West End Apartment
A full renovation of a Victorian apartment
Fine craftsmanship, clever ideas and a surprise sense of fun fill this beautifully revived Victorian apartment in Edinburgh. In collaboration with Jeffreys Interiors.
LOCATION
West End, Edinburgh
YEAR
2022
DESIGNER
ARCHITECT
PRESS
Brief
In 2020, Jeffreys Interiors was contacted by a former client whose parents were interested in buying an apartment in Edinburgh’s West End. An initial site inspection revealed how the first-floor apartment had been poorly divided in previous years. Though there were many positives, the layout wasn’t equipped for twenty-first century living.
We were approached by Jeffreys Interiors and GLM to lead the construction of this project. With our client living in the US, they managed this project remotely. Inspired by another project we had completed in collaboration with Jeffreys Interiors, our client’s brief was to create something “very traditional, very Scottish, earthy and cosy”.
Execution
As the apartment exists within a listed building, we had to acquire planning permission to make various changes to the layout, such as adding a wall to create a utility room (an essential if the kitchen was to be moved to the front to form one big semi-open dining and living space). The main bedroom was given an en-suite and we added a cloakroom too.
The property’s energy system was upgraded throughout; we completed a full rewire and added a new central heating system.
The existing cornicing and ceiling roses were really simple so we replaced them with the type of architectural details you’d expect to find in a Victorian property. Other features are unexpected, such as a cupboard and drawer in the utility room for the client’s dog. This might be one of the most charming additions we’ve ever seen.
Peden & Pringle created an array of bespoke cabinetry throughout the property, from the kitchen to the built-in wardrobes, bookcase and walk-in cupboard. Bespoke cabinetry is often a no-brainer in properties of this stature and grandeur—the 4m-high ceilings demand it.
Testimonial
“We have had a wonderful experience working with James and the team at BANN. The team who handled the renovation of our Edinburgh home were a joy to work with. The renovation took place during the pandemic; we managed it at arms length from the USA. BANN were creative, timely, clean and tidy, as well as being highly responsive and respectful of the other owners in the building. We can’t speak highly enough of the whole process and the first-class results. If we do another project like this, we would have no hesitation about working with them again.”
