Kay

Caerlee Mill, Innerleithen – 2021

Kay’s daughter was looking to move back to Innerleithen to raise her young family, and keen to keep the home in the family, Kay’s daughter, Son in-law, and her two sons moved into Kay’s old home. Kay made the choice to move into Caerlee Mill, in a Brodie style property, moving in May of 2021.

Knowing the village well, the location of Caerlee Mill appealed to Kay as it was right in the centre of Innerleithen, so she was able to live in the town she called home, near all local amenities. It was only a couple of minutes from her previous home, where her daughter and grandchildren now are settled.

Kay’s initially thought a new build property “is not for me” and was considering renovating an older property. However, Kay’s opinion altered after viewing the Caerlee Mill development and their house types.

When I did see them, I saw the potential there” “this is not your average boring little new build estate, this is something different, there’s something very attractive about them.

The development and the house types stood out to Kay “They have Scandinavian look I like very much, they remind me of houses I’ve seen in Iceland.”

Kay is a keen Archaeologist and Historian, who (amongst other things) keeps busy supporting a museum in Melrose, and as Caerlee Mill was previously a working mill in Innerleithen, she was enthused by the development being part of the town’s history, and that the development would carry on the legacy of the previous mill.

As well her interests in archaeology and history, Kay has an eye for interior design and commented that her new home was a “lovely blank canvas” which “seemed to have the potential to make it have lots of character.” Kay has enjoyed making her house her home with her style being creatively used throughout and is keen to continue her creative flair in her garden.

There are some design features of Caerlee Mill that Kay particularly liked “I highly recommend for heating/insulation… but also the house being flooded with light. I love the big windows and it’s wonderful to have a really ’well insulated house and yet not compromise on having big windows, allowing light to flood in.’ – you’ve got that just right” stating that “a lot of light in a home is a beautiful thing.”

The energy efficiency was remarked at being amazing, and that she “loves the thick walls, (and) the insulation is incredible” as, although she has tested the heating in the upper floor of her property, she has not had to put the heating on throughout the cold winter as the home retained the warmth effectively.

Kay also liked the road layout and that the roads were monoblocked, as this would encourage slower driving through the development, which made it safer, whilst also providing a more cohesive feel to the whole development.

Kay commented that Whiteburn had helped to forge the community feel of Caerlee Mill through; the layout of the development, communications with all individuals, and also by gestures such as making a donation to a street party which the residents held to celebrate the local Innerleithen event of St Ronan’s Games Week. The community that has formed at Caerlee Mill is really positive in Kay’s opinion and the development has the feel of a little village in itself.

When asked about Whiteburn’s customer care and after-care, Kay was very positive stating that “anything that Whiteburn have said they would do has been done. General I’m absolutely delighted with pretty much everything”.

Overall, the general feedback that Kay summarised her Whiteburn, Caerlee Mill experience as was that she was “Delighted. It has been a joy, and was the right time”, adding that it was a “Wonderful experience” and that she “Loved everything about it”.