon lights and a causal look, nothing traditional my desire to by atypical shines through in what id o and also can easily get sucked into a trend so I actively avoided searching the internet as I wanted it to be, well Debbie and not what others did- which of course nothing is really new when it comes to interiors it is all a mash-up of something else like a recipe. I wanted a rustic, even historical feel. The house was built in 1705, and that was the start time. They would have only had naturally found decorations or homemade, and that was what I wanted. 

To start my theme, I got to do one of my favourite things- walk- a big walk, a big basket and see what I could find first to stimulate my mind into what I would make.

The hallway, like most, is small- 8ft x 4 ft. It has a console table, two stools, and a boot rack, so for me a good start. Before I started, I brought loads of logs in and added them under the console - instant Yule!

 Doing the hallway

The recce

The visit was initially quite unnerving. The foreboding of being assessed in your own home felt personal. I have done the TV show thing before (The Taste), and it felt so different as then I wasn't at home, not in my personal space. This felt different; I was now being judged, our home, our space, and it felt even more challenging. There was no indication at the visits if we would be put into the final 5, and they had a week of other home visits, so there were many more homes to choose from, too. Then we had to wait to find out. I saw a couple of challenges: I was working away in the USA from October 31 through to November 19 -would this affect our chances of being selected? Also, when would it be filmed and how much time would I have to decorate the whole house. My brain was in overdrive- thinking, what the hell would I do with no decorations, and if was it even possible to decorate when I returned? There was not much I could do other than wait and plan - ultimately, it gave me a boost of Christmas spirit, which had been lacking. 

You are selected 

Lovely words to hear, and when we got called to say we would love you to be part of the show, I was really pleased. If I wasn't already in overdrive, I was now, except I was in America working and couldn't do anything until I got home, which was three weeks later!

We worked in America for 12 days in early November, and we got a call asking could be available for filming on November 19 – the day we were supposed to return! Now remember, I'm all or nothing, so of course, I said (of course I did )yes, and we changed our USA working plans by two days and got home 17th, which I was hoping was enough time to decorate a whole house and make everything I had thought I wanted to – all in!

Now, whilst in the US, I was, of course, planning and buying- confession (and reality check), only some things were wild foraged. It was in my realm of found - I found it on the internet! I focused on everything I could reuse if I couldn't make it; at least I could stay committed to my theme that way. I bought hops, lots of them- I mean lots of them four huge boxes; I bought lots of kraft paper, string, twine, and cowbells! I had a plan, and I was going for it. 

I now needed more time; landing back on the 17th with jet lag and filming for the 19th really was silly, and I was setting myself up to fail, so over emails- we got extra time, thankfully. The team helped us move the filming, and it was agreed they would come on November 21, so this now felt attainable. I worked a lot doing the house, each day, room by room. I enlisted help from friends and the vital support I got from Rene and the team at our local Interior store, Jefferey's Dunkeld- I actually raided the store- literally! I had got to day two of my decorating and realised I needed more stuff- I could only make so much. So, Jeffreys became my go-to for the additions I wanted to add.

It was a joyful, albeit sometimes self-doubting, process and a tremendous learning- I can do this, and my style is likeable. My attitude of can do even when I do doubt myself- the focus is on you and your style. It can be the marmite, of course, for some, and my interpretation of Christmas had evolved from when the kids were little from a Disney tree and colour to a much more natural, make-it-up-as-you-go long style!

November 21- On the day of the filming

The day arrived, and the house was full of the BBC team, camera lights and sound and the rest of the team. There is a lot of stuff, things get moved, and people have opinions about your house, which is odd! They set out by telling you the plan- there is a couple of hours of set up, lights, etc, and then we would be interviewed, asked questions, choose the star spot, and then had to leave. We couldn't be near the house as we were not allowed to see the judges, or they see us- removes any bias or assessment, which makes it a fair judge call.

On reflection, when we watched it, so much was cut out. The edited version is funny as they film so much stuff, and so much isn't shared. The team made us feel so comfortable, and it was fun doing the recording, answering the questions, and sharing our real views of Christmas, a blend of octane full-on small children style to growing into quiet adult parent-only Christmases. Dave and I talked a lot, so there was plenty to go on the cutting room floor! After we had done the sections, we had to leave our house for at least 2 hours, they said, and they would call us to let us know when to come back so the judges could arrive, assess, judge, experience, and film their sections for the show. 

We thought this would be a couple of hours it was nearly 5 hours! We had no idea, yet we convinced ourselves this must be a positive sign, then talked ourselves out of the whole as our "feel" and look of Christmas is very different. The process was the judged visit. You cannot be near your house or see the judges- the secrecy is fun. Then, if you're a winner, they return and film again.

Confession- we came back after 4 hours; we were impatient, plus, by that time, it was pitch dark. We knew we couldn't go back to the house as we could see all the lights on and the minibus, cars and vans still there, so we parked up behind a vast tree, lights off, engine on like a stake-out; we thought it was amusing anyway! Hidden out of sight and just waited. We did see the blacked-out minibus leave; alas, we didn't see the judges. 

Confession- we came back after 4 hours; we were homebodies and impatient, plus, by that time, it was pitch dark. We knew we could go back to the house as we could see all the lights on and the minibus, cars and vans still there, so we parked up behind a vast tree, lights off, engine on like a stake-out; we thought it was amusing anyway! Hidden out of sight and just waited. We did see the blacked-out minibus leave; alas, we didn't see the judges. 

Winner winner, or were we?

They told me we could be a winner. I answered the phone which I answered whilst I was on the loo. TMI, I am aware - yet why did I answer? (I kid you not!- you may also ask why I had my phone in the bathroom anyway?!?) The number came up as unknown- ever get that giddy stomach I did at that moment- could we have been picked? Yep, it was still, at this point, still uncertain. I was asked would be home on Monday, November 28, so they could check if I were around in case they turned up! The weird thing was nothing was said to say you have won; it was only alluded to. They wanted a surprise at the door moment.

It was a super short call, and I remember vividly thinking - wow, is this real? I was now confused as they hadn't said we had or had they, the vagueness and the excitement. I then started questioning myself- what the hell had just happened?

I decided to believe we could have won and felt humbled and gobsmacked that my randomly themed concept of Christmas had come together, and I was now potentially a winner of (another) TV show.

We still knew nothing about the other houses, which were under wraps, and we got told we would find out on the TV show, too! We had to wait until the official BBC announcement, to be announced several days later, the Saturday before the airing on the Monday of the show before we could. Then we had a little flurry of media attention and a few telephone interviews sharing our story- all very gentle, kind and low-key.

Funny moment- the secrecy of it all or not! We live very remotely, and it's also impossible to visit our house without anyone in the glen knowing. Our entrance is hidden, and through a farm, so you can imagine the rumbles we heard when several vehicles and a blacked-out minibus returned!  

The judges visit

Now, spoiler if you didn't know or worked out by now - we did win! The actual day of the judge's return was a fun one. The filming was fun, and we got a chance to chat and relax in our home with them. The arrival at the door was done about five times, so surprise is lacking at one point - I always thought I was an actress, yet I seem to differ on the TV show! The opening of the door, smiling and then repeating means the smile wanes slightly, and the awkwardness increases! When you watch, you will see them walking into the house, and we all look a tad uncomfortable! It is also so fast the show is short, and this is a snippet of several hours at the house, and little footage is used that, you see. The handing of the trophy was lit up, and they had stashed it secretly before they came in, so I didn't see it until they presented it, which was also fun. One fun note is that we had to hide the trophy until the show aired just in case someone blabbed, so we did!

At this point, my utter disappointment in all present- we had been outside taking photos in the sheeting rain, and at no point did anyone say - brush your hair or check your jumper; you've got stuff all over it. I look ridiculous, out of control hair and also a wild look on my face- whatever that is about, I have a look of being permanently startled. Noting that this is forever in all the photos. Have a look, and please check out Dave’s footwear- only Dave! You will see- not my best look, and it's on all the footage. Anyway, vanity metrics aside, the afternoon they were here was lovely- they are genuinely nice people; they chatted and shared stories and told us how wonderful our house was and how unique it was. Micheal told us how he got emotional in the dining room, and Banjo and Monty got on. Anna was fabulous in style and sharing her thoughts, which I gratefully received. We all sat together and chatted, and nobody wanted to leave. It was lovely- nothing hugely exciting to report, nice people chatting and sharing their joy of our home- which is rather flattering.

Screening party

On the day of the airing, we had a little party with our lovely friends on the day it aired, and it's a much-loved part of the whole thing.

Here's a sneak peek.

The party was fun, how defensive our friends were. They didn't know we didn't tell anyone, so it was fun to see them experience each home and become judges themselves!

I had decided to time the win selection on the TV by walking in with the trophy, which was soo much fun and a lovely surprise for everyone.

If you get the chance I say go for things like this its fun, it pushes you and you never know you could win too.

Since the show

I have been published in magazines thanks to Nikki from Dinky Media, who followed up with me directly, and she got me in several newspapers too- that is a rush and super proud moment as it's forever right. They are in colour and print. 

The house has changed a lot, too- of course- I am forever in a cycle of change again, actively and joyfully. If you follow Instagram, you will know the whole outside of the house is black- yep, full-on black. I have wanted this from the day we moved in, and budget and time meant it didn't get done before the show. The kitchen is repainted and gone through another iteration, the garage is converted into an event cum workshop cum office space, the bothy garden building is in progress to be a mini family refuge, and we are doing the gardens very, very, very slowly. Trees line the driveway now, and the house interior is constantly evolving. The Christmas trees (all 9) from last year have been planted and established well. A forest of Yule will be created.

I have an emporium!

I have also spent the past ten months creating products and an emporium for lovely things I have created, partnered with, and collaborated on that bring Easter Shian to you. It is so exciting seeing something you've made become tangible, something that is Easter Shian and that is here and knowing people will have it in their house is really a wow moment.

What's next?

So much is coming. Easter Shian is a long-term thing; it was never meant to be a one-off, and I can't predict the future (yet!) I do know that Easter Shian will always be a part of my life in all its capacity. I have a pop-up shop this Christmas in Aberfeldy to test out all the lovely Yule things I have made, from candles to advents, with a consistent theme of legacy and sustainability – foraged and wild. I am doing wreath workshops – from creating walking wreaths – literally while you walk to wreaths made from crap- rubbish, packaging all the things we throw away into beautiful things for the home. My creative brain is flowing, and I want to make things you can add to, update, and use year after year. I have also got the folks in Jeffrey's Dunkeld giving me a spot to sell and showcase all things Easter Shian.

Future Yule

I did ask BBC to come back to Easter Shian and film the next series of Shoty never heard back, but hey, if you don't ask! The Yule theme is a thing for me now, and I've got so much planned for this one (2024 as I write), from the pop-up shops to new products to a Yule light switch on, and of course, the interiors of the house being, a new look and feel with nine real Christmas trees too! So, I could continue, and this is just the start …

  The timeline

• 20 October -referred by Jeffreys

• 21 October email to ask for housing details

•  22 October confirmed acceptance for the selection list of 10

• 28 October producer and researcher arrived for a recce

• 31 October- 19 November, working in America 

• 1 November call to say we were selected

• 21 November, filming for the house was done

• 28 November, filming for the win was done

• 8 December first publicity interview (couldn't tell them we had won though)

• 10 December official BBC announcement and able to share we were on the show

• 19 December TV show was on, and we had a screening party 

  The rest is all in the making 

photo credits - Nova Botanics (shared previously) and my own photos too.

So here it is in all its glory.- last years eZineI I had so many drafts of this and hope you like the final version. I’m very proud of the accolade of Scotland Home of The Year Christmas 2022 and want to make sure I do something worthy with it.