Edinburgh flat revamp wows readers of US design blog Apartment Therapy

By Fiona Reid
Published on 24/06/2012 19:08

Morag and John Waller’s home stylishly mixes high street pieces with antiques and eBay finds

Small Cool 2012 was run by the well-known US design blog Apartment Therapy, and the fact that the top-floor flat at 4 Waverley Park was rated so highly is a testament to what owners John and Morag Waller have achieved since Morag bought the flat in 2007.

Every element of this space has been considered, from the floors – which John sanded and stained in an ebony finish – to the eclectic accessories and artworks alongside John’s own framed photos.

Although the couple considered selling the flat after getting married, their plans changed with Emily’s impending arrival (now 10 months old) and they decided instead to maximise the space they had.

Initially, the couple had wanted a generous dining area, but, “In practice, we realised we needed a good study area,” says Morag.

The couple, both corporate lawyers, share a creative streak: for Morag, this is expressed in her eye for interiors, while John is a keen photographer and wanted space to work from home. With this in mind, the living-dining room was reborn as a living-dining-study space, with a bistro table positioned by the window, taking in the view towards Arthur’s Seat. John then designed the study area at the other end of the room, with a streamlined desk and open shelving above.

In the kitchen, high-gloss white cabinets were installed and the backsplash was retiled in white subway tiles. The three wall units were raised to make space for an open shelf, while one wall was painted in blackboard paint.

Dark greay tiles feature in the bathroom. “The whole flat is basically monochrome: the walls are either white or shades of grey, and we felt that by continuing the grey into the bathroom the space would flow better,” Morag explains.

The master bedroom was reconfigured with the bed placed by the window and framed by wall-mounted lamps. Morag wanted a dressing table but couldn’t see how one could work here until John hit upon the idea of using a slender wall-mounted shelf, which is combined with Philippe Starck’s Ghost chair. Small vintage-style mirrors are grouped above.

The couple mixed high-street pieces from the likes of Ikea and Dwell with antiques found along the way, such as the library index card holder in the nursery, sourced from City Vintage in Edinburgh, and eBay pieces.

In the nursery, the Eames rocker, bunting and delicate chandelier are combined with an industrial-style task lamp. In the living room, artworks and photos are framed in white and displayed on a narrow ledge, while a wall in the hallway (painted in B&Q’s Grey Slate) is filled with an array of photos all with different frames.

This was a labour of love for the Wallers, particularly John, who did most of the work himself over six months, with the couple moving from room to room as each space was completed. In the end, they have created a home that reflects trends without being about trends; rather, it’s a space filled with memories and charts their own evolution over recent years. k

Offers around £175,000; contact selling agent Allan McDougall (0131-661 2345, 07761 575254, www.amcdproperty.co.uk)