Scandinavian Design with a Modern Twist

Scandinavian Design with a modern twist

Modern and minimalist, sleek and uncomplicated – our love affair with all things Scandinavian shows no sign of waning. From Arne Jacobson’s iconic Egg chair of the 1950s, through to the Ikea flat-packed furniture revolution of the 1980s, the functional simplicity of good Scandinavian design has flooded into the wider public consciousness, creating a flurry of Pinterest pages and magazine articles on the subject.

The Scandi look can be summed up as simple, clean and functional. This design for life echoes through their architectural style right down to the finest structural detail on a bookshelf or egg-cup. Scandinavians are well known for their active, healthy outdoor lifestyles, and rank as some of the happiest nations in the world. Their appreciation of the outdoors is matched by their love of the cosy comforts of home. Warm, natural fabrics and materials, relaxed communal spaces and comfortable furniture create a haven within the home, allowing time to enjoy the good things in life.  

From a house building perspective, it’s exciting to see how many of our home-grown architects are looking to Scandinavia for inspiration in their use of natural materials and utilitarian design. Of course we have much in common with our Northern cousins, not least our climate, and our relationship with the changing seasons and natural world. These factors have an enormous influence on how we live, the homes we choose to live in and how we furnish them. 

Richmond Homes’ new luxury development in one of Edinburgh’s most desirable areas is an innovative example of modern Scandinavian architecture combined with Scottish contemporary design. West Mill Heights is a collection of seven stunning three-storey, three and four bedroom townhouses, nestled in leafy Colinton Dell to the West of the Capital city. Architects, Atelier-M, have put their own cutting-edge take on the Scandinavian model, updating the iconic Edinburgh townhouse design, using blond stone for instance, with white render and slate cladding, pitched roofs and light, airy, open-plan rooms, to create stylish, streamlined homes.

Architect, Alan Macdonald of Atelier-M explains, “There is a growing market for house buyers who have a deep appreciation of contemporary design. They’re looking for a new build that reflects current innovations and trends in modern architecture, offering something far more unique than the average development. This collection of niche townhouses reflects classic Scandinavian style with a modern twist and should appeal to young professionals and families, with its beautiful leafy aspect and flexible living design.”

Both the architect and interior designer of the show home worked closely together to create a seamless look, from the exterior design of the homes through to the last detail inside. Louise Stewart, Richmond Homes Sales Manager and Show Home Designer, adds, “The key to the Scandi look is to keep the colour palette monochrome - white walls, white or light wooden floors with cosy rugs in neutral or complimenting tones. At the West Mill Heights show home, we mixed up black, white, metal and wood furniture with good storage solutions to achieve the clutter free look, adding plenty of warmth and texture with simple window dressings, rugs, textiles and lots of good lighting and candles. It’s not all strictly about neutrals though, we had fun adding pops of colour with paintings, rugs, cushions and accessories.”

Something both Scots and Scandinavians know a lot about is how to make the most of natural light as the days grow shorter through the Autumn and Winter months, right through to capitalising on Spring and Summer sunshine.  At West Mill Heights, a variety of large windows, some to floor level, maximize light access from the south, combined with rectangular and horizontal slot windows to give perspective and allow privacy. High vaulted ceilings and pitched roof skylights cast natural light to the second floor bathrooms and continues down the light well between the staircase to the ground floor. Carefully incorporated built-in mirror wardrobes maximize storage in the bedrooms while also enhancing the sense of space. In the kitchen, sleek white handless cupboards with matt stone worktops and acrylic splashbacks create a bright and uncluttered room.

This new development also benefits from its tranquil and wooded environment, the design echoing Scandic concerns with maintaining a close connection to nature, bringing the outside, inside. French doors leading from the kitchen/dining room to the outside terrace allow a seamless enjoyment of the natural space. The windows open out on to sheltered, lush green areas, while the development itself benefits from the family friendly village atmosphere in Colinton, with many parks and opportunities for leisure on its doorstep.

“It’s easy to understand why the ‘Scandi’ look has proved so popular in the UK. With its light, natural, uncluttered style, it works well with people’s modern busy lifestyles and families,” adds Louise. This Nordic take on understated elegance within the architectural environment, with its emphasis on human interaction and the enjoyment of domestic concerns seems like a rather wonderful and enduring blueprint for living.

The show home at West Mill Heights is now open. More details can be found at www.richmondhomes.co.uk, or call Shonagh Morgan at Savills on 0131-247 3700 for further information.