A STYLIST is breathing new life into an historic Saltcoats building which has sat empty for two years.

Jennifer Reeves from Ardrossan recently took on the old Saltcoats Registry Office.

The 29-year-old is hoping to transform the iconic building into new premises for her hairdressing business.

Jennifer said: “It’s a big project I’ve taken on. It’s a massive, magnificent building.

“It was a council building and they had it as the offices so they have really looked after it well.

“I was expecting a building that old to have dampness but there’s none at all. It’s in great condition.

“They really have kept it well so I’m very lucky that way.

“There’s lots of stuff in it that’s original, high ceilings and that, and I’ll try and keep as much as I can. You would expect a building that old to have damp in it but it’s not.

“I would love to be able to find out how old this building is. It’s got so much character, so much history. We stripped all the paper off the walls in a massive room I think it must have been a ballroom, you can just imagine them all dancing in there.

“When we stripped the paper we found what looks like the outline of a massive fire place – it’s gorgeous. It’s tremendous when you’re starting to strip all the paper away and you find that.

“Just thinking what happened in that room is amazing. I know they used it for weddings but what about before that?"