USP (Unique Selling Point)

20/05/2010

When some Edinburgh merchants of the late Georgian period began building large townhouses on nearby greenfield sites, as an alternative to the recently-completed New Town, they often commissioned architects to include outdoor balconies as part of the project, in most cases complementing them with highly decorative metalwork.
However unlike today, Georgians, nor their successors, the Victorians, were sun-worshippers – indeed up until as late as the 1920’s a suntan was mostly associated with manual labourers and others who spent most of the working day outdoors.
Therefore such balconies were not for people but for their plants, something of which the Victorians were particularly fond. A surviving example of just such a balcony is part of the many period features of a property at 39 Inverleith Row in Edinburgh, whose unique selling point is that it encompasses many original features combined with a requirement for internal upgrading, thus opening up the possibility of a unique home for the larger family.
In addition to the balconies (which are to be found front and rear) other original features include astragal windows and working shutters. The fireplaces are also original, just like the detailed cornicing and rose patterns on the ceilings and there is a wonderful sweeping staircase. However, original features do not apply to the roof – the current owner spent £25,000 on a major overhaul five years ago and guarantees are in place.
Aside from this the house needs substantial upgrading but has a price to reflect this and should be attractive to larger families who want to make their mark on an historic house. It is a full town house over four floors that has never been sub-divided and so offers a blank canvas to create an imaginative contemporary family living space within a period setting.
In addition to the vestibule and hall, there are three/four public rooms, a breakfasting kitchen, six/seven bedrooms (two of which have dressing rooms), study, three bathrooms, wine cellar and four other cellars.
In addition there is a large, south-west facing garden to the rear but if that (and the plant balconies) are still not enough, the new owner will be ideally placed for a stroll around Edinburgh’s world-famous Botanic Gardens – which the property overlooks.
Offers over £795,000, contact D J Alexander on 0131-558 3000.

THE SCOTSMAN, 20 May 2010