Skies Above

Skies Above: City of Edinburgh

Towards the east end of Edinburgh’s city centre, the architecture style starts to move away from the gothic spires of the Old Town. This home certainly isn’t far from historic landmarks, about half a mile from iconic views on Calton Hill as well as theatrical scenes at the Edinburgh Playhouse, but its character is distinctly more modern.

Set in a quiet lane that's surprisingly close to the bustling restaurants and bars of London Road and Elm Row, this three-storey townhouse appears more like a cottage from the outside. Honey-coloured stonework and a cobbled street out front make this quaint, mews-like street feel more traditional than what you’ll find inside.

Its layout is really quite special. At the heart of the home on the first floor, which you’ll ascend via wooden spiral staircase, we love the Scandinavian minimalist look. Huge skylights and high ceilings stretch all the way up to the mezzanine bedroom, with sloped walls and glass-panelled banisters creating a truly unique shape to the space. But there are still nods to Scottish tradition. Cosy up in the tartan blanket on the sofa where a painting of a highland cow looks on – anyone for a wee dram?

Home truths:
*The entrance is private to your home
*You'll need to be able to climb stairs to get around the home (especially for the third bedroom which is on a mezzanine level)
*There's a Nespresso machine as well as cafetières – your host provides ground coffee but not capsules
*Guests are kindly asked to keep noise to a minimum after 9 pm as this home will be monitored regularly for noise
*As this home allows for self check-in with a lockbox, you won't meet your host (but you can arrange in-person check-in if you'd prefer)
*The kitchen is lacking some basic crockery and cooking utensils, so it might not be the best choice if you're planning family meals in