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What is love? Lynda and Ian Thompson could probably tell us. The couple have travelled the world together, first with Ian’s Merchant Navy postings, and then in his work as a Chief Marine Engineer with a Norwegian oil company. But despite traversing the globe, it was to the Borders that the couple always wanted to return.
Three years ago, after spending four years in Aberdeen, and a stop-gap in a country cottage, the Thompsons – who both hail from Hawick – finally found their new Borders home. Eckford Hall Steading, by the village of Eckford, between Jedburgh and Kelso, gave them everything they wanted from a house – the converted steading boasts period charm while enjoying all the modern day trimmings we now expect. With five bedrooms and three bathrooms, there was plenty of scope for Lynda to open a couple of rooms for bed and breakfast. The large lounge, family dining kitchen and formal dining room further afforded the couple their own privacy while allowing guests a luxurious stay.
Lynda and Ian, who have four grown-up sons, bought Eckford Hall Steading when it was newly converted by a local developer. This gave them the opportunity to really make their mark on the house at an early stage. I was fortunate enough to see the steading in its raw state, without flooring or furnishings, before the couple bought the property. Seeing it today, the transformation is as enchanting as it is pleasing – they have given the house a heart and soul.
The former Buccleuch Estate stone-built steading and barn date from the 1700s. Under planning regulations, the developer had to retain at least 75% of the original building, which they managed to do. However, they also cleverly enhanced the overall look of the house with the addition of an octagonal lounge that enjoys virtual 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside. The developer also added quirky additions such as a flying pig weather vane, which Lynda has nicknamed ‘Rasher’, and retained exposed stonework in the entrance hall.
Since moving in, Lynda and Ian have installed underfloor heating in all of the bathrooms, re-pointed the entire building with a lime mix, installed a semi-professional six-ring gas cooker in the kitchen, laid an oiled oak floor and fitted a log burning stove and bespoke mantel in the lounge, carpeted elsewhere, and landscaped the gardens, adding a stone wall. They have also recently re-fitted the master ensuite, installing a Jacuzzi bath and power shower.
‘The addition of the octagonal lounge was a super foresight on the developer’s part,’ says Lynda. ‘It is a lovely room to sit in. I also love the double staircase. The house had been refurbished, but we bought a blank canvas, so it was down to us to turn it into a home.’
The couple have certainly done that. Throughout the house, the attention to detail is impressive – from the blue and white Spode china that is used everyday, to the display of old family riding boots in the hallway and the use of French toile fabrics in the bedrooms, it is clear that Lynda’s nesting instincts are always to the fore.
It is little surprise to hear that she also operates as a property presentation consultant for Borders estate agent Hastings & Co – Lynda gives advice on staging a house for sale. Having lived in homes all over the world, this is second nature to her. ‘I am very sympathetic to people selling houses as it is stressful,’ she says. ‘That first impression is so important – it all starts from the garden gate.’
Clearly Lynda practices what she preaches, as the entrance to her own home embraces you from the first step inside. Family photographs rest on a table in the hall, while an opening in the stone wall leads through to the formal dining room, which is an endearing room with a large dining table that would easily seat 14. Beautiful terracotta and gold drapes hang at the windows which overlook the River Teviot, while a collection of framed paintings of ships from Ian’s company hang on the walls.
In the inner hallway, where the double staircase elegantly leads to the first floor, a large leather Chesterfield is surrounded by quirky family heirlooms – from Ian’s first riding boots to the first boots he brought their eldest son Jamie back from Texas. Beneath the stair, Lynda has painted the wall a dark red, which beautifully shows off other family treasures, such as her old ice skates and her father’s and sons’ fishing rods. A portrait hangs central to this display. ‘I bought that picture in a junk shop,’ admits Lynda. ‘I just thought he looked like my grandfather, so we call it grampa.’
The large dining kitchen is undoubtedly the heart of this home. Lynda’s collection of Spode is found on the walls, on window sills and in cabinets that she has refurbished herself. ‘I have restored furniture for years and I used to operate my own business doing it,’ she says. ‘At the moment I seem to be going through a cream phase as I have used it everywhere, though it is a classic colour and goes well with my toile in the bedrooms.’
Cream has also been used to great effect in the inviting lounge where cream walls, curtains and period sofas sing in this endearing circular room. The couple have obviously enjoyed furnishing this home.
‘Ian and I have travelled all over the world together but we are both Borderers at heart,’ adds Lynda. ‘We now walk the dog down to the Teviot every day and I can see the house where my grandparents were married in 1928 through the trees. I do love my house and I am happy with my lot.’
Numbers of red kites in Scotland are rising slowly - have you ever seen one of these birds flying wild in Scotland?
