age of elegance
Cathy Copson’s inspired transformation of a once derelict Victorian home offers a fresh, contemporary perspective on classic style
Classic and contemporary styles preside in this once-derelict house in the Scottish Borders
Cathy Copson’s decision to move from London to Kelso in the Scottish Borders, where her parents live, was a no-brainer, especially as she is a single mum to four-year-old Jude. It also meant that she could continue to run her recruitment business from north of the border.
‘My parents had a holiday house in Kelso long before they moved there permanently, so it’s an area I know well,’ says Cathy. ‘After Jude was born, I looked at what was important for us in terms of lifestyle – access to the countryside and being close to family – and naturally Kelso won. But I’m eternally grateful for my 20 years in London, which allowed me the financial freedom to move up here and buy this house.’
After the decision was made, everything happened very quickly. ‘Our house in London sold in a day to the first people who saw it. I went up to Kelso the same week to view a few properties, then saw this sandstone townhouse, which was newly on the market,’ says Cathy. ‘It had been uninhabited for a while and was deteriorating – it was essentially a shell that needed everything doing, but it still had its original features and I knew in an instant it was the house for me. I truly believe the stars were aligned for it all to fall into place so perfectly.’
Fortunately, Cathy and Jude were able to stay in her parents’ holiday flat while the house was being renovated, which called for a new roof, new windows, new wiring, plumbing, kitchen, bathrooms, under-floor heating and more. ‘As my parents had previously renovated a property in the area, they had good trade contacts, so that saved time and made it easier but it still took six months to complete,’ says Cathy, whose passion for interiors is matched by a keen design eye and past experience.
Her style is classic but relaxed and while she likes to invest in quality, she is also adroit at mixing beautiful, timeless furniture and accessories with inexpensive items. The upstairs bedrooms are all carpeted, but the original floorboards in the hall and three
ground floor rooms were in good enough condition to be stripped and whitewashed. Cathy opted for grey concrete-effect porcelain floor tiles for the lower ground floor living space, which is where she and Jude spend most of their time together.
Cathy did her sourcing mainly online, as she had a fairly clear vision of the look she wanted to achieve, which incorporated existing items of furniture, such as the grey Ligne Roset modular sofas in the family room, ‘which are about 15 years old and still look great’. The kitchen cabinets, granite worktops, reclaimed marble fireplace and woodburner were all purchased from local firms.
Living in the Scottish Borders has only intensified Cathy’s appreciation of the surrounding area. ‘It has so much to offer in every respect,’ she says. ‘Being a foodie, I love shopping for fresh local produce at farmers’ markets and having access to so many wonderful restaurants. And while still involved in my recruitment business, I am now also indulging my passion for property and interiors by working two days a week as a relocation specialist. All things considered, we are very lucky to be living the dream.’