THERE can’t be too many people who buy a house without stepping inside it – but Deborah and Kenny Murphy have done it twice.
The couple have been settled in the coastal village of Johnshaven these past six years, since Subsea engineer Kenny, 38, first browsed the estate agent window while he was in Aberdeen for business.
Deborah, 39, who works as a volunteer at Johnshaven Primary School, said: “Kenny works for the Denmark branch of Maersk and commutes to Copenhagen.
“He rang me up to tell me he had found an off-plan for this house and was so keen he drove down to Johnshaven to meet the builder.”
She added: “Kenny has always wanted to live by water, and when he viewed the plot and knew he would get his sea view, he was sold on the idea.”
Kenny could have been taking a big risk buying the four-bedroom house without his wife having seen it first.
But as luck would have it, not only did Deborah fall in love with Lathallan Grange and with Johnshaven, so did their two children, Devon, 16, and Logan, eight.
“Living in Johnshaven has been the best move we ever made,” said Deborah, who has just returned from staying in Singapore for the past 15 months.
“Kenny’s work took us to Singapore and although it was a great experience we thoroughly enjoyed, we couldn’t wait to return to Johnshaven.”
And just around the time Deborah was preparing to pack up in Singapore to return home, Kenny dropped a bombshell when he announced that a house in the village that she had long admired was up for sale.
Deborah said: “He’s never normally spontaneous, and to be honest, I felt it was too much for us to take on, especially not even being in the same country at the time.”
But Kenny knew Deborah had long hankered after the traditional five-bedroom house.
So, even though they had never even stepped over the threshold, he fulfilled Deborah’s wish and bought her next dream home.
“Our son Logan can’t believe he will be moving so close to his school,” said Deborah.
But she added they will be sad to leave Lathallan Grange, where their children have grown up.
“This has been an excellent family home to us and I’m sure whoever moves in will be as happy as we have been living here.”
The home, which features an unusual turret, is one of just 10 in a secluded development.
The modern, airy house, with the exception of the bathrooms, has Quick-Step flooring – adding to the contemporary feel.
In the light and airy lounge – Deborah’s favourite room – light floods through dual-aspect windows.
The hi-tech kitchen, fitted with glossy grey wall and base units, has a range of modern appliances.
From the kitchen, a door leads through to the utility room.
Two windows in the dining room offer views over the front and side of property. A handy cloakroom completes the lay-out of the ground floor.
A wooden handrail leads up the carpeted turret staircase and upstairs is the master bedroom with en-suite, a further three double bedrooms and family bathroom.
A quirky feature in the double garage is a climbing wall which the Murphys installed three years ago for the children.