My definition of fun? When we downsized
Who:
Donna Caira, 49, an interior designer, above, her husband, Anthony, 58, a golfer, and their daughters, Julia and Olivia
What:
A stylish and characterful four-bedroom detached new-build house
Where:
Beautifully located on the stunning Fife coast
Our previous large family home was proving impractical and we wanted to live somewhere a lot more low-maintenance.
When we saw this house we knew it would be perfect. It is surprisingly spacious and provided us with a blank canvas we could quickly transform. So we bought it and moved in 2017. Because structural alterations were not necessary, we could focus on the fun things such as furnishings and décor. The transformation is dramatic and bold but purely cosmetic.
Our most major undertaking was to build a garden room.
Anthony drew up the plans and did everything himself. While working as a young golf pro, he learned how to repair golf clubs and has honed his DIY skills to a very high standard over the years.
He refitted the kitchen and transformed the staircase with scaffolding planks to create a raw, distressed effect. I saw an image of scaffolding stairs on Pinterest and showed it to him and he recreated it. He has also added panelling to the walls in several rooms and built fitted wardrobes in the master bedroom. I was taken to National Trust properties as a child and the character added by wall panelling was something I took away. It is an affordable way to fix unevenness in a wall, and covers a multitude of sins.
My vision for this house was quite Scandi.
I travelled to Iceland recently and was struck by the use of black and white in interiors and architecture. Their styling is pared back and our downsize required a lot of clearing out, which was quite emotional, so choosing this style motivated me to declutter.
I have kept details relatively simple, and we have removed the ceiling coving and kept the skirtings and door mouldings undefined.
I chose new accessories carefully. I search hard for designer finds and vintage pieces. Our small town was famous for making lino and quality furniture. A company called Mcintosh
Furniture, similar to G Plan, was based here, so you can find real gems in our local charity and antique shops. Despite the fact this house is considerably smaller than our previous home, I have deliberately chosen quite chunky accessories, I think this can create a deceptively spacious effect. And I have not been afraid to use dark colours, quite boldly.
I like a muted palette and chose sombre tones, influenced by a trip to Amsterdam. It translates well to our Scottish climate and light.
I did all the painting myself. It was quite easy because a new-build has beautifully plastered walls.
I discovered I had to achieve an immaculate finish to get the crisp, minimal look I wanted. Working as an interior designer, I specialise in edgy, individual interiors. I love helping people add character to their homes using vintage finds as well as helping them design clever, space-saving fixtures and fittings.
I have set up Small Bird – an interiors design business which just now has some great festive accessories. I love to mix the old with the new. It is our dream to one day build a house, either here or in Italy, where Anthony’s family originate. In the meantime our new-build home is a stylish base for our far-flung family to return to.