Where is the last place that you traveled to out of the country? I recently got married and my new husband surprised me with a honeymoon to the beautiful country of Scotland. Throughout that trip, I noticed beauty not only from the looming mountains and countryside but also in the design and architectural features of the Scottish homes. This month, I want to highlight for you some interior design details I noticed during this incredible trip overseas. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into the our adventure and that you leave feeling inspired by the beautiful design of Scotland.
Vibrant and Cozy Colors
Just like the vibrant fall colors that were beginning to peek out on the trees in Scotland, the Airbnb that we stayed at in Invergarry, Scotland was full of vibrant and cozy color. Our Airbnb had beautiful white oak doors with nickel door handles. The color palette used throughout the home was a lovely sky blue, evergreen, and mustard yellow with white oak wood tones and minimal black accents. As soon as I walked in, I could tell that each piece was chosen on purpose to create a cozy guest experience. The sofa was made locally in the United kingdom out of evergreen velvet material and was heavier than it looked (yes I tried to rearrange the furniture while there just to see how it looked 😉.) The solid oak dining table, vintage buffet pieces, and comfy sheepskin area rug in front of the wood burning stove was the perfect balance of neutral with a cozy feel.
Intricate and Vintage Doorways
Scotland is home to many castles which influences the various doors and archways in the homes of country towns. Every house we visited had a unique style to their doorway. From your standard rectangle door to arched doorways, the exterior entryways of each home in Scotland boasts an unique and interesting quality. Through the doorway details alone, you will see a variety of architectural design styles such as Gothic, Oriental, Byantine, Venetian, Bauhaus, Tuscan. So many of the doors have pointed arches, lion door knockers, tarnished hardware finishes, antique door hinges, and so much more. Each doorway has a singular purpose of welcoming in their guests and yet each of them different through color, design, style, or detail.
Natural Stone Exteriors
Vintage architectural stone is a heavy influence for Scotland exteriors. Almost every home that we saw had natural stone incorporated into its architecture either by natural stone steps, ivy growing on a stone wall surrounding the property, or the entire home built with the natural stone. According to Edinburgh architects, this natural stone formed the principal building material for homes in the Scottish Highlands since the Industrial Revolution and is called sandstone. The natural stone also popular for building purposes in Scotland is called slate or flagstone and is mostly used for steps and walkways.
Painted White Exteriors
Painting the exterior of your home white may be a trend that we adopted a few years ago, but in Scotland it has always been a way of life. After researching, I found out that the reason so many homes are painted white is to showcase the history and details of each homeowner’s front door. Not every home is painted white in Scotland, but the majority of the homes we saw while on our honeymoon were either painted white or built with pale sandstone. The biggest exception I saw were in the little seaside towns of Plockton and Duirish. These homes boasted bright colors that resembled the homes in Italy and were influenced by the Tuscan style of Scotland.
The beauty found in the country of Scotland was so much more than just the scenic views of the rolling hills and mountain regions. These were merely a backdrop for the architectural features etched into every home starting from the exterior and pouring through the interior. Inspired by its rich history and castle ruins, Scottish design and architecture thrives from a place of truly natural and organic textures that add a vintage edge to the country’s already stunning views.
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