2 minute read
The Glass House A glazed extension transforms a family home in Glasgow
Of course, a project of this size doesn’t come easy and Elosua admits it has been a hard slog to get here. “I think we underestimated the amount of work involved,” she confesses. “We have made a lot of structural changes like demolishing the previous conservatory on stilts to allow for the double storey extension. We also put in a new industrial staircase, knocked down walls and a chimney breast, rewired, replumbed, changed radiators, boilers, windows, doors, flooring, and replastered. The renovations took three years and we lived on site the whole time. It has been tough living with no kitchen for months, no radiators, debris everywhere and the biggest nightmare was the windows. We had to juggle between various suppliers, several delays and then, after making it all the way here from Austria, we had broken panes to contend with but we got there in the end and I would 100% do it again. We now have a bespoke home that we love. Project managing it all has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life but also one of the most rewarding. I feel incredibly proud of it.”
The real fun for interiors-obsessed Elosua began when she could get to work furnishing and decorating her new home – a process which she documented on her Instagram
account @homefunkyhome, attracting over 13,000 followers and an awards nomination for best interiors blog.
“I wanted a project where I could inject my personality and I have enjoyed the creative process greatly,” says Elosua, who has since given up her job as a translator to focus on her design blog and brand collaborations. “I always like to support local businesses and found some beautiful pieces in Cotterel and Tojo in Glasgow, and Tangram and Catalog in Edinburgh. I’m in my element choosing colour schemes and furniture, art and soft furnishings, and the final result is an eclectic mix. I buy what I love and even though I’m always in the know when it comes to trends, I don’t necessarily follow them. I like a neutral background with pops of colours and fun, unexpected touches.”
So now her home is finally complete, where does Elosua most like to enjoy it? “The new garden room,” she says without hesitation. “It was built in what was once dead space beneath the raised conservatory and now it’s just glorious. It has a totally different vibe to the rest of our home linking the house to the garden with open views across the landscape. In summer, I can sit here with a cocktail in hand admiring the sunsets; in winter, I’ll be here by a roaring fire on the cantilevered concrete hearth. I think we’ve created a really special home here and I appreciate it every day.”
