Contemporary detached villa in Edinburgh
Situation:
An existing detached villa in Edinburgh featured a traditional cellular layout with compartmentalised rooms and limited service space. While structurally sound, the property no longer aligned with the homeowners’ evolving lifestyle, which prioritised home working, wellness, and practical daily living. The clients sought a contemporary transformation that would introduce greater spatial flow, improved functionality, and enhanced architectural character.
Brief:
The project focused on reconfiguring both ground and first floor layouts to better support modern living. The former ground floor WC was replaced with a fully equipped boot room, connected to an enlarged utility space incorporating oversized sinks.
A generous open-plan kitchen was introduced, centred around a large island to create a social hub for cooking, dining, and gathering. A substantial home office with integrated storage was incorporated to accommodate remote working. Upstairs, the layout was rationalised to provide three well-proportioned bedrooms.
Result:
The renovation delivered a refined and highly functional family home that balances practicality with contemporary design. Service spaces were significantly improved, creating efficient everyday circulation and dedicated zones for storage, pets, and fitness.
The enlarged bathrooms introduced a greater sense of openness and light, while the new kitchen island established a strong social centre within the home.
The transformed house now offers a cohesive, modern environment tailored to the homeowners’ needs — supporting work, wellbeing, and active urban living within the context of Edinburgh.
Danny is an Architect and the founder of HOKO Design. He has a wealth of experience and passion in home extensions, renovations, and thoughtful home transformations. He loves working with homeowners and will be able to give you a steer, regardless of your home project size.
