Local hero
Summer escape or winter hideaway, coastal cottage suits all seasons
A beautiful cottage in a famous village.
IT was a lifelong love of the sea that led Nicky Riding to buy her Aberdeenshire coastal home.
She and husband Douglas Laing – who lived in Miami before moving back to Scotland – made the life-changing decision after a spell of globetrotting.
Says Nicky: “We decided to settle in Scotland and considered buying a bolthole on Skye, a place we both love. But in the end we felt it was too far for weekends away. The stretch of coast we chose instead – the Moray Firth – is only three hours door-to-door: far enough away to feel a sense of escape, but not too far for a short stay.”
Their haven is in Pennan, the stunning rocky bay made famous in the 1983 Bill Forsyth film Local Hero.
“I love open water swimming and beachcombing,” says Nicky. “And this place is great all year round. It is not just a summer seaside resort, it is a brilliant winter hideaway as well; a high tide in winter is epic. There is nowhere I would rather spend Christmas Day.”
Nicky and Doug bought the two-bedroom cottage with two attic rooms in 2014 on impulse, knowing it was perfect the instant they saw it. Nicky was wowed by its quirky cast iron spiral staircase. She says: “I typed ‘Moray Firth’ into a property website search engine on the morning the house went up for sale. Doug went to look at it and loved it. I then came to see it and we bought it straight away.”
The previous owners had demolished a traditional boathouse and built the home on the same site over a decade ago. They replicated the style of the house next door, a traditional, period fisherman’s cottage, giving the impression that the two houses are of the same age. However, it needed updating.
“We engaged interior designer Emma Clanfield to
help us,” Nicky explains. “I found her online and loved her artistic style. She has trained in textile design as well as interiors, so is extremely knowledgeable. And she lived relatively locally which was a great help.”
The couple had been tempted to open the sitting room to its rafters to create a dramatic loft effect, but the costs seemed to outweigh the benefits. After some deliberation they decided to work with what they had. Says Nicky: “The cottage is what it is; the location and views are what make it. Structurally, we left well alone and focused our energy on renovating and decorating. As a result we feel we have enhanced the property without losing the spirit of the place.”
Emma encouraged them to inject stunning colours and patterns into their chosen coastal theme. Nicky explains: “We wanted to bring the sea into the house and we are delighted that every room has an element of our surroundings in it, but without being overly ‘seaside-y’. The blues, greens and greys hint at the surrounding scenery subtly.
“Emma interpreted our brief brilliantly. Her approach was to salvage a lot of fixtures and fittings, improving what was there, rather than ripping everything out and starting again. She succeeded in achieving the look we wanted.”
Nicky and Doug spend much of their time at their waterside retreat, often joined by family and friends. She beams: “The scenery is ever-changing. What you see depends on the season and the weather but it is always remarkable.”