A perfect example of how to combine old and new stylishly awaits those viewing one special Nairn home.
Take a walk along Seabank Road in Nairn, pause outside Number 57, and you’ll find yourself looking at a home that’s witnessed a world that’s changed enormously since it was built more than a century ago.
What is unusual about this stunning detached house, is that although it dates back to 1895, it is one of the few remaining properties of this size to still exist in its entirety as a family home.
And what a fantastic family home it is. It has been extensively refurbished throughout to an exceptionally high standard and has many fine period features such as original 19th century tiling, pitch pine woodwork and panelling, fireplaces, cornicing as well as an impressive staircase.
The house is just a short walk away from the local golf club and the town’s soft, sandy beaches, which may have been one reason it was built in the first place. For Nairn was known as the “Brighton of the North” and “Riviera of Scotland” during Victorian times and thousands of people flocked here on a regular basis to enjoy the region’s relatively dry and sunny climate and take restorative walks along the beaches while soaking up the fine views across the Moray Firth.
Another reminder of the past is that the house sits in private grounds which includes a near complete large walled garden. The western boundary has mature trees including larch, beech, sycamore, and a variety of coniferous trees, while the main garden has a lawn, numerous flower beds and shrubs, rhododendron, cotoneaster and lupin which provide a beautiful variety and display of colour.
On the northern edge of the garden there are damson, plum and apple trees while the main garden and second garden are separated by a beech hedge.
The second garden has a vegetable plot and an area devoted to soft fruits including raspberry and gooseberry and has a walled grass and compost unit, so should you desire it, you could be self-sufficient in growing your own fruit and vegetables.
Outside, Seaton House, which is on the market at offers over £750,000, there are a number of outbuildings including a double garage, single garage and timber garden shed. Both garages have concrete floors and power connections.
Inside the house, particular highlights include an outstanding newly fitted dining kitchen designed in a traditional yet luxurious style. The floor is tiled with porcelain, the cabinetry and island are topped with black granite and there is a Lacanche range cooker, a model particularly rated by professional chefs.
From here, French doors open onto the garden, flooding the space with natural light.
Also of special note is the grand drawing room which features a triple aspect bay window and open fire with marble hearth. The library/study echoes the wood panelling seen in the drawing room, while the dining room’s open fireplace makes for a welcoming entertaining space.
Upstairs there is a delightful mezzanine with two bedrooms, one of which has en-suite bathroom. Further up on the first floor are four further bedrooms including the lavishly presented master bedroom which has a large bay window, fitted wardrobes, cabinets, and a dressing table and is a fabulous space. The en-suite shower room is fully tiled and features an over sized double walk-in shower.
The family bathroom is equally luxurious and indeed all the bath and shower rooms at Seaton House have a fabulous finish, with roll top freestanding baths and fixtures and fittings of the very highest quality.
Moving up to the second floor and there’s lots of room for the family and guests as this floor is home to a further two double bedrooms, both with coombed ceilings and two additional rooms, currently used as a study and an attic but which could bring the bedroom total up to 10. The decor throughout the house is neutral walls and paintwork, self-coloured carpets which means moving in and feeling at home very easy.
Savills director, Fiona Gormley said: “It is a real pleasure to launch a Victorian property that has been so excellently refurbished and which still remains as a substantial complete family home. The combination of Victorian style and splendour and 21st century standards of comfort and finish make Seaton House a very special property indeed.”
Contact: Savills on 01224 971110.
