Interior Renovation – East Neuk

In 2022, we were approached to explore interior renovation options for a three-storey, semi-detached stone villa in the East Neuk of Fife. The new owners wanted to infuse their style into the property, which required some upgrading.

The primary concept was to maximise natural daylight, as the interior was quite dark and the deep floor plan didn’t help with this. The project aimed to incorporate a complementary modern style that would enhance, rather than overpower, the original building. The villa, believed to date back to the 1800s, boasts traditional features such as ashlar sandstone, large tall windows, and high ceilings.

Site work commenced at the beginning of 2023. One of the most significant changes was the removal of the wall between the old kitchen and separate dining room. This created a spacious, light-filled ground floor with the addition of new tall glazed doors opening to the garden. Daylight was further increased by replacing the existing solid wall vestibule with new glazed screens, which maintained shelter at the front entrance while allowing light to flood through.

As is typical with old buildings, some challenges arose during the renovation. The planned utility and WC layout at the back of the building had to be altered due to shared structural elements with the neighbouring property. Additionally, the existing dormer windows were found to be rotten and were nearly entirely replaced. All existing windows at the front of the property were replaced with new timber sash and case windows, while more modern doors and windows were installed at the back.

On the first floor, a new glazed screen was installed to replace a solid wall, allowing more daylight into the staircase area.