Aesop Stockbridge

Natural materials and local references effect a sense of hospitality from the moment of entry. The rough-plastered walls employ a traditional technique, for example, and floor-to-ceiling Scottish Sycamore shelving was crafted from a single tree by cabinetmakers Method Studio. A muted palette draws on the sandstone prevalent in Edinburgh’s buildings as well as the raw beauty of its hinterland. Two bay windows flood the retail area with natural light; a fireplace and seating in the adjoining middle room allow for consultation and repose. An open door to the back-of-house space gives an uninterrupted line of vision through to a window overlooking a garden, its greenery an echo of nearby Inverleith Park.