25 BEAUTIFUL HOMES - MARCH EDITION

FRINGE BENEFITS

For Jill and Ross Mitchinson, the best part of moving to Scotland's capital was the chance to enjoy family, friends and the city's famous festival...

Meet The Owners
Jill Mitchinson and her husband Ross, a stockbroker

Previous Home
"Our only other place was a Victorian terrace in London, where we have lived for five years"says Jill

Current Property
Georgian Apartment in Edinburgh City Centre

Rooms
Hall, Sitting Room, Kitchen/ Dining room, Three Bedrooms (one ensuite), Bathroom

Purchased 2008

When Jill and Ross Mitchinson bought their Edinburgh City-Centre Apartment, they were aiming to be installed in time for a happy event due four months later.

"We bought the first-floor flat in April and the City's Fringe Festival was taking place in August", says Jill. "So that was our target". "This City has so much going for it", adds Ross. "I should know, I spent my university years here. Apart from being beautiful architecturally, it bristles with culture-past and present". Ross grew up in nearby Fife, so the allure of family and friends had also been pulling him home.

Less appealing was the task of transforming a 2,200sq ft run-down apartment into the modern luxurious home they envisaged. Having no renovation experience, it seemed a big task- until a close friend put them in touch with interior design and build company Trendenza.

After a meeting with the Creative Director Becki Linley, not only were they reassured that their deadline was achievable, but they also felt they were dealing with someone on their own wavelength.

"Our first priority was getting the basics in order", says Ross. This meant replacing the plumbing and heating, and replastering several walls. With Ross having overseen the building and renovation work, it then fell to Jill to liaise with Becki about the Decor and Furnishings.

"Ross and I knew we aware after an overall look that was classical and elegant, in keeping with the proportions of the rooms, but we hadn't taken it much further than that", says Jill. "We had clear ideas on the furniture we wanted, but Becki really broaden our horizons with her thoughts on colours and textures".

Becki also encouraged Jill to think in terms of creating particular moods.

"I selected all the curtains from various Nina Campbell ranges and Trendenza had them made to measure by their stem stress", says Jill. "In the Sitting Room we dressed the windows with a traditional moss green wool tweed fabric that marries very well and adds warmth with the soft colours and the textured wallpaper".

In the bedrooms the couple went with richly coloured silk curtains to add glamour. And the choice of furniture was thought through just as carefully-they bought a lot of items that were imported from South East Asia. "The contrast of mellow soft colours in the sitting room and the heavy Asian furniture saves this area from being too feminine", says Jill, "and it adds a homely feel".

The day couple finally moved in-bang on schedule-is still etched in Jill's mind. "We arrived on a Sunday and when we walked in, everything was in place and the heating was on", she says. "At that moment it looked so beautiful, it took my breath away- we spent the next half an hour walking around the apartment in a daze".

The Mitchinsons are now looking forward to their next big event, but it's not a festival-Jill is expecting their first baby in May. "Edinburgh's such a fantastic place", she smiles. "I'm sure we'll share a wonderful future here-all three of us".

Becki Say's:

Sitting Room:
The Sofa were from Sofa Workshop; "They're deceptively chunky and it was tricky getting them up the stairs", says Becki Linley of Interior Designers; Trendenza. Trendenza work with Lombok who supplied the Coffee Table and Chairs, whilst the curtains are in a Nina Campbell fabric from Osborne & Little from Trendenza.

Kitchen:
For a contemporary feel, the units were teamed with Zebrano worktops, all sourced from Howden's Joinery

Dining Room:
A glass topped table and pale chairs from John Lewis make this area a light space, with colour added courtesy of a red vase from the ever-changing selection at TK Maxx

Master Bedroom:
The K&K Designs wall covering was chosen to co-ordinate with the Nina Campbell Curtain Fabrics, From Osborne & Little. Lombok supplied the bed and bench

Hall:
A stylish look has been achieved here, thanks to the striped wall paper by K&K Designs

Master Ensuite:
Modernist Qualceram sanitary ware complements the tiles throughout from Cosmo Ceramics.

All suppliers approved and through Trendenza