Originally a two bedroom two storey cottage was built in 1900 as a farmhands cottage and was extended and improved in a huge project completed in 2000.
As such, it has retained the character of its time, paired with many advantages of the new construction method – energy-efficient for a house of this size and flooded with light thanks to double and triple windows in the spacious new building public spaces.
Outside, extensive landscaping has created a garden oasis.
Owners Andrew Moffat and his wife Libby bought the villa in 2013 as a second home and European base – their permanent home is Australia.
Andrew says the beauty of the house changed her initial plans to buy in the south-east of England. He explains: “I was born and educated in Scotland so when we visited up here we caught our eye on this property and just fell in love.
“It was much larger than we needed, but we also found it easy to get to – 45 minutes from Edinburgh Airport, an hour from Glasgow.”
Andrew is a retired investment banker and corporate executive. The house as he knew it needed little work since the previous owner’s renovations were so extensive.
He says: “Essentially, the house is the creation of the last owner who had the vision of turning a small cottage into this fantastic house full of bespoke finishes.”
The front center section is the only original part of the house which has been extended on all sides but has retained the character of the original and introduced a contemporary aspect through matching rooflines, slate and cast iron fixtures and complementary windows.
The previous owner was a hotelier celebrated for refurbishing historic buildings across Britain and you can see the work involved has given the interiors the same level of comfort and luxury you would expect from the finest hotels.
Andrew says, “The interior finishes are superb. I showed the house to craftsmen who were amazed by the craftsmanship and they explained the amount of work and expertise required to make it.”
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New build: Breathing new life into historic East Lothian site
The first-floor reading room has French-style fabric ceilings and walls, and all radiators throughout the house have beautiful grills that soften the look.
Key features of the home include carved handrails, hardwood floors, quarry tile floors, paneled ceilings, brass fittings, open fireplaces and free-standing baths.
It was ideal for Andrew and Libby, but the villa was also suitable as a holiday home when they were away from the house. “People appreciate the luxury and the environment. It was highly sought after, especially for larger family gatherings as there is an ensuite bedroom on the ground floor so easily accessible for multiple generations.”
The landscaping of the garden, as Andrew understands it, was a monumental undertaking: “The fire was created by channeling the field’s runoff through three new ponds, now full of lilies and irises.”
He adds: “The stone bridge that crosses it is a work of art in itself, built by a stonemason using traditional methods.”
The garden contains solitary trees such as silver birch, Scots pine, fir, spruce, oak, yew, mountain ash and aspen as well as lawn, forest and borders. The stunning terrace over the main pond is a further indication of the care that has gone into a home that has grown to blend in with its surroundings.
Trinity Gask by Auchterarder is priced at over £875,000.
For more information please contact Bell Ingram on 01738 621 121.