Skip to content

Usa News Post

Usa News Post

  • News
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Science
  • News
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Science
World

Couple transform dilapidated Scottish castle into luxurious B&B

Usanewsposts
July 20, 20210
Couple transform dilapidated Scottish castle into luxurious B&B

Kilmartin Castle was built when Mary Queen of Scots was on the throne, and now it’s fit for royalty again (Picture: Alan Amper/ Bill Baillie/ Metro.co.uk)

The pluckiest renovator might baulk at the thought of taking on a dilapidated 16th-century Scottish castle.

For novice DIY-ers Stef Burgon and Simon Hunt – who say they egged each other on with the hare-brained scheme – their 2019 restoration of Kilmartin Castle, a turreted, fairytale-worthy Z-plan tower house overlooking ancient Kilmartin Glen in Argyll, on Scotland’s west coast, was a petrifying process, well beyond what they had bargained for.

‘Talk about being out of your comfort zone,’ laughs Simon, from the castle’s kitchen fireplace window seat he recently built.

‘It has been a terrifying adventure both physically and financially, taking a long time to find people we can trust to work with, and dealing with the fact everything always runs over when it comes to time and money.

‘Throwing Covid into the mix has been tough. We’ve experienced a lot of worry and anxiety.’

Today, with all the finishing touches to the castle made, it’s hard to imagine the wild thrill ride that has brought them to this moment.

Near Lochgilphead, about 30 miles from Oban, Kilmartin Castle serves as both an immaculately revamped historic home and new Scottish staycation hot spot, with updated plumbing and heating systems and a watertight roof, as well as five snug yet stylish bedrooms, with their own copper bathtubs, wood-burning stoves and hand-painted antique furniture.

The B&B is ready for visitors (Picture: Bill Baillie)
Each of the bedrooms has its own statement copper tub (Picture: Bill Baillie)

Original stonework, vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and flagstone floors (now cosily underheated), provide a heritage backdrop to an edgy industrial lighting scheme, contemporary concrete basins, vintage Turkish rugs and quirky artworks.

Much of the coaxing of the castle into the 21st century was done by Stef and Simon themselves: despite not having any DIY skills to start, they are now proficient wielders of heavy-duty machinery and power tools, comfortable knocking through walls and designing room layouts, and are expert furniture upcyclers.

So how did the couple, who before buying the castle both had heady media jobs in Dubai, find themselves the new custodians of Kilmartin Castle?

‘Stef presented Dubai’s biggest breakfast radio show and I was a creative director for an experiential ad agency,’ Australia-born Simon says. ‘But we were completely uninspired with our daily grind.’

More: Travel

Hundreds race back to UK from holidays to escape quarantine

All of Britain except Wales moved to Denmark’s travel red list as cases surge

A winter road trip exploring Scotland’s dramatic west coast in 2014 was the kick-off point. ‘It felt like the food our souls desperately needed,’ Stef, originally from Newcastle in New South Wales, says.

‘On our return to Dubai, we realised how much we missed the scenery, and wondered if this was that big life change we …read more

Source:: Metro

(Visited 2 times, 1 visits today)

USA News Posts - Related Posts:

  • Simon Cowell’s £15m mansion ‘nearly floated away’ in London flash floods Simon’s London home has been hit by the flooding (Picture: Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic)Simon Cowell is another famous face who has had his London mansion hit by the flash floods that caused absolute chaos in areas of the capital on Monday. Torrential, ‘biblical’ downpours in west London caused flooding in Kensington, Maida Vale and Notting Hill, and saw cars left submerged in the road, with business and homes flooded and the repair bill reported to be in the millions. Residents in a…
  • Harry and Meghan ‘want Lilibet christened at Windsor in front of Queen’ The couple’s first child Archie was christened St George’s Chapel, at Windsor, in 2019Harry and Meghan want their new daughter to have a royal christening in front of the Queen, insiders claim. Lilibet Diana was born in June 6 and is yet to meet any of her English relatives. But now, her parents are planning for her to be christened in front of her grandmother, a source quoted by the Daily Mail has said. Harry apparently spoke about his wishes…
  • EastEnders spoilers: Callum Highway faces prison after a violent attack Callum’s future is uncertain (Picture: BBC)The following article contains spoilers for this week’s EastEnders episodes, which can now be viewed on BBC iPlayer in the form of a boxset. Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) was was livid when he discovered that Simon Atmore, the man who beat Paul Coker (Jonny Labey) to death in a homophobic attack, had appealed his conviction and subsequently been released from prison. Desperate for revenge, he set out to track the killer down! Callum Highway (Tony Clay), however, suggested…
  • Love Island USA: Viewers plead for Cash Proudfoot and Javonny Vega to pair up so they can win show in friendship couple Cash and Javonny for the win – if they ever couple up! (Picture: CBS)Love Island USA is all about watching couples find love but it seems viewers would rather see Cashay Proudfoot and Javonny Vega win the show as friends. The fan-favorites have struggled to make a stable love connection with other contestants on the CBS reality dating series so far. Javonny has been trying to ignite sparks with fellow contestant Olivia Kaiser with limited success, while Cash was left…
  • Girl, 15, to inherit fortune after international hunt to find BBC editor’s only heir Alexander Thomson died unmarried and no will (Picture: SWNS)An Indonesian teenager will inherit more than £400,000 after a global search to find a BBC editor’s only heir. Alexander Thomson, who worked for the World Service in East Africa and the Far East, died in September, aged 71. He was unmarried, had no known next of kin and no will, sparking an investigation by detectives to find any children he may have had. They tracked down the 15-year-old girl who now…
  • Almost $1 million could come for shuttle into Angeles National Forest Some of the more than 247 riders who rode a special transit-to-trails shuttle in 2019 from the Arcadia Gold Line Station to Chantry Flat in the Angeles National Forest.A second route would take visitors up Highway 39 north of Azusa and Glendora, to popular recreation sites along the San Gabriel River, he said. TheFor the first time, the San Gabriel Mountains would be connected to public transit as federal funding within a House of Representatives appropriations bill is slated to…
  • Coronation Street spoilers: 34 new images reveals Ty gets violent, Sam goes missing and naked sex shock Tyrone lashes out, Sam vanishes and Dev and Kevin strip off, making it quite the week on Corrie! (Picture: ITV)Preparation for the naked calendar gets underway in Coronation Street next week, and let’s just say that there are shocks aplenty for several of the cobbles’ finest! Abi Franklin (Sally Carman) gets an eyeful, as she walks in on beau Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the nude, as he prepares to have his picture taken. And Debbie (Sue Devaney) similarly…
  • Leftist teacher, political novice, is Peru's president-elect A teacher in one of the poorest communities in the Andes who had never held office is now Peru's president-elect after officials in the South American country declared him the winner of a runoff election held last month. Leftist Pedro Castillo catapulted from unknown to president-elect with the support of the country's poor and rural citizens, many of whom identify with the struggles the teacher has faced. Castillo was officially declared winner Monday after the country’s electoral count became the…
  • I had the poshest afternoon tea at London's oldest hotel. Here's what it was like, and how the very English tradition has changed post-COVID Agatha Christie's favourite seat at Brown's Kate Duffy I went to Brown's Hotel, the oldest and one of the fanciest hotels in London, for afternoon tea. Queen Victoria, Theodore Roosevelt, and Agatha Christie were among the big names who dined here. Afternoon tea has gone through some changes post-COVID. Here's how it's served differently. See more stories on Insider's business page. Brown's Hotel is the first and oldest hotel in London which has welcomed many royals, politicians, and celebrities over…
  • By Wendy Bowman | Variety Having doled out $9.5 million for a palatial Sherman Oaks mansion last year, looks like San Francisco 49ers co-owner and onetime Facebook moneyman Gideon Yu and longtime wife Susie are now ready to put down permanent roots in Los Angeles, leaving NorCal behind. The couple are listing their primary home in the sought-after Silicon Valley enclave of Atherton with a $27 million ask, hoping to garner a profit on the lavish spread. Records reveal they…

Stock Market: Suez Canal Update! Floating!
  13-year-old girl reported missing from Douglas



The Suicide Squad | Official IMAX® Red Band Trailer

From the horribly beautiful mind of James Gunn and filmed in IMAX. Experience

Related Articles

World

Tributes to ‘true legend’ who drowned while cooling off in Salford Quays

World

Pandemic is not over ‘but it’s time to lift lockdown’, Boris says

World

William and Harry speak out over BBC interview saying Diana ‘was failed’

World

Anthony Rizzo searching for answers as midseason funk rolls on

World

Does having OCD put you at a higher risk of drug addiction?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Usa new News

  • France snaps Team USA men’s basketball 25-game Olympic win streakFrance snaps Team USA men’s basketball 25-game Olympic win streak
    Source: Usa new news | Published: July 25, 2021 - 4:33 pm
Powered by WordPress RSS Feed Retriever

Usa Today News

  • Watch the Insane Trailer For Cannes Palme d’Or Winner ‘Titane’Watch the Insane Trailer For Cannes Palme d’Or Winner ‘Titane’
    Source: Usa today news | Published: July 25, 2021 - 4:27 pm
Powered by WordPress RSS Feed Retriever

Blocked Suez Canal Is Latest Reminder Why Companies Need Crisis Plans

These are tough times for supply chains and business leaders who depend on them. Brexit. The pandemic. Congestion at major ports. Now a 1, 300-foot-long container ship is preventing hundreds of other vessels from using the Suez Canal, one of the most important waterways in the world.

Popular posts:

  • TikTok star Xiao Qiumei dies after falling 160 foot… Xiao Qiumei, an influencer from China, died after a fall.… (133)
  • American Airlines passenger who refused to wear a… Incidents of air rage have been rising in recent months.… (46)
  • An Army of MAGA Karens and Kevins Is Being Shitty for Sport Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily BeastAmerica has done it again.… (17)
  • Army Ranger Savagely Killed Female Security Guard in… Pierce County Superior Court via KING-TVAn Army ranger faces murder… (16)
  • La Russa, Anderson ejected in White Sox’ 7-1 loss to BrewersLa Russa, Anderson ejected in White Sox’ 7-1 loss to Brewers Chicago White Sox’s Tim Anderson is held back by teammates… (11)

Recent Posts

  • Skateboarder Angelo Caro Narvaez suffers eye-watering crash at Tokyo Olympics
  • CEO of UF Health Jacksonville died in jet ski accident, FWC says
  • Poop fairies won’t help, but this bag might
  • Carer caught on CCTV breaking into 91-year-old dementia patient’s home
  • Woman stabbed man so hard between the eyes it reached his brain
  • Covid cases fall for fifth day in a row
  • Russia marks Navy’s 325th anniversary, Iranian ship joins in
  • Manchester United set to sign Raphael Varane in £39m deal by end of the week
  • Judiciary seeks $389.5 million for courthouse security and renovations in wake of 2020 unrest
  • Shocker! US loses to France in Olympic basketball opener
  • Tottenham hero Teddy Sheringham backs Harry Kane’s decision to leave the club
  • Love Island 2021: Two islanders dumped from villa as fans vote for favourite couple
  • Madrid’s Retiro park, Prado avenue join World Heritage list
  • Three wounded in shootout at Antioch market
  • Utah Jazz in the Olympics: Rudy Gobert scores 14 as France upsets Team USA in Olympics opener
  • Iggy Azalea refusing to share any more photos of son Onyx: ‘You’re not playing with my baby’
  • Big 12 on the brink: Texas’ cash grab, the Pac-12’s next move, the CFP’s future and ESPN’s master plan
  • Tokyo 2020 Day Two Highlights: Team GB off the mark as Bradly Sinden wins silver while Chelsie Giles secures bronze
  • COVID-19 vaccines available at hundreds of sites in Northeast Florida
  • Love Island 2021: Sharon Gaffka senses heartbreak for Liberty Poole as Jake Cornish’s ‘head could be turned’
  • 6 hospitalized following multi-vehicle crash on Bishop Ford
  • Telling people to ‘get therapy’ helps no one – especially those like me who can’t afford it
  • Oakland laid out its terms for an A’s waterfront ballpark plan, so what happens now?
  • TV this week: ‘Jeopardy!’ welcomes LeVar Burton to the podium
  • Home and Away spoilers: Kieran shows up on Roo’s doorstep
  • Naya Rivera’s ex-husband Ryan Dorsey reveals son Josey ‘knows he’ll see’ Glee star again a year on from death
  • Man charged after woman, 36, stabbed to death in south London
  • Olympics: US Gymnast MyKayla Skinner Stuns In Bikini Pics with 6’7″ Husband
  • Chris Christie suggested that Trump conduct a ‘thank you’ tour of hospitals and small businesses to pick up in the polls and counter Biden during 2020 race: book
  • Mum gives 1930s home a modern makeover – and adds £100,000 to the value
  • Minister sorry for ‘chaos’ at airports as thousands queue to leave UK
  • CASE STUDY: How Goldman Sachs changed the retail banking game – by entering it
  • As cargo waits and costs climb, Port of Oakland seeks shipping solutions
  • Museum of Science and Industry’s leader vows to stir fascination in new generations
  • A 132-night cruise around the world sold out in under 3 hours – see what it will be like aboard the ship
  • Boy, 16, seriously injured after falling down cliff on Isle of Wight
  • A bitcoin ETF may not be approved by the SEC until 2023 despite surging interest, according to a fund provider that’s already been through the process
  • TikTok star Xiao Qiumei dies after falling 160 foot from a crane while recording a livestream video
  • Did Prince Harry negotiate a four-book publishing deal or is the Mail lying again?
© 2021 Usa News Post | WordPress Theme Ultra News