An 18th Century Blacksmiths Workshop Was Made Into A Contemporary Holiday Home

A young couple have transformed a former 18th century blacksmiths workshop into a contemporary holiday home using natural materials and local craftsmanship.

Located in the Old Town area of Edinburgh, Porteous’ Studio is the first project by Izat Arundell, a small design practice set up by Eilidh Izat and Jack Arundell.

The original opening was repurposed with deep mullioned windows and a wood screened pivot door, providing both privacy and views of the courtyard.

Inside, the designers decided to expose the details of structure and use stone, wood, and clay throughout to create a sense of harmony. A new window opening was created through a meter thick stone wall to bring evening light into the space.

Izat Arundell commissioned friend and cabinet-maker Namon Gaston to design and produce all the furniture from a single native oak tree in order to achieve consistency in tone and grain, allowing the eye to read the pieces as one.

Namon also worked in collaboration with Richard Anstice to create the bespoke kitchen and sliding timber screens and Peter Holmes for upholstery.

The bedroom is somewhat hidden behind a sliding wood slat screen, conserving space and creating a secluded sleeping area. In the bedroom, a cranked steel beam was installed to support the tenement staircase above, creating a pocket for the bed.

The bathroom is tucked away beside the bedroom. Simple white square tiles cover the walls, while small format grey limestone tiles cover the floor.