Homes & Interiors Scotland

New Year has been and gone but I’m only just getting into my resolutions now. That’s because spring always feels a more natural time to take stock, clear the decks and map out a plan for the year ahead. Winter has (slowly) begun to thaw and, mentally

Some architects are not content with just designing a building. Vancouver-based Omer Arbel, who operates at the intersection of architecture, sculpture, invention and design, is one of them. His studio has recently completed this house on a farm in t

How has your style evolved over the years? My understanding and appreciation of craftsmanship has had a huge impact on my style over the past few decades. I love to understand the story and passion behind a piece, and the incredible work that goes in

Glasgow in the late-1970s. It’s a dreich January evening. Suddenly an upbeat ska tune blares out of a window. As you pass by, an unfamiliar smell wafts into your nostrils – mango. You glance in and see a woman in the kitchen cooking her heart out, a

WHEN ANNA HEPBURN MOVED TO Glasgow after studying at Central Saint Martins, the textiles graduate took a while to carve a niche for herself in the Scottish art and craft scene. Her solution was genuinely innovative: she set up Spot, a series of high-

If anyone knows the Scottish textiles industry, it’s Ross Dempster. The managing director of Charlotte James, which specialises in the manufacture of luxury furniture, has been immersed in the business for over 30 years. He started as a sales directo

This peaceful spot is accented with marble-effect porcelain tiles from Fired Earth’s Lucca range. They’re designed to be hardwearing, clever for areas that receive the most footfall. Here, they’ve been laid in a classic chequerboard, pairing effortle

The start of a new year is a great time to get organised, but just because it’s January doesn’t make the task any less daunting. The solution? Hire a service like The Sister Method to come and keep you on track. Lisa and Katie shared a room growing u

Banish that battered off-white microwave: it’s time for a proper upgrade. One of our top picks is the 20-litre, 800W Nordic digital microwave from Swan. It comes in four trendy colours, with Scandi-inspired design elements such as the wood-effect han

This kitchen, say owners Emma and James, is a functional piece of modern art. It was created by Fife-based Nicholas Denney to replace their old one, which was falling apart. “We needed more work space, and wanted something that was solidly constructe

What good storage looks like will vary from person to person. Most like to hide everything away behind uniform cabinets, but that can make it easy to forget what you have. A mix of open and closed storage is a good compromise. Organise by frequency o

BRIEF To extend the kitchen into a larger area for socialising while incorporating views of the garden and lots of natural light. The design also needed to respect the history of this Victorian home. KITCHEN The Main Company PROJECT ARCHITECT StudioD

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO This smart space, designed by Kitchens International, has adjustable cabinets and worktops that can be raised or lowered as needed. “Any reputable professional designer will ask how the kitchen is used and by whom before beginning

BRIEF A new kitchen in a period property which was undergoing a full-scale renovation. The kitchen had to connect both to the contemporary extension and the rest of the house PROJECT ARCHITECT Crew Architects KITCHEN MAKER Archispek The unruffled app

Above all else, this kitchen had to work hard. It belongs to a small one-bed flat in central London whose owner, Nigel Hunt, was not going to let its compact dimensions get in they way of his sophisticated entertaining demands. Luckily, as the head o

When your mind wanders, where does it take you? The foothills of the Himalayas? Deep in the heathery glens of the Highlands? Photographer William Abranowicz has captured a new daydream destination, all beautifully bound up in one lush volume written

“Being physically fit and well is very important to me. My body is my job, if you see what I mean, and I find that if I’m not active, I get very down. But basketmaking in my shed can be isolating – I’d be happier as part of a team. So finding ways of

Tucked away in the corner of a leafy plot in Surrey, the Butterfly House represents something as beautiful, subtle and elusive as its namesake – a true forever home, to be lived in and loved even as age, fading health and diminishing independence fin

What A three-bedroom home designed to be shared by two households Where Dundee Architect Kirsty Maguire Main contractor Alpha Projects A superb building… A beautiful house to look at and spend time in… A wonderful piece of architecture. These were th

What A three-bed single-storey house Where Near Nethy Bridge, Cairngorms Architect Gokay Deveci Fate lent a hand when Susan and John Shearer began thinking about where they’d like to live once they retired. They’d switched on the TV one evening at ho

If gazing at sweeping landscape works is your bag, head to Edinburgh’s City Art Centre, where you can view 2,800 entries to the inaugural Scottish Landscape Awards. Take in a host of surreal, abstract and realistic pieces (including this one, Rising

Who needs wallpaper when you’re a dab hand with a brush? These dynamic stripes were created using Little Greene’s kid-friendly paint in Bone China Blue. All of the brand’s paints are eco-friendly and waterbased, but the Intelligent finishes are nice

What An Arts & Crafts house by the sea Where Argyll and Bute Interior design Louise Bramhill Contractor McNee Building Services “She reminds me of Nancy Meyers – or, at least, her style does. It’s what drew me to her.” The owner of this incredible wa

What The upper two floors of a converted townhouse Where Edinburgh’s New Town Interior design Jeffreys Interiors Just as it is for a photographer, the foremost consideration for an interior designer is light. How much is there? Where does it fall? Is

What A rejuvenated period house Where Primrose Hill, London Interior design Maddux Creative Scott Maddux and Jo leGleud are laughing. “Are there really any new ideas?” Scott posits. They’re discussing a project they completed for a long-standing clie

Fiona Inglis is a breath of fresh air. She’s passionate about what she does, and seems to have the best approach to, well, everything. I caught up with her to hear about the creation of her botanical studio, Pyrus, and the fantastic Victorian walled

Fresh sheets are universally considered to be one of life’s little joys. Th e moment will be even more blissful if your bedding is green as well as clean. Th e Everyday Percale duvet set by Joro Home has the right idea: it’s made from 100% organic co

GOOD DAY New from Glasgow-based homeware and lifestyle brand Bluebellgray is the Sunshine outdoor blanket. It’s made from recycled post-consumer polyester and is fun for picnics, on the beach, or as a handy cape after a chilly wild swim. It’s a gener

I wouldn’t say I was sold on yoga straight away. I was 18, stressed out of my head, and unsure what I was doing with my life, but I knew the stress and confusion I felt wasn’t what life was about. I remember leaving a yoga class and thinking, ‘Wow –

Looking for some thrilling drama for the cold, dark winter nights? Tune into Criminal Record, a new series that hits our screens on 12 January. Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife) star as a couple of brilliant detectives who get into a tug o

Some of the best meals I’ve ever eaten have been served at my oenophile friend’s breakfast bar as he talks us through the wine and menu then cooks as we look on. So I felt at home at the newly opened Eòrna in Stockbridge as I perched on a stool at th

Dumfries & Galloway might not be the fi rst place you’d expect to fi nd a thriving mushroom empire, but it’s where Alisha Fuller-Armah of Deer Farm Gourmet Mushrooms has sparked a shroom boom. Her connection to the world of fungi actually starts back

Tucked away in the Dolomites is My Arbor. It’s a wellness-focused resort sitting tall on 25m-high stilts. Inside, almost every inch has views of the mountains, even the spa areas. The hotel keeps relaxation at the forefront of any visit, with four di

"There is wi-fi, isn’t there?” comes the plaintive voice from the passenger seat. I can’t turn my head because I’m driving, which is a relief since she won’t be able to see the lie in my eyes if I just concentrate on the road. This was the condition,

By now it’s no secret that my lottery winnings would be splurged on a cabin up north. Ideally, it would be lochside and design-led, with sketchy phone reception. I was convinced I’d need to retreat fully into the wilds to find this kind of luxurious

Is it just us or are saunas popping up everywhere? In all corners of Scotland, adventurous types are heading in their droves to outdoor Scandi-style saunas, attracted by the benefits for mind, body and soul. Some outdoor saunas, like the ones below,

I’m not your usual spa visitor. In fact, the whole experience usually pushes me right out of my comfort zone. The Spa at Kimpton Blythswood Square, however, is reassuringly laid-back. From the dimmed lights to the gentle waft of citrus and sandalwood

I don’t know about you, but I’m not a huge fan of city spas. Stepping out into a swarm of traffic immediately jumpstarts my cortisol, defeating the entire point of going in the first place. I much prefer a proper retreat like Cameron Spa, part of the

In many ways, I’m a masseuse’s worst nightmare. My fussy skin is allergic to all sorts of things (even the much-lauded aloe vera) and I’ve got the sort of back problems you’d expect from someone four times my age. My pre-massage consultation forms us

From £53,0000 WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU’D EXPECT FROM A SOFA? Surely it’s an invitation to lounge. Even the horsehair-stuffed couches of yore were intended for post-dinner relaxation, not just as a statement of their owner’s wealth. Thankfully, we’ve