Page 42 - January 2024

AT HOME WITH

wall panelling and country kitchen-esque felt like it was falling into the flat.” The new
tongue-and-groove panelling, contrasting space now enjoys an open aspect that Susan
shaker-style kitchen cabinetry with modern says has brought nature and light inside the
metro tiling, and combining antique-style property. “It offers different social and usable
furniture with contemporary, country-chic spaces, and now that there’s new planting and
pieces, as well as mixing fabric textures and accent lighting throughout, it feels like you’re
tones for that luxurious feel she was looking actually on holiday when you’re sitting outside!”.
for. The end result is soft, incredibly chic and
and understanding how I lived in the space, I Susan wanted her home to provide a sense
found that the existing layout really worked of luxury, alongside a cosy blend of town screams comfort – exactly the kind of space With the property now ticking every box for
for me, and I’m still so pleased that I didn’t go and country design. She set about carefully you’d love to come home to after a long day. Susan and her beloved dog, it’s become the
ahead with those plans.” redesigning each of the spaces to turn the home of her dreams and the place she had
flat into the home of her design dreams, and “I have a few favourite things about the hoped to find. She has plenty of advice to
The previous owners of the garden flat something she could include as part of her own property now,” laughs Susan. “The glass- share with those considering making similar
had already undertaken extensive works property transformation portfolio. Adopting covered garden room has had a total change changes to their own property: “Unless you
themselves, including doubling the size of an elegant palette of dusty deep blue, duck in personality – it’s now a light-filled office, have a clear vision from the outset, try living in
the kitchen, as well as creating a utility room egg blue, chalky grey and soft, warm taupe where it used to be an unimpressive and the property for a while, and understand the
and new bathroom, so the property was and cream, Susan enhanced the property’s ignored bolt-on space. I completely ripped the space to find out what does and doesn’t work
in very good condition overall. Other than character with the clever use of both Victorian bathroom out, and the new one has a real wow for you. Then, if budget allows (or if you’re
painting the property and injecting her own factor about it. I also love the internal spare willing to DIY!), collect images of interiors or
personality, Susan explains that she didn’t room, which has become a dressing room full gardens that you like and use the inspiration
make any major changes to the flat for years, of my unending passion for hats!”. to implement them into your home. If you’re
until a chance comment from a friend inspired feeling lost or stressed about what to do, look
her: “Following lockdown, and with my interior It wasn’t just the property’s interior that had an online for a local interior designer who will be
design business by then in full flow, a friend of overhaul; Susan also completely transformed able to guide and show you a vision of what
mine said to me, ‘You create such distinctive the multi-level garden, which previously was your home can become – it’s probably simpler
homes for others, why don’t you do this to filled with “literally tons of rocks and earth that and more pleasurable than you’d think!”.
your own?’. The comment really resonated
with me and gave me the push to make some
changes – six months later, the exterior and
interior were both almost unrecognisable. The If you’d like to keep up with Susan’s designs, you can follow her on Instagram
flat has had a complete change of character.” @inspired_interiors_edinburgh, or check out inspiredinteriorsedinburgh.com.

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