The Evolution of Lairg Lodge: Phase II

Phase I at Lairg Lodge was about reawakening the house. Phase II has been something altogether more involved. This is where I stepped back in and fully reworked a series of rooms, taking them beyond atmosphere and into something far more resolved, layered, and personal. If the first chapter was about restoring spirit, this one has been about shaping experience.

A Deeper Intervention

Returning to the lodge with the benefit of time and perspective allowed for a much more decisive approach. These rooms have not simply been refined, they have been completely reimagined. Layouts have been reconsidered, proportions corrected, and the architectural detailing pushed further so that each space feels intentional rather than incidental. This is where my process becomes more forensic. Looking not just at how a room appears, but how it functions, flows, and ultimately supports the way it is lived in.

At Lairg, that balance is particularly specific. It must absorb the realities of a working fishing and sporting lodge while still offering moments of real comfort and escapism. That tension has driven every decision.

Interiors That Hold Their Own

In Phase II, the interiors take on a stronger identity. There is more confidence in the use of colour, more contrast, and a greater sense of rhythm from room to room. Rather than each space simply relating to the landscape, they now also speak to one another, creating a cohesive but varied experience across the house.

Bedrooms have been entirely reworked to feel more grounded and enveloping. Richer palettes, more considered upholstery, and a clearer hierarchy of materials have transformed them into spaces that feel both restful and quietly indulgent. Bathrooms have been redesigned with equal rigour. These are no longer just functional rooms, but spaces that feel deliberate and resolved. Lighting, joinery, and material junctions have all been carefully calibrated so that everything works effortlessly, both practically and aesthetically.

My Approach in Practice

This phase is perhaps the clearest reflection of how I like to work. It is not about imposing a signature look, but about drawing out what a building wants to be and then pushing it just far enough. At Lairg, that has meant respecting its Victorian bones while allowing for moments of lightness, playfulness, and modern comfort.

There is always a balance to strike. Too much restraint and a house can feel flat. Too much intervention and it loses its integrity. The success of this phase lies in finding that middle ground. Layering has been key. Antiques sit alongside more contemporary pieces. Pattern is introduced carefully, often in quieter ways than you first notice. Textures do much of the work, building depth without overwhelming the spaces.

Nothing feels overly decorated. But everything has been considered.

Designing for Real Life

What has made this phase particularly rewarding is that the house is now being used. Design decisions are no longer theoretical. They are informed by how the owners and their guests actually move through the space. Where they gather, where they pause, what they reach for, and what they overlook.

That insight allows for a level of precision that simply is not possible at the outset of a project.

It also reinforces something I feel strongly about. The best interiors are not static. They evolve. They respond. They become more themselves over time.

A Continued Conversation

The relationship with the landscape remains central, but it is now more subtle. The interiors no longer rely on it. They sit confidently alongside it. There is a quiet assurance to the house at this stage. It feels settled, but not finished. Considered, but not overworked. And that is exactly where it should be.

Looking Ahead

There are still layers to add, pieces to collect, and moments to refine. But the foundation is now firmly in place.

Phase II has not just developed the lodge, it has deepened it. And for me, that is always the goal. Not to create something that feels complete, but something that has the capacity to keep evolving.

View the full project gallery