This Apartment in a Converted School House in Scotland Has the Best Floor-to-Ceiling Windows

Name: Rachel Hill; husband, Rob; and dog, Tia
Location: Perthshire, Scotland, U.K.
Type of home: Duplex apartment in a converted schoolhouse
Size: 2411 square feet
Years lived in: Just under a year; owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there. We bought this home just under a year ago. We moved from a converted church to a converted schoolhouse. We both love the character that comes with an old building, which is brought back to life and repurposed as a home. I left my job working in the health service a while ago to focus on other pursuits and have recently completed a diploma in interior design.

I love the chic look of a monochrome black-and-white palette, but that competes with my love of quirkiness and bright colors! So I try to combine both; I think monochrome with blasts of color works well in this house with the huge white walls and enormous black-framed windows.

We love to travel and when we are away we head to markets and salvage shops to hunt out quirky and unusual pieces to incorporate into the decor. This goes from posters and art works, to ceramics, trinkets, and interesting food tins, which are turned into plant pots.

I love to display these souvenirs and gifts, which evoke memories and put a smile on our faces. I can remember where every item has come from. One person’s clutter is my treasure!

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or fewer: Contemporary, eclectic, light-filled, colorful-meets-monochrome, plant-filled.

What is your favorite room and why? At the front of the house we have a big double-height room with huge full-height windows and patio doors on to the deck. This room is an open-plan kitchen, dining room, and living room, zoned into areas. I love the room because it is so warm and bright and light-filled, and judging by the size of the plants, they clearly love it here too! There is a mezzanine room overlooking this room, which I use as my office. It feels part of the big room, but is also a lovely little hideaway, making the most of the views of the hills in the distance.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? When we were decorating the hallway I really wanted a low bench to place below the gallery wall and provide more display space. I couldn’t find one so I bought some legs from Amazon and a plank of wood from a local wood shop and after a quick coat of paint, lo and behold — the perfect bench and another space for displaying more stuff!!

Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t just go for new — a mixture of new and vintage brings mega character. I get such a kick from finding or repurposing an old item or coming up with a creative solution by building something. Always have cushions and throws in abundance for cosiness and comfort. Lots of plants are an essential for me … always and the bigger the better! And lots of art! Our house is full of prints picked up from our travels mixed with my husband’s paintings and black-and-white photos of family and travels. Basically, don’t hold back — most mistakes can be rectified!

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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