Keeping it old school makes the grade

Victorian conversion teaches a lesson about retaining the best of the old along with the new, says Kirsty Mcluckie

Buying a property that has already been converted doesn’t mean that you can’t put your own stamp on it.

The duplex apartment at 37/7 Rodney Street, Canonmills, in Edinburgh is part of an impressive Victorian school building, which was reconfigured to residential use ten years ago by developer S1 Homes.

Stephen Maxwell, the current owner of the duplex, bought the property from its first owner four years ago, but had his own ideas on how to improve it.

He recalls: “The kitchen was fairly old – functional, but a bit dark – and it felt to me like the one room that let the whole flat down.

“I redesigned it and the new kitchen, which is bespoke and fitted by Ekco Kitchens, was completed six weeks ago.

“It had to be built from scratch and I designed the lighting to make the most of the space.”

Maxwell, who works in the oil industry, says that his day job involves problem solving and that he has enjoyed that part of upgrading his apartment.

“I explained to the company that I wanted the floor-level lighting to be hidden and running past the dishwasher – usually that isn’t done because the door needs to be opened – but I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I asked the lighting company to come up with a solution.

“And where the tradesmen couldn’t come with a solution, I puzzled it out so the lighting is in relief and isn’t noticeable.”

Maxwell also designed tailor-made fitted cupboards for a wasted space under the stairs. He says: “I didn’t want it to look like storage space so beautiful flush oak slats have been used. Again they are in relief so there are no handles, just touch doors that spring open.”

The three-bedroomed apartment was redecorated throughout, taking its theme from a piece of artwork which Maxwell had sourced online.

He then approached the Swedish company that holds the license for the image to request permission to turn the work into a wallpaper design. He then used it as a colour palette for walls, upholstery and accessories throughout the property.

Maxwell says: “Each room has a feature wall which picks up a colour used in the painting. The flat is very open so the artwork ties it all together.”

Of the ten or so flats in the rest of the converted school building, Maxwell’s is the only apartment that has a mezzanine level with a glass balcony which overlooks the floor below and makes valuable use of light flooding in from the double-height windows.

He says: “It is used an extra sitting room, for listening to music and reading and having a quiet drink in the evening, and it is great because you are still connected to the downstairs room.”

The bi-fold doors, which were also the ever-resourceful Maxwell’s design and made especially to fit the room, gives the option for privacy.

Throughout the Rodney Street apartment, the features and charm of the original building have been successfully retained but the home has been made to perform like a modern property.

Even its quirks are practical, for example,