Inside a modern coastal home with stunning island views

This Argyll build is perfectly placed to make the most of every sunset and sunrise thanks to its beautiful views.

"It is all about the location, the house is almost secondary,” says John Gallon of his home at 6 Ganavan Sands in Oban.

John and his wife Ena, who are from the north-east of England, were visiting the area in 2010 when they came across a small development taking shape, just on the edge of the spectacular beach.

John says: “When we first saw it, the house wasn’t built, the plot was actually just a rubbly spot, although, because it was part of a development of 18 homes, there was a showhouse which we were able to see.”

Picture: Savills

The project, by an Argyll builder, was for 18 bespoke properties on the site which overlooks the beach.

The incredible coastal views are over the isles of Lismore and Mull.

John says: “When we first viewed the plot, we went into an existing house, it was the evening and we watched this most magical sunset to the west.”

Picture: Savills

The couple fell in love with the location on the spot. So much so that not only did they buy the plot immediately, but three days later they negotiated with the builder to buy the vacant plot next to it, so that they could expand the house design.

The extra land gave outside space around the house, but also meant they could add 5 metres to the floor plan on both sides of the house and extend the front by 3m.

With two storeys, it added an extra 157sq m to create a very substantial property to take full advantage of the location.

Picture: Savills

The result is a house even bigger than the couple envisaged. John says: “We had a tiler comment that one of the upstairs bathrooms is as big as his whole flat.”

Picture: Savills

The couple, who are retired, worked in the health industry for a long time and designed the property with easy access for anyone with disabilities.

All the doors are wide and there is a downstairs bedroom looking out to sea adjoining a walk-in shower room.

Unsurprisingly, since moving in, the couples have been inundated with visitors from around the world.

John is a former captain of the British judo team and so friends he met through the sport have come from Japan, Europe and North America.

Picture: Savills

He says that a visiting overseas guest was the reason they discovered the West Coast.

“I used to run international summer judo camps and host top class judo teachers from Japan, who wanted to see some of the UK after the training.

"We were looking for recommendations on where to take them and were told to visit the west of Scotland, which we weren’t familiar with ourselves.

“I was amazed with the beauty and in the years since we holidayed in the area as much as possible, before seeing the plot and deciding to build.”

The couple lived in Japan for five years and the experience shows in the house.

John says: “We loved Japanese bathrooms, the Ofuro baths which are perfect after an intensive judo training session, so that has very much influenced the design of the bathrooms.”

Picture: Savills

The centrepiece of the house is the open-plan living space which includes both a sitting and dining area.

There is a double-sided open fireplace, a Spanish stone feature wall and three sliding doors to the front patio area which overlooks the beach and sea.

Picture: Savills

A further set of glazed double doors opens from the dining area into a formal sitting room which enjoys a triple aspect, including a stunning bay window again overlooking the sea.

Picture: Savills

Both the master bedroom and the upstairs study have access to balconies and outside is a paved patio with its own sea views.

“It is just amazing, you can’t begin to explain how fascinating and calming the view is,” says John.

Picture: Savills

“It is ever changing and so you can watch yachts, canoes or kite surfers, or just young families making the most of a sunny day.”

The couple’s daughter lives in Cyprus, and the call of grandchildren means they plan to spend more time there and so are reluctantly selling their West Coast idyll.

Picture: Savills

To say it will be a wrench is perhaps an understatement. John says: “Every time we have been away, when I return I just stand for a minute and look at the view and say ‘thank you’. ”

Picture: Savills

6 Ganavan Sands is on the market for offers over £875,000 with Savills.