New beginnings

Harriet and Rob Graham’s plans to renovate an old stone cottage unexpectedly became the chance for a completely new home

WORDS JANE CRITTENDEN PHOTOS DAVID BARBOUR

Harriet and Rob Graham moved to the Scottish Borders in 1999 and used to ride past a derelict cottage most days while out on their horses. They had always admired the lone building, with its panoramic views across to the Cheviot Hills and the scattering of farmhouses in the distance. But they never imagined they’d end up renovating the cottage for themselves. “It struck us as such a lovely spot; a really bright location, even in mid-winter when it catches the low sun.

However, the idea of living here was a pipe dream for a long time,” says Rob. “Our current home was only a five-minute walk away and we were happy there; we had no intentions of moving.”

Futher down the line, the people who owned the old building got planning permission to renovate with the intention of doing the work themselves. However, a few years later they told their neighbours, the Grahams, their circumstances had changed. “We’re a close community, so they knew we loved the spot,” says Harriet. “In October 2010 we came to a private arrangement to buy the cottage and 12 acres of land for our horses. As their planning consent was close to expiring, we decided to make a start on our own application with the aim of moving in before the following winter.”

THE GRAHAM FILE

NAMES Harriet & Rob Graham

OCCUPATIONS Racecourse manager & IT consultant

LOCATION Jedburgh, Scottish Borders

TYPE OF PROJECT Self build

STYLE Stone cottage

CONSTRUCTION METHOD Timber frame

PLOT SIZE 12 acres

LAND COST £150,000

BOUGHT 2010

HOUSE SIZE 215m²

PROJECT COST £380,000

PROJECT COST PER M2 £1,767

TOTAL COST £530,000

BUILDING WORK COMMENCED August 2012

BUILDING WORK TOOK 23 months (incl. seven month break)