The phrase dream home gets banded about a lot when talking to people about their homes.
They might have built their dream home or uncovered it when they weren’t even looking.
But for Mike Strachan, he knew as a young boy exactly what his dream home would be.
“Mike had grown up in Inverurie and as a little boy he used to play around here and always said ‘one day I will own that house, someday I’ll live there’,” said Nadia, 50, his wife.
“Then Holm Cottage came on the market 23 years ago and we both really wanted it. And we got it.”
“It was for the same reason that I like it now as I did when I was a wee boy,” Mike, 59, added.
“You are surrounded by countryside and yet you are two minutes from the town centre. It’s the perfect combination. You have the woods, the river, it’s a kid’s dream really.”
The large historic house has been home to Mike and Nadia, as well as their children Richard, 29, Shona, 27, and Jack, 25, for more than two decades.
It is a beautiful home, filled with light and space, with the original part dating back to the 1800s. A gorgeous conservatory was added 15 years ago and each room has been beautifully restored and updated, each in its own unique way.
The kitchen, which was once a formal dining room, is one of the highlights of the house. A large space filled with bespoke, handcrafted furniture is the perfect hub of the house with a cosy, snug lounge and French doors leading to the conservatory.
A second lounge and family room are also great spaces to enjoy an evening in while, upstairs, there are four great-sized bedrooms, some with dual aspect windows.
Downstairs on the garden level is a treasure trove of space with one room being used as a gym – with its own shower – a cloakroom and a storage room.
The house, which is on the market for offers over £830,000, is absolutely spectacular – but it didn’t always look like this.
When the Strachans first bought Holm Cottage, it was in some dire need of lots of TLC. But far from put off, they were up for the challenge.
“We gutted it completely. We did an extensive remodelling job. We had to rewire, replumb, everything. It was a lot of work. There wasn’t even any floorboards on the ground floor at one point,” Nadia, who owns William Strachans shop in Inverurie’s West High Street with Mike, said.
“The work started in August and it was completed by Christmas though. I was stuffing the turkey while they were still putting the doors on the units in the kitchen.”
“We had two dogs and three young children at the time,” Mike said.
“We’d never done anything like it before and looking back, I’m not quite sure how we did it.”
There are so many lovely qualities to this house that I can imagine it is quite hard to pick a favourite. But Nadia and Mike admit there are some rooms that are top of the list.
“Our favourite areas change with the seasons really,” Nadia explained.
“It’s definitely a house that you can enjoy all year round. In the summer we spend most of our time in the conservatory and in the winter we can gather around the fire in the lounge but mostly we spend time in the snug and kitchen area.
“The conservatory is a great room, especially with the glass roof. You can lie out on the settee at night and watch the stars. And during the day you can watch all the wildlife that gathers in the garden. It’s great.”
The children, who are all grown up and flown the nest, definitely seemed to have a favourite area – the garden level. One of the rooms on this level is a games room, a great space to have parties as well.
Nadia said: “The kids loved it down there. Because there is a door at the bottom of the stairs you can just close it over and they can have their fun but you know where they are. I’ve had people come up to me saying they had some great times at our house which was nice.”
It is the space, however, that this family has really grown to love. No one is on top of each other and has their own space but there are lovely cosy areas where everyone can gather.
“We’ve got a big extended family who live locally and they all gather at our house because we have all this space so it’s great,” Nadia added.
“We have been very spoiled here but I don’t think it will be until we move out that we realise just how lucky we were to have this house.”
The location is also something that makes this house quite special. Looking at the name of this house, Holm Cottage, you might not think you know where it is. But take a look at a map and many who know Inverurie will definitely know where this house is.
It is surrounded by beautiful countryside as well as woodland – being part of the Keith Hall Estate – while being just minutes from the centre of Inverurie. It is definitely one of the town’s best-kept secrets.
“It’s just such a unique home. You are surrounded by countryside and yet you can catch a bus into town in seconds. A footpath goes over the railway line and has you in town within minutes,” Nadia said.
“We have a four-car garage but with the distance to the town you wouldn’t have to drive anywhere. It’s a fabulous location.”
It is fitting that this house is located in Inverurie, a town that is also quite special in its own right.
Although noted for being one of the fastest growing towns in Aberdeenshire, it has never lost its charm and character. The High Street is lined with lovely independent shops while restaurants, supermarkets and great schools are also located here.
“It’s an ideal place to bring up children,” Nadia added.
As the Strachan’s children are all grown up now, Mike and Nadia have decided to sell their house, one they say is a “family home” and want to give another family the chance to enjoy it.
“I will definitely miss the space, both inside and out,” Mike said.
“It’s been better than I could have ever imagined. But there is a time and place for everything and it’s our time to move on.”
Contact: The Kellas Partnership on 01467 627333.
