Real star of the show
The Hidden Mews is a hard act to follow, writes
How would you feel if your house was more famous than you? Do you take pride in the fact that your ‘floating’ feature staircase is familiar to people across the land? or do you resent the fact that millions of TV viewers have been ‘virtual’ visitors to your private abode without so much as an invitation?
Along with some of the UK’s finest acting talent, Natasha Marshall’s architect-designed home in Glasgow – now on the market – enjoyed a starring role in last year’s BBC blockbuster The Replacement.
It portrayed the city at its uber chic best, so the home of the boss of an architect’s practice had to fit the bill.
Miss Marshall said the TV researchers seeking suitable properties for the show had discovered her home online, in an item about how it had won an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
They deemed it perfect as the personal residence of fashionable designer David warnock, played by actor Dougray Scott.
Miss Marshall said: ‘It was very exciting. we had to move out for three days but we were away for two of them, so it wasn’t an inconvenience. They really portrayed the place the way we live our lives. The highlight was when the architect had his colleagues over for Sunday lunch.’
Despite its national fame, The Hidden Mews came from very humble roots. Tucked away between Hyndland Road and Partickhill Road in Glasgow’s trendy west End, its previous incarnation was a ‘ramshackle’ furniture restorer’s workshop.
The new design by Cameron webster incorporated two of the workshop’s old walls and a bit of the roof. This provided a pretty blank canvas for a breathtaking 21st century address.
Selling agent Rettie is clearly captivated by its minimalist presentation.
Its sales brochure states: ‘The almost “floating” staircase is a work of art in itself and there are numerous other amazing features such as the inset glass in the upper landing with view down to the living room, the extra attic/den space and the rare west End advantage of private parking and a private garden. Turning of the car was solved by a turntable at the front which allowed for more space for the garden.’
Supporting walls have been dispensed with in the dramatic living room/kitchen area. Needless to say, the specification is top-notch, with Surface Plus flooring, a mixture of S2 and Siematic designer kitchen and Mmaxx underfloor heating.
Upstairs, there are four bedrooms. The master has a dressing room with stylish en suite bathroom.
Miss Marshall followed her home’s progress through the TV series. She said: ‘we watched all the episodes but began to worry when the plot got darker and darker. I remember thinking “please don’t let anyone die in my house”. ‘Fortunately, they didn’t.’
No casualties, then. Just a house to die for.