An Edwardian villa for the wi-fi age

Period home blends past and future into a perfect present

SPECIAL is the property which manages to accommodate the past and the future in one neat package. Overton House in Haddington, East Lothian, was constructed two years after the death of Queen Victoria, early in the reign of her son Edward VII.

As a result, the handsome stone detached villa from 1903 is embellished by the kind of domestic decorations popular at the time, wood panelling, rich cornicing and elegant tiles on the floor.

Yet, lurking round the back is a building which very much has its eyes on the future.

The current owners built their own coach house in the garden, which now provides a fantastic office space above the garage.

Dating from 2009, the coach house was built of stone and slate to complement the main house, but it has also been wired with modern technology – broadband and a surroundsound system.

Its dimensions are such that this could provide not only the perfect home working environment, but a base for others to work from remotely as well.

Due to Covid-19, office managers are now looking to offer staff suburban hubs to work from on certain days, so they do not always have to travel to the city centre.

Haddington lies 17 miles from Edinburgh, so a satellite office here would save a long commute each day. The coach house even has its own dressing room and shower.

So much for the future, what about the past? The hall to the main house offers a traditional welcome, past a tiled floor in the vestibule to a broad space and original staircase to the upper floor.

All of the principal apartments open up from the hall, including the drawing room which overlooks the front garden. The room also features a gas fire, set within a timber mantel, two Edinburgh Presses and two separate cupboards.

Across the hall, the sitting room enjoys dual aspects and another gas fire within a wooden mantel piece. A door to a side vestibule opens out to the garden.

The kitchen is lovely and bright, with white walls and cream cabinets, topped by matching Corian work surfaces. There’s a central island with breakfast bar, Amtico flooring and high-end appliances.

The kitchen leads to the breakfast room or sun room, which has space for a dining table and is bathed in natural light.

Completing the downstairs accommodation is a utility room, which is plumbed for a washing machine and tumble dryer, plus WC and a cloakroom.

Upstairs, you can enjoy views of the Lammermuir Hills from the master bedroom, complete with gas fireplace with tiled surround and a Jack and Jill en suite bathroom.

There are two further double bedrooms on this level, with a fourth to be found up a short staircase.

The kitchen leads to the breakfast room or sun room