Two Stirling homes in the running for prestigious BBC Home of the Year prize

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Two stunning local homes are in the running for the title of Scotland’s Home of the Year.In an episode of the hit BBC One Scotland show being screened at 8.30pm tonight (Friday), judges Anna Campbell Jones, Banjo Beale and Michael Angus consider three properties from the Central region – including houses in Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.Formerly a spot of waste ground only four and a half metres wide, ‘Skinny House’ in Bridge of Allan was designed by estate agent Austin Halliday’s local architect dad Bobby.Boasting two external courtyards, the elongated home of Austin, 28, and partner photographer Hayley, 29, is described as “compact with excellent views of the surrounding area”.Daisy Cottage in Dunblane meanwhile is a “cute, picture perfect traditional cottage” dating from 1784.Home to artist Laura Gill, 66, and husband David, 73, who is retired, and their three cats Beebee, Belle and Patchy, Daisy Cottage has been in Laura’s family for decades and embraces ‘one level’ living as her father was disabled.The house is accessible for all and includes a library come study, a terraced back garden and a little art gallery.

Laura displays her art creations in Daisy Cottage’s ‘Loovre’ – the bathroom.‘Skinny House’ owner Austin describes Bridge of Allan as “a proper village full of good people” and his home as “unique”.And on his inspiration for entering the show, he added: “We felt we created something different, unlike anything else and our vision needs to be shared.“We were restricted given the nature of the plot, we based this on ‘skinny house’ which are huge in Asia and other countries.”The couple placed the ‘heart’ marking their favourite spot in the kitchen/rear courtyard.“We weren’t able to place it where we wanted to,”