IF you have given up trying to find the exact house you want in the

town where you want to live, you could do worse than try Tom and

Elisabeth Findlay's remedy.

They bought an old, neglected house in severe disrepair in Cambuslang,

and were allowed to demolish it. Then they set about creating the house

of their dreams on the site.

The Birches, a luxury detached villa finished in Fyfestone and roofed

in slate brought in trucks from Wales, was completed in 1985,

traditionally built and designed to blend in with the other houses in

the area, yet unique in many of its features.

Says Tom Findlay: ''This was a big piece of ground, which gave us the

opportunity to build big areas, with plenty of kid's space.''

Tom's pride and joy is the attached garage which can house up to five

cars.

''It's like a house in itself,'' he says. ''It is cut off at the back

with a raised wooden floor. I had thought about building a gym there,

with a snooker room above. I had also thought of a pool at one time.''

The Birches is essentially a family house, yet with its own

custom-built wine cellar, ''dug nine feet down into the ground'' this is

clearly a home for those who enjoy the good life.

With four public rooms and five bedrooms built on two levels, the

house is full of ''flexible space''. Despite its modernity, it has the

kind of quality finishes of older houses, like tongue and groove

flooring, treated timbers and hardwood throughout.

The rooms incorporate individual classic touches like twin french

doors, brass fitments, down-lighters, and the luxury kitchen and

bathroom/shower rooms have been designed for efficiency as well as

comfort.

The reception hall with its galleried open-tread staircase and wrought

iron balustrade serves as the central point of the house.

The Findlays are moving on, and the house is selling through Slater

Hogg & Howison's Burnside office at offers over #260,000.

Tom Findlay has been bitten by the creative bug. ''I'm looking for a

plot or an old house to do up -- where I can put my own stamp.''