WHILE Emma and Bernard Croal were visiting a garden centre in Banchory the seeds of a plan to move house were planted.
Emma said: “We were going round the centre and noticed a house being built nearby and thought it looked really nice.
“We had been thinking of moving, so we arranged to view it.”
And the couple were “total hooked at first sight”.
“We loved the design of the house and its location and how light it was inside, especially the lovely, big, open hall,” she said.
Emma, 38, a nurse at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and husband Bernie, 43, a clinical pathologist, also at ARI, had to give a lot of thought to moving.
“It wasn’t a frivolous thing as we had to think about schools for the children and finances before making a final decision.
“It just seemed right to do it at the time and once we had made the decision we just went for it.
“We knew Banchory well and often went walking there at weekends.”
The couple named their home Skyes – a reminder of their honeymoon on the Isle of Skye.
Looking round Emma and Bernie’s beautiful and ever-so-tidy home, it’s hard to believe they have two children, Jack, 13, and Meggie, 12, and a lovely black Labrador, Josie.
“I like things tidy and can’t be done with clutter. I’m a bit ruthless about throwing things out,” said Emma, laughing.
With the exception of Meggie’s brightly-painted pink room, the decor is fresh and neutral.
This, together with light carpets and wooden floors, adds to the feeling of extra space throughout.
The large, elegant lounge is well-used as it is where the family like to relax in the evening.
The focal point of the room is the attractive living-flame gas stove set on a stone hearth.
Bernie and Emma enjoy entertaining and having folk round.
The generous-sized dining room is perfect for these occasions as you can seat 12 round the huge table.
“When the doors into the lounge are open it makes a nice, big space for entertaining, said Emma.
“During the day we use the kitchen and sun room which has a door on to the patio. We’ve had lots of barbecues out there.”
The huge dining kitchen is fitted with an attractive range of maple base and wall units and a breakfast bar.
A square archway from the dining kitchen leads into the bright sun room with all-round windows providing views over the garden.
Also on the ground floor is a utility room, cloakroom and study.
Three velux windows allow plenty natural light into the welcoming, open hall.
A carpeted staircase with solid mahogany spindles and banister leads to the galleried upper landing.
The master bedroom is big and bright.
Emma said: “It has a walk-in dressing room which is handy as it saves taking up a whole wall with wardrobes.”
“Initially, the en-suite had a bath with a shower over it but we replaced it with a nice big shower cubicle.”
The lovely guest suite is light and airy with a wall of mirrored wardrobes and en-suite shower room.
The other three bedrooms are a generous size. Two have built-in wardrobes.
The family bathroom is fitted with a white suite and shower cubicle.
When the family first moved into Skyes nine years ago the garden was just a muddy patch.
Two weekends of hard slog and a lot of help from Emma’s brother John and his wife Hayley transformed the area.
“Hayley and I became dab hands at moving patio slabs,“ said Emma with a laugh.
“John built a low wall along the edge of the patio and we planted evergreen shrubs.”
The garden is totally enclosed and was perfect for the children to run around in as they were growing up.
The Croal family are preparing to leave Skyes to undertake a very special project.
Emma said: “We have always wanted to design and build our own house.
“Not many plots come up for sale in Banchory but we have managed to buy one.
“We just thought now is the time to do it.”