At home with a real ESPC buyer: Katie Brigstock

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8th October 2021

27-year-old Katie Brigstock has become well-known in Edinburgh's interiors scene, after launching her creative studio Style Your Spaces in 2019. Offering everything from wedding floristry to event styling, the studio now also offers homeware with a online shop stocked with chic linens, crockery and home accessories, as well as an antique furniture sourcing service, Sourced by SYS.

Katie has documented her own interiors journey on her Instagram account, after purchasing her first property, a flat in Edinburgh’s Trinity neighbourhood, at the beginning of 2021. Sharing her renovation progress with her 12,000+ followers, we’re delighted to get a little glimpse into this very stylish space with the lady herself.

Woman drinking champagne on chaise longue

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What was your experience like as a first-time buyer, and how was it impacted by the lockdown restrictions?

It was a long process! I’d been renting in Edinburgh for a few years, in different parts of the city, including the New Town and Stockbridge. I had a fairly good understanding of the different areas and communities in Edinburgh, so I used this to help narrow down my search.

We were looking for about a year and saw around 20 properties. Then lockdown happened, and the experience was quite stressful to be honest. In-person viewings weren’t allowed, and I wasn’t prepared to offer on anywhere I hadn’t seen. Then, once the restrictions started lifting, there was an influx of buyers looking and pent-up demand, which meant prices got higher, and it became a real fight for anything good! We made offers on three other properties but were outbid on all of them.

I used the ESPC website throughout my whole search, which was a great help in finding suitable properties with good, clear photos and all the relevant information I needed. I found that properties were being snapped up so fast, that I was constantly refreshing ESPC for the new ones! It was on ESPC that we found this particular flat.

How did you know that this property was ‘the one’?

I fell in love as soon as I walked through the door – it just felt like it could be our home. The flat had been really well looked-after and cared for by the young family that previously owned it, and it had the good bones I was looking for – space, light, and period features. I wanted something that I could put my own stamp on but without having to make any huge structural changes.

It was in a slightly quieter neighbourhood than I’d imagined living in (after living in the middle of Stockbridge!) but Trinity has a lovely feel to it, and the flat is within walking distance of our favourite coffee shops and parks.

Pink kitchen with checkerboard tiles

You’ve already been putting your stamp on the property and documenting your renovations online. Where do you find design inspiration, and what are your plans for your new home?

My field of work means that I’m constantly surrounded by pattern, colour, fabrics, and flowers, which are all great sources of inspiration! I read lots of interiors magazines, and love visiting hotels and restaurants that inspire my design sensibilities.

I mostly plan to inject some colour and personality into the space, so that it reflects our tastes and becomes a space we want to spend time in and invite others into too.

Entertaining is a real love of ours, so the kitchen was really important to us. We wanted a rustic Italian vibe; although the room is South facing, it’s not overly light, so I wanted to play on this soft light by using warm, rich tones. We ripped out most of the kitchen, then painted the ceiling and walls the same colour [a soft plaster pink] and installed a bold checkerboard splashback with zellige tiles. Next, we’ll be laying a terracotta floor. We also had a joiner make us a crazy maze of shelves in the utility room to store my ever-expanding glassware collection!

I have an antique furniture sourcing business too, so it’s been great fun finding some unique and unusual pieces for our home. Next up, we need to decide on room schemes for our spare bedroom and small office room.

What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far about renovating?

Take your time! I wanted everything done as soon as possible, to make the space feel like home, but that means some things were rushed, or decisions were made before I’d had time to really think about them. If you can draw up an overall idea for the interiors from the start, you’ll have a vision for the bigger picture.

Also, electrics! If I could go back in time, I’d make all sorts of changes to our wiring and lighting, as it’s the thing that turns any plain room into a beautiful, inviting space.

What is your favourite thing about your new home?

Looking out from our hallway to the sea, through our North facing windows. I painted all the woodwork and doors in the hallway a bright, grass green – a slightly unusual decision but every time I’m in there, it makes me smile and links to the beautiful view of the trees and the sea.

What advice would you give to fellow first-time buyers?

Don’t get sucked into offering more money than you can afford. I was outbid on three different properties and although I was gutted at the time, I ended up with the perfect flat, at a price I was really confident with.

Trinity and Granton Edinburgh