LH202P - Kirkhill, Inverness-shire

Set within a quiet corner of Kirkhill, west of Inverness, this LH202P replaces an older traditional white house. Demolition was not an easy decision, particularly within an established Highland village, so the new house was designed to preserve the memory and character of its predecessor.

White rendered walls and a pitched slate roof maintain the familiar appearance of a traditional village house; wherever possible, slate from the original cottage was reused. A low, timber-clad entrance and utility wing forms a restrained contemporary counterpoint. Carefully controlled proportions, established hedging and the house’s position on the original plot allow the new building to sit comfortably among its older neighbours.

The home was commissioned by local artist Frances Baxter, who undertook the project on her own with remarkable determination and resilience. HebHomes supplied the highly insulated SIP structure, while affiliated contractor Simpson Builders completed the turnkey build.

Inside, the LH202P’s vaulted, double-height living room is flooded with daylight from generous garden glazing and rooflights. Pale walls and floors provide a gallery-like backdrop for Frances’s paintings, sculpture, textiles and collected furniture. Antique timber pieces, richly patterned rugs and objects gathered over a lifetime bring warmth and individuality to the clean contemporary spaces. A dedicated studio opens towards the garden, creating a quiet and inspiring place in which to work.

The garden is an artwork in its own right. Gravel courts, paved terraces and precisely edged beds create a strong underlying structure, softened by clipped hedging, young trees, flowering pots and vivid seasonal planting. Together, house, collection and garden form an exceptionally personal home: contemporary in performance and space, yet deeply connected to its owner and to the village it inhabits.

The house can also be explored through its interactive virtual tour.