The Herald - The Herald Magazine
Northern life with a natural high NEW ON THE MARKET A RARITY IN THE SUBURBS – PAGE 32
HOUSE sales in the north of Scotland occasionally yield the most amazing one-off lifestyle properties. A current example is The Willows, a visually arresting detached contemporary house near Forres set in four acres of garden grounds that includes, amongst other things, a large lochan stocked with rainbow trout, orchard, and detached triple garage above which is Willow Barn, a luxurious two-bedroomed holiday apartment with a four-star rating and Trip Advisor certificate of excellence.
Designed and built by the present owners in 2010, the main house has an impressive specification that includes under-floor air source heating, double-glazing, integrated sound system, hardwood and Amtico flooring, and luxurious fixtures and fittings. Quality is a key hallmark but what makes the most visual impact is the angular design and a two-storey layout that focuses on space and light, combining full-height windows and imaginative use of glazing to blur the distinction between inside and out.
A magnificent lounge with multi-fuel stove and magnificent 33ft open-plan kitchen/ dining/family is the main hub of the home, and opens onto the garden and patio. The kitchen has attractive wood-fronted units, and a sizeable central island/breakfast bar. This vast space also has dining and seating areas, built-in bookcases, and full-height windows/doors on two sides framing views over the gardens to the lochan and woodland. The ground floor also houses a study, large utility/pantry and a threeroomed guest suite with bathroom.
A bespoke split staircase in oak with carpeted treads and glass balustrades provides a central feature. Upstairs, the master bedroom incorporates a dressing room and en-suite bathroom and four further bedrooms (one with dressing room) plus a second study.
The surprises don’t end there. The extensive grounds also provide two timber garages, a 32ft polytunnel for avid gardeners, detached triple garage with workshop, store room, integrated dog kennels – and Willow Barn, a beautifully finished two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment above the garage, which currently operates as a holiday let (generating around £25,000 annually).
Close by are Forres, Elgin, Findhorn and the sandy beaches of Findhorn Bay and Burghead Bay – an area on the Moray coast that offers a multitude of things to do and places to visit. Offers over £795,000 are invited by Cluny Estate Agents in Elgin.