Renovations

Tenement Flat Renovation, Meadowbank

Reconfiguring a dated tenement flat into a brighter, more flexible home.

This Meadowbank renovation involved rethinking the layout of a traditional ground floor tenement to create a calmer and more practical living space for modern day living.

The existing flat felt closed off and underused, with limited connection between the main living spaces and the shared garden beyond.

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What Needed To Change

The aim was not simply to modernise the property, but to improve how the home functioned day to day.

Key priorities included:

• creating a stronger connection to the garden
• improving the overall flow of the flat
• introducing more natural light
• creating a more flexible layout for guests and home working
• adding a second bathroom within the existing footprint

Working within a traditional tenement also meant carefully balancing new interventions with the constraints of the existing building.

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The Approach

The layout was reconfigured to create a brighter open-plan kitchen and living space connected more directly to the garden and new patio area.

Throughout the renovation, the focus remained on making the flat feel lighter, calmer and easier to live in — rather than simply adding features or increasing floor area.

Careful coordination was also required to work within the existing structure of the building while integrating new services, storage and bathroom layouts.

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The Outcome

The completed renovation transformed the flat from a dated one-bedroom property into a flexible two-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a much stronger sense of light, flow and connection between spaces.

The result is a home that feels significantly more open and functional while still retaining the character of the original tenement building.

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Before and after galleries

 

Victorian Home Renovation in Trinity Edinburgh

Transforming a Victorian home to create a lighter and more connected living space.

This renovation involved rethinking the layout of a traditional Victorian property to improve how the home functioned day to day, while still respecting the character of the original building.

Like many period homes, the existing layout felt more segmented and disconnected from modern family living, with darker internal spaces and limited connection between rooms. (thehousestory.co.uk)

What Needed To Change

The aim of the renovation was to create a home that felt brighter, calmer and easier to live in.
Key priorities included:
improving the flow between living spaces
introducing more natural light
creating a stronger connection to the garden
improving the functionality of the ground floor layout
balancing modern living with the character of the Victorian property
Working within an existing period home also required careful coordination between structural changes, layout decisions and the practical realities of the building itself.

The Approach

The layout was reconfigured to create a more open and connected ground floor arrangement, centred around a brighter kitchen and family living space.
Throughout the project, the focus remained on improving how the home felt and functioned rather than simply increasing floor area.
Materials and detailing were kept relatively restrained, allowing light, proportion and flow between spaces to become the defining features of the renovation.

The Outcome

The completed renovation transformed the property into a more flexible family home with a much stronger sense of openness and connection throughout the ground floor.
Natural light now moves more easily through the house, while the revised layout creates a calmer relationship between cooking, dining and everyday living spaces. (thehousestory.co.uk)

The result is a home that feels more suited to modern family life while still retaining the character and proportions of the original Victorian building.

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Renovation of an upper colony flat in Stockbridge, Edinburgh

Modernising a dated colonies flat while retaining its original character.

This renovation focused on reworking a traditional Stockbridge colonies upper that felt tired, dated and no longer suited how the homeowners wanted to live day to day.

Like many older properties, the flat had gradually become a series of separate rooms with awkward circulation, limited natural flow and interiors that no longer reflected modern living. The aim was to create a home that felt lighter, more open and easier to live in while still retaining the character and proportions of the original building.

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The Brief

The homeowners wanted to modernise the flat without stripping away the warmth and personality that made the property feel special.

The priorities for the renovation included:

• improving the flow between rooms
• forming a new open plan kitchen
• creating better storage and more usable space
• updating tired interiors and finishes
• making the layout work better for modern day living
• retaining the character of the colonies flat

The project was less about adding space and more about improving how the existing footprint functioned overall.

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The Approach

The layout was carefully reworked to create a greater sense of openness throughout the flat.

Structural changes, improved storage and a more considered use of materials helped modernise the property while still feeling appropriate to the age and character of the building.

Throughout the renovation, the focus remained on creating a home that felt practical, welcoming and comfortable to live in rather than overly designed.

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The Outcome

The completed renovation transformed the flat into a brighter and far more functional home that feels much better suited to modern life.

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👉 Renovating a Tenement Flat in Edinburgh

👉 Rethinking How Your Home Works

👉 How We Work