The front door opens and a glossy black blur bounds out to greet me. This is Max, a lovely three-year old Black lab, who sadly doesn’t come with the sale of Westfield House.
Not that I could afford it anyway. At £825,000 it’s not a home that falls within the price range of a working journalist. A few minutes’ exploring is all it takes to understand that it’s a huge amount of house, though, even for that money.
Max is followed by Fiona Clark who, with her husband Michael, bought Westfield House 12 years ago.
“It had been used as a bed and breakfast and was all tartan carpets and ugly curtains,” she laughs. “We’ve replaced pretty much everything.”
The house sits behind a high stone wall and a screen of mature trees, giving good privacy from the road.
The country-style kitchen has a tile floor, Aga, and a truly enormous utility room off it. The living room is Fiona’s favourite space in the house and it’s easy to see why. Two huge windows, traditional cast iron radiators and a wood burning stove make it a warm yet light-filled place to spend time.
Past the living room is Fiona’s study – she works from home for a digital education company in Washington – which is easily big enough to be another double bedroom.
Past this is the drawing room, with a triple bay window and another wood burning stove. “The trouble with a house this big is we have lovely rooms we hardly ever use,” Fiona continues.
There’s a large family/games room on the ground floor. On the first floor is the en suite master bedroom, a second bedroom, and a family bathroom. On the attic level are two more double bedrooms and a shower room.
The large annex at the back of the house has a kitchen, bathroom, study area, two bedrooms and a snug that’s a lovey quiet spot to read a book. It has previously been let as an Airbnb by Fiona and Michael. “You could use it to generate income,” Fiona says, “Or it could be perfect for elderly relatives to live in.”
The couple focused on quality when they were overhauling Westfield House. Fiona explains: “The original shutters were gone so we had new ones made. They’re much better at insulating than curtains and are a treat to close on a wild and stormy night. The bathrooms are by Fired Earth and the main kitchen is by a company called Devol, who do some really good stuff.”
With their three teenage children now close to leaving home the house is far too big for the couple so Fiona, 51, and Michael, 52, plan to downsize.
“Michael works in Switzerland a lot and I’m sometimes in Dubai so we spend part of the year abroad,” Fiona says. “Something half this big or less would be all we need.
“We bought the house before the financial crash for nearly as much as we’re selling it for. We won’t get back all the money we spent on renovations but we love the house and it’s been a lovely family home for us.”
Westfield House, Westfield Road, Cupar is on sale with Galbraith for o/o £825,000