Interiors: Karin Karlsen’s 18th-century farmhouse near Loch Lomond includes a stone barn which is perfect for having family celebrations without disturbing the neighbours

When the owner of Townhead of Aber, Karin Karlsen, moved into her 18th-century farmhouse near the conservation village of Gartocharn five years ago, the views over Loch Lomond to Ben Lomond kept stress levels to a minimum.

For Karin, who has spent time in Norway and New England, moving to the country wasn’t simply a matter of location; she wanted the farmhouse interior to reflect the space and light of the natural landscape.

Given that Townhead of Aber is set in almost an acre of grounds just a few minutes walk from a sandy beach on the south east shores of Loch Lomond and Endrick Nature Reserve, Karin didn’t have to look far for inspiration for the interior of her whitewashed, slate-roofed rural hideaway.

“I was driving round looking for a suitable property when I noticed the For Sale sign and contacted the sales agent immediately,” recalls Karin. “The house had only been on the market a week and I put an offer in straight away.

“What sold it to me was the stone barn, as it’s an amazing space which is perfect for parties and occasions such as birthdays and Christmas; in fact the previous owners used it for a wedding reception.

“The farmhouse itself was no less intriguing as it dates back to 1790 and I have photographs of people who lived there at the turn of the last century, as well as a copy of the 1881 census. It appears to have been home to a huge amount of people at that time.”

As the property had been renovated in the 1970s, when Karin took ownership the interior was more Boogie Nights than bucolic, with a palette of orange pine, disco blue walls and oxblood carpets. This was the polar opposite of Karin’s vision of a pared-back, down-to-earth contemporary country look.

Barn-style doors open to a hallway, which gives way to the sitting room with its oiled pitch pine floor and wood-burning stove. Above the fireplace is a portrait, by Glasgow-based artist Muriel Barclay, of Karin’s son and daughter which Karin says completely captures their personalities.

Karin has injected the room itself with character, with plaques and Shaker-style pieces from New England, antlers from Knoydart and a white chest/coffee table in mango wood, which Karin has painted beach hut white.

“I love that everyone puts their feet up on the coffee table as it gets chipped and rubbed back, which gives it a weathered look,” says Karin. “The antique quilts and blankets on the sofa have a similar feel and create layers of interest and colour.

“Comfy is the brand name for a particular type of 1930s quilt, often covered in Paisley pattern fabric and now highly collectible. There’s nothing quite like curling up in front of the fire wrapped up in one of these cosy quilts,” she says.

As Karin wanted an easy flow of space and continuity throughout the farmhouse, she knocked down the kitchen walls to create dual aspects from the front to the back of the house. She stripped back the floors and put down riven slate floors in the kitchen and bathrooms, and installed a four-oven oil-fired Aga, which not only warms the house but also heats the water.

This is a proper country kitchen with walk-in pantry, painted Shaker-style cabinetry, iroko wood worktops and Belfast sink. The kitchen steps lead down a level into a hallway which doubles as a boot room and where doors lead to the front and rear gardens.

Off this hallway is the en suite master bedroom, simply decorated in white, but embellished with charcoal and white gold silk, interlined curtains. Karin says her most treasured possession is the Georgian mirror, which belonged to her late father.

It’s a flexible home with the two further bedrooms on this level currently used as a study and dressing room; the shoe-obsessed Karin describes the latter as a particular luxury. All accommodation is on one level with the exception of two sizeable upstairs bedrooms. With its charming open fire and views towards Loch Lomond, the larger of the bedrooms was used as a sitting room by the previous owners.

By choreographing the shape, tone and texture of the interior with restraint, and decorating most of the rooms white to reinforce the light, Karin has created a home that harmonises quietly with the nearby fields, hills and shores.

Across the yard from the farmhouse, the traditional stone-built barn which initially captured Karin’s imagination, incorporates a party room with double-height vaulted ceiling, wood-burning stove, flagstone floor, bar and kitchen areas, and mezzanine level.

“This is a fantastic home for a family,” points out Karin, “and if you love the outdoors, it’s a magical place to be - you can even watch otters and birds at the nature reserve just a few minute’s walk away.

“Gartocharn is an active community, with the village hall the focal point for activities such as art groups, a gardening club and the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute. We also have a village shop, weekly farmer’s shop, mobile bank and library, and a nursery and primary school, with the school bus passing our front door.”

When she drives home from Glasgow, 20 miles away, Karen says she feels a sense of peace and calm as soon as Loch Lomond comes into view. The farmhouse falls within Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park which covers an area of around 720 square miles.

Now that her children have left home, Karin feels it is time to downsize. “I’ll particularly miss the family parties in the barn, particularly on Christmas Day with the lights on the tree and the log fire blazing, but I feel so fortunate to have lived in such a special house.”

• Offers over £550,000 are invited for Townhead of Aber. Contact Savills (0141-222 4109)