ELAINE and Ron Boyd were in New York when they heard their offer on The Mill at Middle Toucks, Stonehaven had been accepted.
The couple were in the Big Apple celebrating Ron’s 40th and this exciting news made it another good reason to break open the champagne.
And while there they even acquired some furniture for their new home.
Elaine, 46, said: “We were shopping in Bloomingdale's and I sat down on a sofa for a rest while Ron went to get a present wrapped. It was really comfortable and got chatting to the salesman whose name funnily enough was George Couch.
“He said he could have two sofas shipped over in three weeks so we bought them.”
When Elaine and Ron, 49, a health and safety data manager with Shell, first moved from the Central Belt they rented a property in Monymusk.
At that time both their jobs involved a lot of travel and being away from home for long spells.
Elaine said: “We decided to move and base ourselves in the Aberdeen area to have a proper lifestyle and better work balance.
“One day while looking in an estate agent’s window we saw a picture of a lounge that caught our eye.
“We came to see this one, it was totally different and we fell in love with it.
“It’s got such a warm, happy feeling.”
This stunning property stands in an acre of land in a peaceful rural setting but only a short drive from the A90.
Having been converted just 18 months previously it was in very good order when Elaine and Ron moved there in March 2000.
The huge formal lounge, which was originally a cowshed, was the selling point for Elaine.
She said: “I still love it. It has the most amazing views across open countryside down to Stonehaven and the sea.”
The home features a semi-vaulted ceiling and five windows which flood every corner of the room with light. It also features an eye-catching gas fire set on a stone hearth. A staircase leads to the master bedroom.
The dining room is spacious and a wonderful room for entertaining with steps leading through to the lounge.
Furnished in warm colours and with a feature gas stove-effect fire the family room is cosy and inviting.
The real wow factor of this house is the sensational sun lounge which was built using green oak.
“One of the reasons we were originally looking for a plot was that we wanted to build a house using green oak,” said Elaine. “The sun lounge mirrors the lounge and it had to be the same proportions and shape.
“I wouldn’t have any other type of conservatory. It was three times the original budget but well worth it.”
The couple’s two golden retrievers Barney and Brodie love the underfloor heating.
“When they get washed we put them in there and they steam dry,” said Elaine.
To continue the oak theme through to the dining kitchen the couple fitted a complimentary range of modern base and wall units.
Also on the ground floor is bedroom four, a shower room and a boot room.
Upstairs is a lovely bright and airy master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, two further huge rooms and a luxury shower room.
The front garden was strewn with old garden machinery which over the years had become overgrown with weeds.
“We had it cleared and added about 400 tonnes of top soil.
“It’s mainly lawn with trees, borders and patios for easy maintenance,” said Elaine.
Above the double garage is where daughter Cara, 6, and her friends like to disappear to as it houses a large playroom.
There is also a cloakroom with two-piece suite.
The couple are leaving The Mill as Elaine, who now works as a part-time accountant with Pert Bruce Construction, went to see a house they were building south of Montrose.
“I fell in love with it,” she said.
“It’s in the most stunning location I have ever seen.
“We were torn for a long time whether to sell or not as we just love it here.”