Jill Macnair on the peaceful loch and traditional longhouses that inspired her home in the Scottish Highlands
While it’s within easy reach of civilisation, says Jill, the site has the feeling of otherworldly remoteness. “It has really lovely expanses, where you feel completely cut off and forget about everything else that’s going on in your life,” she explains.
At the start, Jill set herself the brief to create a place that would nestle into the landscape and make the most of the views of the water. She called upon Kirsty Lees for assistance, a childhood friend who had recently founded the practice Tektonika Architects, and together they began to research the local vernacular. Traditional longhouses – single-storey agricultural dwellings originally shared by people and livestock – came to influence the shape and structure of Jill’s house.
But it was – naturally – the interior-design phase of the project that really allowed Jill really make her mark. “It’s a bit like writing,” she says of her creative process, having previously contributed to titles including Elle Decoration and The Guardian. “It’s about stripping things back until you’re left with the clearest communication possible.” She was strict with her editing of the spaces, opting for simple yet textural materials, a natural colour scheme and pared-back decoration, to ensure minimal distraction from the views of the loch. “It’s all about the water, really.”
Watch our film now for a tour of Jill’s home, as well as its spectacular surroundings. And don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode.
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