Interiors: Photographs sold Stag Cottage to Liz Hallam after her husband Richard viewed their holiday home alone. Now, the interior reflects the colours and moods of the stunning scenery right outside the door LIZ Hallam is so in love with rural Scotland that she didn't even view the holiday home she and husband Richard bought in 2008 because she was sure it would be absolutely perfect. "When our offer had been accepted I had only seen photos of the cottage," says Liz. So when we drove up and over the mountain road, all I could see were these incredible views of the Highlands and Loch Doilet, and Stag Cottage was tucked away at the end of a forest track. It was like being in a tiny Canada; I was absolutely blown away. The Hallams have always holidayed in Scotland, more so since they built a house on the Isle of Mull where they hope to retire soon. The purchase of their second holiday home, Stag Cottage, was part of the master plan. "We bought the cottage because we won't want to live on Mull all the year around," says Liz. So when we started looking, our priority was to find somewhere we could easily get to and from the ferry terminal on the mainland. Liz spotted the cottage online. The property had been built for the Glen Hurich gamekeeper in the late 19th century and been updated over the years, but there was still plenty of potential. "I was keen because I knew the cottage was incredibly remote and the scenery would be beautiful," Liz explains. I knew if I loved the location I would love the house, after all you can change anything in a house. Richard, who is retired, was able to drive up to Scotland straight away while Liz was at work. He took pictures of the cottage to show her and their offer of £134,000 was accepted the following day. The two-bedroom cottage didn't need any structural work but was outdated, with lots of orange pine cladding. The couple made plans to fit a new kitchen and bathroom, and redecorate throughout, and Liz had already started thinking about the décor. "This area is rugged but has a very soft landscape too, so the colours are really watered down," she says. My approach was to bring those muted shades of browns, greens, greys and heathers into the cottage. Liz loves textiles and has a large collection of fabrics and keepsakes so she was thrilled to have another decorating project to get stuck into. "I'm obsessed with textiles," she says. I can't walk past a fabric shop without popping in. It was lovely to have an excuse to look at all my pieces of fabric and place them around the room and think about colour schemes, and see what went with what. Liz is also hooked on old furniture and memorabilia, and avidly scours antique shops and car boot sales to fuel her passion. I fall in love with old knick-knacks - even if I don't know where I'm going to put them, so now I've got a stand at my local flea market in Chesterfield with the idea that I sell the things I can't keep so I've got room to buy more. It's not much of a business concept. Liz's starting point was sparked by a plaid wool throw made by Abraham Moon. The humble throw then became an even more important fixture when her brother bought exactly the same one for her at Christmas. "It was uncanny," says Liz, "but he knows me well. The earthy colours are similar to the watery colours of the landscape and it was only right that the cottage should have plaids. Liz painted the traditional, v-lined timber in shades of cream and stone, and introduced layers of the outdoor colours in tactile textiles such as sheepskin, wool, rugs and patterned fabrics. Liz and Richard enjoy relaxing in the living-room, watching the pine martens out of the window. The walls here are painted in Stone by Homebase, while the fireplace surround is painted in Farrow & Ball's Mouse's Back. The throws are in Skye Check from Abraham Moon, while the quirky reindeer cushion is from Alpine living-inspired online retailer Chalet Home. A wood-burning stove heats the space and adds to the cosy look. Liz loves baking so enjoys spending time in the kitchen, which had to be functional as well as in keeping with the style of the rest of the cottage. The couple chose Adel units in cream from Ikea, teamed them with an oak worktop and double Belfast sink, and added quirky collectables such as the candelabra with birds perched on the rim. The kitchen table came from Tanglewood Antiques, while the Swedish console table was a Matlock Antiques find. The pinks and purples in the master bedroom reflect the heathery bracken colours outside. Lavender-hued walls are the perfect backdrop for soft throws and pretty curtains. In the guest room, Liz thought the space needed some impact, but she didn't want to make the room feel small so decided a pair of striking headboards were the answer. The headboards were made by upholsterer Doug Aston in a raspberry toile fabric that Liz had stored away. The red check throw came from Laura Ashley, while the vintage pink coverlet was an eBay find. Black and white floor tiles set a vintage tone for the bathroom style, further enhanced by the large oval mirror, from Sarah Copley Vintage & Decorative Interiors, and vintage wooden shelf. "Being here is about relaxing, eating and drinking," Liz says. We enjoy coming in winter time and going for walks when the skies are blue and the air is crisp. But it's lovely to come back, stick a few more logs in the woodburner, eat a hearty meal and then cosy-up and read, or watch the pine martens in the garden. The homely atmosphere with its old-fashioned edge, notable in the array of memorabilia arranged artfully around the cottage, is not lost on visitors either. Often people say coming to Stag Cottage is like stepping back in time. I think it is the solitude and quiet that makes people feel like that," Liz says. We're so far from the modern world and there's no mobile reception. All there is to do is admire and enjoy the great outdoors and we love doing that." k Stag Cottage (www.glenhurich.co.uk)