Many years ago Julie Taylor saw a newspaper article about a Canadian-style timber house built in the pretty Perthshire town of Doune. “I tucked it away in a drawer for I don’t know how long,” she says. “One day we found out the local farmer was selling a plot of land with planning permission.
“I spoke to him and said we’d love to buy it. The land was due to go on the market the next day but he agreed to sell it for us. “I looked around and dug out the article about the Canadian house that was going to be our dream home.
” Julie and her husband Bert have lived in Methven for 55 years. They bought the plot on which Sunfield House stands around 20 years ago. It sits down a private track off a quiet country lane just outside Methven.
At the time the 1.2-acre plot was occupied by a derelict railway cottage that had been condemned. Stone from the cottage was used to form the lower walls of the house, a pair of gate pillars, and several seating areas in the extensive garden.
They immediately set about building Sunfield House. “We had everything imported from Canada,” Julie continues. “It’s built from Canadian cedar, which is very moisture resistant and has really good insulating properties.
“I think our joiner expected it to come as a kit so he got a bit of a surprise when a big pile of wood turned up.” Remarkably, the build only took nine months to complete. Retired police officer Bert worked as a labourer, cutting stone to the correct size for the walls.
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