The renovation of historic Corvisel House in Scotland

By injecting personality and personal history, this majestic Scottish property has been transformed from crumbling pile to gorgeous family home

A series of chance events led Anne Macdonald and her husband Jonny Lyons to Newton Stewart, a market town in Dumfries and Galloway. It was there they stumbled upon Corvisel House, an impressive period property that overlooks the River Cree valley and across the bay to the coastline at Gatehouse of Fleet. ‘We never thought we’d end up in a house like this,’ says Anne. ‘It was always a dream but not something we ever thought could be our reality.’

Style tip

• Jungle-print wallpaper and leafy hanging plants bring an exotic feel to the grand Georgian hallway

Built in 1829 by Rear Admiral John McKerlie, the 16-room house had lain empty for eight years, but Anne and Jonny felt it had a real sense of warmth and knew it could be brought back to life.

‘There are so many things to love about Corvisel House,’ says Anne. ‘The walled garden and forest were most definitely an attraction, and the fact it had a massive workshop got Jonny very excited.’ Anne recalls how, when viewing the house, they overlooked the rising damp, lack of central heating, peeling walls and leaking skylights, and instead focused on the home’s potential. ‘We definitely had rose-tinted glasses on!’

Having been fully renovated and sympathetically decorated, the home is now unrecognisable from the place they viewed in July 2017.

Style tip

• Flowers and foliage from the walled garden are arranged into beautiful tablescapes, an easy way to bring colour to the dining room

Anne describes her and Jonny’s interior style as preloved maximalists, with art deco and Nordic vibes thrown into the mix. ‘We’re like magpies when it comes to reclamation yards and antiques shops. Our family trinkets and heirlooms also play a big part in making our house a home. We get a lot of hand-me-downs from our extended family and love to incorporate each piece.’

Style tip

• Patterned tiles and rustic scaffold shelving inject more character to the contemporary kitchen units

Anne finds interior decorating a welcome release from her job as a lawyer. ‘Some folk might find renovations and project management stressful, but I find it gives me such a buzz! I’m lucky that when I met Jonny he shared a passion for creating new spaces and upcycling furniture. Our approach has always been to “shop” the house first – we’re constantly thinking how we can adapt furniture and we always try to make or build items ourselves.’

WORDS: CASSIE FAIRY