Get a view to a thrill
007 would feel right at home in this modern villa, finds Paul Drury
I f you want to see Walter Milne’s house in a new light, wait until dark. When the sun goes down, the property transforms from a modern, three-bed detached home into a glamorous villa straight out of a James Bond movie. The contrast is so remarkable the owner advises waiting until evening to visit.
To achieve the effect, Mr Milne has spent more than £100,000 on lighting and audio.
His house at Bridgefoot, near Dundee, was a collaboration with local architect Andy Black in 2005. They fashioned a contemporary home by the Dighty Burn using Douglas fir and Clashach stone, with a slate and lead roof.
By day, you can appreciate the sharp lines in the kitchen and living area, which opens through bi-fold doors to the garden.
By night, a programmable supersoft lighting system kicks in, bathing the area in blues and ochres, with a light purple under the stairs.
Mr Milne – whose business is in architectural metalwork – said: ‘The mood lighting system shows the place off in a totally different light.
‘Andy Black was given a brief to design a free-flowing area with plenty of open spaces.’ The Lutron HomeWorks System of lighting means colours can be altered in different areas and the light on a particular spot can be adjusted.
In the kitchen is a formal sitting area, dining space and informal seating. There are glass-fronted units, granite worktops and integrated Kuppersbusch appliances.
There is also a cinema, gym and helical staircase, the centrepiece of the house, which has f l oating walnut steps and mood lighting in the handrail. The master bedroom suite has a balcony and dressing area, with views to the Sidlaw Hills.
The unique bathroom has a curved wall, Kohler Jacuzzi bath, multi-jet shower and Alessi sanitary ware. There are two more bedrooms, one en suite and with its own balcony.
The only downside to this home might be the electricity bill for all those lights. As 007 might say, it could leave you shaken, not stirred.