Interiors: Fawsyde House

When Debbie Murray travels, she likes her accommodation to feel more luxurious than staying at home.

Friends think she's mad to have crystal glasses in the cupboards of Fawsyde House, the Victorian mansion near Stonehaven – a 25-minute drive from Aberdeen – that's available to guests, but which she initially bought as a family home.

Fawsyde was an irresistible proposition for Debbie, a solicitor, and husband Phil, who runs an IT company, when it appeared on the market ten years ago. Owned by Lady Colville until the 1970s, when it was sold separately from its stables and lodge house, Fawsyde nevertheless retains 11 acres, including a walled garden, tennis court and Gothic folly. Few could dispute the handsomeness of the C-listed house, styled as a grand hunting lodge, or its sense of seclusion amid mature trees.

Although inhabited prior to the Murrays' ownership, the house appeared to have a colander for a roof, while the electrics, heating and plumbing cried out for attention. Add the dire dcor and the scale of the house, and the couple knew they had a big job on their hands. A measured approach was the solution.

"Replacing the roof used a year's budget," Debbie says.

By 2004 the building was wind and watertight and the couple decided they'd rather like to get married there, celebrating in a large marquee.

"It will always be a special place for us," says Debbie.

Plans for internal renovations were drawn up by local architect Bill Cowie and the couple got quotes from building firms.

"We suddenly realised we'd been searching for the wrong kind of contractor," says Debbie.

Most of the work, including the installation of new bathrooms and central heating, required a plumber so the couple assigned Duncan Bathrooms in Aberdeen as the main contractor, using other specialist trades as required. Debbie took on the role of project manager.

She knew that two bathrooms were woefully inadequate for this large house: today, all seven bedrooms boast en suites. Sacrificing a bedroom facilitated two of these, while an anteroom, where ladies of the house once breast-fed their children, was also converted to an en suite. Another bathroom took shape within a bedroom that was downsized.

Shaving a slice off the latter room removed some cornicing, but a new section was promptly instated to blend with the original. This fastidious approach resulted in a meticulous interior.

Cornices were also preserved in the drawing room and dining room, where ceilings had to be rebuilt. Debbie loves original features, including skirting boards "up to your knees" and fireplaces were nursed back to health. Floorboards were also resuscitated, freed from old carpets and stripped back.

Debbie took the bull by the horns in the kitchen, supplied by Paterson's of Old Meldrum. It's the only space in which she eschewed tradition.

"The priority for the kitchen was practicality," she says. "Victorian kitchens were designed with staff in mind, which most of us don't have these days."

The island and separate table make this a sociable space and although the walnut units, contrasted with panels of bird's eye maple and teamed with black wall and floor surfaces, have a masculine vibe, it's a classic look that won't date quickly.

"There's great height and natural light, so we got away with the black walls," Debbie says. Conceiving of this space with family gatherings in mind, Debbie included vast fridges and a range cooker so it caters perfectly for groups.

Decoratively, Debbie took cues from the house itself, using boldly patterned wallpapers which were de rigueur in the Victorian period.

"I can come up with a whole scheme based around one cushion," she laughs.

Contract Furnishing Services in Aberdeen supplied wallpapers and fabrics, including Zoffany papers for the drawing room and dining room. The curtain fabric for the drawing room came from Angus Classic Interiors in Brechin.

Debbie trawled an Aberdeen salvage yard to find an appropriate door and handle for a new entrance the couple created from the hallway to the drawing room, which was previously accessed via the study. For lights, the couple strayed further afield, visiting The London Lighting Company for wow-factor fittings such as the stairwell chandelier.

"The ceilings were strengthened to support larger fittings," says Debbie, who was surprised when the chandeliers were delivered in bits. "All those little droplets had to be added on," she recalls.

Duncan Bathrooms supplied and fitted the bathrooms. In the master en suite, there's a claw-foot bath and period-style twin sinks by Imperial, teamed with elegant wallpaper by Today Interiors.

For the master bedroom Debbie splashed out on some "outrageously expensive" textured wallpaper. "It's confined to a small section behind the bed. The chap who put it up was warned not to make mistakes."

Debbie used furniture from the family home, including pieces squirreled away in the attic, to furnish Fawsyde and the master bedroom boasts a chaise longue as well as a Louis XV-style chair. In the cosy library, study and winter sitting room, tweed covered chairs and leather sofas are teamed with log burning stoves.

Having turned round the fortunes of Fawsyde, the Murrays ultimately decided to stay in their present home, which is a few miles away.

"We just didn't want the upheaval of a move," says Debbie.

Rather than sell the house in which they'd invested such time and care, the couple opened Fawsyde as a luxurious retreat for holidays and get-togethers. The kitchen rose to the challenge, as it is well-equipped to satisfy professionals who might be invited by guests to cater for special parties or weddings.

Visiting children especially love Fawsyde's grounds. French doors from the kitchen lead to the walled garden with its massive yew trees and an icehouse bearing a lintel dated 1656.

"The house is mid 19th century but this lintel prompts debate," says Debbie.

There's also a tennis court, added by past owners. Soon, Debbie plans to revamp the intriguing folly, but for now she's content watching the expression on guests' faces as they walk through the door. And very little crystal gets broken.

For details on Fawsyde House contact Cottages & Castles Ltd (01738 451610, www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk)