Oakhill House is a home full of surprises.
First thing is its location – nestled away in Banchory-Devenick.
Many people not familiar with the village may assume it is close to the Deeside town of Banchory – not surprising, given the name.
But it is in fact just a few miles from Aberdeen itself. Driving out to Oakhill House from the Granite City took me less than five minutes.
I arrived to find a charming house surrounded by gorgeous country views: amazing, considering how close to the city it is.
What was even more amazing was how deceptive the house is. On first approach, I thought the house looked a reasonable size. But during a tour by owners Elaine and Chris Wood, I realised just how much space this delightful home offers.
Its size and location were what attracted Elaine and Chris to buy Oakhill House eight years ago.
Chris, 47, said: “We just came across this house and we loved its location and its look.
“It’s country living, but you have everything a city offers on your doorstep.
“We like city living as well, so we really have the best of both worlds here. You can walk down the road and you are in town; it’s that close.
“It’s great for access to other parts of the area as well, like if you want to go south. We have business in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, so it’s really handy for us.
“We loved how unique the house was as well; I’ve never seen another house like this one.”
The large six-bedroom home was built originally by an American businessman 30 years ago. However, after returning to the States just six months after it was built, it was leased out until Elaine and Chris bought it.
“It wasn’t in a great state,” Chris said.
“It needed updating. We had bathrooms in all different colours: one was pink and one was orange. There was just no order to the rooms.
“We spent half a million pounds bringing this house back to what it should look like. It was really just a shell, and not a very nice one at that.
“It just didn’t really feel like a family home, so we wanted to change that.”
The couple have certainly breathed new life into this family home. Although spacious, it feels very cosy and has been decorated stylishly to create a lovely blend of traditional and modern.
My favourite room was definitely the library – complete with floor-to-ceiling bookcases and three windows flooding the room with natural light.
Other rooms of note included the cinema/games room in the loft – sure to be a hit with the younger members of the family – the elegant formal lounge with an elevated balcony/patio area where you can enjoy unrivalled views over the River Dee and Aberdeen City beyond and the kitchen/family room, complete with Rangemaster cooking range and stylish island unit.
Outside, you will find a wine cellar, good-sized gardens, a double garage and driveway with space for around 20 cars.
Elaine and Chris have left no nook or cranny untouched – even a guest wing has been given a makeover. Complete with its own kitchen and living room, as well as bedroom and bathroom, this area has fantastic business opportunities as well as giving you extra space when family are staying.
The house, which is on the market for offers over £1.1million, is mostly on one floor, with a long, elegant hallway bringing all the rooms together. There is a nice flow in the house, with the corridor creating a bit of excitement as you walk along it, wondering what is behind each door.
But one highlight that is evident in every room is the view of the surrounding area.
From each part of the house, you can stand looking out at picturesque countryside or look over the city, even as far as the sea to watch boats come in.
“You’ve got great views wherever you look,” Chris added.
“And you never have to buy your own fireworks. You can stand on the patio with a glass of champagne and watch everyone else setting theirs off. You can even see the big show at the beach at New Year.
“The views are definitely the thing most people talk about when they are here.”
It’s evident that a lot of work has been put into restoring this family home – making it ready to move into, perfect for those looking for a stress-free move.
But is also offers something for those looking to put their own stamp on a house.
There are two wings on the first floor that are currently undeveloped, meaning the next owners can create something just for them.
So why would Chris and Elaine want to leave this beautiful country retreat?
Chris said: “At the moment, we are doing a lot of charity work in Africa. We’ve had to come back for a while, but we just thought it might be time to put the house on the market. We are planning on moving into our house in St Andrews.
“It’s halfway between our two businesses, so it would work quite well for us.
“We’ll definitely miss the house, though – everything, from the views to the space. It has been brilliant living here.”
Contact: James & George Collie on 01224-581581.