Architecture Architecture & Interiors Best of est Scotland scottish homes

Best of est | Scottish Homes

April 13, 2025

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Hermitage by Somner Macdonald | Photography by Jim Stephenson

From the rugged shores of the Hebrides to the historic streets of Edinburgh, these six Scottish homes embrace the landscapes, materials, and traditional craftsmanship that define Scotland’s enduring architectural heritage.

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Hermitage by Somner Macdonald Architects

Edinburgh, Scotland

Somner Macdonald Architects has transformed a 1910 Arts and Crafts home in Edinburgh, introducing a brick extension that melds with the existing heritage structure. Defined by asymmetrical rooflines and a six-metre-high interior volume that mimics a gallery, Hermitage reinterprets the grandeur of the original home through a contemporary lens.

Respecting the home’s historic character, the architects carefully studied scale and proportion to ensure the extension felt cohesive rather than imitative. “There’s a richness to the old part of the house, and the new addition needed to speak to it—without simply replicating it,” architect and director Seán Gaule says. The use of pale brick, terracotta roof tiles, warm concrete, and oak bridges past and present, while brick-lined interior walls enhance the interior’s connection to the outdoors. “You’re not outdoors, but you’re so aware of how close nature is,” Gaule reflects. “From the front door, you get this wonderful view through the extension–brick-lined walls, concrete floors, and a singular tall pivot door leading to the courtyard, where a mature olive tree adds a special touch,” he adds.

Hermitage by Somner Macdonald | Photography by Jim Stephenson

Hebridean Home by Room

Isle of Sky, Scotland

The Hebrides, a Scottish archipelago made up of hundreds of islands, has its own deep, elemental voice and this home by Bath and London-based design studio Room falls into dialogue with it. Surrounded by towering forests with commanding views across Portree Loch on the Isle of Sky, Hebridean Home takes on the wild, rugged ambience. Natural stone and black stained larch define a facade relieved by expanses of frameless glazing, which mirror and celebrate the dramatic views and inform a design aesthetic in sync with the landscape.

Seeking to anchor the stone and timber-framed house into its wild context, Room has allowed its form to follow the contours of the land with its blackened timber cladding and natural stone walling working to reduce the visual impact of the dwelling in distant views from Portree Harbour. Responsible for the project’s architecture and interior design, Room has responded to the client’s brief by shaping a home inspired by the composition of surrounding trees and elevated by bespoke furniture, noble materials and statement fittings.

Hebridean Home by Room | Photography by Toby Mitchell

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Hebridean Home by Room | Photography by Toby Mitchell

Iorram by Baillie Baillie Architects

Plockton, Scottish Highlands

Located in the coastal village of Plockton in the Scottish Highlands, Iorram is a contemporary reimagining of a traditional cottage. Designed and built by Baillie Baillie Architects founders Colin and Megan Baillie as their personal holiday home, Iorram embraces locally-sourced timber, time-honoured craftsmanship and sustainable design.

Prioritising an innovative, ‘low-tech’ approach to minimising waste, the home was constructed with monolithic clay block walls, which are highly durable, plastic-free, and simple to build, as well as natural clay plaster and lime harling. Locally sourced and milled Scottish Douglas Fir features throughout the exterior and interior, with even offcuts repurposed for handcrafted kitchen cabinets and doors. “Building this home was an opportunity for us to explore a distinctly Scottish approach to natural materials, and the use of local timber, which is an under-utilised resource,” Colin Baillie reflects. “Contemporary buildings tend to be very much set apart from nature, but we have a strong sense that they should be treated more like an extension of it,” he adds.

Iorram by Baillie Baillie Architects | Photography by Murray Orr

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Caochan na Creige by Izat Arundell | Photography by Richard Gaston

Caochan na Creige by Izat Arundell

Isle of Harris, Scotland

Scottish architecture studio Izat Arundell has completed its first new-build on the Isle of Harris, the private home of architects Eilidh Izat and Jack Arundell. Perched on a rocky outcrop near the Minch—the Atlantic sea channel between the Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland—the home is positioned to take in sea views that expand toward The Isle of Skye.

The design is a true testament to local craftsmanship, with the home hand-built by Jack Arundell, furniture maker Alasdair Izat—Eilidh’s brother—and stonemason Dan Macaulay. The home was built over the span of 18 months while facing severe storms, reinforcing its resilience against the island’s rugged climate.

The exterior features Lewisian Gneiss, the same ancient rock on which the home stands, embedded in a concrete wall with hardwood-framed windows. Softly curved walls inside are inspired by the traditional black houses found on the island, creating a sense of fluidity while subtly defining each space within the home.

Caochan na Creige by Izat Arundell | Photography by Richard Gaston

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Highland House by Jill Macnair | Photography by Beth Evans

Highland House by Jill Macnair

Scottish Highlands

Set in the Scottish Highlands overlooking Loch Tay, Highland House by London-based interior designer Jill Macnair is a contemporary retreat designed to blend into its surroundings. Inspired by the traditional long-house form, it sits on a sloping site with a solid, rock-like base and a bold black zinc-clad upper volume. South-facing glazing frames dramatic mountain views, reinforcing a deep connection to the landscape.

Inside, high-level glazing captures glimpses of the surrounding peaks. The material palette is deeply rooted in the Highland environment—exposed concrete, warm Douglas Fir, and handmade tiles in soft greens, yellows, pinks, and browns reflect the shifting tones of the mountains. Throughout, crafted details enhance warmth and tactility, from soft yet durable textiles to patchwork fabric accents that echo the ever-changing scenery of the region.

Highland House by Jill Macnair | Photography by Beth Evans

Isle of Bute by Hollie Bowden

Isle of Bute, Scotland

Located in Western Scotland on the Isle of Bute, this sensitively restored farmhouse by interior designer Hollie Bowden distinctively blends traditional and contemporary design sensibilities. Reimagined in collaboration with Glasgow-based architect McGinlay Bell, Isle of Bute combines multiple stone farm steadings through glass interventions, introducing a defined central hub at the heart of the home.

Set within a rural landscape, the design prioritises a strong connection between architecture and its surroundings. It focuses on materiality, form, light, and space to firmly root the building in its environment. The interiors are anchored by locally sourced finishes that pay homage to Scottish craftsmanship and materiality, including Larch floors, Caithness stone, and softly textured Bute boucle. With a restrained yet tactile palette, subtle detailing, and earthy hues, the home embodies the wild, elemental beauty of the Isle of Bute.