Studio Heim Shortlisted for a BIID Award for Pilgrim’s Rest in Fife
We’re incredibly proud to share that Studio Heim has been shortlisted for a BIID Award for our Pilgrim’s Rest project in Ceres, Fife.
For our little Scottish interior design studio, this is a particularly special recognition. Pilgrim’s Rest is a project that captures so much of what we believe good interior design should be: thoughtful, personal and beautiful, while always working around the realities of everyday life.
Nestled amongst the rolling countryside of Ceres in Fife, Pilgrim’s Rest was a new build home that gave us the rare opportunity to consider the entire property from the very beginning. From the layout and lighting to the kitchen, bathrooms, bespoke cabinetry and smallest finishing details, every element was considered as part of one cohesive design.
The result is a light-filled countryside retreat with a contemporary Scandinavian aesthetic, designed to feel calm, warm and effortlessly inviting.
And now, we're delighted to see the project recognised by the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID).
A New Build Home Designed From the Ground Up
Pilgrim’s Rest began life as a blank canvas.
Our clients had purchased the property while it was still under construction, giving us the opportunity to become involved at an early stage and work alongside the developers to personalise the home before it was finished. For a new build property, this early involvement can make a huge difference.
Rather than simply decorating a completed house, we were able to consider how the home would function as a whole (including layouts, lighting, plug socket positions, radiators and storage) before these decisions became fixed. This is one of the aspects of interior design we love most: looking beyond the decorative elements and considering how a space will actually be lived in.
Our clients wanted a home that could work as a countryside escape for themselves, while originally intending to make it available as a short term rental when they weren't there. That meant the design needed to be beautiful, but also exceptionally practical.
Durable materials, generous storage, considered layouts and easy to maintain finishes were therefore just as important as the overall aesthetic.
“Beautiful interiors are important, but we believe that the best homes are designed around the people who use them.”
Contemporary Scandinavian Interior Design in Fife
The clients were drawn to a contemporary Scandinavian style, with a preference for neutral colours, light-filled spaces and natural materials. With panoramic countryside views surrounding the property, the landscape became an important source of inspiration for the interior.
We introduced a palette of soft neutrals, natural stone, marble, linen and warm wood, creating a sense of calm that connects the interiors with the landscape outside. Large windows allow natural light to flood through the home, while deeper accents, particularly downstairs, add contrast and give the otherwise light palette a sense of depth.
The result isn't a stark or minimalist interpretation of Scandinavian design. Instead, it is warm, tactile and comfortable. This balance is central to our approach at Studio Heim.
We love interiors that feel considered without feeling overly designed. Spaces where natural materials, texture, light and furniture come together to create a home that feels effortless.
“We love interiors that feel considered without feeling overly designed.”
Designing a Home That Works in Real Life
Beautiful interiors are important, but we believe that the best homes are designed around the people who use them. At Pilgrim’s Rest, functionality was considered throughout.
In the open-plan living space, furniture was arranged to encourage conversation and connection rather than simply orienting everything towards the television. Storage was carefully integrated throughout the property, particularly in the bathrooms, where concealed compartments and bespoke vanity storage help keep everyday clutter out of sight.
In the kitchen and utility room, darker finishes create a striking contrast with the lighter spaces elsewhere in the house. The black kitchen, paired with contrasting worktops and carefully selected lighting and accessories, gives the open-plan space a stronger architectural quality while still feeling connected to the wider neutral palette.
It’s an approach we use frequently in our residential interior design projects across Scotland: creating homes that are visually beautiful but also genuinely functional.
Bespoke Details That Make the Difference
Some of our favourite elements of Pilgrim’s Rest are the bespoke details.
In the primary ensuite, we designed a bespoke light oak vanity with Silestone worktops and push-to-open drawers, creating a practical piece of furniture that also acts as a focal point within the room.
Elsewhere, we created an open-plan media unit using an IKEA base combined with Fronteriors doors, a semi-bespoke bench and matching worktops. It is a good example of how bespoke-looking interiors don't necessarily require every element to be completely made from scratch. Good design is often about knowing where to invest and how to combine different elements to create a cohesive result.
And then there is the downstairs bathroom.. One of the most distinctive features in the entire property is the curved shower wall, which replaces a conventional glass shower screen with something much more sculptural. It became a real focal point within the room and one of the clients' favourite elements of the house.
Natural Materials and a Connection to the Landscape
The surrounding Fife countryside had a strong influence on our material choices. Stone-effect tiles, natural timber, marble, linen and tactile fabrics were layered throughout the property to create warmth and visual interest without overwhelming the architecture.
The neutral palette allows the views outside to remain a feature, while the darker accents bring depth to the rooms. This connection between interior and landscape is particularly important in a countryside property. Rather than competing with the setting, we wanted the interiors to feel as though they belonged there.
The finished home is light and contemporary, but it also feels grounded, and warm enough to retreat to after a day outdoors and relaxed enough to truly switch off.
A Countryside Retreat That Became Home
Perhaps the biggest compliment we could have received from the clients came after the project was completed. The original plan had been to use Pilgrim’s Rest as a short-term rental property when they weren't staying there themselves.. but after spending time in the finished home, they changed their minds.
They told us:
“Our original intention was to open our home for short-term rental when we were not using it. After working with Studio Heim and spending time in our home we aren't willing to share it - we love it too much!”
For us, that perfectly captures what we aim to achieve with our interiors. A successful project isn't simply one that looks beautiful in photographs. It is one that makes you want to spend time there.
Why We're So Proud to Be Shortlisted for a BIID Award
Being shortlisted for a BIID Award is an exciting milestone for Studio Heim.
The British Institute of Interior Design is the UK's professional institute for interior designers, and recognition from the BIID is particularly meaningful to us as a growing Scottish interior design studio.
Pilgrim’s Rest represents the kind of work we want Studio Heim to be known for: thoughtful residential interiors that combine considered design with real-life functionality. It also reflects our belief that contemporary interiors don't have to feel cold or impersonal.
By combining natural materials, warm neutrals, Scandinavian influences, bespoke details and practical design solutions, it is possible to create a home that feels both sophisticated and deeply personal.
Interior Design in Fife, Edinburgh and Across Scotland
Studio Heim is based in Scotland, and we work with clients across Edinburgh, Fife, West Lothian, across Scotland and throughout the UK, offering both in-person and online interior design services.
Our residential interior design projects range from individual rooms through to complete new-build homes and property renovations. We specialise in creating calm, considered interiors that feel like home, with services including:
Full-home interior design
New-build interior design
Period property design
Kitchen and bathroom design
Bespoke cabinetry and joinery
Furniture and lighting selection
Colour, material and finish specification
Window treatments and soft furnishings
2D and 3D visualisations
Procurement and project management
Interior styling
Whether you're building a new home, renovating a countryside property or simply struggling to make your existing space work better for your lifestyle, our approach begins with understanding how you want to live.
Creating Spaces That Feel Like Home
Pilgrim’s Rest is a reminder of why we love what we do.
Starting with a blank canvas, we were able to create a home that responds to its surroundings, reflects our clients' personality and works beautifully for the way they live. From the considered positioning of sockets and radiators during construction to the final linen curtains, bespoke vanity and sculptural shower wall, every decision contributed to the finished home.
And now, we're incredibly proud that this Fife interior design project has been shortlisted for a BIID Award. A huge thank you to our wonderful clients, our suppliers, collaborators and everyone who helped bring Pilgrim’s Rest to life.
We're so excited to see where the project goes next.
Looking for an Interior Designer in Scotland?
If you're planning a new-build, renovation or whole-home interior design project in Edinburgh, Fife, West Lothian or elsewhere in Scotland, we'd love to hear from you.
Studio Heim Interiors creates thoughtful, timeless and personal interiors designed around the way you live.
Spaces that feel like home.
