TV interior designer John Amabile took 12 years to create his perfect home

The love, he says, was of the potential.

“It was a fixer-upper,” says John, one of TV’s best-loved interior designes.

“I could see past what it was and picture what it could be.

“It’s a Swiss-style chalet in Milngavie built in 1967, which is actually the first time I’ve bought a house which was younger than me.

“I’ve usually bought older properties because of the room size.”

With all his insider knowledge John, famous for shows such as 60 Minute Makeover, was a man with a plan.

He concedes, with a wry smile, that it happened to be a plan that was unrealistic in terms of both time and cost.

What he thought would take two years has just been completed – 12 years on.

“I’d have been cheaper knocking it down and starting again.

“I’ve replaced, renewed, pushed and pulled it and it bears little resemblance to the way it started out.

“But I’ve ended up with 50% more floor space and five bedrooms instead of three.”

John wasn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty, especially in the early stages, as walls came down and the basic layout took shape.

Among the alterations was converting the garage into a home-office that saw the birth of Amabile Design (amabiledesign.com).

And a beautiful master bedroom was created with a mezzanine bed level, en suite shower and dressing room.

But his favourite is the TV den.

“It’s almost all glass except the fireplace and it’s so wonderfully light.

“And at the top of the stairs there’s a little sundeck which I love and worked on with Express Bi-Folding Doors.

“It’s a lovely house in the winter with all the well-established trees round about it.

“But it comes into its own even more in the summer when it really does feel like it could be in California or Australia.”

Although he doesn’t spend as much time as he used to in the kitchen, John did change over doors to better fit the general look.

And when it came to the overall look he went for a timeless feel.

“I didn’t want to do something that would really date.

“So I used things like slate on the walls and floors.

“The thinking is that if I want to change the appearance I can do so simply by accessorising.”

John has decided on a final little exterior flourish, a revamp of the driveway to give a more imposing first impression.

And that writes the final chapter on his special 12-year rather than 60 Minute Makeover.

John will be appearing at Ideal Home Show Scotland which takes place from May 27-30 2016 at the SECC, Glasgow.

For more information, visit idealhomeshowscotland.co.uk