First to move in: Steph and Lee's new beginning at Bonnyton Brae

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First to move in: Steph and Lee's new beginning at Bonnyton Brae

Bonnyton Brae

First to move in: Steph and Lee's new beginning at Bonnyton Brae

The Birse

3 Bedrooms

Steph and Lee moved into their 3+ bedroom Birse at Bonnyton Brae recently, becoming the very first homeowners on the development. Just a few months later, what was once a brand-new neighbourhood is already beginning to take shape, with neighbours moving in and a real sense of community starting to grow. Alongside their dog, Murphy, they've quickly settled into village life, with plenty of favourite walking routes already discovered around Pitmedden.

We caught up with Steph and Lee to hear how they found their dream home, what it was like being the very first family to move into Bonnyton Brae, how they've loved seeing the community grow around them, and why Sarah and the Kirkwood team made the whole process feel so easy.

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What made you choose Bonnyton Brae and the Birse?

When Steph and Lee started house hunting, they were doing what most people do: endlessly scrolling through older properties on the open market and touring new-build developments across Aberdeenshire. Moving from Bridge of Don, they wanted more space, a quieter setting and somewhere they could truly put down roots. They didn't know much about Pitmedden at first, until a single afternoon changed their minds.

"We fell in love with the Birse after first seeing the showhome at Strabathie Village in Blackdog. It had everything we wanted - large, spacious bedrooms, a driveway and garage, and a light, airy feel running right through the house. Once we'd seen it, there was never really another housetype in the running.

"We didn't know much about Pitmedden at first, if we're honest. But one walk with Murphy and we just fell in love with it. The community feel, the amenities in the village, the countryside walks right on your doorstep, and still being a sensible distance from Aberdeen, Ellon and Inverurie. It had everything we were looking for. We loved the layout of the development too, with so much open space around the houses."

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What do you love most about your new home?

"Honestly, it's the views, looking straight out into open countryside, and just how spacious everywhere feels.

"We each have our own favourite spot. For Lee, it's the home office. Working from home is so much easier now, and being able to close the door at the end of the day and properly switch off has made a real difference. For me (Steph), it's the kitchen - it's the hub of the house, full of natural light and the choices we made in our kitchen feel really personal to us."

"Everything was finished to such a high standard that moving in and getting settled was a breeze. The storage is a huge bonus - the walk-in wardrobe especially! - and the living room, with its French doors out to the garden, is filled with natural light."

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What was it like being the first residents on the development?

"It was a bit surreal, but exciting too. We were first to move in at Bonnyton Brae, but we've already met our neighbours and it’s been lovely getting to know them properly.

"We've genuinely been blown away by how community-spirited Pitmedden is. It's great seeing people pull together to make a positive difference. We've already used the ‘Udny Community Shelf’, watched the annual ‘Duck Race’, seen donations pour in for the ‘Swap Show’, and had a coffee and cake at Café 48. There's a group for pretty much every interest, and the bowls and tennis courts are always busy!

"Day-to-day, it's just peaceful. It's lovely sitting in the garden hearing the birds and the sheep in the distance. Murphy's getting to know his local walks too, whether that's up at Pitmedden Park or a stroll down by the Bronie Burn. Our favourite walk has to be around Pitmedden Gardens, and we've been really enjoying The Coffee Apothecary and The Craft Bar, with the Co-op handy for the everyday bits."

How was the buying process with Kirkwood Homes?

"Sarah [Kirkwood Homes’ senior sales advisor] has been with us every step of the way, from our first phone call to reserve the plot right through to moving day and beyond. She kept us updated throughout the build, answered our endless questions, and kept us right when it came to the legal side as the moving day got closer. The whole team has been friendly, welcoming and genuinely helpful throughout. We were pleasantly surprised by how straightforward it all was, especially with everyone telling you how stressful buying a house can be! The communication and professionalism from the team were brilliant from start to finish."

Steph + Lee

Bonnyton Brae

"Sarah made a real difference - she kept us informed, let us take our time over our choices, and was always just a call or email away. She made us feel so welcome that Murphy still pops up to the sales office door to say hello to her now. Greig, the site manager, has been brilliant since we moved in too - quick to sort any small snags, always on hand to show us how things work, and great at keeping us in the loop about what's happening on site."

Would you recommend Kirkwood Homes?

"Without question. Their homes are built to an exceptionally high standard, the quality inside is amazing, and the team make the whole process a breeze. At no point did we ever feel like we'd made the wrong choice, in either the home or the homebuilder - Kirkwood Homes have been fantastic.

"It's home. We genuinely feel like this is our forever home."

I think it's fair to say, Murphy loves his new Kirkwood Home too!

Learn about The Birse

This award-winning 3+ bedroom detached home features a welcoming vestibule with storage, a triple-aspect formal lounge, kitchen open-plan to the dining area, utility room and single integral garage. Upstairs there's a master bedroom hosting a walk-in wardrobe and luxurious en-suite, 2 double bedrooms with built-in storage, a single bedroom/home office and a family bathroom.

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