STARTING OVER

Buying a 1960s property stuck in a slight timewarp provided Ann and Jonathan Hawthorne with the perfect canvas for all their ideas

A 1960s property in Edinburgh has been cleverly reimagined as a vibrant, comfortable home

After their last renovation, Ann Hawthorne and her husband Jonathan vowed ‘never again’, but having been gazumped in a sluggish property market they returned to the drawing board. ‘We had sold our smaller property and so had to move into rented accommodation until we found somewhere to buy. The problem was that there wasn’t a lot on the market and we didn’t want a boxy new build,’ Ann explains. The house that captured the couple’s imagination was a 1960s property in a desirable area of Edinburgh with powers of seduction strong enough to make them forget their previous renovation pain. ‘When we walked in we really liked the feel of the place and Jens, our architect, was excited, too. But as we knew we weren’t going to be living there during the renovation, it seemed less daunting and I suppose it’s like childbirth, you forget about the pain involved afterwards.’

The couple had worked with Jens Bergmark on their previous smaller home and were eager to appoint him. ‘The previous owners were an elderly couple and the house looked like it had been stuck in a time warp but it had a certain charm to it,’ says Jens. Sadly though, hidden under the mid-century detailing, the workmanship was poorer than he had anticipated. ‘When we started to peel the layers back we realised it hadn’t been built to a high quality so we didn’t have the option to preserve some of the details we had liked.’

Instead the house became a blank canvas allowing more freedom with the floorplan. ‘There were lots of corridors and small rooms so we wanted to make these larger, giving the house a sense of unification,’ Jens explains. ‘With three sons and one daughter, it was important to create as much space as possible,’ Ann adds. A large extension containing kitchen, dining area, sitting area and garden room was added to the rear of the house while the old sitting room at the front became a new sitting room/snug. A games room with bar and musical instruments was later added when the couple realised the granny flat they had planned was no longer needed.

Jens introduced Ann to interior designer Julien Poulizac Caybo and together they created a scheme that was modern, comfortable and warm. ‘I wanted lots of splashes of vibrant colour and to create a home that really felt lived in. We were able to put our own personal stamp on it once we had hung all our pictures and especially those of the Northern Irish landscapes where we’re from,’ says Ann.

‘We love the house and plan to live here for a long time,’ Ann enthuses. ‘During the first lockdown, our eldest son moved in with his girlfriend and our daughter returned from university, but we never felt crowded or on top of one another. We felt very glad of the space and fortunate to be able to host so many people. It’s a great house and it’s been a real godsend,’ she concludes.

HALLWAY Limestone tiles are a long-lasting solution for high-traffic areas. New cabinetry and bannisters updated the staircase. Walls in Marble Dust chalky emulsion, £40 for 2.5ltr, Craig & Rose at Homebase. Table lamp, price on request, Halidon Home. Handrail designed by Caybo

GARDEN ROOM Cane furniture suits the easy informality of this space. Hanging Lot chair, £335, Broste Copenhagen at Nest. Rabisco Berber style rug in Navy Blue, from £99, La Redoute. Monet lounge chair, £453, Sika Design at Made In Design. Love Nest rattan sofa, £1,142, Sika Design at Fabiia

GAMES ROOM Gold bar stool legs provide a hint of glamour and riff with the warm wood to bring a sense of 1960s style. Bespoke bar and cabinet designed and made by Caybo and Edinburgh Woodwork. Form bar stools in Brass Red, £290, Normann Copenhagen at Made In Design

KITCHEN Wall tiles give a clear identity to this corner, contrasting with the simple style of the cabinetry. Atlantic Scallop Navy tiles, £10.80 each, Ca’ Pietra at Tile & Stone Online. Sensa Granite White Macaubas work surface, price on request, Kitchens by Nick Mcnally SITTING ROOM The teal sofa provides a vibrant lift to the mellow muted tone of the walls. Built-in cabinetry ensures the room is well organised. Cabinetry designed by Caybo and made by Edinburgh Woodwork. Walls in Steel Pole chalky emulsion, £40 for 2.5ltr, Craig & Rose at Homebase. Brick corner sofa in Teal velvet, price on request, Natuzzi. Afaw Berber-style rug, £399, La Redoute. Enfield coffee table, £199.50; Enfield pumpkin table gold base, £119.25, both JB Mclean Interiors BATHROOM Patterned floor tiles enliven this scheme. Patchwork B&W 05 tiles, £57.75sq m, Tiles Direct BEDROOM Geometric print wallpaper combines with the texture of the bedside tables to bring a contemporary low-key glamour. Prism wallpaper, £96 a roll, Cole & Son at Jane Clayton. Audrey bedside table, £293, West Elm MASTER BEDROOM Placed in the centre of the room, the bed has been given a solid backing of cabinetry with a dressing area behind it. Wray wallpaper, £310 a roll, Zoffany. Blind made to measure in Pale Mole; Mid-century Sweep upholstered bed in Opulence Royal Blue, £699; N°172 Ombre ceiling light, £95, all John Lewis & Partners