Say the words 'contemporary design' and many people think about digitally controlled features and trendy colour schemes. But according to one fast growing Ayrshire house builder there's much more to good design than gadgetry and fashion.

Jim Malcolm who heads up the design team at Alexander Morton Homes.is emphatic that good designer homebuilding means producing beautiful houses which work as practical and enjoyable living spaces for their owners.

The company's new Nightingale housestyle is being launched at their new development at Kilmaurs village, Ayrshire, and is a prime example of how Alexander Morton has focussed on both of these design 'musts'.

'Step into the hallway (which at 3 metres by 5 metres is as big as many lounges) and you know you're about to experience something special,' says Malcolm.

'The whole house is designed to flow from here and as you move from room to room you're impressed by the sense of space and light.'

Glass-panelled double doors take you from the grandeur of the entrance hall into the spacious (28 foot) lounge and dining area. The light and glass theme continues as you choose to go through either another set of glazed doors to the kitchen, or through patio doors into the garden.

On the practical side, the more stylish your hall, the greater the need to be able to get out of your wellies – with no mud-trailing involved. Like all the best country houses, the Nightingale has a side door leading into a utility room, so that muddy boots, spades, wet dogs and children can be dealt with easily and with minimum fuss.

The deceptively compact Sandpiper homes come complete with a stylish double glazed conservatory, bringing all the light and colour from the landscaped garden into another flexible living space.

Again, merging the practical and the stylish, Operations Manager, Alex Benson has chosen a generous, glass-fronted kitchen from the very top of supplier's Howdens' range, as standard for all houses at Kilmaurs. This means all homebuyers can choose from the entire range of 23 kitchens and 14 worktops including beechblock by Junckers. Stainless steel Bosch appliances, under-pelmet and spot lighting also come as standard.

The two 5-bedroomed Kingfisher houses at Kilmaurs have already been sold to people who were impressed with the quality of the homes at the company's recent Ardrossan development.