WHEN Euan Campbell was young, he set his sights on owning a big house and a big car. "I wanted it all, " he says with a big grin. "I'm the first to admit that, as a young man, I was extremely materialistic. I saw the lifestyle I wanted and I was determined to get it."
It was while working as an electrician that Euan first became interested in property. "I was working in all these beautiful houses and I guess that ignited my passion, " he says. He decided to become a property developer and established his own building company.
At the enviably young age of 45, he retired from full-time work and moved into the archetypal millionaire's pad - Cliffside, in King's Park, the leafy heart of Stirling. A Victorian sandstone mansion, it sits proudly in a raised corner spot. The wide, sweeping drive allows optimum time to appreciate the impressive high-gabled stone house. Euan agrees: "It's a very nice-looking house but I was particularly impressed by the grounds. Having an acre of land in the middle of the town is rare."
Euan has lived in the house for the last four years with his wife and two children. "I grew up in Clackmannanshire, about eight miles away and I've always loved Stirling, " he says. With decades of experience of building work behind him, Euan admits he was unlikely to ever rest on his laurels when it came to his own house: "We were always going to rip any property we moved into to pieces before putting our own stamp on it." And so he did at Cliffside, where he stripped and redecorated every room to create a pristine home.
Visitors are welcomed into a marblefloored porch streaked with technicoloured light from the original stained-glass windows. Inside, the grand hallway still has the original parquet flooring and a chaise longue sits elegantly in the centre of stairwell. Glittering chandeliers throughout the house create a stately atmosphere and draw the eye up towards the original cornicing that graces several of the rooms.
Off the hallway, the huge lounge has views out on to the garden and a large woodenframed fireplace forms the focal point. An original freeze adorns the top of the walls and original working shutters bring touches of period grandeur amid the modern decor. The day room, which also benefits from views across the garden, offers a more relaxed setting for watching television and enjoying the integrated sound system.
Further down the hall, the kitchen is a clever fusion of traditional themes and contemporary minimalism. While the wooden Welsh dresser along the backwall evokes the past, the sleek breakfast bar on a central island bring the look right up to date. The kitchen flows into the south-facing conservatory through tall French doors. This room was added to the building 18 months ago as a way for Euan to appreciate his much-loved garden all-year round.
Another door leads from the kitchen to a neat utility room, a small toilet and a room with an external door which has has many different uses, from gym to office or storage room. This hub also leads to a triple garage with a floored loft which doubles as a recreational area as well as a party venue for birthdays and barbecues. "It's great during the summer, " says Euan. "We put the cars in the drive, open the French doors on to the patio area and people can wander in and out." It also has a small toilet which saves a dash back into the main house.
A more decadent powder room is to be found on the upper level. What is possibly the grandest bathroom in the central belt includes a luxuriously deep self-standing bath at the end of a long, marble-floored room, complete with chandelier. Original wooden panels half way up the wall have been painted white and the glistening porcelain is softened with a dramatic draped curtain and a neat chaise longue behind the door. "One of my clients came over for a meeting and asked to use the toilet. When he came back, he told me that if my attention to detail in business was as good as in there, the deal was on, " Euan says.
Most of the six bedrooms, several of which have en-suite bathrooms, are also located on this level. There is also a smart office from which Euan conducts his remaining business.
Just when you think there is no more to explore, a discreet doorway reveals a staircase that leads straight into a functional study area in the attic. There is also a minimalist shower room and a spacious, light-filled bedroom with enviable views of the countryside. This lofty level once provided a study sanctuary for Euan's 20-year-old son.
Now that both of their children have flown the nest, the couple are in the enviable position of being able to live in two countries. "Now that the kids are settled at university, we are planning to spend most of our time in Spain, " explains Euan. "We should only be in Scotland for 10 weeks a year, so it's a waste to be sitting on such an asset."
The couple are looking for a smaller home in Scotland before eventually buying their main property in the outskirts of Marbella. Euan is learning to speak Spanish, and more importantly, how to play golf: "Cliffside is a beautiful family home, but if none of the members are here on a permanent basis, it makes sense to sell up."
WHERE IT'S AT
KING'S PARK, STIRLING
Place: The upmarket area of King's Park skirts the green expanse of the same name and is characterised by impressive sandstone townhouses.
Facilities: Outwith the tourist trail, art venues include the Tolbooth and Albert Hall and sports facilities at Stirling University and Rainbow Slides swimming pool.
Shops: It is a short walk into the centre with its independent shops and high street names.
Schools: St Ninian's Primary, Cambusbarron Primary and Stirling High School are all within a mile of Cliffside. Stirling is also surrounded by private schools including Beaconhurst in Bridge of Allan and Dollar Academy.
Transport: Cliffside is a brisk ten minute walk from Stirling train station. By road, the area is 28 miles from Glasgow via the M80 and 37 miles from Edinburgh via the M9.
IN BRIEF
What: A proud Victorian mansion set over three levels in expansive grounds with six bedrooms, four reception rooms, four bathrooms, a recently-built conservatory and a triple garage.
Where: The leafy, upmarket area of King's Park, in Stirling.
Price: Offers over GBP975,000.
Contact: Savills Edinburgh on 0131 247 3711.
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