At home: Glasgow townhouse converion

CHRISTINE Murphy held her breath when, shortly after her family moved in to this townhouse conversion on Glasgow's south side, she punched a big hole in the living-room ceiling.

"I was pretty relieved when I saw the original cornices and ceiling rose were above the lowered ceiling," she says. "I could have had a big job on my hands, patching up the mess."

The property, which the couple bought three years ago, is located in the peaceful conservation area of Strathbungo, alongside Queen's Park and not far from Shawlands Cross. It occupies the ground and lower ground levels of an original, late 19th-century townhouse most likely sub-divided in the 1960s.

Lowered ceilings were in evidence throughout the ground level, within the front entrance hall and bedrooms as well as the living-room. Christine and husband Brian can only think this was a measure to cut heating bills. Certainly it would be surprising to learn that a past resident had preferred the diminished height and absence of features to the elegant spaces now on show.

But while the cornices and ceiling roses had been preserved, the original ceilings had not. "There was no plaster there," says Brian, "so these had to be rebuilt."

The couple, who had tackled a couple of renovations before they bought this property, are not afraid to get their hands dirty and got stuck into preliminary work on their own, hiring tradesmen for the structural jobs."We got the keys to the house six weeks before moving in," says Brian, "but still ended up living in a building site for a while."

The previous owners, an older couple, had confined themselves largely to the lower ground floor and decoratively the interior hadn't been updated in decades, but Christine and Brian were not daunted. "We enjoy a challenge," says Christine.

In the large, front-facing living-room, the couple removed an old carpet to expose original floorboards, which they sanded and polished. They were delighted to discover original tiles under the hall carpet, although some were broken and others missing. "We were initially hopeful about repairing them, and finding authentic replacements for the tiles that were missing but we just never found anyone who could help and didn't want to start losing bits of tile," says Brian.

Ultimately the couple cleaned them up as best they could and laid a new carpet on top, protecting the tiles so a future owner will have the opportunity to nurse them back to health.

Throughout the renovation the Murphys stayed true to the historic character of the building, replacing white UVPC windows (fitted along the back of the ground level some years ago), with new sash and case windows, in keeping with the area's conservation status. The original sash and case windows, many of which could not be opened, have been given a thorough overhaul and fitted with secure locks.

The couple also fitted fireplaces, using traditional timber surrounds and cast-iron inserts, in the position of original ones that had been removed. These fires create focal features in the two ground-floor bedrooms (occupied by the couple's two daughters), as well as the living-room, where the hearth holds a living-flame gas fire. The two leather sofas in this room are among the few pieces the couple brought with them; practically everything else was bought new, including the red sofa from Joseph Ryan.

"We bought lots of things in this Merchant City shop but sadly it's now closed," says Christine.

The Murphys had always liked the style contrast between this property's upper and lower levels. The lower ground floor possesses none of the period features enjoyed on the floor above, and so the couple felt free to interpret the former as a contemporary living space.

A hint to the modernity of this lower area is provided by the ground-floor family bathroom, which has been transformed. A new bath, toilet and sink (from Wholesale Domestic at Hillington) have sharp, clean lines that brought the space into the 21st century, as do linear tiles and a neutral colour scheme.

A slick en suite also took shape within the footprint of a downstairs bathroom with the original entrance blocked off from the hallway and a new one created from the master bedroom.

The last owners used this bedroom as a sitting area, and it enjoys the same, generous floor space as the living-room above. However, the lower height on this level creates a cosy ambience, and the couple decorated with warm neutrals, which contrast with the vibrant paint shades used in the rooms above. Simple furniture from Ikea suits the master bedroom's contemporary vibe and Christine added subtly patterned wallpaper from Laura Ashley.

The couple also created a little shower room within what was a toilet at the bottom of the stairs, and they decoratively revamped a spare bedroom down here too. Removing a wall between the kitchen and what was a dining-room created a roomy open-plan space that is ideal for family life and entertaining, with double doors opening to the back garden.

"All the ground at the back is ours," says Christine, explaining that their upstairs neighbour has ownership of the front garden.

The couple's garden is in a similar condition to the house, having been professionally landscaped to include smart decked areas and parking for two cars.

Brian fitted the cream Ikea kitchen units and timber worktops, and a smart dining table with a stainless steel top was picked up at John Lewis. Glossy green tiles in the kitchen, and a slate-covered wall in the adjacent seating area are also Brian's work, the latter adding character to the space. Removal of the dividing wall also gave the couple the opportunity to fit recessed lighting within the new section of ceiling.

"We thought carefully about lighting in those areas that don't receive much natural light, including the hall and stairway," says Christine, while the raising of ceilings in the upstairs rooms called for the installation of new lights there.

A pale beech floor that runs throughout the lower level also has a brightening effect.

As well as the traditional/contemporary contrast, the couple enjoy being able to retreat to the cosy lower level (where the television has been located, rather than detract from traditional features in the living-room above) when their daughters have friends over.

"Or sometimes we swap, depending on who has company," says Christine. "It's a family house that allows older children some independence too." She also admits that when entertaining, it's great to leave all the mess downstairs to enjoy after-dinner drinks on the floor above.

Christine and Brian are now on the look out for another, even bigger, renovation project. "We can't wait to get started," Christine says. k

Offers over 335,000 for Marywood Square. Contact Corum (0141-636 7588, www.corumproperty.com).

This article was originally published in Scotland on Sunday on 28 February 2010