A Home Away From Home

An old stone cottage perfectly situated about a mile up the strath from the town of Helmsdale, one of only two houses remaining in the former settlement of Caen. Renowned for its coastline, wild beauty and salmon fishing, Helmsdale is a quiet village on the east coast of Sutherland, where the river meets the sea. 

The house has been in the same family for over 60 years, is greatly cherished but was cold, damp and decayed.  The challenge of the brief was to keep and nurture the unique feel and atmosphere of the house, a little piece of paradise surrounded by the lush rolling landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, whilst providing a modern, warm and practical home from home, with simple natural finishes, retaining key features and protecting the history of the building.

We knew our client needed that personal touch, so after our initial site surveys, consultation and design phases, we relocated to Helmsdale from August 20th to December 24th so we were on hand to oversee both the strip out and construction phases of the build - all crucial phases.

Being on site to oversee the strip-out is key when taking on a full home refurbishment, as this part of the project sees all of the home's treasures uncovered, which can be repurposed and made into unique design features throughout the build. Original flagstone floors, doors and staircases were the only details kept, as sadly the chimney breast collapsed due to dampness in the structure.

Unique Features

Beautiful, natural Caithness slate flagstone, underfoot on bare earth for the previous 150 years, was repurposed for kitchen worktops and hearth. The distinctive flame textured slate set off the crisp almond white used for the custom cabinetry and provided a unique and practical work surface.

Original latch doors were retained and the beading detailing was mimicked on the cabinetry and wall panelling, creating a cohesive interior scheme throughout the property.