Dalkeith House

Our client’s 1970s timber-kit bungalow in Edinburgh had plenty of potential, but the layout wasn’t making the most of the space or the natural light available. A built-in garage at one end of the house sat largely unused, blocking light and interrupting the flow of the home.

Working closely with our client, we agreed to retrofit the underutilised garage into functional living space, rework circulation and first-floor bedrooms to create a more seamless layout, and improve the thermal performance of the walls and roof to make the building warmer and more efficient with low-carbon interventions.

We created an architectural design that brought the unused garage space into the insulated envelope of the house. This allowed us to introduce two new bedrooms, a new shower room and a more generous master bedroom to improve the overall layout.

To enhance light and connection with the outdoors, we extended the floor plan at both ground and first-floor levels, adding fully glazed gable projections. Inside, the staircase was completely reimagined as a timber-clad cantilevered feature with glazed balustrades, adding a contemporary focal point to the home. 

Externally, we redesigned the entrance with a new steel canopy, opening up the previously awkward approach and introducing a large deck area to give the house a more welcoming presence.

Improving energy efficiency was a key driver for the project. We upgraded the entire thermal envelope – including walls, roof and newly created rooms – to meet modern building standards. The external walls were insulated internally and the windows and doors were also upgraded to double glazed. Together, these introductions resulted in a more comfortable, better-performing home for our client.

Dalkeith House is now brighter, more spacious, and far more energy efficient. Tailored to the needs of the family, the reworked floor plan flows naturally, the new bedrooms add valuable flexibility and the refreshed entrance and modern staircase elevate the home’s character.