1. home and garden
2. bed and bath
3. bedroom

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A unique mill conversion that merges old and
new to perfection – in an idyllic country-style
setting within the centre of Selkirk
A country house in the middle of a town centre might sound like a misnomer,
but truthfully there is no better or more accurate way to describe Inkle House, a
characterful C-listed former mill building in an idyllic leafy setting so well tucked
away in the centre of Selkirk that many local people are unaware it exists.
i
Shown on maps as far back as the 17th century, it’s one of the oldest mill
buildings in the town and has a fascinating history – its name pertaining to the
mill’s original manufacture of inkles, long strips of linen that were made and
dried within the building.
Inkle House, Selkirk
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Inkle House, Selkirk
Converted in recent years, Inkle House is a
deceptively spacious three-storey/four bedroomed
family home – one that offers a very rare
combination of location, character, history and
charm in addition to a contemporary interior and
layout that caters for 21st century lifestyles.
Margaret Sweetnam and her husband Richard
found the property 10 years ago when they were
looking to relocate from Edinburgh to the Borders,
somewhere in the country that was within
commuting distance yet provided the rural setting
they wanted for their children.
“This house ticked every box, although ironically
it’s in the very centre of Selkirk!” says Margaret.
“We fell in love with the house at first sight. It had
and still has a very special atmosphere, while the
setting is completely private yet also in the middle
of everything – something we came to appreciate
more and more as our three sons got older.”
Featured Property
Inkle House, Selkirk, TD7 4LR
Price: Offers Over £260,000
Details on: Page 27
stylish
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quirky
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“ Everything about this
house is special,”
says Margaret, “and
the location is not
only close to local
amenities, it’s also well
placed for access to
Edinburgh via the A7 –
Although the previous owners had undertaken
a meticulous conversion to create a stylish and
very contemporary home, Margaret and Richard
have added their own mark.
The couple have improved it further by creating
a fourth bedroom – and what Margaret calls her
‘shoffice’, a delightful shed/summerhouse in the
garden that has electricity and wi-fi and makes
an enchanting office space during the summer
months.
As with all old buildings Inkle House has its share
of quirky features, the most notable being an
external stone staircase that provides access
directly into what is now the master bedroom –
effectively a lovely little balcony with a difference.
The accommodation is flexible, deceptively
spacious and also particularly well laid out to
incorporate open-plan living areas yet still retain
private spaces.
On one side of the ground floor entrance hall is a
superb 30ft open-plan living/dining room with French
doors to the garden, while on the other side is a 15ft
dining kitchen leading to a cloakroom, utility and
playroom, the latter a lovely space with a door to the
garden that could also be a study.
and will be within easy
A circular tower accessed from both the living area
and outside (usefully, there are three entrances to
this unique home, excluding two sets of French
doors) reveals a circular staircase to the two floors
above. The first has a beautiful master bedroom with
a fabulous en suite bathroom with glass wall tiled
surrounds and imaginative use of stainless steel and
mirrored finishes, separate fitted dressing room – and
door to the ‘balcony’ cum external stone staircase.
Bedroom two is also on this level. On the floor above
are two further double bedrooms and family
bathroom.
the Borders Railway
The interior decor and specification are
contemporary and attractive but also functional – this
is a comfortable as well as stylish family home that
works well on all levels, its great age and character
complemented by wood floors, under-floor heating
and double glazing.
reach of the new
stations at Galashiels
and Tweedbank when
gets underway”.
The super-sized open-plan living area incorporates a dining space and sitting room with
wall-mounted television and recessed log-effect stove, low-level sash and case windows
incorporating window seating and deep sills that highlight the thickness of the walls. Across
the hall, the dining kitchen is fitted with clean-cut contemporary units, Minerelle solid surface
worktops, integrated double oven and halogen hob – and a remarkable full-height hardwood
wall that ingeniously conceals additional storage as well as the access door to the cloakroom.
There are also French doors to the garden.
Inkle House
Outside, the property has a pebbled driveway with space for parking and tranquil garden
grounds that seem very far from the madding crowd. The Sweetnams have also enhanced the
external appearance of their home with a delicate shade of Farrow & Ball green to enhance
the building’s beautiful whinstone rubble walls.
Inkle House is special, a one-off family home that transcends time in a perfect merger of old
and new to offer an equally perfect merger of town and country lifestyles.
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