Auld Reekie With A Dash Of Manhattan

Feb 10 2008 Laura Davidson

Peek In Your Pad Gary's Sex And The City-Style Penthouse Could Be Mistaken For Trendy New York Loft Apartment

Turn the key in the door of Gary Mawer's Edinburgh penthouse and you could be forgiven for thinking you've left Auld Reekie behind for a trendy Manhattan loft.

Wide open-plan spaces with a contemporary mixture of exposed wood, steel and glass most definitely give that Sex And The City appeal.

Add to that the high-spec finish and the boy toys - including concealed speakers in every room and remotecontrolled windows - and it becomes something of a gadget lover's dream.

The only thing missing is a view of the Empire State Building but then the outlook from the roof terrace towards Calton Hill isn't too shabby either.

Engineer Gary, 37, said: "I've felt very lucky living in a place like this. It's great being in the city centre but, to be honest, it's so peaceful you sometimes think you're living in the country."

Gary moved into the apartment last February.

It is owned by his parents Alan and Trina, who now live in West Sussex.

Alan, an engineer who now runs his own property development company, and retired headmistress Trina, bought the flat in 2005 as an investment and as somewhere to stay when they visited Edinburgh on business.

But they have decided to sell up after Gary bought his own place.

Alan said: "We felt that since Gary has been living here full time it would be a shame for us to go back to using the apartment only when we visit Edinburgh, once every couple of months. It's too nice for that - we felt it would be a bit of a waste for it to lie empty."

The massive open-plan living space features a 22ft square lounge with 20ft dining kitchen at one end decked out in contemporary white units and Siemens appliances, including built-in wine cooler.

The scheme in the lounge was inspired by a funky zebra-print sofa.

Gary explained: "We saw this in John Lewis and knew it would be perfect. The rest of the room is mostly monochrome to fit in with splashes of colour through the paintings and soft furnishings."

Half of the room has a double height ceiling and above is a second sitting room, accessed via a modern glass and steel staircase from the kitchen.

The upstairs lounge has more of a nautical theme with two cream sofas, blue cushions and a bright boating picture on the walls.

Floor-to-ceiling windows at one end and patio doors at the other flood the room with light and give access to the massive wrap-around roof terrace.

Gary added: "The outdoor space has to be one of the best features.

"It's lovely to have dinner outdoors in summer or have friends round for drinks and each room is so light - the windows have been really cleverly placed."

Back downstairs, there are two spacious bedrooms. The master is decorated in a light shade of sage with two feature glass brick columns backing on to a curved wall in the hallway.

Gary added: "A lot of thought has gone into the design to introduce quirky little features and that really appeals to me as an engineer.

"I'll be sorry to leave here but I'm looking forward to moving to my own place. I hope the next owners love it as much as I have."

"It's lovely to have dinner outdoors or have friends round for drink on the roof terrace"

Housefile

Modern two-bedroom duplex penthouse apartment in Edinburgh's New Town. On sale for offers over £650,000. For details, contact Savills, Edinburgh, on 0131 247 3700.

I love: The space. Because the rooms are open-plan it makes the apartment feel massive.

I'd change: I can't think of anything. I love it as it is.

Next house: Another flat in Edinburgh.