SCOTTISH ISLAND HOUSES

 

Arran is one of the tamer of Scotland’s islands, easily reached from Scotland’s central belt and well loved by seaside-seeking holiday makers. We built this contemporary home on the island to help our clients feel connected to the seascape and to see the ever-changing weather. They were keen for a Cape Cod look, so this house has a real holiday feel about it, which suits the location. The open-plan kitchen-diner is on the first floor to take maximum advantage of those views from the most used space in the house, with direct access to the wraparound balcony. This covered wooden veranda is the perfect place to sit and watch the sun set.

(Sea Views New Build Home)

 

 

Positioned close to the coast in a remote spot on Jura, this is a lovely three-bedroom island home. The design is for a replacement traditional Scottish white croft house in-keeping with the style of typical west coast island homes. The beauty of this is that it is filled with 21st-century comforts and energy-efficient systems, including substantial insulation and heat-pump technology. The central section houses an open-plan living and dining space with the master suite and guest bedroom on the first floor. A further bedroom and cosy snug are tucked to the side on the ground floor. And there’s also that essential Scottish island utility – the heated boot room. 

(New traditional island cottage)

 

 

These two luxury Hebridean holiday houses are elevated above simple white-holiday-cottage status with the addition of a dynamic glazed courtyard between them. This not only allows them to be used either as two separate rentals or as one large space for a family group of ten, but adds an exciting modern element. It provides a wonderful airy spot from which to relax and gaze out at the huge view from the mass of glass. In the islands, simply watching the weather change and the clouds scud by can be entertainment in itself. And, of course, we’ve designed in spaces to dry wet boots and hang dripping coats for all those who have spent the day on the water or the hill.

(Estate Holiday Houses)

 

 

Set just behind one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on Skye, this house looks as if it has always belonged here. In fact, it’s a newbuild, designed precisely to that specification. We used the traditional exterior proportions of an island croft house, so that it feels exactly right in its spot. Inside, we created a spacious, energy-efficient and open-plan space to suit the client’s lifestyle. The positioning of this house allows the views to shine. Front windows frame a dramatic view of Eigg and Muck across the water, from the rear the Red Hills are visible, and to the east the views are angled towards the Black Cuillins.

(Skye Croft House)

 

 

The hardy owners of this newbuild cottage on the Islay coast have moved from an utterly remote lighthouse-keeper’s cottage, which could only be reached by walking, boat or quadbike. This new house is still in what many would consider a remote location, as part of a small hamlet of coastal houses. The cottage is charming with a mostly traditional look and feel from the outside and a flowing interior suited to 21st-century living. We have designed it to sit low in the environment so that it doesn’t impose on the natural landscape. Use of natural materials including timber cladding and natural slate help it blend seamlessly into its surroundings.

(Scottish Island House)