In the quiet rural town of Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries & Galloway, sits Cherry Bakewell, a stunning self-build project undertaken by Stuart and Christine Jamieson.
A modern build, which blends effortlessly into its surroundings, Cherry Bakewell is a two-bedroom bungalow, which was completed in 2022.
Nestled within 13 other homes in the aptly named, ‘Baker’s Dozen’, so as not to ruin this carefully curated cul-de-sac, the couple decided to call the house Cherry Bakewell, to stay in keeping with the baking theme.
Experts in renovations, Stuart and Christine have completed six renovation projects prior to Cherry Bakewell, however it’s always been a dream of theirs to build a house from scratch.
With Stuart’s experience of working in the building trade as a plumber, and with Christine, retiring prior to the Cherry Bakewell build, the couple were both ready to take on their next project.
But with two self-build attempts where planning permission put a dampener on their building plans, they thought they would never be able to fulfil their self-build dream.
The start of the self-build journey
Originally the couple bought a property on Bakers Dozen, which needed considerable renovation. Whilst working on the renovation of the build and tidying up the extensive garden, they realised it could provide a sizeable plot.
They decided to see if it would be possible to build on the land and successfully received planning in principle – this is where their self-build journey started.
A family project
A family in the trade, Stuart works as a plumber and his brother, Duncan Jamieson, is a joiner, so they were fully aware of the processes involved in a self-build project and had realistic expectations from the start, which helped with the flow of the project.
Stuart project managed the build from start to finish and during the 20 weeks it took for the property to be completed, the couple lived in a static caravan 5 miles down the road. Christine would run back and forth everyday with tea, coffee and refreshments, helping to make the build that little bit easier for all on-site!
Creating a bespoke project
Christine and Stuart had already arranged for an architect to design their new home, so when they got in touch with the team at Scotframe to discuss the next steps, a full set of drawings were already completed, and warrants were in place.
The designs from the architect were bespoke to the customer and so it was an original and unique design for the team to manufacture. Scotframe produced the roof design, the external panels, the internal panels, doors, ironmongery, and plasterboard, with the couple designing the rest of the house themselves to their taste and standard.
Once timescales were agreed with Stuart and Christine, Scotframe’s team of experts started the production process of the bespoke product, ensuring it would be ready to be on-site for 4th June.
Precision is key for Scotframe, not only to minimise waste, and the number of trips to and from the site, but also to enable quicker and accurate installation.
The manufacturing of the bespoke pre-injected frame was completed off-site and then transported to the site for the specified day.
“When the kit arrived, it fitted perfectly. It was only 4mm out, so it was very precise, and all fitted together – it was unbelievable! The kit was perfect, very accurate and detailed – my brother (a joiner) was surprised how precisely it fitted together.” commented Stuart on the Scotframe kit.
With just three people, a plumber (Stuart), labourer and joiner (Duncan Jamieson, Stuart’s brother) as well as someone controlling the crane, and a lot of tea and coffee thanks to Christine, the roof trusses were up and secured together in just two days.
Stuart continued, “The structure arriving as a kit made the build much easier. Everyone turned up when we needed them, so it ran smoothly from start to finish.”
A positive experience
At Scotframe, we pride ourselves on customer service. Throughout the build of Cherry Bakewell, Business Development Manager, Robert Beagley, worked with the customer to ensure they had everything they needed.
Discussing customer service Christine commented, “Robert was amazing, nothing was a bother and he always got back to us. If we had a question, he either knew the answer or would find out the answer, he’s worth his weight in gold. It was a really positive experience.”
When talking about the kit being delivered in stages, Stuart and Christine commented, “We would tell Robert, ‘this is when the next item is needed’ and it would be there, exactly on time, which made a huge difference, as we had men waiting to get everything unloaded and on to site.”
Finishing Touches
The couple’s eye for detail can be seen throughout the property. Finished to the highest standard, they created a stunning home to enjoy as a couple, and with their friends and family.
The garden has been beautifully landscaped, and this care and attention to detail continues inside with the décor.
Christine’s love for interior design shines through, with a stunning modern green kitchen which opens out onto the outside patio area and the open plan living area creates a fantastic space to entertain guests or simply relax and unwind.
The large windows at the side and back of the property flood the bungalow with natural light, which creates a warm and welcoming setting, and the use of timber used throughout the home gives it a contemporary look and feel, with all doors, door frames, skirting and flooring utilising the same timber.
Many of us dream of building our own home, bespoke to us and our lifestyles. Scotframe can make this possible, with our expert team being on hand to see you through the process from initial ideas to completion.
To find out more about how you can start your self-build journey, get in touch with our team today.
