YOU might think that after building your own home from scratch, moving into one that’s already built would be an easy option.
But not for the Button family.
They bought this lovely five-bedroom home in Banchory three-and-a-half years ago.
But rather than settle in right away, they’ve spent the time since painstakingly refurbishing it from the inside out.
“We thought very long and hard about what we wanted to do with this property,” said 45-year-old Hamish, who is general manager of the Subsea Integrity group.
“The house was built by Bett Homes in the 1970s and when we got it, it was a bit of a mess.
“But we were attracted to it because it was within easy walking distance of Banchory Academy and had a great garden and tremendous views.”
Hamish, wife Julie, a 45-year-old dental hygienist, and their children Emily, 19, and Henry, 17, were returning to the North-east after a spell living in Houston.
And having built his first house himself, Hamish was experienced enough to take on a new challenge.
“The back garden was surrounded by overgrown Leylandii hedging,” said Hamish.
“Taking them down was the first job to get done.
“It opened up the garden again and made it much brighter than it had been.
“We then planted a laurel hedge which has given us privacy again, although we’ve only got one neighbour and no one overlooks us.”
Both keen gardeners, Hamish and Julie also had a large greenhouse installed, which they have used to grow cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers.
They’ve also built new steps outside, while indoors they’ve totally remodelled the kitchen and dining room, putting down new wooden flooring, installing fireplaces and redecorating the property throughout
“We’ve completely gutted the place and replaced almost all the internals, right back to the floorboards,” said Hamish.
“And as we’ve been decorating, we’ve given it a lot of thought, such as how to make the most of the views from the living room.
“And one of the advantages has been remodelling everything with a high spec, using fixtures and fittings designed for the long term.”
Standout features of this impressive home includes its cosy lounge, with a large picture window commanding views of the Dee Valley beyond.
And fans of entertaining will love the modern kitchen, which leads to the dining room via a square archway.
The warm wooden floors are complemented by a neutral decor and the occasional, quirky twist here and there.
Like the unusual sculpture of a tree that hangs above the lounge fireplace, an art piece bought while living in the States.
Although the couple had planned to live in the house for longer, children Emily and Henry have both now left for university in Glasgow, earlier than expected.
And Hamish has grand plans for their next home.
“We’ve bought a plot in Kinneff and will be building a house again,” he added.
“I hope this will be our final dream home and I’ve been thinking architecturally about what we want to achieve.”