Electric gates whisper open and I drive up the monoblock driveway.
One of the biggest modern homes I’ve seen in a long time looms in front of me.
Beaufield was built in 1992 by Manor Homes. It stretches to more than 500 square metres, spread over two levels, an attic and annex.
The house sits in the quiet hamlet of Middle Balado, close to the M90 and not far from what was once the site of T in the Park.
Builder Steven Farish bought Beaufield in 2010. “It was owned by the managing director of Manor Homes, and was built to their specification but with some modifications he had asked for,” he explains.
“Out of all the homes I’d seen in Balado it was the one I wanted. I liked the space and saw how I could change it to meet what I wanted.”
Once Steven got his hands on the keys he set about renovating the house. “Where the gym is now was the dining room – miles from the kitchen,” he says. “The kitchen was tiny, which didn’t fit in with the rest of the house, so we knocked down the wall between it and the utility room and put in bi-folding doors so you can open the kitchen to the garden.”
The washing machine and tumble drier now live in the enormous garage and the kitchen is a larger and lighter place.
He also replaced the downstairs bathroom and put porcelanosa tiles through the bathroom and hallway.
Steven’s a film buff and he transformed an unloved attic space into a cinema room with projector and high end hard-wired sound system. Classic movie posters and cinema-style seating complete the atmosphere.
He also paid a specialist company from Edinburgh to fit a bar in the sitting room, which has French doors overlooking the garden.
On the ground floor is the dining kitchen, formal dining room, living room, office room – currently set up as a gym – and the large family room with bar. There’s alsp boot room and a triple garage. Stairs go up to a self contained annex above the garage which has a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.
On the first floor of the main house are four bedrooms and a study. Two of the bedrooms have en suites, and the master enjoys a walk in wardrobe, sauna and a south-facing balcony.
The front of the house has a large turning circle, lawn and flower beds. The suntrap rear garden has a large expanse of lawn with a patio for outdoor entertaining.
Steven and his partner are moving to Spain, although they will retain a Scottish base in Edinburgh.
“I’ve spent upwards of £200,000 improving Beaufield and it will make a great home for the right person,” he says.
jmckeown@thecourier.co.uk
Beaufield, Middle Balado, Kinross, is on sale with Savills for o/o £845,000.