Richard Munro has shaped his Glasgow Park area home into a classical style house with a modern edge

Richard Munro spent three years searching for the perfect property to buy in Glasgow’s Park area. When he finally found it, he walked away, returning a full year later to finally secure the exquisite two-floor apartment.

Number 28 Park Circus was being renovated by a developer who was creating three properties within the five-floor building when Richard first saw it in 2008. His attention was grabbed by the ground and garden level apartment, with a private, south-facing garden and parking ... in the heart of the city. It was this, and the original features of the listed building, that finally sold the property to him.

“When my partner and I first saw this house, we didn’t know what the property market was going to do so we walked away and continued to rent around the corner,” says Richard. “We saw this building in its raw state in 2008 and knew what the developer was going to do with it. We knew the quality of his work as we’d seen other properties he’d renovated and we liked what he did. And when we came back in 2009 to buy this place, we were still able to have an influence on the refurbishment.”

Entry to the property is via a bright, expansive hallway with a beautiful walnut parquet floor that spans the entire ground level. The developer intended this to be a dining hall, but Richard decided to create an additional sitting room, installing a lavish mirrored wall to further reflect the light that spills through the vast, south-facing window. The lounge was originally accessed off the hallway but Richard chose to block off that doorway and create double doors connecting the lounge directly with the large dining kitchen, giving him the option to have an open plan space for entertaining.

The kitchen, Richard decided, should be a sociable space in its own right so he reserved the room’s bay window for a large, round Bo Concept dining table and chairs. Having an induction hob in the white Corian island – which also acts as a breakfast bar – means he can cook and chat with friends, while his triple ovens, two fridge freezers, wine cooler, coffee maker, dishwasher and warming drawers were all integrated behind the dark brown units. He also asked his joiner to create a large walk-in cupboard that he kitted out as a wine store. Richard insisted on installing a Linn integrated sound system throughout the property, with each bedroom having an iPod docking station.

Off the central hallway is a WC, while a glass and wood staircase leads down to the garden level and three en suite bedrooms. The utility is also here, along with a study and direct access to the front patio and the rear decked garden. “There was supposed to be another bathroom downstairs but I decided, because each of the bedrooms has an en suite and we have the WC upstairs, that this room would be better used as a home office,” says Richard.

The grandeur of the property’s original features – such as the floor-to-ceiling carved fireplace and detailed wood panelling in the lounge – inspired Richard when selecting wall coverings and furnishings.

“I wanted the place to be classic but with a modern edge,” he smiles. “The building’s original features are amazing – that is what we fell in love with. When we first came to see the place the fireplace was caked in years of grime and was very dark, but it has cleaned up well and has got its original vibrant colour back. I wanted the house to have a classic, timeless feel. As we had previously rented a furnished flat I was buying everything from scratch but I did not want things to go out of date in two years. I wanted everything to stand the test of time and spent months sourcing furniture and lights.”

He also employed interior designer Carol Yates from Amabile Design to help him find wall coverings and soft furnishings. The overall effect throughout the house is stunning. The lounge is a feast for the eyes, with striking abstract artworks by local artist Tommy Fitchet adding a contemporary touch to the classically finished room. Large sofas sit either side of a bespoke glass-topped coffee table made by joiner Dillon Walker from Woodcraft – he also made the side and TV tables, and hand-crafted double doors that conceal a drinks cupboard.

Richard sourced the pillar candles on top of the fireplace, as well as a series of over-sized ceramic jars in the kitchen, from Eichholtz. They also provided him with the wool and cashmere-covered dining chairs and the large lamps in the hallway. His love of textured wall coverings is felt in every room, with shades ranging from silver through to taupe and chocolate brown.

On the garden level, each bedroom and bathroom has its own theme. One bedroom features mocha textured wall coverings and a bespoke tall velvet headboard, with a mirrored wall and sink unit and aqua vision TV over the bath in the en suite – sparkling pewter Porcelanosa tiles cover the other walls and walk-in shower. In contrast, the second spare bedroom features a heavenly all-white bathroom, with a French-inspired And So To Bed gold bed resting amid a sea of cream and taupe wall coverings and window dressings.

Travertine has been used throughout the master en-suite, with another TV over the bath and bespoke mirrored wall, shelving and bath panel. Richard’s love of classic with a modern twist is further reflected in the bedroom where a black Churchill leather bed from And So To Bed is framed by reproduction drawers, with silk Brian Yates curtains adorning the windows.

Despite having lovingly brought this house back to life, a job move to London means Richard is now reluctantly selling.

“We have done this place from scratch and did it all to a high standard as we thought we would be here for the next 15 years,” he says. “I absolutely love this house and there is nothing I would change in it. I will miss it all.”

28 Park Circus, Glasgow, is for sale at offers over £795,000 through Corum (0141-357 1888, click here to visit www.corumproperty.co.uk