scottish property Archives

Spaces

EGLINTON CRESCENT

13th April 2018

I’ve interviewed many people over the years who have taken on massive refurbishment projects, and always wondered, how do they live through it? As in, live in their homes while major work is being done. I’ve had so many conversations about this process that I think it’s scared me off for life, as I just can’t imagine living in a space that’s also a building site, with all the mess and stress that brings.

But then I see projects like this and the results make the effort – and dust! – seem very worthwhile. I came across this ground and garden level property on Eglinton Crescent in Edinburgh’s West End when it was on the market with the Edinburgh office of Knight Frank, with photography by SquareFoot. Owner Barry MacLennan had the vision to transform this property and tackled a substantial refurbishment and reconfiguration project to create the spaces you see today. I chatted to Barry about the process, the design decisions, and the challenges along the way.

Spaces

NELSON STREET

10th June 2016

Many years ago, too many years to acknowledge here, I moved into a rental flatshare in Nelson Street in Edinburgh’s Georgian New Town. It was a great flat – beautiful in its proportions and period detail, albeit with a tired interior, but at that stage in life I didn’t mind having a dated kitchen with tiling that looked like it might have been there since the ’70s. The big rooms and brilliant location won me over, and this street has been a favourite New Town address of mine ever since.

So when I noticed this main door ground floor flat in Nelson Street being marketed by Knight Frank, needless to say I had to explore it further. “Magnolia, magnolia and more magnolia” is how owners Andrew and Anna Martin describe this three bedroom property when they bought it in May 2014. “The previous owners had re-decorated to sell,” Andrew explains. “It had been a HMO (multiple occupancy let) in recent years, but we loved the neoclassical proportions and the size of the flat, which was obvious as soon as we entered for the first time.”

Copperline

LILAC COTTAGE

21st July 2015

I can’t recall the first time I visited the Fife village of Falkland – it was years ago, and I was most likely writing about a house there – but every time I’ve been back since, I always end up taking photos of the historic buildings that give this conservation village so much character. The most famous, of course, is Falkland Palace, but I’m as drawn to the detailing on the smaller properties and cottages. It’s the kind of place that could get under your skin.

Little wonder then that having lived in Falkland as a youngster, Daniel Aitkenhead grabbed the chance to put down roots here and purchase Lilac Cottage when the property came on the market two years ago.

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