A “CUTE” cottage in Moffat wowed the judges to be crowned the regional winner on the Scottish Home of the Year show.
And Honeysuckle Cottage will now represent the South area in the TV programme’s final, when the country’s top home will be revealed.
The show’s three judges fell in love with the bijou Annandale property owned by Bryony Ladd and each awarded it ten out of ten for style and design, describing it as “a cute place” and “a very strong finalist”.
Teacher Bryony, handyman husband Mark and their two sons have lived there since 2011.
Discussing its history, she said: “The cottage used to be a weaver’s cottage and was built in the 1700s. It was extended in the 1990s to add another bedroom on the ground floor and then stairs to go down to another bedroom.
“We converted the basement into an en-suite and added another extension to give a sunroom and another bedroom.”
She summed up their design as ‘homely, colourful and eclectic with modern country elements’, adding: “It is a warm, welcoming place to live in which suits our family, pets and lifestyle.
“We like the layout which gives a great family, social home but also allows a parent retreat downstairs.”
Expanding on her decorating inspirations, she said: “I followed the feel, age and setting to decide on the interiors, referencing the local colours found in the landscape and gardens.
“I also believe a house should reflect its owners and we have done that through rooms which show our own personalities. We have a real mix of modern and second hand pieces of furniture which seem to work with the house. Ultimately I want our home to feel welcoming and nice to be in for us and for anyone who visits.”
Entering the TV show marks the end of an era for them, as Bryony explained: “Our house has been a passion of ours for the last ten years and it felt a fitting end to this chapter of our renovation experience – from starting with zero skills and learning on the way to finish a home which is able to stand alongside others in the show as a finished project.
“Normally you never sit back and reflect on what you have done so this has allowed us to do that.
“The experience has been really positive, although it was bizarre knowing the judges were in our house and not knowing what they said! We hope they loved the cottage as much as we do. We hope we have done the South proud.”
Since filming last year they have bought a new ‘dream house’ project – a seven-bedroom Victorian manse, which needs work including fixing dry rot, rewiring and plumbing.
Runner up on the home show was Kirtle Water Grange at Kirtlebridge, home to John Pagani and Dan Palmer. It scored 26 out of 30, with one judge calling it ‘The River Ranch party palace’.
