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Apart-hotel – My Edinburgh Life

Alt Admin • February 3, 2016

"We selected Hideaway Kitchens and these fulfilled the functional specifications and also the quality that the project demanded…"

Peter Cannell

My Edinburgh Life

Nestled in the West End of Edinburgh city centre is a sanctuary to weary travellers and a temporary home from home for short term tenants. ‘My Edinburgh Life’ is a project undertaken by owner Peter Cannell, which reflects the British preference for private space by combining hotel luxury with the comforts and convenience of home.

The four storey Victorian Town House underwent a six month major renovation with a budget of £350,000.00. The result is outstanding and achieves the goal of marrying the design principles and quality of an upmarket hotel with a homely feel to provide accommodation for tourists, business visitors and longer term visitors such as students.

The design was inspired by the My Edinburgh Life philosophy:”Peace, sophistication, comfort and modern appliances in stylish spaces, where guests can study, work, relax and socialise.” There are a total of 13 rooms available to guests, of which 6 are studio apartments. Rooms and studios aim to offer a peaceful base to live soundly and sleep well for the full academic term, a monthly contract or just for few nights.

In order to offer a home from home with luxury experience various elements were carefully considered. All of the rooms have access to a shared kitchen and living room, furnished with a TV and social area. The garden was landscaped to provide a delightful setting for outdoor relaxation. The decision to include a kitchenette within the design of the studios was taken to attract those guests who would be staying for longer periods.

Peter Cannell was responsible for sourcing the kitchenettes and after some initial research discovered that John Strand MK could provide the perfect solution: “We selected Hideaway Kitchens and these fulfilled the functional specifications and also the quality that the project demanded…”

The Hideaway kitchen is manufactured by Electrolux exclusively for John Strand. The kitchen boasts a 120 litre refrigerator with ice box, sink and drainer, ample storage, shelving and microwave oven all within a 1200mm wide unit; all of this can all be hidden away behind closed doors. The Hideaway is often selected for single room living and proved ideal for this situation. It offers everything one might need to cook as if in their kitchen at home or indeed, just make a cup of tea.

To fit elegantly with the ‘hotel chic’ style options selected for this project included black and burgundy gloss finishes for the doors and stainless steel accents with the backboard, ‘T’ bar handle, combination microwave and ceramic hob. A wooden chopping board which fits over the sink provides additional work top space. Peter Cannell, owner remarked: “We also used some (John Strand MK) doors on our own fitted wardrobes in order to enhance the design integrity of the rooms…. After 6 months the kitchens seem to be performing and still look good.”

Calvin Reeves was appointed project manager for this development and worked closely with Peter to ensure the overall look and design brief was accomplished. John Strand MK has excellent relationships with UK based cabinet makers and combined with 30 years of experience within furniture design are uniquely placed to offer clients a bespoke service.

Kitchens Hidden From View

By John Strand • January 20, 2025
We have been making and selling kitchens for small spaces for a long, long time, so long in fact that we feel comfortable to call ourselves ‘expert’ in the field. An early design development was from the ‘mini kitchen’, which is solely a base unit, to the hideaway kitchen. ‘ Hideaway kitchen’ is the name they have always been given but then it dawned on us, do our customers (and potential customers) understand what a hideaway kitchen is? Simply put, a hideaway kitchen has a top unit with doors which can be shut to conceal the workings of the kitchen so thus hiding it away ! Other names for these kitchens include ‘kitchen in a cupboard’ and ‘concealed kitchen’ or the ‘hidden kitchen.’ We refer them to as hidden kitchens these days to avoid confusion. All pretty straight forward stuff. Simple but great, especially if you need a kitchen in a studio apartment or meeting room. Focusing on the design, the questions we most commonly get asked relate to safety. Can the hob be this close to the sink and is it safe to have doors? Safety is, as it should be, at the top of the list. Sinks must always be positioned with 300mm space between the hob and or any sockets, and the doors can be fitt ed with power supply cut-out and / or the hob is fitted with a safety timer so will cut out after a set time. Hidden kitchens are increasing in popularity every year and when you consider the combination of style, function and suitability for small or multi-use areas it just makes sense.  For more information please visit our website…johnstrand-mk.co.uk

Unlock the full potential of your living space

By John Strand MK • January 8, 2024
John Strand Sofa Wall beds 1. Maximizing Living Areas: The most apparent advantage of a sofa wall bed is its ability to maximize living areas. During the day, the sofa serves as a relaxing seating arrangement, allowing you to make the most of your space. When night falls, seamlessly transform it into a comfortable bed, eliminating the need for separate pieces of furniture and optimizing your floor space. 2. Dual-Functionality in Compact Spaces: For those renting or living in smaller apartments or studio flats, the sofa wall bed is a revelation. It effortlessly combines two essential pieces of furniture into one, providing a seating area for daytime activities and a sleeping space at nighttime. This dual-functionality is a game-changer in compact living situations. 3. Effortless Transition: The mechanism behind sofa wall beds is designed for ease of use. Transitioning from a sofa to a bed, and vice versa, is a smooth and hassle-free process. This user-friendly feature ensures that you can transform your living space with minimal effort, making it an ideal solution for all age groups. 4. A Stylish Addition to Any Room: Sofa wall beds are not just about functionality; they also add a touch of style to your living space. Available in various designs, colors, and materials, these pieces can complement any decor style. The seamless integration of a sofa wall bed enhances the overall aesthetics of your room.

Concealed Kitchens: The Sleek Solution for Modern Living

By John Strand • September 18, 2023
The benefits of a concealed and hidden kitchen.

Small Kitchen Design Layouts

By Donna Connolly • February 27, 2020
    Small Kitchen Design Layouts How to make kitchens work in a small space? Kitchen design, like many forms of design, relies on what have become traditional formulas and concepts.  These ‘design rules’ have been tried, tested and work a treat; such as the classic triangle of fridge, sink and hob within a 7 … Continued The post Small Kitchen Design Layouts appeared first on John Strand MK.

Making space in Studio apartments – A guide to open-plan, multi-functional apartment living

By Donna Connolly • December 19, 2019
    The diminishing size of homes, is a topic you often hear discussed but what truth is there in it?  Is it just a cliché and common misconception batted around, along with the lines of; “It wasn’t like that in my day”.  So are humans getting bigger (we are but that’s another story) or … Continued The post Making space in Studio apartments – A guide to open-plan, multi-functional apartment living appeared first on John Strand MK.

Wall beds for studio apartments

By Alt Admin • December 5, 2019
The objective was to create light filled, desirable apartments aimed at young professionals in a town centre location but the challenge was in the size. John Strand worked with property developers for a project of contemporary flats in Watford Hertfordshire.  The objective was to create light filled, desirable apartments aimed at young professionals in a … Continued The post Wall beds for studio apartments appeared first on John Strand MK.

Luxury Cabins by the Sea

By Alt Admin • November 14, 2019
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!The aim of Cabü by the Sea is to provide beautiful buildings for everyone.  An ambition successfully achieved with the Scandinavian inspired cabins offering a relaxing space within the wild and windswept surroundings of St. Mary’s Bay. CABU approached John Strand Kitchens for a development of architecturally … Continued The post Luxury Cabins by the Sea appeared first on John Strand MK.

Office to residential converstion in Harrow

By Alt Admin • November 5, 2019
Change of use from office space to stylish contemporary studio apartments with John Strand Contract kitchens.Harrow sits on the North West of London’s Metropolitan line. A short tube-ride into central London and a stone’s throw from the rolling countryside of the surrounding home counties. It’s a popular destination with first time buyers and therefore an … Continued The post Office to residential converstion in Harrow appeared first on John Strand MK.

Kitchens in a Grand Location

By Alt Admin • October 24, 2019
Bespoke kitchens for a beautiful and grand refurbishmentThe majority of John Strand clients call looking for expert help, they need a kitchen but don’t have space for one!  On the opposite end of that scale is Barrington Hall, lack of space was definitely not a concern for this project. A magnificent Grade II listed Georgian … Continued The post Kitchens in a Grand Location appeared first on John Strand MK.

A Brief History of the John Strand Mini Kitchen

By Donna Connolly • October 8, 2019
    It’s small and mighty.  John Strand has been supplying compact kitchens for over 30 years and here is the history of how it all began, and why, three decades on, the one-metre-wide kitchen units are still sold across the country. Constructed of steel with a powder coated white finish; it houses a sink, … Continued The post A Brief History of the John Strand Mini Kitchen appeared first on John Strand MK.
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