This was a true labour of love which tested relationships, budgets and commitment during the eight- year transformation
who used traditional methods to fit them. “Every single feature and every bit of work
that’s been done has a story behind it,” says Gill. The building sits in an exposed location at the top of a hill, with wide open views across a valley. There was one particularly cold winter when Tim was up on the roof in howling gales, “just trying to hang on while he was working.” With the roof finally finished, and with the help of daughter George, her husband Neil, and builder Trevor Wright, they turned their attention to the floor. Together, and over a period of many months, they dug out the entire ground floor to create depth for under floor heating, insulation and screed, topped with limestone. “We just fitted it in around everything else,” says Gill. They were determined to do everything we could to the highest quality, using traditional methods and materials. “It was never going to be something we would rush through, but it meant many years of extra work to gradually renovate the property.” The handmade windows were also made over a period of time by Tim’s school friend Peter Grieves and the original stone walls were rough rendered. Internal walls were dry lined and insulated, and new plumbing and electrics
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installed along with a biomass heating system. Gill’s vision for the interior was to create a
warm, welcoming home which would withstand a rural lifestyle. They are a family of dog lovers and love the outdoors, so we wanted the house to be as resilient and practical as possible without compromising on the style and comfort. “We also wanted to make it accessible to everyone, so we included ground floor bedrooms and a bathroom.” Still conscious of saving money, Gill embarked on the mammoth task of single handedly decorating the entire house - even though she’s scared of heights! “The main living area was the biggest challenge,” she recalls. “I used scaffolding for the high areas but it was still a challenge – and then I realised I’d painted the accent colour on the wrong wall. I could have cried.” It took two or three coats to paint it white again before finishing it in a dark rustic grey, but she says “it was worth doing – it looks amazing now.”
But after priming, undercoating and top coating every room in the house Gill never wanted to see another paint brush or roller again. “It was like the Forth Bridge – never ending,” she says.
jan/feb 2022 HIGH POINT
“Welcoming the first guests and receiving their wonderful comments. After all the years of hard work and commitment it was quite an emotional moment.” – Gill Denham
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