Be inspired by this cosy Scottish Highland retreat
Take a room-by-room tour around beautiful Homes & Gardens readers' homes. This week we look inside a Scottish Highland retreat for stunning decorating inspiration. Be inspired by this tartan home with nods to its Highland location.
This attractive part-Georgian, part-Victorian property with 13 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms sits on the Hebridean island of Mull, with surrounding landscapes of lochs, mountains and rivers. The home was once owned by Queen Victoria's fourth daughter, Princess Louise, and her husband, the ninth Duke of Argyll.
The shooting lodge stands out against the rolling hills and woodlands of the 17,000-acre Ben More estate.
1/9 Exterior
2/9 Hallway
In the hallway, Cawdor rugs and stair carpet add colour and warmth to the plain cream walls.
The carpet was sourced from Anta. Visit Vaughan for a lantern like this.
3/9 Games room
An oak-panelled billiards room occupies the original kitchen. This games room has a gentlemen's club feel to it.
4/9 Utility room
A partition separates the boot room from the hallway. The stone floor tiles add a rugged element to this practical utility room.
5/9 Kitchen
An aga fills the kitchen with warmth, maintaining the atmosphere of a traditional Scottish lodge, without the gloom.
The kitchen was designed by Murray & Murray of Edinburgh.
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6/9 Dining room
All of the furniture, including the leather chairs and twenty-seater dining table, was made especially for the house by Norfolk cabinet makers Stephen Church Furniture.
The owners bought the silver candelabra at Sotheby's.
7/9 Bathroom
The roll-top bath with built-in soap dishes is Victorian. The neutral walls keep this space airy and light for a fresh feel.
8/9 Double bedroom
The furnishing in the guest bedroom is smart and relaxed for a polished look.
The mahogany wardrobe and leather chair are from Newark Antiques Fair.
9/9 Master bedroom
The Scottish theme is heightened by the tartan fabric on the curtains and bed runner.
The bedlinen is from The White Company.
Looking for more stunning readers' homes to look around? Take a look at our House Tours section for everything from a modern London penthouse and beautiful mews house, to an Edwardian country manor and Simon Lycett's home.
Heather Young has been Ideal Home’s Editor since late 2020, and Editor-In-Chief since 2023. She is an interiors journalist and editor who’s been working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines for over 20 years, both in-house and as a freelancer.
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