Kilgraston Road

BEFORE

Fragmented heritage on a complex site.

 
 

Originally built as a modest cottage, the house had evolved through several extensions before taking on its current two-storey form. Set on a prominent corner plot in The Grange, with pronounced level differences between the garden, neighbouring properties and street, the building felt fragmented and disconnected from its setting. The site’s complexity (its gradients, sightlines and exposure) presented both challenges and opportunities for reinterpretation.

 
Modern two-story house with a brick lower level, black slatted upper level, and open dining area visible through large glass doors, surrounded by a garden with purple flowers and greenery.
An aerial view of a residential area showing a house with a gray roof, a backyard with a green lawn, trees, and a paved patio area with some garden beds. There is a street with a double yellow line running along the side of the property.
A modern house with a stone exterior and a black upper floor, surrounded by trees and a garden, with a stone wall and sidewalk in the foreground.
Modern two-story house with large glass sliding doors and a balcony on the second floor, surrounded by a lush green lawn, garden, and outdoor seating area, with a cloudy sky overhead.
Interior view of a modern house showing a staircase with glass railing, a dining table with chairs and a vase of flowers, large glass doors leading to a balcony, and a stone wall.
Living room with large bay window, gray curtains, and two armchairs, one navy and one gray, arranged in front of the window. A wooden panel on the right side and a light fixture on the ceiling.
Interior view of a modern staircase with wooden steps, glass railing, and a brick wall background, in a well-lit space.

Interior view of a modern staircase with wooden steps, glass railing, and a brick wall background, in a well-lit space.

A man riding a bicycle on a sidewalk beside a stone wall, with houses and trees behind the wall, overcast sky, and a streetlamp.

A man riding a bicycle on a sidewalk beside a stone wall, with houses and trees behind the wall, overcast sky, and a streetlamp.

The image shows a modern house with a brick lower level and a black upper level with large glass windows, a sliding glass door, and a backyard with a green lawn and patio. The house has a flat roof and balconies, and there is a black cat walking insi

The image shows a modern house with a brick lower level and a black upper level with large glass windows, a sliding glass door, and a backyard with a green lawn and patio. The house has a flat roof and balconies, and there is a black cat walking inside the house.

Interior of a modern house with a stone wall, fireplace, television, bean bags, and a rug in a living room with natural lighting, view from upstairs balcony.

Interior of a modern house with a stone wall, fireplace, television, bean bags, and a rug in a living room with natural lighting, view from upstairs balcony.

Modern house with a brick facade and black accents on the upper window area, with a view of a patio dining area, garden with colorful flowers, and a backyard with trees and a fence.

Modern house with a brick facade and black accents on the upper window area, with a view of a patio dining area, garden with colorful flowers, and a backyard with trees and a fence.

Wood staircase with beige carpet runner, a wooden railing, a wall with floral wallpaper, and a closed door at the bottom.

Wood staircase with beige carpet runner, a wooden railing, a wall with floral wallpaper, and a closed door at the bottom.

Modern open-concept kitchen and dining area with a large white table, black chairs, a kitchen island with stools, a bookshelf, and a loft with glass railing and hanging lights.

Modern open-concept kitchen and dining area with a large white table, black chairs, a kitchen island with stools, a bookshelf, and a loft with glass railing and hanging lights.

Modern kitchen with black cabinetry, white marble island with gray base, three black bar stools, and a black oven built into the cabinets. A vase with purple and white flowers sits on the island. Pendant lights hang above the counter, and a bookcase

Modern kitchen with black cabinetry, white marble island with gray base, three black bar stools, and a black oven built into the cabinets. A vase with purple and white flowers sits on the island. Pendant lights hang above the counter, and a bookcase with books is visible in the background. The space features a wooden ceiling beam and a kitchen backsplash with integrated lighting.

View of a house exterior with stone walls, large windows, and a white door, surrounded by lush green trees and plants.

View of a house exterior with stone walls, large windows, and a white door, surrounded by lush green trees and plants.

Modern bathroom with tiled walls, a frosted window, a white toilet, and a potted plant on a windowsill.

Modern bathroom with tiled walls, a frosted window, a white toilet, and a potted plant on a windowsill.

View of a bedroom with a bed, wooden headboard, and a bedside table with a candle, with an open door leading to a hallway with a double closet and carpeted floor.

View of a bedroom with a bed, wooden headboard, and a bedside table with a candle, with an open door leading to a hallway with a double closet and carpeted floor.

White glass-paneled exterior door with black handles, surrounded by a white frame, set in a stone and brick building. Green plants and trees partially obscure the view, with a small potted plant and a black doormat in front.

White glass-paneled exterior door with black handles, surrounded by a white frame, set in a stone and brick building. Green plants and trees partially obscure the view, with a small potted plant and a black doormat in front.

Modern interior of a multi-level home with large glass windows, a dining table with a flower arrangement, and a man standing on the upper level near a balcony, looking outside.

Modern interior of a multi-level home with large glass windows, a dining table with a flower arrangement, and a man standing on the upper level near a balcony, looking outside.

Modern house with a stone wall, black metal cladding, and large glass doors, surrounded by a well-maintained garden with various plants and tall trees in the background.

Modern house with a stone wall, black metal cladding, and large glass doors, surrounded by a well-maintained garden with various plants and tall trees in the background.

A view of an interior space through an arched opening, showing a decorative ceiling with molding, a skylight, a modern white pendant lamp, a wall with floral wallpaper, a wooden railing, and carpeted flooring.

A view of an interior space through an arched opening, showing a decorative ceiling with molding, a skylight, a modern white pendant lamp, a wall with floral wallpaper, a wooden railing, and carpeted flooring.

AFTER

A reconfigured home, rooted in light and landscape.

 
 

The project involved the careful restoration and modernisation of the main house, bringing its many past extensions into a more cohesive whole while retaining its character. The layout was reworked to feel calmer and more connected, with light, proportion and flow guiding every decision.

The sense of arrival and orientation was completely rethought. New openings now frame views through the ground floor and towards the garden, letting natural light reach deep into the house. Because of the site’s steep levels, linking the house and garden was key. A series of gentle level changes creates long views and a natural movement between spaces that previously felt disjointed.

From the street, the new upper floor reads as a quiet black volume: a soft contrast to the masonry below. Its restrained form helps reduce the apparent scale of the house, while vertical slats give rhythm, privacy and shade. The pale buff brick base, built using Wienerberger bricks, grounds the building in its setting, with large openings that bring in light and give glimpses of activity within. The blackened cladding, crafted by Tiny Temple, provides the quiet, refined character that defines the upper volume.

Inside, detail and craft were central. Studio Carpentry delivered the internal joinery throughout, creating a warm, cohesive material language that runs across the home. The kitchen, designed and made by Archispek, continues this approach with refined functionality and careful detailing.

At the centre of the house, a new staircase and rooflight act as a vertical spine, drawing daylight down through each level. This moment of openness brings a sense of calm and orientation, turning a simple transition space into the heart of the home.

 
Modern residential house with a brick exterior, large glass doors, and a black metal privacy screen. The house has a landscaped garden with tall, spiky plants and flowering bushes. The sky is overcast.

Collaborators

CONTRACTOR
Turbo Construction

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Narro Associates

Projects

Whether breathing new life into a historic building or designing something entirely new, we specialise in unlocking the potential of every site across Edinburgh, East Lothian and Perthshire. Our work integrates seamlessly with its surroundings, combining innovative solutions with a respectful understanding of context, character and place.

While our portfolio highlights just ten selected projects, our Index offers a wider view of our work, reflecting three decades of residential expertise and our legacy as one of Scotland’s longest-established architecture practices.

Projects
 

CONTACT

Your story will be reflected in the completed build—a notion that transcends design and construction.

 
 

We would love to hear your story. Please introduce us to your project via our enquiry form. A member of our team will respond within two business days.

Contact

Edinburgh Architects