Three city homes to make the most of every storey

Light is the key to making the most of a city property’s lower floors, says Kirsty McLuckie.

When the original purpose of rooms at below-ground level has been as kitchens, sculleries or living quarters for domestic staff, getting maximum amounts of daylight to the lower floors in can be a challenge.

But with imaginative design concepts utilising these spaces in traditional urban townhouses can make for stylish living accommodation in some of the most sought-after areas in a city. We looked at three city homes that make the most of every storey.

West End, Edinburgh

The lower floors of 2 Douglas Gardens in Edinburgh, which is on the market with Savills at offers over £785,000, make a charming and spacious ground, garden and basement home in the city’s West End.

The townhouse at 2, Douglas Gardens in the West End of Edinburgh

Upstairs, the property has plenty of period features – the entrance is through a panelled reception hall and the west-facing drawing room has intricate cornicing and a central open fireplace. An equally grand master bedroom with dressing room and ensuite bathroom is also on this level.

The drawing room of Douglas Gardens is on the first floor

Stairs lead to the garden level, where there is a practical open-plan kitchen and dining area with utility room and a family room, and steps to the garden. It also has three bedrooms and a bathroom.

Douglas Garden's dining room is at garden level

At basement level, there is a fourth bedroom with ensuite, which also has a door to the enclosed private garden and patio.The front of the house has a courtyard and three under-pavement cellars, making the most of its undergound space.

Morningside, Edinburgh

33A Braid Avenue is a stunning garden flat, occupying the entire lower floor of a Victorian end-of-terrace property. It is on the market with Simpson and Marwick at offers over £625,000.

The front of 33 Braid Avenue

The flat has been extended by its current owner. While it may be low to the ground at the front where the bedrooms are, at the back the living accommodation overlooks a beautiful garden.The home has an open-plan family room and kitchen, leading to a conservatory with glazed bi-fold doors, plus four bedrooms.

Braid Avenue's living, dining room with kitchen and conservatory

West End, Glasgow

12 Claremont Terrace is a main door, ground and lower-ground duplex apartment that has undergone a total refurbishment. On the market with Savills, it is priced at offers over £975,000.

The entrance to 12 Claremont Terrace, Glasgow

Upstairs are traditional features in the open-plan drawing room and kitchen. The four bedrooms are downstairs and all have ensuites.

The spectacular drawing room at 12 Claremont Terrace, Glasgow