It's been a LONG old wait for the keys but we're finally in! (Well, we're not in, we're living in our bus while we renovate!) Drop below any recommendations you guys might have for the house vision (and DIY) - 300,000 brains are better than 2! 🤣 Would love to hear your thoughts... 🥰
I would take all the stones from the garden by the barn and anywhere else and use them to make a really charming platformed garden by the house. Making levels will not only give you better results gardening wise, but also diminish tripping hazards (Aimee... lol) I would then fill in the garden area in front of the barn level it and make it a beautiful grass, stone, or gravel patio with flowerbeds all around. Great for entertaining around a fire pit. & You laugh at the coal pit, but in the winter, you may want to fill that up. Woodstoves are fun, but in the deep cold, coal is the best. Especially if you don't want to get up to load the stove in the middle of the night.
noooo please do not take down the stone wall in the barn, that barn is very old. no one just built that recently. Just a Canadian with lots of Scottish heritage here, that barn is amazing. heated floors for sure. and a nice Jotul woodstove.
Congratulations 🎉! Don't go knocking out ceiling beams without talking to an architect. Those beams often help keep the structural integrity of the roof. So happy for you both! 😊
And maybe an engineer! You start flattening the hills around you, and you do more damage to the foundation of your houses! Go slow! Write and draw every area out before you start renovations on it! Just remember it's the journey that's intresting, not the actual place. There's no way you're going to have that area for family dinner by Christmas. And don't take too many storage areas out of each room...because your going to need them. Not only for clothes, but bedding and stuff. Windows will bring in more moisture and cold in the winter...might want to rethink that idea of putting in a wall of windows. Good luck. Start with your living quarters first and take it one room at a time. Wear a respirator mask around all that mold, mushrooms, and aspesdices. Black mold can kill you!! Wear jumpsuits as well and leave them in your room. You're working on. Plastic off that door as well to leave mold dust in the room.
You will need to put in French drains around the back of the house to divert water coming down from the hillside away from your foundation. That is likely the reason for the mold in the BR that you want to turn into the bathroom. While you are working on grading the grounds in front for your big gravel parking lot, you might want to address the steep slope immediately behind the house as well, so that water runoff is less of an issue. Either a retaining wall or dig into the hillside to push that edge farther away from the house, or both. I wish you all the best!
Congratulations both. Agree with these other folks, water diversion away from the hoose a priority. Have fun making it your own, it’s going to look fabulous 🤩
Advice: Start with an architect. This is a big project and the architect will bring so much to the table. They will have ideas you've never even considered. Pay for this. THEN find your builder (who will declare several things impossible). Then spend some time on your priority list and find out what you two can reasonably do yourselves. Be patient, you have a lifetime of projects in mind. Be flexible. Stuff happens. Best of luck to you. What a gorgeous property!!! Oh, and you don't have enough room for the highland cow. You can have chickens (if you want eggs) and dogs. Start small on the garden. That is humbling.
um Drof .... weird that you say that cuz they said they have an architect but maybe you mean they should get an Architect, ya that's gotta be it. An Architect it is!!!!!
I'm torn between a grin and a grimace as I contemplate all you're about to go through and how unsuspecting you are today. I feel for ya. This is going to challenge you like nothing before and you'll hate it and love it and ions from now when it's finally finished, you'll be whole new people than you are today. Good luck! I've already laid out my game plan on prior vids, so I'll just say, get the workshop done first, stop water intrusion, get some water and heat, fix the drive for deliveries putting down gravel where needed to prevent mud, and make designated places for scrap and waste you can back a truck up to, and then get to it. You're a LONG way from the fun part so just be patient. You'll get there. Hugs! So happy you finally got the keys!
Finally! Delighted for you. Get the dehumidifiers/air cleaners on 24/7 . Our barn took 9 months to renovate with an army of full timers. You have a huge project ahead of you and you have the delights of the planning department to wrangle with. Don't want to burst your bubble but there's an awful lot to do and you're going to need very deep pockets and truck loads of patience. Wishing you the best of luck and thank you for taking us along with you😊
Wishing you the best and want to send positive vibes as you two have brought me so much enjoyment. Jane is on the mark in everything she said. I am a residential contractor with 35 years of experience. Moisture is your enemy in a stone building getting all carpets and anything that absorbs and holds moisture out is absolutely essential first thing. Get dehumidifiers and fans going with windows open and get your house breathing. Set small priorities unless you have really deep pockets. Building departments are there to protect you and the architects will direct you. I am overwhelmed for you so bite off small bits and complete those so you are always left with a clean place to retreat. Terry the builder
The crest on the hat in the barn is the Clan Stewart of Appin Crest Badge. It says “Quihidder Wil Zie” which means “Whither will ye”, which is the clan motto.
Hi. Guys. Best of Luck with your new home. Idyllic location. My late husband Gerry and I had a tiny 1900s cottage here in Ireland for 10 years. We had a new insert stove with back boiler installed in the fireplace. When fire was lit, wood burning, we just switched on the little electric pump. This heated the water in boiler and pumped it into 6 radiators....heating entire cottage. We had idyllic years there. Sadly Gerry passed 4 years ago. I have moved now to a less rural place. But I have beautiful memories of our little cottage. You will be very happy in your new home. ❤❤🎉🎉
9:25 - the hat is called a Glengarry which is a traditional Scottish cap and the "feather" is referred to as a "Hackle". The badge you can see usually refers to either the military unit or the clan the individual wearing belongs to. Hope this helps?
I’m 6 mins in love you two, why you don’t have 1 million subscribers I can’t understand… you like my children….keep being you! 59 year old 🇨🇦 girl that adores you two 😊
I’ve been looking forward to having a look around your house and agree it’s fabulous. Please don’t rush into ripping it apart. Listen to people with experience. Tell people what you are thinking of doing and get advice. I loved it up to the point where Amy drilled a hole potentially through your roof. 😮 I just thought hole in roof. Wiring, pipes? Looking forward to sharing your journey. 😊
So happy for you and can’t wait to see what you do with it all. As a horticulturist myself, may I suggest you start your garden with pots and see how your light and seasons go, that way you aren’t committing to raised beds until you know the best aspect for the garden and what your rainfall, light and animal visitors will be. Get a plastic poly tunnel as they are easier to repair if something gets damaged. Enjoy the process.
OMG! I am so excited for the two of you! I was crying happy tears for you. This will be an amazing adventure for you. The property is fabulous and I totally understand why you fell in love with it. So much potential! Yes, lots of work but, it will be a pleasure making it your own. You are young, full of energy, with lots of time ahead of you to complete the work and it will all be worth it in the end. 🎉🎉🎉 Woo Hoo! Congratulations! BTW: My husband and I will be starting a new adventure as well. In three weeks we begin work on an old French stone farmhouse ruin that hasn’t been lived in for more than 30 years. We are already working with an architect and preliminary drawings have been done, builders cannot begin until September so, we have all summer to work on the property, getting a garden started and planting trees, shrubs and flowers. Oh, and we are a bit older than you, 72 and 68. You are never too old to live your dream. All the best to you Craig and Aimee! I cannot wait to watch your adventure unfold.
@@kingingit Yes . . .sooo agreed. They are the good-good peeps in this crazy world. Aims before I get right stuck in to watch I have to ask ahead . . .where is the rightly so *dedicated, no lads allowed, SCRUNCHIE* room gonna go mate, hehe. So hap hap for ya lot. NOWWWW get allll the critters and doggos Aims (we will back ya up...just start hoovering them up & bringing them round, hehe.
I’m not a renovator or work in construction so take that into account. I would start with the roof and anywhere that needs insulation and moisture barrier. Congratulations on your new home 🏡 ❤❤
Right! Because you gotta get that house " in the dry!" Also look into "foam" insulation to be pumped into your walls. It will save you a lot then tearing down to insulate. They just drill into your wall and pump it in; it will grab any hole along the way to filling it full. It would be a quicker way to keeping heat in your building.
Guys it’s me again long term fan from the Asia days…… so glad to see you back here and things are now finalised……… I’m a level three plumber with 16years construction experience and I’m happy and here if u need to ask any questions or maybe could be convinced to pop up for a holiday/ help u guys out!? X
@@pattdunn9845 Yh by the looks of there horrendous lookin pipework and dinosaur system I can see them ripping out completely and restarting with I higher pressure system and undated heating
So happy for you guys! If you can incorporate a mudroom I would suggest adding one to the plans. Hooks for coats, a bench to sit and take off your shoes, a place to store them. Helps keep the house warm in the winter too.
First foots are traditionally the first person over your doorstep at new years … a dram, black bun and coal were the gifts brought by them. Tall and dark haired male preferably. I’ve never known anyone do it for a new house. Bread and salt are gifts for a new home and sprinkling salt throughout the home around windows and doors to ward off bad spirits. Traditional Scot’s blessing… May your troubles be less and your blessings be more and may nothing but happiness come through your door
The first glengarry you showed with the belted unicorn is the clan badge of the Clan Stuart of Appin.the translation of the motto is "whither will ye" The second one is a glengarry badge of St Andrew patron saint of Scotland He was an apostle and was crucified on an X-shaped cross, as he did not deem himself worthy to be executed in the same way as Jesus. The relics of Andrew are said to have been collected by St Rule (or Regulus) and brought to Scotland, to the important religious centre now called St Andrews. A story goes that before King Oengus II led a Scottish and Pictish army to victory over the English in 832AD, a white cross was seen in the sky, and was taken as evidence of the intervention of Andrew in the Scottish triumph. This is said to be the origin of the Scottish Flag (the saltire) and Andrew being the kingdom’s patron saint...sorry this is so long!
The 'wonky' yard outside of the barn would benefit from a tiered landscape - much like large 'rice terraces' that you saw in Bali - rather than a flat one. Same with any stairs required in the landscape; create tiered earthen/gravel stairs braced with timber. If there is ever a flood, or other property damaged, earthen stairs are easy to repair (unlike poured concrete). Remember to construct proper drainage to steer water away from your buildings and downhill. Flattening this yard may cause standing water to collect in large (seasonally frozen) puddles so retaining a slope is desirable.
Me too! Wow I've never been happier to receive that you tube notification! 😁 Wishing you guys the very best of luck with the renovation project all the way from Donegal ☘️🍀!! Absolutely loving all the ideas you are coming up with, sounds lush and a home you can feel very proud to call your own! 🎉🥰 X
Omg. The potential is endless 🎉 And so I think is the work needed 😅 I know it’s boring and you want to start decorating etc etc. But start with structure and drainage around the houses! That will save you a lot of problems down the road 😊
I am beyond excited for you both. Truth be told, I was getting a little worried that it was taking so long to get the keys, so it tickles me pink that you are in and ready to get after it making her sparkle. Loving the cool carved stone elements...those are so unique. I think you could repurpose the metal frame of the greenhouse by using corrugated pvc panels, which will not only let the light in but also provide a little insulation effect in the winter. Proper greenhouses made of metal and glass are costly, so it would seem to be a waste to get rid of it. Chances are, replacing the glass would cost as much as buying new.
If you notice there’s a radiator there that the door would hit if opening that way….I suggested putting the laundry there and moving the fridge to the other side where the laundry is to solve that issue 👍
I am delighted that you got your keys! This is so exciting! Raised beds for growing vegetables, widen the road into your property, buy a dehumidifier, double glaze the windows, the pink room is the bedroom and the patio is for having breakfast in the sunshine. Tear down the addition and build an "L" off the livingroom end. Put in a full kitchen, pantry, and bathroom. Put in a sliding glass door out of the kitchen to your new patio/garden with the green house and raised vegetable beds. Pick your veg for dinner, BBQ on the patio, have a big picnic table for outdoor dining.
Congratulations Don't know if you thought about this but heated flooring is amazing if you don't want to do it in the whole house just that bathrooms is like the most amazing thing ever
Since Craig LOVES ice dips i would suggest adding in a barrel sauna and an ice bath out on the deck. The ice bath is used for cold plunges then jump into the sauna when you're done! congrats on everything you guys! the property is going to be absolutely gorgeous! I've been following your journey for years now and there's no channel that makes me smile as much as this one! Sending so much love from South Africa🇿🇦💖
Definitely hold off on tearing down or cutting into any stone walls until you've sealed and stabilized where needed. Probably will need French drains in back to offset ongoing moisture encroachment. Protecting your investment against leaks and seepage is a big $ thing, always more than you expect but important to prioritize. ❤🎉
Woohoo finally got the keys congrats!! You mentioned you were near Aboyne, if you are interested in gardening, there is a gardening society in Aboyne and one in Tarland who run plant sales every now and again, where you can pick up plants for veg and for your garden for the cheap
We've just done the same 9th April got our keys to our cottage and 2 acres just outside of Wick. The whole process of moving from Liverpool UK to Scotland has been so stressful but waking up looking over a loch it was all worth it. Good luck and so excited to follow your journey happening along side our own ❤️
So excited for you. What a great property! Be aware that those annoying ceiling beams are structural. Do NOT cut them out until after the engineering is checked. Just asking but, how does the vision stack up against the budget? Suggest you make sure the cottage is not leaking first, make sure the electric is up to snuff, structurally sound, figure out how to insulate, those kinda things. I want to see a video of you figuring out how to fit the fridge in when you change the refrigerator door to open toward the counter. 😆 Small, significant issues first please. Glad you have big dreams, but do the basics during this first summer so that your first winter is comfortable. Good luck. Very happy for you. Thanks for taking us along on the adventure.
Start on the outside, make sure the roof, foundation and windows are sound. Then work your way in. It's going to be beautiful when its done Best of luck, you'll do fine
Keep those positive feelings!! TBH, after two DIY home renos under my belt, I watched the whole video feeling quite anxious (my own stuff, admittedly). I can't wait to see how this all unfolds and wishing you both the absolute BEST!
To safeguard your health, anytime you are in spaces with damp and mold, please put on a P100 mask/respirator. They have pink replaceable cartidges. Some types of mold can be dangerously toxic and once in your system can be very hard to eliminate. It looks like a great adventure! ❤ But please take care to protect yourself during the reno! Disposable painting overalls with hoods are a good idea to prevent you bringing mold spores back into your living space.
Listen to those last two messages! Mold is dangerous and it can change everything in your life… Speaking from experience. Make sure you don’t wear the clothes that you wore in that house back into your van. I would definitely be in Tyvek or disposable coveralls. A mask is a must to prevent irreversible lung and organ damage. We all love you guys, hopefully you listen. 💞
Quite a project. You’re going to be busy. You might be able to save the greenhouse frame and get new glass cut for it. It would be very useful for bringing your seedlings along since you’re not in the warmest part of the U.K.
Call now and get your gravel delivered for your driveway and parking areas. Soon you'll need to mow the yard so get that sorted before the busy season starts. Hire a landscape architect to get a plan for a French drain and slope to shed water runoff. The priority is eliminating water from coming in from foundation, gutters, and roof. Focus on those things first. Sort out what you want to get rid of or keep. Organize a workshop where your tools are and make it like Gary's shop. So excited to see it all transform! Get some books on basic carpentry and find some Scottish cottage reno channels for ideas and networking. Are you going to have two kitchens? Is your plan to live in the cottage or the barn? Best of Luck, Lads!
for the garden in front of the barn, whatever bricks and rocks have to be moved for your renovation i reccomend keeping and building up either a rock wall or retaining wall around the garden to you keep the charteristics and charm from the original barn and garden
the one thing I’d do differently in my next home would be to consider the direction each room faces when choosing it’s function; kitchen facing east for morning light, master suite facing west for sunset, etc etc 😘smooches!!
I’ll highly recommend getting chickens especially if you’re planning a vegetable garden. They eat a lot of bugs that could be bad for plants but also their 💩 is really really great fertilizer! I’m not sure about the UK but there are also organizations that adopt out rescue chickens (so you could always look into that!)
Chickens are the best pets......follow you everywhere. You will need a pen with wire under though to stop foxes digging. You will also need wire around any veggies as you will have rabbits up there. Good luck xx
In the barn, the second story was probably used as a hay loft. The little windows are for air circulation. So cool. Can’t wait to see you guys transform the new place ❤
This is a huge opportunity to build your dreams. I love your excitement and enthusiasm. I am praying that you hire people to do this work. My recommendation is to not paint anything that is moldy and porous. Remove it and rebuild. Mold will come back and it will take over everything else that is new. If you can afford air scrubbers and purifiers, I would highly recommend that. You would have to change the filters often. This is exciting and I pray for healthy and happy blessings.♥️
Congratulations 🥳 Be careful not to knock down any support beams or walls, that would be a bad day! A dehumidifier would really help in the cottage with the moisture and smell. Our old basement was terrible we had a drain hose on ours so it ran 24/7 in the spring and summer and the moldy muggy smell stayed away. Good luck on your renovations! Super excited to see all that you do to keep the unique and original look, i love older style homes/buildings.
I’m an older lady who loves your channel. My 2 grown children and I are coming to Scotland at the end of May. We are so excited!! I’ll keep an eye out for you guys and custard!!! ❤❤
As to the garden. Acre Homestead on RU-vid built a massive garden on a slope and there is a ton of great ideas in her garden. She is in zone 7/8 but you can just get a basic idea of putting a garden in on sloped land. Hugs to you both and so freakin excited to see what you all do with the home and property.
Jam packed video, my mind is racing trying to envision the final projects. Your excitement is infectious. Welcome home Aimee and Craig. So proud of you both.
Since you already found evidence of water intrusion in the home. To get by, you can put a large tarp on the roof until you can identify where the leak is coming from. Also, heating up the house will help dry it out, and running a dehumidifier will help also. Hope this helps.
So happy for you guys - everything is so cool, ESPECIALLY the forest! 😱 I wish Bee & Theo lived closer because they surely have some wisdom to share. Crossing my fingers for you both… thanks for the tour! ♥️♥️
We missed you! I've been thinking you are both bonkers, but you finally showed us the woods behind.....you'll make it work because it IS flipping amazing. Good luck!
Wahoooooo!!!! So excited for you both !!! Please be careful with your health and wear protective gear. How about a ""building party"" from your fellow RU-vidrs? Much Love to you !!! Excited for the future !
Hi guys, just adore the new homestead! It's an old property and hard to heat or at least to keep the heat in. A heat pump will be insufficient, oil and gas an environmental no no! A biomass boiler, running on wood pellets, wood chip or logs, ticks all the boxes environmentally and sized correctly could be used to heat the cottage initially, then the barn when ready. There may even be grants available, which would help towards the cost. 😁 Best of luck guys, can't wait to follow your journey!
The keys were waiting for! It’s going to be an awesome place when it is finished. I’m glad to hear that you are seeking the help of a professional in your renovations.
Soooo excited for this!! It feels like an eternity since your last video so i can only imagine how it's been waiting on the keys yourself! I bet it's even a special feeling waking up with Custard parked up on your OWN land!! So excited for all the projects to come and glad you're getting an architect and contractors in haha honestly DIY is great but it's a massive learning commitment and even getting the professional help in to get the cottage up and running so you have somewhere solid to nest and really settle into would probably help your mental peace. Can always go nuts with the DIY on the barn and other buildings/landscaping! Also the real question is are you going to get a dog now? 👀
Make sure you have WRITTEN CONTRACTS on everything before you give anyone money!! Also, offer to get the materials list from the builder and buy ALL ITEMS YOURSELVES. (Found out my builder was using like a foot of board and taking the other wood home to help rebuild his projects.) It's cost me a lot, but it was a lesson. Now, nothing leaves my property without me seeing it first.
Amazing- we looked at that place loads, glad its gone to people so excited about it. We are heading back to bonny Scotland in 2 weeks to start our search for somewhere magical. We wandered around Scotland for the last 12 months and fell in love with it. Enjoy the journey guys, glad i found your channel.
On top of the wall of the long L-shape of the barn: get another story up with mainly glass (a bit like Eamon and Bec's top floor). That way you can keep the beautiful walls downstairs in tact. You could even create a verandah...
How exciting. Be prepared for this will take a lot of determination and time. Just going thru all the stuff left seems overwhelming. So hopefully you can get helpers and clear out everything. It makes big difference. It's good you have professional builders coming to look at everything. It's going to be most amazing renovation and very expensive, but well worth it. Gorgeous property and majical zen forest. A blessing. Love you channel. 💕💖💕 I'm in so. California. 😎
So happy you're finally there! I'm excited to follow you on these new journey. It probably won't always be easy, so you have to remember to love each other, take care of yourselves, make time to breathe and always talk to your therapist.
I'm excited for this series! For your garden, they probably had that greenhouse to extend the short growing season, which I imagine you'd want to do too. You might want to build a sturdier greenhouse using clear polycarbonate sheets to better withstand the weight of the snow.
Re heating, living out in the sticks in North Yorkshire we've learnt that it's best to have multiple forms of heating. We have oil heating, gas hob, multi fuel burner. I'd go for solar, wind etc. Good luck x
Ambitiou$ plan$. As a horticulturalist I would say plan your outdoors with the same amount of effort as the inside. Start with where you want a compost system relative to yard/garden waste and kitchen waste. We have bins to serve both purposes (on an acre.) Maybe plan for a small growing area near the house for herbs and quick growing greens that you can just step out and grab. In the bigger area, a tiered garden will help with runoff and make use of the angle of the sun. If you use the greenhouse its pretty small so using it for plant starts would work well. Not sure if you need irrigation, but an outdoor water source for watering plants or washing produce seems logical. Your property has so much character! I'd try to maintain as much of it as possible. Newer isn't always better and some things look great in their original state when combined with your newer things. Get a feel for the house and property before you start purchasing anything...We live on an older property that came with a barn, shed and chicken coop(big!) full of stuff. We carefully went through and sorted and ended up with some things to keep, some to sell, some to donate and some to toss. It was well worth the time..Good luck!
Congratulations on the new home, land and barn. You both look so happy and so am I to see you both back. Look forward to the journey, I wish I could come up with some good ideas and advice for the renovation but I know you will both be brilliant. ❤
Suggest getting disposable dehumidifiers in any room with damp to mitigate growth of any rot/mold. Inexpensive and the amount of water they remove from the air is amazing. 🌊
First thing you should do is plant a money tree in the garden.... good luck guys many highs and lows ahead... nearly completed our renovation project after 12 months it was very Character Building
Having a hot tub under a covered outdoor space is a MUST. Then you can enjoy it in the rain or snow. A good covered outdoor space with a comfy patio sofa is something the space warrants. Can’t wait to see the change you guys make on the property!
I am so excited for you both and what a fantastic property. Good luck to you and we can’t wait to watch the following episodes showing your progress. The little things count so take your time and enjoy every minute. Xx
I watched it today as I was having a really bad day during a very long bad week. I just have to say, thank you for bringing us into your life and being you. You lift my spirits more than you know. Thank you for taking us all on a tour of your Scottage!!! By chance, do you have a current AG1 promo code?
Congrats. What a beautiful house and location. Perfect out of the wind. This looks like a 10 year project. When things get hard as they always do, watch this video to try and remember the excitement at the start. Also Scotand is perfect for having an outdoor sauna and hot tub.
If ur going to remove the wall of the barn use to stone from that and the stone that u pick up out of the garden and build a wall around the garden for the barn. Basically don't just chuck the stone. Or use it for some sort of paving. Love the show keep up the great work.
Spring is here. Good weather to start renovations! Can’t wait to see the cottage transformation. It will be ready for next winter. Remolding can be so stressful. Just always remember this is your forever home and that you love each other. Maybe you can get the garden done also this year. Then you can have a wedding on your property like Bec And Enon. I probably butchered his name. Been watching for about a year or more. Love you both so happy to see this next chapter. Much love ❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊
