Interiors: Alexander House, Auchterarder

Trundling into the Perthshire hills close to Auchterarder, you'd be forgiven for assuming Alexander House, the magnificent building emerging into view, has nestled there for centuries.

"That's what we wanted people to think," says Joanna Lewis, who, with husband John, minimised the impact of the building (not yet a year old) by adhering to traditional design, while embracing an ecological approach. The site was in Joanna's family, and discussions with her uncle resulted in the future of a derelict steading being placed in her hands.

"Years ago the steading roofs would have been removed to avoid paying taxes," she explains. Trees provided the only protection for remaining walls, and although restoration was the ideal scenario, the steading had deteriorated too badly.

Joanna was delighted when leading traditional architect, Hampshire-based Robert Adam agreed to design a new house. Crucially, the couple communicated with local planners early on.

"We put ideas forward, but asked what they would like to see," says Joanna.

This substantial house does not vastly increase the footprint of the original steading, although the one-and-a-half storey buildings were replaced with a two-storey home. And while the former was designed on an L-shape, the new house forms a "U", encasing an external courtyard.

Georgian symmetry underpins the building's traditional appearance, as do chosen construction methods. Walls are 550mm-thick, made of clay blocks with timber insulation, which arrived from Germany on three articulated lorries. The house retains heat so well that it takes days to notice when the heating is turned off.

Almost everything else was sourced within Scotland; reclaimed Ballachulish slate covers the roof while, stone and gravel came from a quarry three miles away, and labour was hired locally. Natural lime render finishes the exterior, allowing the building to breathe, but it has to be left to settle for a year before five coats of lime wash can be applied.

"It takes time to build traditionally," says Joanna.

She wasn't dissuaded by the lack of an access road to the site.

"We put one in," she explains, although a few of the lorries struggled to make their deliveries during the winter.

Neither was there a water supply, a problem resolved by digging 18-metres down.

"We hit an underground river," says Joanna, the borehole now feeding a ground source heat pump that heats the house (almost the entire building has under floor heating, controllable via individual thermostats), hot water and the outdoor swimming pool.

Joanna and John envisaged Alexander House not just as a private residence, but also as a luxurious holiday home. The interior has a sociable kitchen/dining/living area, floored in solid oak and lined with glazed doors opening to views of the Strath valley at the front, and to the south-facing rear courtyard.

The cream kitchen with timber worktops is from Howdens, equipped with energy efficient electrical appliances and a gas range. Of the few features sourced from foreign shores is the photographic splash back printed in Belgium by Pimp My Kitchen.

The pine table, custom made using reclaimed boards, and seating up to 14, sits between the cooking area and comfy leather sofas, from Sofa Sofa, facing a 50-inch widescreen TV. This open-plan area has a contemporary feel, tempering the traditional vibe of rooms such as the Scottish dining hall, where there's a round table made to order by Lincoln-based AW Murfin & Sons to look like an antique, while the light fitting above was custom made using an old cartwheel.

The dining hall is found via the main entrance, the latter set on the east wing within a stone clad porch bearing the inscription; "I to the hills will lift mine eyes", reflecting the dramatic location.

Joanna is proud that little of the furniture was bought new. Friends would call when they spotted something appropriate such as the woven rug in the dining hall, bought at auction.

Double doors from the dining hall open to a traditionally styled drawing room, where the fireplace (fed by timber from the grounds) was sourced from eBay, while Joanna was given the William IV lawyers' bookcase.

The games room boasts beautiful parquet flooring bought at a reclamation yard (originally from an Edinburgh museum) and the size snooker table, complete with light fitting, was an eBay purchase.

"It took forever to lay the floor, but it was worth it," says Joanna, indicating a pile of parquet still waiting to be fitted in the drawing room and dining hall.

Guests entertain themselves for days here; the games room has access to the rear courtyard where the covered, heated swimming pool is located. Four acres of land are home to a swing, slide, trampoline, croquet lawn and a barbecue, not to mention a hot tub strategically positioned in front of those jaw-dropping panoramic views.

Joanna and John encourage guests to stay local, providing mountain bikes, while an excellent farm shop is a one-mile stroll away. And mindful of the Scottish weather, they fitted the laundry room with a shower and drying cupboard.

Two stone spiral staircases lead to the second floor where there are seven en suite guest bedrooms as well as a bunkroom (for four children). Each has unique features such as a gilded sleigh bed (another eBay bargain) and an oak four-poster Joanna swapped for two magnums of champagne.

The wow-factor master bedroom has glazing to both the north and south-facing aspects.

"Light is important and we wanted as much glass to the south as possible," says Joanna.

She jazzed up simple cream curtains by adding thick bands of red fabric to the bottom, while the painted bed also came from eBay.

All the bathrooms have 'Raindance' showers by Hansgrohe that mix air and water, reducing hot water usage and energy. Twin sinks and a freestanding elliptical bath add glamour to the master en suite.

Joanna visited regularly during the 18-month build. She chose all the finishes before construction so everything was ready to slot into place. Named after her eldest son (appropriately, since nearby Auchterarder was granted its freedom by Alexander II), the house has collected the Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

"It looks as though it's been here for years, but should survive for centuries to come," Joanna says.

Tel: [phone], www.alexanderhousescotland.com

This article was first published in The Scotsman on 2 October, 2010