KEYS TO KNOW
A row of architect-designed homes have captured the best of old and new, finds Kirsty Mcluckie
Among the more traditional Victorian houses of Edinburgh’s Grange Loan is a row of four-storey terraced townhouses with uninterrupted views over secluded green spaces in one of the capital’s best postcodes.
Designed by the renowned Malcolm Fraser Architects, 157 Grange Loan in the Grange, is a five-bedroomed home over 3,300sq ft, with private parking and views over manicured gardens and leafy surroundings.
It is a striking property, with large picture windows which allow light to bathe rooms, double-height ceilings and an exceptionally high-quality interior finish.
Features include luxurious polished white marble tiling with underfloor heating, an ultra-sleek kitchen and bi-folding doors to the garden.
Ali Smeaton bought the property brand new in 2012 after his now wife, Julie, spotted the development taking shape.
He says: “By that stage there was only one left for sale, but when we expressed interest, it looked like it was reserved.
“While that discussion was going on, the end one became available so we were quite happy to buy that instead as it had a double driveway, a larger garden and windows on the side of the house.”
It was quite a departure from what the couple had initially put on their wish list.
Ali says: “We were living in a New Town flat and we thought we were looking for a traditional house but seeing this really changed our minds about newbuilds.
“The kitchen is a sort of double layer with really high ceilings. We went back and had a discussion about what we really wanted in an older property, but this ticked all the boxes.”
There were further advantages of buying new. Ali says: “I’m not massively DIY oriented so with a low maintenance newbuild, we could definitely see the attraction.”
Ali owns two clothing businesses, Morphsuits, which makes fancy dress outfits, and Royal & Awesome, which designs quirky golf clothes. The company is based in Dundas Street, so buying at Grange Loan enabled him to cycle to and from work.
Buying a larger house was definitely a step towards starting a family and Ali proposed shortly after moving in.
The couple first acquired a Labrador, Tana, before getting married and having two children, Raife who is now two, and Kit, six months.
The location, near the Meadows and with Astley Ainslie hospital grounds nearly on the doorstep, means that it is a great location for dog walks and taking the children out to explore.
Their use of the house has also changed in their time here. Ali says: “The kitchen is a pretty fantastic room for entertaining. The kitchen doors fold all the way back so for barbecues in the summer it is ideal.
“When it was just the two of us, we had a Christmas party with 120 people in the kitchen area alone, so it certainly has the space.”
Nowadays, the same space is more useful for family life than partying. He explains: “The garden is safe and enclosed and with the windows the whole width of the kitchen, Raife generally has his breakfast and then heads straight out with the dog to the garden and we can get on with life but keep an eye on him.”
The low maintenance garden has been something they have developed in their years here. “We have tried to choose plants that are hardy. With a two-year-old and a Labrador they have to be able to survive some rough treatment.”
Although the house was brand new, Julie has had the urge to repaint several times and both her pregnancies have found her up a ladder doing all the work herself, even to the highest points of the double height.
Ali says: “She is a big fan of Farrow & Ball and doesn’t agree that you can reproduce their tones so that is what she insists upon.”
The family are now looking for a move out of town but the couple doubt that they will find the wow factor that this house has in spades.
Ali says: “The kitchen is a great combination of spectacular and practical.
“I love the chandelier, it is like a globe of LED lights which just looks really cool.
“I think that will be staying in the house when we leave because I doubt we’ll find a room in the new place where it would fit in size or style.” Private parking and an integral garage.
High end finish.