Page 47 - December 2023

AT HOME WITH
Starting from scratch

How one couple went from glossy new build to a bungalow renovation hen Lucia and Andy Mackie welcomed their
to create their dream family home. twin sons, Henry and Hugo, seven years ago,
Wthey made the decision to move to a new
build house in West Lothian, to make sure they had
plenty of space for the babies to grow. However, it was
always the aim for them to move back to their home
city of Edinburgh when the time was right – and that
time was just last year, in December 2022.

The couple swapped glossy, low-maintenance new
build life for a renovation project in Barnton, in the north
of Edinburgh, and over the course of the past 12 months,
they’ve turned an unloved bungalow into the property
of their dreams, which they’ve been documenting on
Instagram.

“When we were selling our home, and searching for
a new one, ESPC was our first port of call,” Lucia, a
primary school teacher, explains. “We used the website
for the home search and found it to be the best; all
the filters and functions helped us to be more specific
in our search. We knew we wanted a home in North
Edinburgh, but our requirements were quite particular:
we needed at least three bedrooms, and more living
space than in our previous home. We liked the idea of
a bungalow (despite neither of us having ever lived in
one!), and the potential to extend or alter a property.
Schools were also a strong influence, and we ideally
wanted one within walking or cycling distance, plus we
needed local shops and transport links, so we would
research these when considering a property too.”

While their new home met many of Lucia and Andy’s
criteria, it wasn’t without its challenges. “We were keen
to find a bungalow, but this was like one we had never
seen! Andy had to persuade me that this was ‘the one’,”
laughs Lucia. “Andy was excited when he saw the
property and could immediately see the potential, but I
was in for a shock, coming from the ease of a new build.”

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