Suburban sanctuary
Semi-detached villa has period chic and modern comfort, says Paul Drury
FOR more than a century they have provided comfortable homes on the outskirts of our cities and today the semidetached villa is the hallmark of middle-class respectability. While in England they have been built since the 18th century, Scotland came late to the party, with the homes emerging only in the latter half of the 19th century as the burgeoning railway carved out new communities.
It was cheaper to build a property which had a common wall and the fact two owners were heating it helped preserve its fabric.
A boom in the construction of semi-detached homes followed the First World War, and in the Dunbartonshire enclave of Bearsden, just north of Glasgow, a lovely example appeared in 1924 on Boclair Road.
The red sandstone mullions add a rich feel to the front of the house, with matching finials on the roof topping things off nicely.
But the original owners would never recognise the rear of their former home, which has been transformed by the addition of architect-designed pavilions.
These provide the ultimate in 21st century living – a family room and Shaker-style kitchen, in dove grey with Silestone worktops, and opening onto the garden.
The result is a well-balanced period property which offers all the traditional attractions such as the ‘good’ room and dining room to the front, with a modern living area and swish lifestyle kitchen at the back.
The owners have been careful to preserve the little touches that make these homes so popular, so the hall retains its wood panelling and each of the three public rooms still has a signature fireplace.
When it came to renewing the windows, it was important to preserve the 1920s character.
New sash and casement windows were installed, finished in black woodgrain on the outside, with custom- made s t ai ned gl ass sections inserted at the top.
Original stained glass windows greet you as you walk up the staircase to an upper hall, which has a linen cupboard and a hatch h t ht to an insulated attic.
The master bedroom is en suite to a shower room and a family bathroom serves the three other bedrooms on this floor.
Psychologist Cynthia McVey explained the enduring attraction of this kind of property.
She said: ‘Semis have always been popular because they offer space without seclusion. You usually have a good bit of garden to l let t th the f family il b breathe. th That h th has become much more important in lockdown. A house with plenty of room and a garden to enjoy could quite feasibly bring down your stress levels.’
Younger buyers have often dismissed semis as a bit old-fashioned, but this beauty shows how they can move with the times.
Offers over £698,000 to Siobhan Cox on 0141 943 3150 or email siobhan.cox@rettie.co.uk.