Patty and Keith O’Toole will soon be sipping sangria having decided to move to Spain, but it’s with a heavy heart that they will be closing the door on their life in Tarland.
Their gorgeous five-bed home in Parkhouse Close has played host to dozens of guests since they bought it nine years ago.
They are now selling up for offers in the region of £500,000.
From a garage that has now been converted into a garden room to traditional slate flooring and a galleried landing, Thru Trees is the perfect mixture of rural escape and unusual quirky features.
Although they were only meant to stay in Scotland for six months, it became something of a forever home.
“We can’t really believe we’ve been in Scotland for 13 years; Keith came here for work and we just fell in love with the place,” said Patty.
Keith, 61, has worked all over the world as a design engineer while Patty, 57, is a chef.
The pair met in Liverpool and, after a whirlwind romance, have been together for 27 years. Thru Trees represents everything they’ve worked for.
“We knew we wanted to stay in Scotland and we wanted an unusual house,” said Keith.
“When we saw this development come up, there was just the timber frame and we had to come forward to the builders with any modifications,” said Keith.
“We’ve never looked back and have been happy here ever since.”
The house is accessed via what used to be the garage but has been transformed into a garden room.
The cars are kept in the summerhouse and it’s not hard to see why the couple opted for such an unusual swap.
With bi-folding glass doors there are uninterrupted views across the countryside. It’s the perfect room for breathing in the view over a morning coffee.
It also houses a biomass wood pellet boiler which comes with a grant of £2,400 per year as part of the government’s renewable heat incentive scheme.
“We’re so glad we decided to convert this room because I could just sit here all day looking out over the fields,” said Patty.
“We watch the cows crossing the lane and we love having breakfast in here, we’ll really miss this spot.”
The garden room leads through to a lovely kitchen that can only be described as a cook’s dream, and it’s here that Patty has catered many a dinner party.
There are hand-built french units and a cream AGA, alongside plenty of work unit space and storage.
“The kitchen is my haven, guests tend to come in and sit down at the island while I work and I think that’s exactly how a kitchen should be,” said Patty.
“It’s warm and inviting and cooking in here is a joy.”
The lounge is clearly the heart of the home, however, and is ideal for entertaining.
“This is a room of two halves because of the sheer size, there’s room for everyone to sit down as both Keith and I come from big families,” said Patty.
The dining area is underneath a dome-style ceiling while there is underfloor heating and a wood-burning-effect-style stove to make the space cosy all year round.
Double Georgian-style doors open to the solar room, so named because it’s a complete sun trap over the summer months.
Two double bedrooms with built-in wardrobes and a shower room are also downstairs.
“The original aim was that our elderly parents would come to live here, but sadly it was not to be,” said Patty.
“We hope someone else can have the benefit of having such private accommodation downstairs complete with the shower room, which is perfect when you have guests come to stay.”
The carpeted oak staircase leads to a beautiful galleried landing which is a living area in itself.
Velux windows bring light flooding through and Keith often sits back and takes in the view.
“You’re tucked away up here and it’s brilliant when there’s storms, I watch it all play out and it’s beautiful in winter as well when the snow is falling,” he said.
Three bedrooms and a bathroom complete the upstairs accommodation, all of which have been stylishly designed.
The master bedroom has a separate dressing area and impressive en suite, which comes complete with a luxury Jacuzzi bath.
“We actually lost some of the landing when we decided to create a bigger en suite bathroom but it has been worth it,” said Patty.
“This is our retreat and we have gorgeous views thanks to the wide-angled bow windows.”
The gardens have been well maintained and run round the perimeter of the house, with various spots to sit and enjoy al fresco dining.
Tarland itself is a picturesque rural village and is only 10 minutes away from stunning Tillypronie Estate.
There’s also the rolling countryside of Royal Deeside and two hotels in the village, alongside amenities such as cafes and a hairdresser.
For Patty and Keith, Thru Trees hasn’t just been their dream home but comes with a welcoming community.
“We’ve had some brilliant music nights in the village and we’ve been blessed with lovely neighbours,” said Patty.
“This really is rural paradise to us and we’re sad to go, but feel moving to Spain is the start of an exciting new chapter.”
For more information contact the home owners on 01339 881677.