Interiors: Russell and Liz Stewart left London behind for a more peaceful existence in the country. Their east Lothian terraced cottage turned out to be just what they were looking for

Russell is originally from Edinburgh, so they began by choosing a location that would offer easy commuting into the city, combined with a quieter lifestyle and limited their search to East Lothian, viewing six properties over one weekend.

“We thought this was by far and away the nicest house we saw,” Russell reflects of Byfield, this terraced cottage located on the High Street in the conservation village of Gifford. With its village green and red sandstone cottages, Gifford is an unexpectedly pretty discovery for the first-time visitor, with Edinburgh only some 20 miles away. “We didn’t do any research, we didn’t know much about the village,” Russell admits, “but it turned out to be the best thing we did.” The couple’s two daughters, Robin, now 16, and Perry, 14, were young at the time. “The local school is excellent, and it’s been a lovely place for them to grow up,” he says.

Another unexpected discovery is the view from the front of the house. “This outlook is one of the things that’s particularly unusual as we look onto this avenue of trees that leads down to the gatehouses of the Yester Estate. It feels a bit special,” Russell agrees.

As for the house itself at the time, he says: “It was sound but a bit scruffy. It was basic. There was no real kitchen; when we moved in, we discovered there were no cooking facilities whatsoever.” Yet Liz and Russell weren’t deterred. The couple had refurbished their previous property in London while interior designer Russell is a director at Cubit3D, delivering 3D design for commercial projects and working with restaurant, bar, retail, leisure and corporate clients.

The cottage is spread over three floors with three bedrooms on the two upper levels. A new kitchen was at the top of the list. “We wanted to be able to sit in the kitchen without it being too ‘kitcheny’,” Russell explains, and he achieved this by designing a galley-style stretch of beech-fronted units that extend along one wall, with all the appliances integrated, and with a Cumbrian slate worktop.

Russell says: “The kitchen has stood the test of time. If you buy a good-quality worktop and tap, the rest of it falls into place.” The slate has developed a lovely patina over the years. “Because it’s matt black as opposed to shiny granite, it has a more comfortable feel,” he says.

The couple found a simple antique dresser in Old Pine & Pieces at Fenton Barns. They also installed the black Rayburn within the existing fireplace and clad the surround in crackled glaze tiles from Fired Earth. The green of the tiles is picked up in the feature wall colour, which is a variation of the colour used in the sitting room at the front of the cottage, enhancing the flow as you move through the house.

In the sitting room, Russell hand-stripped the original cast-iron fireplace, removing its previous layer of dark grey paint and restoring the detailing, while the oak and glazed doors over the corner press were commissioned from a cabinet maker, as were the shelves set within the recessed area on the other side of the fireplace.

Such bespoke elements add to the character of this house while reflecting Liz’s eye for a more organic aesthetic. Liz works as a fundraiser for the environmental charity Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust and, as Russell explains: “She has a more environmental approach and likes things to have a more hand-wrought feel.”

As Russell’s background lies in commercial design, tackling a residential project was clearly a departure. “We didn’t set out with a scheme in mind for the interior; it’s evolved over the years as we’ve lived here and we’ve done things in phases,” he says. About four years after the main work was completed, the couple added the Amdega conservatory at the rear, with glazed double doors opening into this space from the dining-kitchen. The cottage had been sold with planning permission approved for an extension, but while the couple didn’t like the proposed design, they did want the additional living space.

They chose Amdega because, Russell says: “An Amdega conservatory is a quality piece of kit made from seasoned hardwood, and it’s nicely put together without being fussy.” Adding this space has shifted the way the living space functions for the family: while Robin and Perry tend to gravitate to the sitting room with the TV, Liz and Russell can escape to this quiet haven at the rear.

The conservatory also pulls light back into the dining-kitchen while creating synergy between indoors and out.

“It’s a fantastic space, particularly in autumn and spring when the weather is nice but it’s still a bit too cold to sit outside,” Russell says. “It brings the garden inside.”

The first floor is home to Robin and Perry’s bedrooms plus a family bathroom – which the couple upgraded in the early days with a new bath and tiling, and tongue-and-groove panelling cladding the bath. Although the attic conversion had been tackled by a previous owner, it was unfinished. The existing varnished pine ceiling gave this space the look of a sauna, but by simply painting the timber panelling, exposed roof beams and walls white, the look was shifted to New England. “It’s made this space much more uplifting,” Russell acknowledges.

The en-suite shower room was also refitted with black and white mosaics for a crisp, contemporary look and the existing Velux window frames painted black, with dark grey floorboards in the bedroom completing this monochrome palette.

One of the most enjoyable things for the family about living in Gifford has been the quiet. “Quietness is one thing I crave; being in London, I got sick and tired of the noise of the place,” Russell reflects. “At first, I found it difficult to sleep here as it was so quiet. Coming here was a revelation.”

• Offers over £285,000; contact Rettie & Co (0131-220 4160, www.rettie.co.uk). Open viewing today 2-4pm