The furniture arrangement in Bob Dylan’s Highlands mansion is the epitome of functional design – take the tour

Bob Dylan is world-renowned as one of the best songwriters of all time, but did you know he also has a great eye for design? The great American singer has just placed his historic Scottish mansion on the market for $3.9 million, and the interior photos are stunning. 

Aultmore House, as the home is called, was purchased by Dylan and his brother in 2006. It is located on 24 acres of land in the heart of Cairngorms National Park, known for its beautiful Caledonian Pine trees and containing the UK’s six tallest mountains. The 18,357-square-foot residence was built between 1911 and 1915 with several renovations made over the years. Aultmore has 16 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and two kitchens. The property includes three renovated cottages aside from the main house.

A look inside the house shows that, despite renovations, the Edwardian spirit of the home is very much alive. Dylan’s home is full of period details like marble fireplaces, intricate molding on the ceilings and walls, and sleek hardwood floors.

However, what stands out to our experts is the sheet functionality of the spaces in the home. The dining room features a table long enough for a dinner party of up to 20 and the bedrooms are perfectly furnished for visitors. Most notably, the large living room is perfectly furnished for style and function. 

When designing a functional large living room, Los Angeles-based interior designer Janna Robinson recommends delineating ‘zones’ in the space. She states ‘by creating a distinction between areas you make everything look intentional. This not only strategically helps fill the space, but breathes new life to even awkward and dead spaces, offering a more cohesive aesthetic with a much cozier and intimate feel as well as extra seating.’ The living room in the Dylan home clearly demonstrates this principle, with three different zones set up for seating and conversation.  

Janna Robinson

Janna Robinson is a  bi-coastal interior designer & lifestyle technology design expert, aka “The Techorator” with offices in Los Angeles and Miami Beach. She has over 20 years of decorating experience, and is the former host and creator of DIY’s network TV show “Hollywood Hi-Tech."

To make the room more stylish, Design expert Andrew Griffith recommends that people ‘Start using a sizable area rug to define the conversation area and position sofas and chairs around a central focal point, like a fireplace or television.’ By using several rugs around the fireplace in the living room, Bob Dylan's Scottish home becomes warm and inviting.

Andrew Griffith

Andrew Griffith has over twenty-five years of experience in the homeware and garden furniture space. He has extensive knowledge and expertise in the garden furniture industry and the interior design industry gained through running his family business, Garden Furniture.

Next time we have a mansion in the Scottish highlands to decorate, we’ll be sure to call the Nobel-prize-winning musician.