Interiors: The Lennons make the most of stunning views with an oak-framed new build

BRIAN and Isobel Lennon never tire of the view from their home at Pettoch Farm, two minutes from Coylton.

They built the house so each room has an open view over the rolling countryside outside the Ayrshire town of Coylton. The couple moved to the area eight years ago with the intention of building a home for their retirement. However, they have found themselves renovating an old farmhouse, converting and extending a former granary and a stone barn, as well as building a whole new property.

In January 2011, they started work on the Old Stone Barn – they have used part of the original 1870 building and extended it to create an oak-framed house. The combination of the stone, the big oak beams and the use of glass to grab those views is inspiring. “I bought this farm as Isobel wanted to be nearer to the family and grandchildren in Ayr, plus it is to be our retirement house,” admits Brian.

“When we sold the farmhouse, I decided that we should build an oak-framed house as we are in the countryside and I felt the house should have a combination of natural materials and character. I spent a long time looking at the plot, the view, the wind direction, how the sun rises and sets and so on before giving our architect a brief. The oak structure is amazing – it is totally pegged, so there are no nails in it.”

The oak frame was supplied by oak frame specialist Oakwrights. The custom-built house sits in a C-shape, with one side accommodating three bedrooms, two en-suites and a WC, the other side claiming a vast open-plan dining kitchen with family area and utility room, while the middle section features a fourth bedroom with an en-suite, the main sitting room and an entrance porch. Every room, including the bathrooms, has the oak beams exposed on the walls and ceilings.

Brian decided to install an Opus home entertainment system as well as underfloor heating throughout the house, with an engineered oak floor in most rooms to complement the oak doors and skirtings. He also insisted on a super-insulated ‘warm roof structure’. Every bathroom claims a different design, with varying Porcelanosa tiles being used to great effect along with free-standing baths and rain showers.

The couple, who own The Great Outdoor stores in Troon and Largs, moved in a year ago and have taken their time to furnish and decorate it. Their son Ryan owns the Designer Rooms in Ayr, so has given lots of advice on the interior, as well as supplied the wall coverings.

“You have to go with the flow when building your own house – you have to be relaxed about it as things don’t always go to plan and materials don’t always turn up when they are supposed to. For me, when I saw the oak frame going up and then the joiners putting the walls in I really got a feel for where I would place furniture and I could suddenly see where my kitchen would be.”

The Bauformat kitchen is planned to take advantage of the views. It has a dining table at one end and a 4.1m-long Silestone-topped central island contains the induction hob and sink. Double doors lead out to the garden, while a sofa and armchairs at the ‘family’ end of the room enjoy the best of the views. Brian also oversaw the installation of a slate wall that links the original stone barn to the new oak-framed house.

The main living room is an equally striking space, with solid beams and a full-height ceiling. Isobel has chosen caramel-coloured leather sofas and a gold rug to tone with the wood, with the main wall featuring a tree-themed covering. She has mixed older family pieces such as a display cabinet, a card table and an antique grandfather clock with a new glass coffee table and lamps.

The couple have spent the past few months building the last property in the Pettoch Farm hamlet and intend moving into it when they sell the Old Stone Barn. While they have endured a mountain of work to get to this position today, I can’t help feeling that they will miss the excitement of seeing a house come together, ensuring it blends with the countryside while taking advantage of those all-important views. “I have really enjoyed the shopping side of things,” laughs Isobel. “I have loved looking at bathrooms and kitchens and working out what we need for the house. I really will miss that part when we are settled again.”

• The Old Stone Barn is for sale at offers over £440,000 through Clyde Property (01292 262777, www.clydeproperty.co.uk); Living Oak Homes (www.livingoakhomes.co.uk);

Oakwrights is exhibiting at the Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the SECC, 19-20 May (www.scotland.homebuildingshow.co.uk)