Few people are fortunate enough to own a property of historic significance – this could be your chance. The Category A-listed Laverockdale House has come onto the market, offering the rare chance to live in a house designed by Sir Robert Lorimer and completed in 1912.
The house was built for the famous Edinburgh financier James Ivory and is a fine example of the Arts and Crafts style, yet also bears echoes of the style of Kellie Castle in Fife, Lorimer’s childhood home. The request from Ivory was for a traditional Scottish house beside the water, with the whiff of a country estate within a short hop of Edinburgh. Lorimer delivered – and it remains this exact offering, providing a very special family home that is amenable to a working life in the city.
While the exterior suggests dark, brooding interiors, that impression is misleading. Beyond the stone-carved entrance, the ground floor is bright, light and spacious, providing both open-plan living spaces for sharing time and tucked-away nooks to isolate and relax. There is also, as one would hope, that iconic sweeping staircase leading to the upper floors.
You can expect the very best in terms of design here. The kitchen area is crafted by stylist Clive Christian and boasts an adjoining utility room and larder. There is an island for preparation, space to eat and distracting views over the grounds; it’s ideal for family living.
The ground floor also has a grand dining room, a drawing room, and beautiful conservatory for sun-basking year round. The conservatory windows open onto one of the three terraces, each positioned to capture the best of the sunshine at different times of the year.
A library is a real bonus on the ground floor – there are a lot of shelves to fill, so this is a dream facility for the book-lover! A secret door in the wood-paneling provides access to a technogym for a home workout, with the space connecting to the garden via a door.
The grounds are spacious and beautifully landscaped. Indeed, they have been painstakingly restored to the original plans, albeit with some added contemporary flair. The green-fingered will be delighted with the facilities in the grounds: a large heated greenhouse and a vegetable garden are already established. The grounds also have a children’s play area and a triple bay heated garage with workbench. It’s worth noting that the property has planning permission, and ample space, for a swimming pool.
This property has six bedrooms, two of which are on the first floor while the remaining four are on the second floor. As would be expected, the master bedroom is impressive, spacious and incredibly comfortable. It houses an original fireplace and provides stunning views over the Pentland Hills. The grand en suite is complemented by his and hers dressing rooms for the complete ‘suite’ experience.
The second floor, or the Tower area of the house, has the remaining four double bedrooms as well as a spacious sitting area and a study nook. Bathrooms are spread across the property and all are finished to a high standard, sufficient in number to cater for those weekends when the house is full with guests.
The house is situated in the the historic village of Colinton (3 miles south-west of Edinburgh city centre). It’s a charming place to be based, with independent shops, restaurants, a supermarket and a tennis club. There are excellent local schools nearby (both public and private, including Merchiston Castle school and George Watson’s College).
Edinburgh can be accessed quickly by road, although there is an extensive bus service to provide another link to the city centre. Considering the grandeur of the property, would-be owners will be pleased to hear there are two sets of electric gates, CCTV and security fencing for peace of mind.
Square Footage: 6,407 sq ft
The property is Category A listed and lies within the Colinton Conservation Area
Source: RightMove
Marketed by Savills, Edinburgh
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