Homes: Shetland beach house

A room with a view

home inspiration,by the sea,Coast,reader homes CO Shetland home

When Mike and Gill Finnie moved to Shetland from Edinburgh in 1986 they only expected to stay a couple of years but, over twenty years later the couple have built and made an idyllic home on the small island of East Burra surrounded by sprawling mountains and winding corners which present a fresh breathtaking sea view with every turn.

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Courtesy of Coast magazine

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The perfect spot

home inspiration,by the sea,Coast,reader homes CO View over Shetland Mike, who is an architect, designed and built the couple\'s beach home. They wanted to build a contemporary house with an informal feel. \"A sort of beach house with flexible space,\" Mike says. As the design process evolved, the house became simpler and simpler. The result is less beach house and, Mike says ruefully, \"more of a barn. The local term might be \'shed\'.\"

The right fit

home inspiration,by the sea,Coast,reader homes CO Shetland kitchen

The interior of Mike and Gill\'s house has been deliberately designed as an open, sociable living space. Friends gather around the welcoming blue table in the kitchen/dining area. The couple refer to the kitchen as a \'non-kitchen\' because there are no built-in units.

Outside space

home inspiration,by the sea,Coast,reader homes CO Shetland home garden Outside, Mike has transformed beachcombing finds into sculpture: parts of old boats, whalebones, rusty metal and pieces of slate have metamorphosed into free-standing works of art, including slate pyramids that glitter with a layer of glass. The garden is comprised of little rooms each one perfect for different times of day, depending on weather conditions and the position of the sun.

Full yet uncluttered

home inspiration,by the sea,Coast,reader homes CO Shetland kitchen Despite being filled with finds sourced from foreign travels and work by local artists, the uninterrupted space and height of the rooms give it an uncluttered feel. Objects are tucked up in exposed roof beams, on bookshelves and stacked in corners.

Panoramic sea views

home inspiration,by the sea,Coast,reader homes CO Shetland garden

Mike and Gill\'s house has been built to face south west so they can sit and watch the amazing Shetland sunsets. \"We designed it to be open and light with a connection to the sea. Even in my study I can see the waves through the conservatory,\" Mike says.

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Courtesy of Coast magazine

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