THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
A converted kirk in Longformacus makes a spectacular family home Longformacus is a small and very picturesque Berwickshire village in the Lammermuir Hills, just seven miles from Duns. Owing to its historic charm and quaint stone-built cottages, the village attracts visitors from many walks of life, from artists and photographers who are captivated by the local architecture and many listed buildings, to anglers and walkers. Built circa 1850 and extensively renovated in the last eighteen months, the Auld Kirk is now an attractive property with a beautiful and very spacious interior. Although it now has a new lease of life as a home, the former church has been reworked to seamlessly blend the old and new to ensure traditional features are not compromised by modern day necessities. The restoration project included re-roofing, re-wiring, and a new timber frame. Other notable feats included installing a bespoke staircase that incorporates some of the original kirk timbers and under-floor heating throughout the entire ground floor as part of an energy efficient heating system. The entrance is impressive and unusual in having a fully glazed door flanked by full height glazed panels on either side, which open into a huge open-plan living space floored with hand-made terracotta tiles. A large reclaimed brick fireplace housing a recessed multi-fuel stove provides a focal point in the 32ft living/dining area, which has tall arched windows with deep sills to the front and rear. The dining area includes a built-in 18-bottle wine cooler and a wall of extensive bookcases and built-in storage, which also incorporates a desk and lighting.
The earthy mix of terracotta, red brick and natural wood in this palatial space is offset by white ceilings and woodwork and cream walls to create a look that has elements of traditional and contemporary rolled into one. Off the living/dining area is a similarly impressive kitchen, utility, and tiled shower room. Upstairs off a galleried landing are three double bedrooms and a large bathroom – the landing and two bedrooms all have solid oak floors, while the remaining bedroom has pine floorboards. What makes this property so special is the attention to detail and high specification finish. The kitchen is fitted with white units – including a range of larder units and a double-width breakfast bar – and gold -coloured worktops and splashbacks, while appliances include a five-ring ceramic hob, extractor, double oven and grill and integrated fridge, freezer and dishwasher. The main bedroom is an oasis of tranquility, a lovely room with Velux windows to both the front and rear that frame a woodland view. One entire wall is given over to storage in the form of built-in wardrobes and there is a cupboard on another wall. Bedroom three also has a walk-in wardrobe. Completing the first floor is a good-sized bathroom with porcelain tiled floor and walls to half height (under-floor heating) which includes a bath and a separate corner steam shower unit.
Outside, the garden is designed to be low maintenance and includes a seating area enclosed by an old stone wall incorporating an original working Victorian fireplace, which would originally have formed part of the vestry and now has a large stone mantel – a unique and very distinctive feature. The grounds have off-street parking for two vehicles and at the far side of the property there’s a large garden shed, and log store. The Auld Kirk has a wireless intruder alarm and a heating/hot water system operated by a multi-point thermal heat store fed by the multi-fuel stove in the living area and/or an electric boiler which can also operate independently. This is a one-off property in one of the most picturesque settings in the region, if not the country. The Auld Kirk is a must see for anyone looking for a home that combines character, history and style.
The Auld Kirk Longformacus Asking Price £280,000 Details on page 22
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