20.08.08 : The Herald : Scotland's Homes

Gutted!

An ambitious refurbishment programme has transformed this 1930s bungalow into a stylish haven, discovers Tom Sewel

'As soon as we walked in, we felt it had a friendly feel and a welcoming atmosphere - it is a bright and sunny home and we loved it straight away.' Eliot's enthusiasm for the beautiful family home redesigned by his wife Jo is impossible to miss. 12, The Loaning, in the exclusive residential suburb of Upper Whitecraigs, started life as a 1930s bungalow but earlier this year was extensively remodelled according to Jo's vision.

As the Arts and Development Manager for a local authority, Jo knew exactly what she wanted to achieve and employed Earnock Builders, who she describes as "just fantastic", to make her dream to reality. "I think the builders just thought I was mad," she laughs as she describes the process of building a three-floor extension to exact specifications.

"They weren't sure about the colours I'd chosen but as soon as the furniture and the artwork were in place they could see it all made sense," says Jo. Her passion and resolve to ensure that the results were what she had intended meant this substantial construction project was completed in just four months.
In the mature, landscaped gardens a tegula-block driveway rises to a garage integrated within the basement level of the house. Its door slides sideways rather than vertically so that it can be opened partially to allow access for people instead of vehicles. Round the back, a split-level patio contoured to the shape of the gardens can be reached through French doors.

At the centre of the building work and now at the heart of this magnificent home is the open-plan kitchen/dining/living area. Black worktops bring a solidity to a bright and airy cooking space that includes four ovens, a stainless steel range, dishwasher and an integrated flipdown TV screen. A skylight draws down natural light into the centre of the space, softening the modern fittings. The kitchen opens immediately into a living area with a double-height ceiling, dining table and comfy chairs. On almost every wall are paintings and sculptures that harmonise with the feel of the space, blending beautifully together and establishing a subtly unifying theme in every room.

The master bedroom downstairs is another light and tranquil space, featuring its own marble fireplace and an en-suite dressing room that leads through to a Victor Paris bathroom with underfloor heating, integrated TV and intelligent lighting that flickers on softly to guide sleepy heads in the right direction.
Also downstairs, the large panelled hallway opens into a bright and peaceful day room that looks out over the garden throughout floor-to-ceiling windows, a generous formal lounge with grand bay windows and a dining room rich in warm colours and natural textures. A snug office in earth tones offers a cosy place of retreat. There is an organic, living quality to the decor that brings a traditional feel to the very contemporary design.

Upstairs are three further double bedrooms, each with en-suite bathrooms and one featuring a spacious en-suite dressing room. The guest suite, situated at the front of the house, boasts sweeping views across the nearby golf course to Cathcart Castle. A long corridor decorated with pictures of archetypal Italian theatre characters stretches through to the children's rooms and ends in a gallery overlooking the kitchen.
Fifteen minutes' drive from the city centre and five from the M77, this finely crafted property is well-placed for expeditions to the rest of the country. Within the catchment area for prestigious local schools and close to Parklands Country Club and the shopping centre at Mearns Cross, this home would also be ideally suited to a family of any age. Eliot and Jo's children are striking out on their own after 10 years here, and the couple are moving to a smaller property nearby which as recently stolen their hearts.