Interiors: The Old Larder

When New York-born architect Bill Staempfli was called upon to convert a historic building on one of Scotland's most beautiful estates he couldn't say no. In the first place he relished the prospect and in the second, the client was his wife.

• The open plan sitting/ dining area

Last year Bill and Tessa Tennant completed a six-month project to convert The Old Larder, which, like the laundry adjacent to it, was originally a service wing for the turreted and towered Glen House. This magnificent Baronial pile, set within its own glen in the Tweed Valley, was built in the mid-19th century for Charles Tennant, a young entrepreneur who made his fortune in Glasgow during the Industrial Revolution.

The couple first planned the larder's conversion two years ago, and reached the stage of putting the work to tender.

"But the economy wobbled," says Bill, "The project had to pay for itself and it just wasn't feasible."

Further down the line the couple applied for a grant from The Scottish Rural Development Programme, which injects money into the rural economy via diversification projects. The grant, explains Bill, paid for half the original construction budget, and ultimately a quarter of the project's total cost. Bill points out that the larder and laundry here are unusual in that they are located on the approach to Glen House, leaving stunning, unbroken views from the house itself.

"These service wings are more like two standalone houses dressed up for a grand entry," he says.

The larder occupied two unconnected levels, the lower accommodating a cart shed and, within a brick vault, a wine cellar, while fresh game would have been taken to the upper level to be dressed and hung.

"Rather ghoulish hooks were still in evidence upstairs," says Bill. Intent as he was on preserving original features, it was a step too far to retain these in the new bedrooms.

One of the biggest challenges was linking the two floors, a task Bill addressed with sensitivity. An elegant stone staircase was the end result. "'High craft' features can make 21st-century tradesmen a little panicky," he says; "But our builders raised their game and were ultimately proud of what they achieved." In fact the masonry wasn't as tricky as the crafting of the carved oak handrail that wraps around the cast iron balustrade.

Peebles-based contractors Stanley Brash Construction provided all trades required, which Bill and Tessa valued for convenience and continuity.

Heating the building, which was taken back to bare stone during the renovations, was also challenging. Bill favoured rigid foam insulation, adhered to plasterboard and attached to the stonework with retention of a ventilation gap.

"It's unusual for such a building to be so well insulated," he says.

An environmental financier, Tessa is keen to pursue carbon neutral solutions, and the electric hot water boiler that feeds the larder's radiators is designed for future integration with a wood-chip "district heating" scheme.

This cosy abode was also fitted with a wood burner, housed within a stone fireplace in the open plan sitting/dining room that shares the ground level with the kitchen.

"We found the fire surround in bits in one of the estate's stables," says Bill, who believes it had been rejected at some stage from the main house. Piecing the stonework back together was, he says, akin to an archaeological process.

Flagstones throughout this lower level are original, but were found by Bill within the upstairs "service" area where a sturdy floor had been necessary. Since the intention was to create two bedrooms (the Old Larder sleeps four) reminiscent of accommodation in the main house, Bill had these flagstones lifted and reset on the lower level, from which original cobbles were removed.

"The flagstones slotted into place like a huge jigsaw puzzle," says Bill.

Although trained as a modernist, it didn't seem right to Bill to put contemporary design inside the old shell on this project. He worked hard to retain and re-use rather than replace features. No new internal doors were bought as existing ones were salvaged and relocated. Even where there was a need to buy new features Bill went to great lengths to source appropriate finishes. Keen to avoid lacquered brass door and window fittings, he found designs with a natural patina at Edina Lock & Key in Edinburgh.

Among the most eye-catching original features is the vaulted brick ceiling (within the old wine cellar) under which the kitchen is now found. The ceiling shape influenced the kitchen's design; instead of wall-mounted cabinets, shelves from the upper floor were saved and re-instated here. Bill and Tessa chose cream painted units and oak worktops from Magnet.

"We've modelled kitchens in all the estate cottages on the simple design of the butler's pantry in the main house," explains Bill.

Upstairs, existing internal walls were reconfigured to create a new twin bedroom with en suite bathroom, and a double bedroom with en suite shower. Plumbing was made relatively simple by locating the en suites close to each other, as well as to the utility room for the main house.

Traditional-style bathroom fittings that capture the spirit of the building came from Bathstore.com, with toilets boasting overhead cisterns and chain pulls. A re-surfaced claw-foot bath was sourced from restoration experts at All About Baths in Edinburgh.

Keen to reflect the mood of Glen House in this upper level, the couple floored both en suites in parquet.

"It looks and feels warm, and can be as practical as tiles," says Bill.

Meanwhile the two bedrooms were floored with a green carpet, also inspired by the interior of Glen House. Most furniture and artwork - including a portrait of Charles Tennant positioned on the upstairs landing to allow him a window view - was sourced from the main house collection, although the splendid four-poster bed belonged to Tessa's mother.

The Old Larder successfully merges historical resonance with contemporary convenience (there's wifi and a discreet flat screen TV). French doors open from the sitting/dining room to a cobbled yard, and there's access to a courtyard too. As for the estate, its 5,000 acres encompass parkland, moorland, hills and lochs as well as beautiful gardens, and guests can arrange seasonal trout fishing or a spot of falconry.

Bill had immense fun working on this whimsical abode, and, fortunately, his client is delighted with the results.

For details on The Old Larder contact Cottages & Castles Ltd, tel: [phone], www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk

• This article first appeared in The Scotsman Magazine, Saturday 29 January, 2011