Modern lifestyle awaits in historic home

To approach Bridgefield House is to return to an era when carriages would perhaps sit idle by the fountain, while guests danced the night away in the grand drawing room.

The swish of ballgowns may have been replaced by the clamour of modern family life, but the period feel to this five-bedroom property remains very much intact.

From original fireplaces to high corniced ceilings, Bridgefield can be found in a historic part of Bridge of Don and offers gorgeous views over the Brig ‘o’ Balgownie which leads down to the River Don.

Owners Laura Mahady and Ian Joy believe the area is under-rated and fell in love with Bridgefield 11 years ago.

It has been the perfect home for their daughter and twin boys, but is starting to feel a little empty now the children have flown the nest.

Laura, who is a doctor in psychology, and Ian, who works in the oil industry, are down-sizing but have enjoyed the space not to mention the character which Bridgefield has naturally offered.

“We were searching for what felt like forever before we found Bridgefield, it was very much a blank canvas which really attracted us and we were also looking for an older property,” said Laura.

Grade-A listed Bridgefield certainly has an impressive past after it was built in 1761 by the Laird of Crombie Estate, for what some might view as an immoral purpose.

According to local folklore, it was commissioned as a home for his mistress, thus enabling the laird to choose between returning directly home from the mills or making the short journey across the Brig o’ Balgownie to pay her a visit instead.

Between 1869 and 1871 the house was redesigned by Daniel Cottier, the Glaswegian architect and decorator (who is known locally for his glass work which features to this day in Aberdeen’s St Machar cathedral).

The redesign resulted in an extension to create a large, elegant drawing room on the first floor and to enlarge the kitchen and servants’ quarters on the ground floor.

Cottier had previously been apprentice to John Cairney & Co, Scotland’s premier glassmakers of the time, where he also learned to mix paint colours.

The hand painted stencilling of the property’s dining and drawing room walls (uncovered during renovations) were reportedly carried out under Cottier’s tutelage and design.

The paintings were photographed and protected