IT WAS love at first sight for the Nicolsons when they set eyes on The Steading at Mains of Shiels, on the outskirts of Sauchen, seven years ago.
Deana, who is originally from Canada but has lived in Scotland for 20 years, and husband Kenny made the decision to convert a property and their hunt took them to a number of buildings around the north-east – but they knew the steading was right for them immediately.
“We decided to do a conversion as we wanted to put our own stamp on things. We are both creative and liked the idea of working together on a project.
“We must have looked at at least half-a-dozen places before we came here, but as soon as we came up over the hill and saw the steading, we fell in love,” Deana explained.
“The site is absolutely beautiful – you can see for miles, right across to Kemnay and Sauchen. We loved its surroundings.”
Over the years, the old farm building has had a number of uses – as well as housing farm animals, it has also been used as business offices and an art gallery.
“People tell me it was used as a steading right up until the 1960s, and when it was a gallery, people say huge pictures used to hang from the rafters and people could come and view them.”
The magnificent property comes complete with a two-bedroom granny annexe, which is where the couple called home for five years while the property project was under way.
“We didn’t realise just how big a job it was going to be when we bought it,” Deana said.
“We were never worried about the amount of work that needed to be carried out as we could visualise exactly how it would turn out.”
Deana spent time travelling around the north-east countryside taking pictures of converted buildings to ensure the finer details for the exterior of their home were perfect, and interior magazines were also a great source of inspiration.
“Plans started life on a mood board. It was a great way to show each other, and tradesmen, exactly how we wanted things.”
The end result is certainly impressive at the luxurious family home the couple share with daughter Murren, 6.
Features include Italian marble; Travertine and engineered oak flooring with underfloor heating throughout; rows of skylights in the vast vaulted ceilings; a heat-recovery ventilation system throughout; extra wide doors, and smoke and fire alarms linked to the mains supply.
The first thing to strike you when you enter the home is the huge amount of space on offer. The extremely spacious ground-floor accommodation includes vestibule with practical terracotta coloured ceramic tiling; massive split-level lounge/dining/kitchen on open plan with french doors to the garden; stylish high-gloss fully fitted kitchen, supplied by Laings, incorporating a large central island with black galaxy granite work surfaces; family room; dining hall with wood-burning stove, and cloakroom.
“The kitchen is an absolute pleasure to work in. I often stand and look out the french doors at the cars down on the road when I’m cooking and think how lucky I am to be indoors,” Deana joked.
The accommodation on the mezzanine floor, accessed by an oak open staircase, includes two double bedrooms; bathroom/wet room, and access to the double garage, workshop and utility room.
A magnificent split staircase constructed with solid oak, toughened glass, LED lighting and stainless steel is the focal point in the atrium, which is flooded with light from the vaulted skylights and a large first-floor landing window.
The split-level master bedroom with en-suite bathroom has a walk-in shower enclosure.
On the other landing, there are two double bedrooms and a spacious family bathroom, also with separate shower cubicle.
“The house is modern and contemporary – just how we wanted it – and looks so good because of the hard work done by the tradesmen. They played a huge part in the creation of the house.”
Outside, the grounds at The Steading extend to about 1.5 acres and are terraced with lawns, some woodland and dyking, and there is a secluded enclosed area ideal for summer entertaining and alfresco dining.
“The garden is fairly easy to maintain. I’m going to miss watching the plants and trees I’ve planted growing, especially in the summer when we have time to appreciate the outdoors.
“We get a lot of wildlife out here. There was a deer in the garden last summer, and there are owls and pheasants, too.”
The outside courtyard area leads to the granny annexe, complete with lounge, fully fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms and shower-room.
“It would be perfect as accommodation for a family member. My mum still lives in Canada so I always tell her she’s a granny and the flat is there for her,” Deana laughed.
“It could also be used as an office or could be used as a holiday let.”
The family are leaving the beautiful home they have worked hard to create behind to start a new life abroad through Kenny’s work in aviation.
“We are gutted to be leaving as we always imagined we’d be here for some time. I will miss the house, its location and the peace and quiet out here.”
The Steading, Mains of Shiels, Sauchen, is on the market for offers over £875,000. For further information, call selling agent Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace on 01467 629300.