Nothing ‘run of mill’ in our home
Silverstripe Cottage has unique character and style finished with love
IT was the best Christmas present he could have wished for.
Barry Clear was leading a busy life south of the border and was looking for a lifestyle change when he stumbled on a farm cottage and derelict mill in Aberdeenshire’s beautiful rolling countryside.
It was exactly what he had been looking for and he immediately set his heart on moving into the main building and eventually converting the mill to run as a holiday let.
But the conversion was so successful he and his partner decided to live in the mill and let the farmhouse instead.
They have been living their dream for the last 15 years but now they are making another major life change.
The couple want to retire from the holiday-let business and are putting the pretty little mill at Silverstripe, Forglen, near Turriff, on the market for £175,000.
It’s a bitter sweet decision to give up the home they love, says Barry, who loved it from the day he first spied it.
He tells iN10: “I was born in Dorking and lived there all my life having worked in our family jeweller’s business since leaving school but I wanted to relocate to a quieter rural area.”
“In August 2001 I saw Silverstripe Cottage with five acres of land and outbuildings in a magazine.
“It included the derelict old mill. I loved the main farm house and thought the mill was ideal for renovation possibly as a guest cottage.”
An architect was brought in to draw up plans and local tradesmen were employed to bring the dream alive. But the
work was not without challenge.
The mill’s floor had to be raised to comply with a flood risk assessment. Barry, 69, says: “The old building was on two levels and huge section of a raised concrete area at one end of the building had to be removed.”
The painstaking renovation took 12 months to complete, with Barry project managing, and in control of interior design style.
His ideas and hard work paid off. Barry says: “When complete, the finish was even better than we expected. So we decided to live in the mill and let the farmhouse as holiday cottage.”
The decision is hardly surprising. The old mill has all the comfort of a 21st century dwelling with full double glazing, under floor heating and two solar thermal panels to heat water.
And despite having just one bedroom, this home has a grand sense of space and history. Its expansive lounge has a spectacular cathedral-style ceiling and features oak flooring and an oak tread spiral staircase with a log effect gas stove as a focal point.
The large traditional countrystyle kitchen/dining area is open plan to the lounge and is fitted with solid oak base and wall units. Barry says: “My partner and I love this place. I especially like the lounge area with the vaulted ceiling as it feels so spacious.
“But having run the main farmhouse as a holiday cottage for almost five years, and having both retired from our main employment, we want to retire.”
He adds: “We will miss the mill, this lovely peaceful spot and the deck with its day-long sun, when it cares to shine!”
The Mill at Silverstripe is being marketed by Stewart and Watson in Turriff.