North Edinburgh offers the best of both worlds
Richard and Sarah Kettley found the space and character of a period property in a new-build apartment in Canonmills
For professional couple Richard and Sarah Kettley, buying a new home at Canonmills Garden, Edinburgh following a long, drawn-out search, very much represented the “best of both worlds”.
After several years living in Nottingham, the couple, originally from Edinburgh, were determined to return to the city to continue their careers – Sarah as a design professor at the Edinburgh College of Art, and Richard as a psychotherapist.
And while they were both looking forward to reacquainting themselves with life in the Capital, their circumstances had changed. Both of the Kettley’s children had flown the parental nest to attend university – yet Sarah and Richard were not ready to downsize just yet.
“When we first started looking for a new home in the city, we were pretty certain we knew what we wanted,” explains Richard. “Although there was now just the two of us, we still wanted a home large enough to welcome our children back from university – and being the owners of a boisterous Cocker Spaniel we needed easy access to plenty of outdoor space.”
“Growing up and studying in the city, we knew where we wanted to live. We loved the excitement and eclecticism of vibrant communities like Stockbridge and Leith Walk, but also appreciated the wideopen green spaces and pathways of the Botanic Gardens and Water of Leith. So the northern edge of the city centre was ideal for us.
“And, along with a great central location, we wanted a home with plenty of character and space. Initially, we were looking for a period home and not considering a new-build. But, in what eventually became a drawn-out process spanning almost three years, every property we viewed seemed to have its drawbacks.”
Then the Kettleys came across Artisan Real E state’s Canonmills
Garden development in late 2019. The couple had been viewing the classic Colony properties in Stockbridge and were inspired by Artisan’s modern take on this style of dwelling.
“Straight away, we were impressed with the amount of space these new homes offer,” says Sarah. “Large windows provide lots of natural light – plus a 15-squarefoot balcony provides easy access to great outdoor space, as well as a stunning roof-top view overlooking the Water of Leith.
She adds: “Four generous bedrooms gave us the space we needed, and the quality of finishings, such as hardwood floors and high-quality kitchen and bathrooms, meant that we had found the best of both worlds. A home with the space and character of a period property – yet without the baggage and challenges that buying an older house often brings.”
Sarah’s design background means she has a very keen eye for flair and detail. She says: “I was very pleased with the quality of the extras that come as standard with all the apartments, such as oak floors and top-brand appliances. You get a feel for a property very quickly, and Canonmills Garden, even if it hadn’t yet been completed, had that instant appeal.”
The Kettleys had not bought offplan before, but found the entire buying process straightforward and liberating. “It’s been very exciting to watch the development evolve before us,” adds Richard. “We’ve seen the plans, the model, the showhome, and now the building itself is nearing completion.
The Kettleys are hoping to move into their finished four-bedroom colony-style property early in the New Year.
Sales at Canonmills Garden are continuing apace, with two firstphase blocks now sold out, and 70 per cent of the apartments sold offplan. With consumer confidence returning, following the good news over the Covid-19 vaccine, prices are increasing – the average value of the development’s apartments has grown by 7 per-cent since its marketing launch in 2018.
Prices at Canonmills Garden start at £333,000. Private VIP tours of its showhome are available. Interested parties should visit www.canonmillsgarden.com or call 0131-247 3742.
The couple had been viewing classic Colony properties and were inspired by Artisan’s modern take on this style