Loader Monteith completes retrofit and extension of 18th-century cottage

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Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

Source: Jim Stephenson

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Loader Monteith has completed the retrofit and extension of an 18th-century cottage in a historic conservation village in Perthshire, Scotland, transforming a former dental surgery into a low-energy family home.

The original stone building, constructed in 1789, had suffered structural decay, water damage and a fragmented layout. The team reconfigured the internal arrangement, relocating the staircase and removing internal partitions to create a more fluid sequence of spaces from the front of the house through to the riverside garden at the rear.

A new double-storey rear extension accommodates an open-plan living and dining area and a primary bedroom suite. Large sliding glass doors open onto a courtyard and landscaped garden that backs onto the River Earn. The extension is shaded by a tapering perforated aluminium canopy, which offers privacy from a neighbouring church while allowing natural light to enter. Names of family members are laser-cut into the pergola.

The original stone building, constructed in 1789, had suffered structural decay, water damage and a fragmented layout

Throughout the home, oak flooring provides continuity between rooms. A marble kitchen island and matching backsplash were fabricated from a single piece of stone passed down through the family, while an outdoor marble-topped table on casters was made using the remaining material.

Energy-efficient upgrades include triple glazing, improved insulation and airtightness detailing, contributing to thermal comfort and reduced energy consumption.

The upper floor comprises a main bedroom with views across the valley, an ensuite bathroom with a skylit omnitub, two additional bedrooms, a shower room and a window seat tea nook. Joinery elements and open shelving have been arranged to support ease of use for a family member living with Alzheimer’s, with carefully placed ‘memory anchors’ that support daily routines.

Located within a designated conservation area, the project required close coordination with local authorities. The front elevation retains its traditional proportions and original stonework to ensure continuity with the surrounding historic context.