hitch – that and an incredibly helpful planning department, adds Nicki. Because of Ruairidh’s experience and skills as
an architect, he was able to wow the planners with his sophisticated presentation which visualised the whole building – even down to showing where shadows would fall. “There was a pre-planning meeting with some of the local councillors and Ruairidh had to put together a presentation that shows where the shadows would be, to make it easier for them to see how it would look.”
The house was built using concrete panels which were precast and brought on to the site. There are only two companies in the UK that do this, and the couple chose Cornish Concrete in Truro. The house itself is clad in copper and cedar wood, and the remaining exterior walls are painted a shade of peach which reflects the vibrant colours used inside the house. Another element that visitors wouldn’t necessarily notice, but which the couple are proud of, is the frameless windows that were created using the same technique as car windows. “In Grand Designs it’s always the windows that cause a problem,” Nicki laughs. “The windows are triple-glazed and we had to make sure the window could withstand the wind forces that hit it.” It’s these kinds of details that have made building their own home such a pleasure. Nicki points to the ceramic tiles that cover the living room floor that continue uninterrupted on to the
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terrace, separated only by floor to ceiling windows which retract to expose the corner of the living space. The tiles are perfectly lined up to create a truly seamless floor. “It’s the kind of detail that is really important to architects,” says Nicki. “If it’s perfect you don’t notice it, but if it isn’t you keep noticing it.” The large balcony outside is enclosed by a glass balustrade, and there’s an external spiral staircase here that leads down to the sloping lawns and swathes of wildflowers. A sedum roof visible from the master suite creates another haven for wildlife. “The sedum roof gets lots of wind and grows quite high in the summer,” says Nicki, who has taken some of it to grow in the garden’s rockery. The four bedroom house is set more on ‘levels’ than actual floors. The floating stairs connecting the levels throughout were designed by Ruairidh. The bespoke metal structure that supports them is almost a piece of sculpture in its own right, and sits at eye level as you enter the house. The front door – which is actually at the rear of the house – opens to a hallway where the eye is drawn up to the mezzanine where a seating area and floor to ceiling disappearing windows enclose the terrace. Two of the bedrooms have bathrooms
‘in-room’ that sit behind the bed head so you can gaze at the horizon while you brush your teeth. In the master bedroom, the bath sits on its own dais to make the most of the views while having a soak.
NICKI’S TOP TIPS
Work closely with the planners – try and have a pre-planning meeting to discuss ideas to avoid plans being rejected
Consider everything – this is your chance to create the perfect home, so add everything to the shopping list, no matter how unusual
Shop around for contractors – rather than have the same person do everything, consider employing specific contractors for their special skills
Be prepared to make decisions quickly, especially if you are managing the project from a distance
april/may 2020
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