1960s midcentury modern house in Gifford, East Lothian
One of a group of similar designs, but this 1960s midcentury modern house in Gifford, East Lothian, is the pick of the bunch.
Well, it is out of the ones I’ve seen, and a few have come up for sale in the past. But also because this one was the four-bedroom show house for this mini modernist development when constructed over half a century ago.
Some architecture dates well, while others look tired. I think it’s fair to say that the architecture of the Gifford development has aged wonderfully well. I don’t have an architect’s name, but whoever was behind it deserves a lot of credit.
In an area where period houses dominate, something like this would have been a bold move in the 1960s. Houses that take inspiration from US (and particularly Californian) midcentury modern architecture, and built at a time when the plot was as important as the building.
As I said, I have seem some of these on the market in the past, but none as impressive as this one. Yes, being the bigger one helps – but it also helps if someone has taken a lot of care in both maintaining and renovating the house.
The architecture here has remained untouched since its construction, which is a huge selling point.
Built in 1966, this house screams midcentury modern. It is a single-storey dwelling with feature stone details, a wooden overhang, and significant glazing to take in the surrounding gardens. All of this is tucked away on a road used (primarily) by the residents of the houses on it.
That alone would be enough to catch my eye, but this one offers so much more. The interior is an absolute dream.
I’ve discussed good interior design on many occasions, but there are two main principles for a house like this. Make the most of your key original details and consider the authenticity/suitability of the details you add.
Which is pretty much what we have here. You don’t have to live in a museum, but the right vintage/retro touches can make all the difference in the finish.
The furnishings, the wallpaper, the colours, the lights, even the artwork you stick on the wall—it all makes a difference. And this is a great example of how that’s done well. It’s not all vintage, but it does all come together well.
In terms of the original features, the wood-clad ceilings (and walls) and the parquet flooring are obvious starting points, along with more of that stone detail, the doorway and internal doors. It’s the perfect backdrop for any MCM home.
Other touches could be original, including the eye-catching cupboard doors. Whether they are or not doesn’t matter – they work. And that applies to much of the finish here.
The choice of colours, the furniture, the shelving, the lighting and so on. But it’s not all some kind of shrine to the past. This is more of a tribute to it.
Look closely; you’ll see a modern (albeit characterful) kitchen area, a modern bathroom, and the perfect home office space. Yes, it has the look of the past – but this is also a home for contemporary living.
Access is via a private driveway, which in turn leads to a large garage, which is apparently good for two to three cars or all your clutter (if you are anything like me).
A covered porch leads to the front door, with a floor to ceiling glazed door and window panels allowing plenty of natural light into an open-plan entrance hall. A first glance at those original details, too.
A central interior wall to the entrance hall divides the reception rooms to one side of the house from the bedrooms at the back of the house. To the right of the entrance hall is the dining area, which opens through to the kitchen. A modern space with all the appliances you would expect, but with enough character to make it interesting. Kitchens don’t have to be clinical. A door off it leads to a covered porch area, with a further door to a pantry.
Back to the entrance hall, and off that is a study/home office, which would also work as a fifth bedroom if you needed it. But if you work from home, it’s just perfect. Adjacent to this is a large sitting room with an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that look onto the garden. Not just glass, there’s a door, too, which takes you to a terrace. In the room is a stone fireplace, upgraded with a multi-fuel wood-burning stove.
The rear hallway has cupboards integrated into the wall and, at the end of it, a large double bedroom with dual-aspect windows and fitted shelving. Another double bedroom with garden access is at the side of it (currently being used as a snug), and a third bedroom is further along, as is the modern family bathroom. At the far end of the rear hall is the principal bedroom with an en-suite shower room.
The plot itself is just as much of a selling point. The house is on a corner plot, with well-maintained gardens wrapping around the whole property.
That’s a mix of lawn, ‘neatly laid pathways’, mature borders and the terrace I mentioned earlier. Beyond that is a further gravelled seating area that catches the evening sun. Also present are a pentagonal glazed greenhouse in a corner of the garden, the double garage, and two lockable outside stores. That’s pretty much it.
Likely to prove very popular, the house is just on the market for offers over £530,000.
Images and details courtesy of Rettie. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
