A bespoke Design & Build Home near Kinross

Our Client

Billy and Irene MacIntyre planned to build their dream home and found their idyllic spot at Middle Balado by Kinross.  The MacIntyres had a very clear vision of what they wanted their new home to provide and approached Richmond Homes following personal recommendation and extensive research.

The brief

A key desire was for the home to be designed to provide as much 'ecological living' as possible.  There were various constraints of planning permission on the site and, in particular, the front elevation to the north side of the home was to appear as single storey.  As well as their ecological passion and a desire for the space to be both functional and flexible, the MacIntyres also wished for a home that would provide them and their family with ‘live-in luxury’.

The design solution

The location and orientation of the plot determined many of the design features.  The design takes advantage of solar gain through large glazed areas to the South facing elevation, whereas the North elevation has fewer glazed areas to reduce heat loss. 

The MacIntyres wished to use traditional materials where possible therefore the design makes use of real slate roof tiles and grey slate walling but combines this with crisp white render to produce the very contemporary look and feel they wanted to achieve.  A glass and stainless steel balcony adds to the desired crisp external finish whilst an integrated veranda provides both architectural interest and a sheltered outdoor living space.

Ecological considerations

The major ecological considerations were to reduce energy costs and be good for the environment; in order to achieve this various leading edge approaches were implemented.  The insulation properties of the home were of prime importance. The floors, walls and ceilings used some of the lowest heat transfer specifications currently available incorporating a variety of insulation materials in their make-up.

The glazing is of a higher specification than local authority requirements and is achieved by a different form of inert gas fill to the cavity.  The glazing on the south of the home provides excellent 'solar gain' which will be retained in the floor slab thus reducing the demands on the central heating.  In the summer the house will be ventilated using the remote control roof windows or the installed Mechanical Extract Ventilation system.  This system runs at a very low level constantly providing the home with fresh air even with all doors and windows shut.

The heating system is innovative, provided by a high quality and high efficiency wood pellet boiler, a system that is widely used throughout Europe and North America but is relatively new technology in the UK.  In comparison with alternative technologies this system is more cost-efficient to run and carbon neutral.  The small wood pellets it burns are supplied bagged and are stored on site prior to use.  Forecasts are that the price of these will be much more stable and affordable than fossil fuels in the future.  The boiler runs through an under-floor heating system on the ground floor which is controlled by wireless thermostats that are strategically placed for best operation; it also supplies heating to the radiators on the upper floor and acts as a supplementary heat source for domestic hot water.

The home also benefits from solar thermal water heating which produces much of the domestic hot water for a large part of the year.  A proprietary velux system was used to blend seamlessly with the adjacent velux windows.  A double-sided wood-burning stove is shared between the family and drawing rooms of the house and works as a fast heat source when required.

Low energy lighting was also a priority in the design of the home which will lower the impact on the environment and cost less to run.

To top off the ecological credentials of the home there is a Rainwater Harvesting Tank in the garden which takes rainwater from the roof and rescues it for external use such as irrigating the garden or washing cars, etc.  The ecological focus of the design of this home will not only be good for the environment, which was a high priority for our clients, but will also protect them from volatile and ever increasing utility suppliers costs.

Luxury design

The ‘live-in luxury’ aspect of the design is at the heart of what Richmond Homes is all about and we were delighted to provide bespoke design solutions to fulfil the Macintyres vision.

Taller ceiling heights to the lower floor, including a fully vaulted ceiling in the magnificent sunroom, give a wonderful sense of space with beautiful hardwood doors and architraves providing warmth and style throughout.  A substantial solid oak staircase leads to an upper hallway which is cleverly lit by natural light during the day through a sun-pipe.  The home had a special mid-floor installed that cuts the transfer of sound between levels, a common issue in modern homes which use lighter engineered timber.

The lower floor is finished in a mix of engineered oak floors and porcelain tiles to give a more contemporary look and feel whilst optimising heat transfer through the under-floor heating.  The stairwell and upper-floor bedrooms were carpeted for a luxury feel and also to further aid in sound-proofing.  The utility room and dressing room were kitted out with fitted furniture with the luxury kitchen benefitting from bespoke walnut furniture, high-end appliances and granite tops and splash-back.

Under-floor heating was installed in all bathrooms and the wetroom for the master bedroom.  All bathrooms benefit from luxury porcelain tiling, fitted furniture and sanitary ware all of which were designed and sourced to meet the MacIntyre’s very exacting requirements.

The MacIntyres had many very specific design features they wanted to incorporate which Richmond Homes worked hard to deliver.  Sliding ‘pocket doors’ were incorporated into the dining room to allow unrestricted access into the family room and lounge to create an open-plan feel when required.  Niches were formed in the bathrooms to allow accent lighting and attractively designed storage or display spaces.  A partially lowered ceiling was included in the Lounge to accent the feature wall which was created.

Modern technology was applied throughout the home.  An extensive Cat-6 computer network was installed with internet access also being led to all TV points to benefit from the increasing growth of streaming video services.  Sky TV and DAB radio is provided to all TV points with the latest HD television, blu-ray and 3D pictures also distributed throughout the home from a central location.  Audio from six different sources (including sky, blu-ray and music including an integrated iPod dock) can be streamed to ceiling mounted speakers throughout the home and even controlled from a smart phone, a tablet pc or desktop device.

The MacIntyres wanted a complete package therefore Richmond Homes also undertook the extensive landscaping and hardscaping of the external areas.  Extensive, driveway, paths and patio areas were created, the site was fully turfed and decorative internal fencing erected...everything possible to ensure that the property was in a truly ‘walk-in’ condition inside and out; even down to preparing the base for their greenhouse.   

We were delighted to provide this bespoke luxury home which is everything the MacIntyres dreamed of in terms of a luxurious home environment with excellent ecological credentials.