Quite often, when my children were enjoying their teenage years, I’d find myself accusing them of treating our house like a hotel.
Whoever buys Braelossie House in Elgin should avoid making such a bold statement for fear of losing that argument as, prior to being transformed into the impressive family home which stands today, it was run as a popular hotel and restaurant.
It’s thought this grand building, believed to date from 1862, was built for Alexander Lawson, a local businessman and factor for the Earl of Fife.
As befitting a Scots Baronial-style mansion, it is surrounded by fabulous private grounds stretching to more than one-and-a-half acres, filled with mature woodland, lawns and established planting, and benefits from a large parking area and a number of stores and log sheds.
In 2003, the hotel and restaurant was bought by the present house owners who have done a terrific job of renovating and restoring the property to make it a family home, full of great character.
Rod Christie, of Galbraith, who is handling the sale of the house, which has a guide price of £715,000, said: “The chance to own such a property is rare and there is a real sense of arrival as you enter the grounds.
“The purchasers will benefit from very attractive, spacious accommodation and there is the potential to develop the adjacent store rooms to create perhaps a separate annexe in the future.”
The house, which is in excellent condition throughout, has many fine period features including some highly decorative cornicing and plasterwork, fireplaces with wood-burning stoves and a magnificent stained-glass window overlooking the main staircase.
The drawing room has a raised level gallery and bay window, while the elegant music room, with its impressive fireplace, and the master bedroom, are particularly impressive rooms.
The accommodation also includes a reception hall, a well-equipped kitchen/dining/living room, study, utility room, boot room, family bathroom and eight bedrooms, three of which have en-suite shower rooms.
The rooms on the second floor were previously used as a separate flat by the hotel owners, but they are now used as an office, a playroom, a gym, bathroom and three attic bedrooms.
And there’s more…
There’s a large basement with a store room, wine cellar and boiler room.
Adjoining the house is an outside store with a further room above which offers potential for development, subject to obtaining all necessary consents.
Braelossie House sits in a quiet residential area close to the centre of Elgin, making it handy for all the local amenities.
Contact: Galbraith, Elgin, on 01343 546362.