A PERFECT FIT
Bespoke solutions have made the most of the space in this Edinburgh apartment
Lynsay Bell Manson was instantly attracted to this bright apartment located in a Victorian townhouse in Edinburgh. ‘It was converted into flats in the Thirties, and we were drawn to its history, but also to the chance of making some radical alterations,’ she says.
Architect Lynsay, who has her own practice, Studio LBA, and her husband, Jeff, were keen to give their new home a modern touch. The front room, once a formal sitting room, had been partitioned to make space for a bedroom, while the kitchen was at the rear. Lynsay and Jeff decided to take the apartment back to its bare bones, knocking down the partition and restoring the front room to its original proportions. They moved the kitchen into the new living area and turned the rear space into a guest bedroom.
‘Undertaking the renovation ourselves was demanding,’ says Lynsay. ‘I’m so focused on clients’ projects at work that it was quite stressful renovating our own home at the same time. There were occasions when we had to rush our decisions more than I would have liked, despite always advising clients to take their time. It reminded me that it’s essential to spend time in a property, getting to know it, before making major changes.’
One learning curve came when she and Jeff hurriedly stripped the floorboards after they moved in. They realised their mistake when the boards transpired not to be in good enough condition for the look they were aiming for. ‘We ended up replacing them with brand-new oak,’ says Lynsay.
The couple also stripped back all the doors to the original warm, Canadian oak which, fortunately, yielded a better result. ‘I love natural materials, especially wood and stone,’ says Lynsay. To this end, she has chosen finishes for their texture as much as their colour, ensuring her home embodies classic design values. ‘I didn’t want to take shortcuts or make throwaway choices,’ she says. ‘Sometimes, you have to invest in the details to get things right.’
The highlights of the interior are the contrasts that Lynsay and Jeff have created between its period features and the bespoke, modern additions installed alongside them. They have created clever counterpoints between the historic building and urban, contemporary finishes, such as the concrete surround to the TV cabinet, which mixes a minimal aesthetic with unique details.
‘Despite being incredibly central, our home is so peaceful – it’s in a quiet cul-desac and there are shared gardens,’ says Lynsay. ‘Being so passionate about work, it can be hard to switch off, but having this wonderful apartment to retreat to is always restorative. This place is our sanctuary.’