Countryside hide away

Nestled by the vast fields of Aberdeenshire with views toward Royal Deeside, even as far as Lochnagar, Smiddy Cottage offers its residents not just privacy but a real hide away from hectic corporate lives. Curated Stories Interiors had the extraordinary opportunity to design and project-manage the entirety of Smiddy Cottage after the property had been left unoccupied for several years. 

With sympathetic design towards the Mid Century setting of the property, and the considerable existing collection of same-era furniture from its new owners, Smiddy Cottage was transformed into a beautiful and comfortable home of design classics with a Scandinavian twist. Designs of Ercol, Vitra and Aalto are weaved together with modern classics like Secto, Muuto, and Buster & Punch.

Thoroughly gentle and calm colour scheme compliments the natural finishes of wood and sleek surfaces of coloured glass in the collected artworks. Locally sourced woollen fabrics sewn with thermal linings and elegant pinch pleats for the window dressing were combined with sleek venetian blinds to create a dreamy cocooned atmosphere in the cottage; a play of shadows and reflections of light, and to provide softness to its rural setting.

In its entirety the project's design work included the porch, entrance hall, bedroom, living room, sunroom, kitchen, bathroom and the converted attic space. All old carpets were lifted and replaced with high quality natural woollen coverings, all ceilings and walls were skimmed and painted (or just painted) whilst the wood work and doors were substantially untouched. Bathroom was gutted and re-built with new shower and toilet, skimmed and painted ceiling and walls, tiled floor and bespoke designed and built sink unit. Kitchen had a major upgrade with new handles, taps, worktops and appliances. Fitted wardrobes were spruced up in the bedroom and all new furniture was sourced. Living room had minor structural changes in the shape of additional fitted alcove shelving and cupboard, and a little ledge shelf above the existing fireplace was reinstated. The sunroom was turned into a dining room filled with art and Mid Century modern spirit. All new seating and coffee table were bought for the space. The sunroom was turned into a dining room filled with art, decorative objects and Mid Century modern spirit. 

Upstairs of Smiddy Cottage the transformation was complete as walls were removed, a new heating system and boiler fitted, and floor boards sanded and painted. All walls were stripped, skimmed and painted. Throughout the property all sockets and plugs were checked, re-wired and modernised with stainless steel plates. All lighting was changed and ambient lighting introduced were possible. Storage solutions were given extra attention and was added to the porch in the shape of built in blanket boxes, in the kitchen in the form of floating shelving and in the attic by introducing a bespoke six meter length of cupboard space and a bespoke walk-in wardrobe.

What once was a run-down cottage has now become a most wonderful and comfortable home, giving the owners an elegantly arranged modern life complete with roaring fire. As the lights glimmer from between the curtains and blinds Smiddy Cottage provides a beautiful example of a modern hide away and a dream of something distant and far away that can in fact be very real.