Turning an Old Piggery into a Dream Home
I’ll never forget the day I first laid eyes on this place. It was a dreary, rain-soaked afternoon in Aberdeenshire, and I had just driven up from Aberdeen to check out a former piggery that had been converted into a two-bedroom house. As I pulled up the gravel driveway, I was immediately struck by the building’s charm – its solid stone walls and pitched slate roof had a certain rustic allure, despite the shabby state it was in.
“This has potential,” I remember thinking to myself, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. You see, I’ve always been the type of person who sees opportunity where others see only problems. And boy, did this place have problems. The cramped, low-ceilinged rooms felt dark and claustrophobic. The dated decor and haphazard layout left a lot to be desired. But I could see beyond all that – I could envision what this place could become with the right renovations.
So, I took the plunge and bought the old piggery, determined to transform it into my dream home. It wasn’t going to be easy, but with the help of the talented team at ABC Home, I was confident we could create something truly special.
Rethinking the Floorplan
The first order of business was tackling the home’s layout. As it stood, the bedrooms were tiny and disconnected from the living spaces, while the kitchen and living room were on opposite ends of the house. This just wouldn’t do – I wanted an open, flowing floorplan that would maximize the use of every square inch.
After countless brainstorming sessions and design iterations with the architects at ABC Home, we landed on a brilliant solution: a two-storey extension. By adding a second floor, we could create a spacious master suite with an en-suite bathroom, while also reconfiguring the ground floor to have a seamless, open-concept layout.
“Building in flexibility for the future was my main motivation,” I explained to the project lead, Tess Lavery. “Adding that third bedroom would give us the extra space we might need down the line, in case my aging parents or other family members need to move in.”
Tess nodded in understanding. “It was crucial to bring in more light, open up the ceilings, and create a better connection to the outside spaces,” she said. “We wanted to make the most of the property’s beautiful woodland setting without compromising on privacy.”
Embracing the Old and the New
As the renovation progressed, I was amazed to see how seamlessly the new extension blended with the original stone building. The architects had really nailed the design, drawing inspiration from the existing structure’s pitched roof and using complementary materials like Russwood cladding and slate.
“We wanted to maintain a sense of the old while also creating something fresh and modern,” Tess told me. “Leaving the existing stone wall exposed in the master bedroom, for example, helps define the boundary between the original building and the new addition.”
I loved that touch of rustic charm, and it got me thinking about other ways we could celebrate the property’s history. So, I proposed using a mirrored backsplash in the kitchen – not only would it visually expand the space, but it would also create a subtle, reflective surface that would pay homage to the building’s former life as a farm outbuilding.
“The architects put forward ideas and suggestions throughout, for both inside and out,” I recall. “Elements like the shelving with inset LEDs, the bespoke timber units in the bathrooms, the sanitaryware – it was a true collaboration to ensure everything worked together seamlessly.”
Sustainable, Comfortable Living
Of course, as much as I wanted this renovation to be a design triumph, I was also determined to make it an eco-friendly, energy-efficient home. After all, what’s the point of creating a beautiful space if it’s going to cost a fortune to heat and maintain?
That’s why we chose to use Natural Building Technology’s innovative wood fibre insulation system throughout the new extension and existing structure. Not only does this natural material provide superior thermal and acoustic insulation, but it also allows the house to “breathe,” regulating indoor air quality and creating a healthier living environment.
“The properties of natural wood fibre allow the house to retain warmth in the winter and keep the heat out in the summer more effectively than conventional insulation,” Tess explained. “And thanks to the insulation, airtightness, heating, and construction improvements, we’ve been able to lower the ambient temperature without any reduction in comfort, saving energy and running costs.”
Pair that with the triple-glazed windows and underfloor heating, and I knew we were well on our way to transforming this old piggery into a cozy, energy-efficient forever home. Sure, the construction process was stressful at times, but seeing the final results has more than made up for it.
A Home for Life
As I sit here in my bright, open-concept living room, gazing out at the woodland beyond, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of pride and gratitude. This isn’t just a house – it’s a sanctuary, a place that has been meticulously crafted to suit my lifestyle and needs, both now and in the future.
“I won’t be doing this again: this is my home for good now,” I told Tess during one of our final site visits. “I’ve even added a ramp to the entrance to future-proof it as much as possible.”
The whole process, from the initial design phase to the last finishing touches, has been nothing short of transformative. I remember those early days, when I first laid eyes on the dilapidated piggery and saw nothing but problems. Little did I know that, with the right vision and the right team, I could turn that neglected building into the home of my dreams.
So, if you’re considering a home renovation or extension in Aberdeenshire, I urge you to think big. Don’t be afraid to reimagine the possibilities, to breathe new life into an old structure. With a little creativity and a lot of hard work, you too can transform your house into a truly unique and exceptional living space. Just like I did.
