The Cowieswells Project: Work has started!

Welcome

Cowieswells is a derelict farm south of Stonehaven in NE Scotland. We were lucky enough to acquire the place in August 2010 when we were moving back to the UK from Norway and looking for something to match or even better our previous, fjord-side home. The farm house and steading (barns) command an impressive and exposed cliff top location with fantastic views across the North Sea. The buildings were constructed from sandstone in a traditional style and our goal in rebuilding it is to be sympathetic to the original design whilst creating a much larger house which is modern, efficient and maximizes the unique views.

Since we bought the place we have spent over a year working with architects, planners and generally doing stuff that doesn't make for interesting reading. This blog picks up the renovation process in late 2011 when work outside got started. Over the coming months it will be updated every week or so with pictures, movies and the odd bit of text. Like Grand Designs but without the suave sarcasm of Kevin McCloud.

Sunday 18 March 2012

Work has started!

Last Monday we picked a builder and he said they would start in a couple of weeks.
On Friday I headed down there to paint the woodwork on the steading and was rather surprised to find a bunch of work man already stripping the place out. They has started on Tuesday - well at least they are keen and perhaps that means they will finish two weeks early!

Official start date of the build is 13th March 2012.

By the time we got there they had already taken the boards off the windows, stripped all the plaster off the walls and pulled the bathroom out. Fortunately our friend Graham had taken some pictures of the inside last time he was visiting - so here they are.