Andrew Laing and June Russell drew on their first self build experience to create a luxury contemporary home on a highly challenging plot, not far from the centre of Edinburgh

WORDS JANE BOWLES PHOTOS DOUGLAS GIBB

readers’ homes

The large openplan living area has been cleverly zoned into ‘rooms’ by the strategic placement of furniture, a partition wall and a stunning steel helical staircase

FACT FILE

NAMES Andrew Laing & June Russell

OCCUPATIONS Bridal shop owner & retired police officer

LOCATION Edinburgh

TYPE OF PROJECT Self build

STYLE Contemporary

CONSTRUCTION METHOD

Timber frame with double-skin blockwork

PROJECT ROUTE

Architect & self-project-managed

PLOT SIZE 1,071m2

LAND COST £180,000

BOUGHT 2014

HOUSE SIZE 240m2

PROJECT COST £657,973

PROJECT COST PER M2 £2,742

TOTAL COST £837,973

VAT RECLAIM £37,084

BUILDING WORK COMMENCED

January 2015

BUILDING WORK TOOK 63 weeks

CURRENT VALUE £950,000

Retired Edinburgh policeman Andrew Laing and his businesswoman wife June are no strangers to major building and renovation projects. They were living in a luxury city-centre penthouse they’d revamped when, in 2014, they self built a small three bedroom mews house on a compact plot in central Edinburgh. “Our early years as renovators helped us to create a solid team of builders and we’ve been working with them ever since”, says Andrew. “Our first self build was a great learning experience, but the property was too small.” Keen to take on another project, the couple began looking for a suitable plot.

“Sites in Edinburgh are like gold dust and get snapped up instantly unless they have major drawbacks”, says Andrew. “This plot had a lovely outlook, plus it came with planning permission for a detached four bedroom house, designed by architect Derek Rhind. But it was taking a while to sell, so we knew there were bound to be problems.”