Grand Designs Live

The story so far...

Who? Theo and Elaine Leijser, and their two sons.

Where? Balfron, Scotland.

What? A contemporary, sustainable home.

Budget? £350,000

How long? Nine months.

High point? ‘Decorating our huge Christmas tree in the double-height space’.

Low point? ‘When we were told we had to close the site until the windows arrived’

Great shakes

Theo and Elaine wanted their house to blend into the woods behind so they clad the exterior in cedar shakes. These rough planks of cedar, which are typically 24in long and 18in wide, are salvaged from twisted scraps of cedar trees found in sustainably managed Canadian forests. Because they are hand-split using a technique that is hundreds of years old, each shake is unique.

Theo and Elaine chose them because they liked the look of them, but also because they are incredibly durable. Cedar is exceptionally water repellent due to the tightness of the grain and the natural oil content. Once the shakes have been nailed in place they need no treatment, and with age turn a silvery grey. It cost between £2,500-£3,000 to clad 180sqm of building. ‘They’re not cheap, but they are beautiful and lasting,’ says Theo.