At Home Interview: Rob Tuer, property developer

TALK to Rob Tuer about his self-built home on the outskirts of Gullane and you would think that he had just whipped up a five-egg omelette rather than a five-bedroom detached house. But then property development is also Rob's day job and he found his first experience of building for his family to be much less stressful than working for a client.

"We could create our own deadlines," laughs Rob.

Having lived in old properties for much of his life, Rob was keen that this home should, at least outwardly, have a traditional appearance. The site, which opens to fantastic views of the East Lothian countryside, lies just outwith Gullane's conservation area, but Rob erred on the side of caution, recognising that planning officials would still require a conservative approach. To this end he concealed a more contemporary, single-storey section of the house behind the traditional street-facing faade.

A wealth of building-trade knowledge stood Rob in good stead when making decisions about materials for this home. Timber-frame construction is a method he has long favoured for its superb insulation values, while the harled exterior finish, stone window surrounds and slate roof all comply with tradition. He also used local manufacturers wherever possible.

The site threw up no surprises and the build commenced smoothly. When making decisions about interior finishes, Rob also drew on past experience, for example, installing underfloor heating in the bathrooms, where wet feet are gently toasted on tiled floors. Elsewhere the house posed no shortage of space within which to fit wall-mounted radiators, which are in a sleek, unobtrusive contemporary style.

Rob's other design ideas, which he discussed with his locally-based architect, included the symmetrical feel gained within the central hallway, which is accessed by double sets of doors from both sides of the house (there is no formal front and back entrance). The large porches that sit immediately behind each entrance give the hallway a sense of depth, whilst at the same time being extremely practical.

Rob was aware that the downside of a traditional floor plan, where the reception rooms lead off the central hallway, is often the lack of light reaching this middle space. To solve this problem he introduced a magnificent cupola that pours sunlight over the top landing and down into the central hall. "The cupola was covered up while the rest of the building took shape," says Rob. "When we eventually opened it up the difference in levels of light was dramatic."

His experience in property development has instilled in Rob the importance of practicality, especially in a family home, and the inclusion of a utility room was central to this. A generously-sized utility area sits off the back porch, ideal for depositing muddy gear, with the kitchen conveniently accessed on the opposite side.

The wow factor in this home belongs largely to the open-plan kitchen/dining/living space, which stretches, across oak flooring, through the contemporary single-storey structure at the rear of the house. This allows privacy to the patio, which opens via two sets of double doors, while the scale of the room is ideal for active kids as well as grown-up entertaining.

Rob got his kitchen from Farrell Kitchens in Craighall, which supplies traditional hand painted fittings by English Revival. Rob opted for cream units teamed with granite worktops and an island (fitted with an extra sink and wine fridges) that is painted to match the subtle pale blue on the walls. This shade is picked out again in the upholstery of the dining chairs, part of a number of finishes chosen with the help of Interior Motives, an interiors specialist based in Edinburgh.

"The project took two years from start to finish and by the time the house was built we just wanted to move in," says Rob. "Using an interior designer saved a lot of time as we would otherwise have tackled it gradually over six months or so."

Rob was keen to mix character-driven furniture with the practicality of contemporary sofas and chairs. Hence the inclusion of some rustic farmhouse tables and a timber dresser that acts as a linking piece between the kitchen/dining area and the adjacent seating space.

A comfortable mix of old and new continues with the wall-mounted television and smart gas fire (both recessed to the wall for a flush contemporary look), with a traditional gilt-framed painting alongside.

Within the neighbouring drawing-room Rob used the same gas fire, but positioned this one at floor level with a limestone surround, creating a more prolific focus in the space. "The fire looks completely different in this setting," he says.

Building regulations now request the inclusion of a bedroom as well as a bathroom at ground level and the allocated space in this home is currently Rob's office, although it might easily be furnished as a formal dining-room.

Rob took the opportunity to build in little extras such as the recessed LED spotlights that create an atmospheric effect on the staircase and within the void rising to the cupola above. A firm in Haddington made the staircase with its traditionally crafted spindles and timber balustrade.

There are five bedrooms upstairs, all decorated with feature wallpapers and fabrics sourced by Interior Motives, and built-in wardrobes to maximise the space. Three of the bathrooms are en suite, and there is also a separate family bathroom. Creating a stylish contemporary bathroom a few years ago meant shopping for designer brands, but these days Rob says it is remarkably straightforward to achieve the same look without spending a fortune. "There's just so much choice now," he says, pointing out an unusual square "slab" style basin, one of a number of items bought from Traditional Contemporary Bathrooms. Maintaining continuity with the same floor and wall tiles enhances the sleek appearance.

Four months after Rob and his family moved in to their new home a job offer prompted an unexpected move to Northumberland. The Tuers have left behind a practical and hugely comfortable new family home. And did we mention the world famous Muirfield golf course is located just at the end of the road?

Ricketwood House, offers over 765,000. Contact Strutt & Parker (0131-226 2500, www.struttandparker.com) or Lindsays (01620 893 481, www.lindsays.co.uk)

This article was originally published in Scotland on Sunday on 21 February 2010