Formerly the manse house to Daviot Church, Carpe Diem House, in Daviot, Aberdeenshire, is situated in a central but private position within the village. The property, which is for sale through Savills at an asking price of £550,000, was originally built in about 1798, but was sensitively extended and modernised by the current owners.
These days, it offers some 4,000sq ft of space that combine modern family living with beautiful period features, such as sash and case windows, working shutters and striking staircases.
The door opens onto a Caithness-slate-tiled hall that leads to the main living spaces — the elegant sitting room, with its window seat overlooking the garden, the cosy family room, a study and the kitchen and dining area, with its Corian-topped units.
Beyond the kitchen is a wonderful sun room, which is the perfect place to relax and take in views of the garden. Also on the ground floor is a home gym that could double up as an office.
Upstairs are six bedrooms, split between the first and second floors. The master suite in particular comes with private dressing room and affords long views across the gardens from the bay window.
Outside, the grounds extend to 1½ acres of terraces, lawns, colourful borders and a woodland area. The gardens at the back also enjoy far-reaching views over the Aberdeenshire countryside.
The best of both worlds, Carpe Diem offers a taste of rural isolation, yet is close to the town of Inverurie, with its road and rail links to Aberdeen and Inverness.
Carpe Diem is for sale at £550,000 via Savills — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Daviot: What you need to know
- Location: Daviot is 11 minutes’ drive away from Inverurie.
- Atmosphere: The village is small but perfectly formed with a pub, shop/café, a church, a garden centre and a village hall where many events take place, as do playgroups for children.
- Things to do: There are plenty of walks to be enjyed in the area, plus golf, swimming, tennis and bowling at Inverurie.
- Schools: Daviot has its own primary school, with secondaries available nearby at Meldrum Academy and Inverurie Academy.Find more properties in the area.
An elegant eight-bedroom house at under £600,000, an easy commute from Edinburgh
Buckholmburn House is a handsome property in the Scottish Borders. Rachael Turner takes a look.
-
Bank holidays, big churches and which country has the most timezones? Country Life's Quiz of the Day, August 22, 2025Head into the bank holiday weekend bursting with knowledge after Friday's Quiz of the Day.
-
‘Some people find it a bit daunting being faced with a big beast and a couple of utensils’: Mitch Tonks on the perfect seafood platterMitch Tonks creates the ultimate fisherman’s feast using crab, langoustines and of course, oysters.
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews housesFrom birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courtsFords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
-
The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agentsSavills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
-
19 outstanding country homes, from £450,000 to £20 million, as seen in Country LifeA spectacular country house in Yorkshire and an enormously impressive Channel Islands retreat are among the stand-out homes on the market this week.
-
Three homes down by the Thames, perfect for those who love messing about on boatsThis summer’s scorching temperatures will no doubt have endorsed the perennial appeal of Thames-side houses with frontage and private access to the river. Penny Churchill and Toby Keel pick out some prime examples.
-
A pavilion, pool and pleasure gardens at this Devon country house 'with not another building in sight'Ebberly House is a majestic country house in Devon built by one of John Soane's pupils — and as it comes to the market, it's a place Penny Churchill knows well.
