A striking house in Broughty Ferry features in the finale of Scotland’s Home of the Year.
Built in the 1960s, the Tree House has been sensitively refurbished and updated by its current owners.
It was designed by architect Bruce Walker, who lectured at Duncan of Jordanstone and worked for Historic Scotland.
Walker built the Tree House in 1962 when he was in his 20s and lived there until his death in around 2015.
Paul Durrant and his wife Jackie McKenzie bought the Tree House in 2021 and spent 18 months transforming it into their dream home.
They kept irreplaceable original features such as the 4cm thick beech flooring and exposed brickwork. They also expanded into the attic, creating an en suite master bedroom with a private living area beside it.
The ground floor has a kitchen/diner, a lounge, three bedrooms and a bathroom. Upstairs there’s a snug, bedroom, shower room, and dressing room.
The L-shaped living room and kitchen are semi-open plan, with a brick column creating a divider. Meanwhile the bedroom has a vaulted ceiling and an enormous window giving views over the garden.
Episode winner
The Tree House featured in episode four of Scotland’s Home of the Year. It was up against a farm steading conversion in Deanstone called the Dairy and the Carriage House, a Victorian conversion in Auchterarder.
With a score of 29/30 it edged out the Dairy and the Carriage House, which were both given scores of 24/30 by the judges.
Paul, 70, and Jackie, 60, are delighted to have reached the final. Paul said: “We were delighted to make the final and really enjoyed our day in Glasgow.
Making the final
“We met the other finalists and the judges, who all claimed to be able to match the people to the homes at first sight.
“When we saw the amazing houses that were in the final we were quite humbled that ours had made it. We know it’s a bit of a Marmite house that isn’t for everyone.”
Paul said he and Jackie thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the show: “The film crew came over and did an interview with us. They were lovely. Then we had to leave the house for a few hours while the judges went in.
“It was a strange feeling leaving a film crew in your house but we hopped on our bikes and cycled to Tayport while they got on with things.”
The couple left a little surprise for the judges: “Jackie is a keen baker and she left some treats out for them. When we got home there was a nice little note from Banjo thanking her.”
The final episode of Scotland’s Home of the Year airs on Monday evening. Filmed at Glasgow’s House for an Art Lover – designed by the iconic architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh – it sees the six finalists come face-to-face and meet the judges for the first time.
The six SHOTY finalists are:
Sandstone Bungalow, Giffnock (Episode 1, West).
Home to Pamela and Gordon, their son Caleb and Rosa the Irish Setter, the Sandstone Bungalow blends together old with new, whilst retaining the beautiful original 1930s details.
The couple design choices bring the Sandstone Bungalow up-to-date with a bright and modern kitchen, dining and living spaces.
Hilltop House, Aberdeenshire (Episode 2, North East & Northern Isles)
Situated on the outskirts of Pitmedden in rural Aberdeenshire, Hilltop House is home to Chris, Jessica, their son Chase and dogs Enzo and Dino.
The couple designed their bright, contemporary house around the original footprint of the farm steading, fusing mid-century and Californian cool style to create their dream home.
Wee City Nook, Edinburgh (Episode 3, East)
A first-floor traditional tenement in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge area, Wee City Nook is home to Devin and Max. The couple combined their creative skills to design and rebuild each room in this small-but-perfectly-formed home, creating clever storage solutions, maximising every nook and cranny.
Together, they have created a bold, bright and colourful apartment that packs a design punch.
The Tree House, Broughty Ferry (Episode 4, Central & Tayside)
A modernist 1960s property in Broughty Ferry, the Tree House is home to Jackie, Paul and their cats Mirren and Kaja.
The couple fell in love with this neglected house which had laid empty for five years, lovingly breathing new life into it whilst preserving the original architect’s vision. Amongst their changes, they reworked the upstairs space to create their bedroom of dreams overlooking the treetops.
An Cala Cottage, Isle of Skye (Episode 5, Highlands & Islands)
A cosy little home, An Cala Cottage is home to Caroline, Lee and their dog, Nuala. This traditional cottage was brought back to life on a budget, with the couple incorporating charming charity shop finds with a creative use of colour throughout.
They took inspiration for their interior design from the coastal and mountain views which surround them, creating a cosy and relaxing home.
Craigmount, Near Dalbeattie (Episode 6, South)
This Victorian semi-detached house near Dalbeattie is home to Ozzy, Laura, daughter Grace and Ethel the pug.
The property’s coastal views won the family over and they made it their own by renovating and adding a tasteful extension to the original granite building.
Boasting a bold and colourful interior, the family entered Craigmount as Grace’s late gran loved SHOTY.
SHOTY judges
The SHOTY judges are excited about the series finale.
Interior designer Anna Campbell-Jones said: “As always, we have a set of finalists that are each uniquely different from each other, from restored modernist dreams to handcrafted miniature perfection, there’s inspiration for everyone.
“When we film the final we are never sure who the winner will be – it could genuinely be any of these amazing homes. Through debate, much discussion and not a little heartbreak, we gradually whittle them down to one that we all agree has that magical edge – the home that best exemplifies what home means.”
Isle of Mull-based interior designer Banjo Beale said: “Each home’s bursting with personality – bold, beautiful, and a real labour of love. The finale of SHOTY is the big emotional payoff – surprises, stories, and a stunning winner that’ll take your breath away.”
Architect Danny Campbell added: “This year’s finalists are an eclectic celebration of design adventures — bold, heartfelt, and unapologetically individual. Each home tells a story of its owner’s passions, priorities and aesthetic DNA, from slick architectural statements to soulful reimagining of traditional spaces.
“The finale is always a head-spin – equal parts tension and celebration. Viewers can expect impassioned debates, inspiring interior insights and that brilliant moment where we finally agree on a winner!”
The finale of Scotland’s Home of the Year is on BBC One Scotland tonight at 8.30pm and then available on iPlayer.
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