Home tour | A beautiful period apartment in Edinburgh

It’s time for my first home tour of 2020 and today’s is particularly special, as it features a property that I was lucky enough to visit and photograph in person. Located in a traditional tenement building in the Morningside area of Edinburgh, this two-bedroom apartment belongs to interior designer Salsabil El-Awaisi, who I’ve been following on Instagram for a while now. She was kind enough to invite me round during my recent trip to the Scottish capital, and I was blown away by the beautiful decor. It was also great to meet an online friend in real life, and we spent hours chatting away over tea and coffee!

Salsabil lives in the apartment with her husband and four-year-old son Adam. They rent the property but were given free rein to redecorate, and the result is an elegant yet relaxed family home that’s brimming with personality. I love the contrast between the clean-lined, contemporary furniture and the ornate period features, and the way Salsabil has incorporated soft colours such as blush pink, inky blue and ochre alongside crisp white walls and grey textiles. There’s also lots of lovely texture in the form of velvet cushions, snuggly woollen blankets and leafy plants, and the whole place is bathed in natural light thanks to tall sash windows.

Over to Salsabil herself for more on the apartment, the story behind it and her approach to design…

Hi Salsabil! Please could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and what you do?

“This could take a while, but I’ll try to keep it short! Originally from Palestine, I grew up between Dunblane and Dundee in Scotland and now live in Edinburgh. I graduated from university eight years ago with a degree in interior design and have been working in the industry ever since. Four years ago I had my son Adam, who is my ray of sunshine. After maternity leave, I just couldn’t come to terms with leaving him in any kind of childcare, so I decided to leave my job as an interior-design consultant and launch my own business.”

How did you get started in interior design?

“Growing up I changed my mind about what I wanted to be so many times, but one thing I used to do was rearrange my room constantly. I drove my mum and sisters crazy, but they eventually learnt to live with it! So naturally, when it came to university, interior design seemed like the right option. As a little girl I always knew I wanted to run my own business, which helped when I made the decision to start my own company after maternity leave.”

Where’s home, and how long have you lived there?

“I’ve been based in Edinburgh for the past five years and I can’t imagine leaving any time soon. It’s one of the most beautiful cities I’ve lived in! We’ve been in this particular apartment for almost two years now.”

Contemporary pieces contrast beautifully with the apartment’s period features, including ornate cornicing and recessed shelving. Throughout, carefully chosen accessories, textiles and gallery walls add warmth and character. 

You’ve totally transformed your home since moving in. What changes did you make, and did you encounter any challenges along the way?

“From the very first viewing of this flat I knew I would be making many changes – it was a real eyesore, with old-fashioned red carpet and wallpaper. The biggest challenge was trying to balance redoing things with our limited time and budget, so in the end we decided to do it slowly, room by room, until we finished designing the whole flat last summer. We started with a clean slate as it was unfurnished.”

How would you describe your interiors style?

“Modern and clean, with soft colours.”

Salsabil’s living room showcases her talent for combining soft colours. The huge wall hanging behind the sofa creates a stunning focal point and brings together the various shades used around the space. 

Where do you find inspiration for your home?

“I find inspiration in anything around me. Nature, movies, magazines… and of course Instagram!”

What’s your favourite part of the apartment and why?

“I love my bedroom. It’s the most recent room we finished, and I just love how it feels. The colours are really soft and relaxing, and I find myself spending lots of time in there.”

The master bedroom is painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Sulking Room Pink’. Salsabil added the panelling herself, and also made the wall hanging above the bed from an Anthropologie bathmat!

And your favourite piece of furniture?

“I love my bookshelf and my open pantry. I really enjoy rearranging them and trying out new ways to style pieces there.”

Salsabil likes using the shelves in the living room and kitchen to style favourite items and new finds. 

Where do you like to source pieces for your home – any favourite brands or shops?

“As an interior designer I’m always online or in shops looking for new products, which means I get to check out so many different stores. Some of my personal favourites are Anthropologie, West Elm and Cox & Cox, but I love browsing local independent shops too.”

Adam’s bedroom is decorated in white, blue and grey, and incorporates fun touches such as a canopy and a clothes rail suspended from the ceiling. Open shelves mean he can display his favourite books, pictures and toys, and he’s inherited a penchant for rearranging things from his mum! 

Finally, what’s your top interior-design tip?

“Don’t be scared of experimenting and trying new designs. It’s the best way to find your own unique style.”

Thanks Salsabil!

See more of Salsabil’s work, together with information about her design services, at Salsabilelawaisi.com. You’ll also find her on Instagram and You Tube, where she shares lots of design inspiration and DIY ideas.

All photography by Abi Dare