Designing Spaces for Restoration: Lessons from a Scottish Estate

I’ve long held a fascination with combining traditional architecture and modern aesthetics. Working on my former home, a Scottish estate was no exception. This circular stone turret becoming a bathroom was a playful use of space and proved to be one of the most popular rooms in the house.

Letting the building lead

While the interiors were contemporary, and became a talking point there was never any intention to fight the building itself. The original features and architectural character always set the tone. The estate had a strong identity long before we arrived, and the design worked best when that was respected.

Introducing modern comforts into a historic structure requires surprising restraint. The balance between modern function and historic integrity became a guiding principle throughout the project.

Restoration reshapes your thinking

Working within a historic property inevitably alters your perspective on time, value and decision-making. We lived in the estate throughout the renovation, and the relationships formed with craftspeople and the local community became one of the most rewarding aspects of the process.

It was a genuinely enjoyable project, even on the more challenging days. The experience ultimately deepened my interest in development, interiors and events. I realised I’m surprisingly unflappable and actually enjoy making decisions on the fly, which is a useful trait when you’re dealing with old buildings and Scottish humour.

Why this still informs my work

Following the renovation, the estate operated partly as our home and, when we were travelling, as a private country house and events space. The property became a sought after location and welcomed a number of notable guests. It was later sold in 2021 as a fully realised estate, including interiors and artworks, to a well known music artist.

More importantly, the experience continues to shape how I approach development. Buildings rarely need dramatic gestures. More often, they respond best when you listen carefully, remove distraction, and allow the original structure to tell it's story.