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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Entertainment
Nadia Breen

Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr: Meet the Belfast man featuring on new series

Meet the Belfast man featuring on Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr.

Peter Irvine, 34, from Finaghy will star in the fourth series of the TV show which begins to air on Tuesday night, March 7, on BBC One.

The visual stylist also showcases his own home that he shares with his partner through his Instagram, @thewhitehome.

Read more: Inside two-bed former NI mill on the market with separate cottage

In the new series of the BBC show, ten aspiring interior designers, on the cusp of turning professional, are taking part in the biggest design challenge of their lives.

Working alone or in teams, the designers will take on a different commercial brief each week as they compete to win a career-defining prize – a major commercial contract to redesign a top London cocktail bar.

Each week their spaces will be scrutinized by Head Judge Michelle Ogundehin alongside some of the industry’s biggest names, and at least one contestant will be eliminated each week.

In episode one, arriving at Michelle Design Studio in Brighton, the new designers, including NI man Peter, are eager to make their mark in the competition.

After a welcome from host, Alan Carr, head judge and former Editor in Chief of ELLE Decoration magazine, Michelle sets the designers their first challenge.

Alan and Michelle with the contestants (BBC)

Their brief is to create sustainable design in an urban setting, as the designers are tasked with transforming five luxury apartments in London’s Elephant and Castle.

Working in pairs, each team must transform an apartment together, with one designer in charge of the open plan kitchen-living room, while the other transforms the bedrooms.

In the first episode, Alan Carr sees Belfast man Peter’s Ibiza-themed room and is intrigued by the addition of a rusty drainpipe.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Peter said he'd applied for series three of the show - and was asked to apply again for series four.

"I loved the programme and was very excited and wanted to, so I applied again."

Speaking about how he felt when he found out he would be part of the series, Peter added: "I was like, 'Yes', I've done it' and then I was like, 'Oh my god, what have I just done?'

"The picture just got so much bigger then."

Peter also told how he loved his time filming the show.

"Imagine someone goes, 'Here's loads of money, go do what you love doing'. It was like, 'Yes!'

"I enjoyed every process, I even enjoyed driving there, I enjoyed sitting in the corridor waiting to be mic'd-up, I appreciated everything," he said.

In the first episode which airs tomorrow, the contestants were given a £1800 budget.

Peter said it was difficult at times trying to stay within it, and added: "You can make smart decisions like using existing furniture and things like that, I took a risk and tried to make my budget spread a little more...

"I feel like I did a good job."

The visual stylist is now best friends with contestant Joanne who he is paired with during the first episode.

He said: "I speak to that woman 40 times a day.

"I never expected to make such good friends with someone...

"We have such an appreciation for each other [and] equally we have taught each other so much."

The Belfast man (BBC)

Joining Michelle in the first episode judging the contestant's eco-friendly designs is the king of American glamour, interiors guru and international trendsetter - Jonathan Adler.

Peter also told Belfast Live how the show has been a "rollercoaster" - and that he's glad he took part.

"What I didn't expect was that it tapped into some emotions that I didn't think it would. The journey as a whole in terms of like easy, or hard, or fun, and sad, it was such a rounded experience for me. I have nothing but fond memories of every aspect of it.

"I'm glad I took the leap," he said.

Peter explained the style of his own home here in Northern Ireland.

He said: "Initially when my partner and I bought the house, I wanted to do all black and white, but then the more white I did, the more I loved that kind of feeling that you escape to like a Spanish holiday - the décor is just simpler and things.

"That's what brought in the natural elements and stuff. I describe our house as natural [escapism], I want people to feel like they are not in Belfast... using all woods, glass...

"In terms of decor elements, I try not to use plastic and stuff like that in the house. I think people underestimate how important that is in decor."

The interiors-lover is now on the lookout for clients in the local area, wanting to reach out to 'everyday people like him'.

Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr returns for a fourth series at 8pm on March 7 th on BBC One and iPlayer

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