coastal self build | 25bh
spacious and to have lots of windows to
make the most of the views and proximity
to the sea,’ she says. ‘I’d seen a picture of a
house designed by a Belgian architect, with
a gable end of glass, which worked really
well in a similar setting, so I drew some
sketches with my uncle and recruited a
draughtsman to draw up the detailed plans.’
Favouring a simple, open-plan layout,
Iona planned out each room with the view
as the main focal point. ‘I wanted the sea
to be visible when I was working in the
kitchen and when everyone was sitting
at the dining table,’ says Iona. ‘Even the
downstairs bathroom has sliding doors
instead of a window.’ Iona also wanted
the house to have good eco credentials,
and chose underfloor heating fuelled by an
air source heat pump, and a woodburning
stove for back-up heating.
Iona applied for planning permission
in 2012 and the house was finished in early- ‘My cousin, Cameron Hay, a joiner,
built the house,’ she says. ‘I co-ordinated the
project from London, visiting the site every
four to six weeks. My parents helped out,
too, cleaning up and providing food and
accommodation for the workmen.’
Converting the net store wasn’t entirely
problem-free, however. ‘It’s a very long,
narrow site and the original ruin was built
against the rock at the back of the house,’
says Iona. ‘The rock is Lewisian gneiss,
which is very hard. We had to break it away
KITCHEN-
DINER
‘I made the dining
table and benches
myself,’ says Iona.
Try the Pedestal dining
table, £1,650, Rustic
Oak. Hacker cabinets,
price on application,
Drumoak Kitchens.
Neff ceiling extractor,
£1,209, John Lewis &
Partners. The Studio
Haran bar stools, £280,
Notonthehighstreet.
com, are similarATTIC
This relaxing space
benefits from a
gable view of the
distant coastline.
Leather pouffe
in Chocolate, £150,
John Lewis & Partners.
The Blackcurrant
wool throw would
also work here, £85,
Bronte by Moon.
Candy ombre pom-
pom cushion is similar,
£32.50, Biggie Bestfavourite room ‘I adore the upstairs attic
space, which is great for taking in the views’
25bh JuNe 2019 | 23