We built our incredible home from scratch – now it's in the running for BBC Scotland's Home of the Year
THE judges – interior designers Anna Campbell-Jones and Banjo Beale and architect Danny Campbell - must run the rule over the home
GORGEOUS GAFF We built our incredible home from scratch – now it's in the running for BBC Scotland's Home of the Year
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A FAMILY hopes to milk their success on Scotland's Home of the Year - after turning an old farm steading into their Californian dream home.
Chris and Jessica Zanoni, 45 and 39, their son Chase, 18, and dogs Enzo and Dino all feature in the new series of the hit BBC series as they show off the unique property in Pitmedden, Aberdeenshire.
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It's a stunning home.
Credit: Kirsty Anderson / IWC
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The home gets a lot of natural light.
Credit: Kirsty Anderson / IWC
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There's a lot of modern twists on the traditional farm steading.
Credit: Kirsty Anderson / IWC
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The bathroom looks very plush.
Credit: Kirsty Anderson / IWC
Dubbed Hilltop House, the building was designed around the original footprint of the farm and given a modern twist when they created their dream home from scratch.
The judges – interior designers Anna Campbell-Jones and Banjo Beale and architect Danny Campbell - must run the rule over the home, as well as a modern build in Orkney and a Victorian farmhouse in Peterhead, to see who will represent the North East and the Northern Isles in the Scotland's Home of the Year grand final.
Designer Chris reckons building your own home is becoming more popular.
He said: "The actual process of building a house is so much fun and it can be quite addictive.
"It takes a lot of your time but the creative process is a lot of fun
"It was an old farm building but we knocked most of it down and kept good parts like granite walls and arch window features and slid in pretty much a brand new house.
"A lot of people would love to build their own home. It's such an important part of your life. I spend so much time in this house it's insane.
"There's no limitations. This house almost echoes the original building that was here in terms of shape and footprint but we can do new things and add nice glazing and natural light into the building.
"You can put your own stamp on it."
Chris, who has lived in the house for five years, said the whole process should have taken seven months to complete.
I was struggling to pay my rent but my creative side hustle paid for my home for a year – it costs me nothing to run
However, Covid led to postponement when the building was just two weeks from completion.
He added: "It's quite popular in the north east at the moment.
"I've got two more neighbours either side who also built brand new homes.
"So this is like a mini development of self builds.
"I look out my window and can see four and I have another friend with one too.
"There's a lot of old agricultural type properties that fell apart and planners are open to developing them."
But despite having what many would consider their dream home, Chris and his family don't think they'll stay there forever.
He admitted: "Me and Jess talk about it and we don't like the idea of a forever home, we like the idea of moving on.
"It could be every five years you start a new project."
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