Chanel’s Highland home given a stylish makeover
A RUNDOWN Highland mansion which was once used as a love nest by Coco Chanel is to be given a new lease of life as a luxurious country club.
Rosehall House, near Lairg in Sutherland, is thought to be the only house in the UK that was decorated by the famous French designer.
Chanel was given responsibility for the interior by former owner Hugh Grosvenor, the second Duke of Westminster, who was her lover for a number of years in the 1920s.
Winston Churchill, a friend of the Duke’s, went there to recuperate after an illness in 1928.
A Salford-based businessman, who bought the dilapidated, 20-room Edwardian house around three years ago, is now planning a makeover inspired by the style icon.
Muhammed Sayeed Cohwdhry, 53, wants to spend around £3million to turn it into a country club similar to nearby Skibo Castle, which is known as a retreat for the rich and famous.
He said: “I am going to have the theme of Rosehall as Coco Chanel. We will keep what we can, then what we do new will be how she would have done it had she been alive. I want her touch to remain in the house.
“Her connection with the house should be there forever.”
The neutral beige and brown colour scheme chosen by fashion designer Chanel can still be seen in most of the public rooms, with an unusual shade of green decorating the downstairs cloakrooms also remaining intact.
One bedroom has floral wallpaper, which is said to have been hand-painted in France, and the Rosehall fire cart, which dates back to her time, is still parked in the empty drawing room.
Mr Cohwdhry is applying for planning permission to turn the 20-room mansion into seven flats, upgrade some outbuildings and also build 12 houses in the extensive grounds.
He believes there is likely to be a demand for the country club, but said the accommodation may be rented out to holidaymakers or even sold if this idea fails.
He added: “We will do the house up as it stands.
“But it will be done in such a way that if the Skibo concept doesn’t work, then it can be converted into seven apartments without ripping the house apart again.
“However, even if it is converted to flats, the theme of Coco Chanel will still be there.”
