trying to achieve.” They also took on board that the family were living in the project. “We didn’t have the luxury of moving out, but they were mindful that the kids and the dogs were here too. I also think they found it useful me being on site – at least I hope they did!” While the build did go over the original budget, it was for the right reasons as Isla explains: “We made choices throughout the build; there were certain things we said we’d prefer x instead of y and that increased costs. Life changed in that time too, we had another daughter, Corran, and when we fi rst met Fermn, we had only been living in the cottage for two weeks. When we started again after Covid we had a better understanding of what we wanted and could achieve.”


As the couple had never renovated a


property before – Isla works as a PA and Robert as a dental technician – the process was an interesting one for them. “The old house upstairs got smaller and smaller throughout the build as it became more and more closed in,” says Isla. “It was an odd way to live with the windows boarded up, like living in a cave. When the contractors fi nally knocked through it was such an amazing feeling, all that space and daylight fl ooding in.”


While the layout had been decided promptly, what to put in the space took a little longer. The cottage’s galley kitchen and decking became the


22


principal bedroom and ensuite, but it took Isla a while to get her head around this idea. “I was convinced that the ensuite wasn’t big enough for a shower and a bath but it was and is.” Along with its deceptively spacious ensuite, the principal bedroom also benefi ts from a wonderful view of nature. “The slim line windows are a brilliant addition to the bedroom and frame the view of the green roof with its extraordinary wildfl owers,” says Isla. “I love the green roof,” Robert continues. “It came out as a cost initially as we didn’t think we could afford it, but we managed to factor it back in and it really gives us a connection with the garden.” The kitchen design also took a while to come to fruition: “Kitchen showrooms – good gracious, I don’t ever want to visit one again!” Isla exclaims. “It was a horrible experience until we discovered MGM Timber which we had visited to look at fl ooring – we didn’t know they sold kitchens.” Fortunately for Isla, at MGM there was no hard sell, and a quote was promptly arranged. “They were brilliant, and super helpful, but then everything was delayed because of Covid.”


When the couple started the project again, they still had to fi nalise their bathroom and kitchen choices. Fortunately, G still had their original design on fi le and with the contractors onsite the eggetts were fi nally in a position to move forward. The dark midnight blue


CONTACTS/ SUPPLIERS


ARCHITECTS Fife Architects fi fearchitects.com


CLADDING Russwood


russwood.co.uk


FLOORING Kährs


Kahrs.com KITCHEN


MGM Timber mgmtimber.co.uk


KITCHEN TABLE Wood and Wool Ballater wood-and-wool.co.uk


MAIN CONTRACTOR Total Reinstatement Services reinstatement.co.uk


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