My House Story This Highland cottage went from holiday house to forever home

The unexpectedHome THE OWNERS OF THIS REMOTE HIGHLAND COTTAGE NEVER INTENDED TO LIVE THERE…UNTIL THEY SAW ITS UNBELIEVABLE TRANSFORMATION

Photography: Dapple Photography & Nigel Rigden

Beginning life as a crofter’s cottage, this small, isolated house in the Cairngorms had thick stone walls and tiny windows, making it feel disconnected from the dramatic landscape which surrounds it. But when owners Ian Jone and Patricia Johnston discovered the property, there was something about it which spoke to them: “When we first saw Strone of Glenbanchor, we joked that if it came up for sale we would be keen to buy it,” they said. “When it did, we jumped at the chance. We originally undertook the project to be a holiday home but loved the finished house so much we moved in permanently.”

To transform the original building, the couple enlisted the services of architects Loader Monteith, giving them one powerful line of aspiration for the project; the house needed to be a warm, comfortable, lightfilled family space that allowed the outdoors to be in harmony with the indoors. “Loader Monteith was recommended to us by our builder, and from the outset it was clear they placed our vision and our brief at the forefront of the project,” said the owners. “We liked Matt [Loader] and Iain [Monteith]’s reaction to the house and its potential.”

The challenge ahead was no mean feat. It was clear more space was needed to accommodate family and guests but local planning laws meant new building interventions could be no more than the size of the original footprint. To overcome this hurdle, the house was uniquely designed as two wings – one, an extension of the main house and the other, an entirely new structure.

First, the stone cottage was extended outwards and upwards. A black timber-clad living area was added to the rear of the property with full height glazed doors to frame

the panoramic mountain views. An island kitchen is located at the centre of the home, bookmarked by the semi-open plan living room and a small snug. Atop the old cottage, a dormer extension was built offering views to the landscape, leading to two bedrooms, a bathroom and a mezzanine office.

Next, a new ‘retreat’ wing was built in the shadow of the existing cottage, set behind and slightly offset from the main house to create long views out to the Cairngorms from the main bedroom. Also clad in black timber, this new wing is connected to the cottage by a glazed spine, and includes an entrance hall, utility room, store, bedroom, office and bathroom. Outside, a patio and concrete tiled paths border the house, giving the clients space to enjoy the outdoors in warmer months.

“Strone of Glenbanchor is a special house and location that speaks to the magic of the Scottish landscape,” says architect Matt Loader. “We worked hard to ensure the house would sit in harmony with its surroundings, both blending in with and enhancing them. Ultimately, this project was about making the

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Architect: Loader Monteith Structural engineer: David Narro Associates Main contractor: Anthony Robinson Joinery Ltd. most of the views, so we positioned windows and doors carefully to open the house to the mountains.”

Choosing local, sustainable materials was also a priority. “To bed the house into its setting, we looked for local material suppliers who worked with natural fabrics in a sustainable way,” says Matt. “Slate, timber and stone anchor the house, while inside lighter, softer materials and colours allow the views to take centre stage.”

“The quality of the architectural design and building work is our favourite thing about Strone;’ say Ian and Patricia. “This house is very much admired and we are very proud to call it home. We love to sit in the garden and admire the house, as it is so beautiful and in keeping with the setting. We also love the drive up Strone Road where the house is the first thing you see.”

“Our favourite place inside is probably the kitchen/dining room area, and this leads on to an open sitting room. The double-sided wood fired stove makes it very cosy in winter. Pulling up a chair and gazing out the window, no matter what time of year, is magical.”