It may sound like a Halloween tale but this could become a reality after buyers swooped on a derelict cemetery gatehouse.

Now the building, at the entrance to Cardonald Cemetery and just yards from the plots, could be transformed in to flats.

The gatehouse – on Mosspark Boulevard – is being sold by City Property.

An offer of £98,000 has been received for the disused three-bedroom villa and today Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee is being asked to rubber stamp the sale.

A report by City Property – the council’s arms-length buildings organisation – states that the buyers have “various options” for the 0.32 acre site from building six flats to two or creating an office and home.

They could also decide to demolish or refurbish the derelict building.

There would be no objection to either of these options from planning officials, the report states.

It adds: “The proposals range from demolishing and the development of six flats, retaining the existing building and conversion to two apartments or to a mixed use development of part residential and part office use.

“Initial discussions with Development and Regeneration Services Planning indicate that there would be no objection in principle.”

The buyers, who have been named in the report as Hugh and Mairi Kinnaird, were one of nine people who put in an offer for the gatehouse.

Their bid of £98,000 was the second highest but was chosen because it would “not be subject to planning conditions and does not require bank borrowing”, the report states.

It adds that extra discussions were held with council officials over the sale of the building “due to the sensitive nature of this potential disposal forming part of an operational cemetery”.

The property was first marketed in November last year and an offer of £100,000 was received in March.

But it was later withdrawn and the property put back up for sale in August.

Planning officers will ask councillors to approve the sale, at meeting of the Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee today.

Source: Evening Times

For those pushed for time, we have chosen our top 5 conversion properties on s1homes.com this week.

1. Brown St, Newmilns. East Ayrshire.

As one of the world’s last traditional Scottish lace mills, there’s a lot of history behind this property. Added to that, it’s made up of interconnected buildings, making it ideal to split into smaller units if that appealed to the buyer – a good one for investors.

2. Isle of Soay, Broadford and South Skye.

This property is in a beautiful location on the Isle of Soay which is roughly four square miles – although not for everyone as it’s so remote. Normally accessed by boat and only seven houses on the island, this property is a project but will be worth all the effort for the right buyer.

3. The Crescent, Skelmorlie. North Ayrshire

Huge rooms, extensive gardens and retained period features are just a few details that make this property appealing – plus all the hard work has already been done for you!

An open fire and views out to the Firth of Clyde make this three bedroom conversion a dream home.

4. Bridge Castle House, Bridgecastle. West Lothian.

This luxurious 2-bedroom garden level apartment is within an exclusive B-listed castle conversion set in picturesque garden grounds. It is a unique country home with character, elegance and exuding charm and history.

5. Bridge St, Tradeston. Glasgow

Grand is one word that sums up this property. At one time, the property was The Glasgow Savings Bank but is now being advertised as the perfect venue for a club or restaurant. You might not want to snap this property up as a home but we couldn’t leave it off the list with its imposing interior features.

If these five have caught your interest, see all conversions currently for sale at s1homes.com

The areas to be on 26^th and 27^th September are Argyll (Kintyre & Inverary); Clackmannanshire; Edinburgh; Highlands (Lochaber, Badenoch & Strathspey) and Perth & Kinross.

Take a look through some of our final recommendations.

Argyll: Springbank Distillery

Springbank was established in 1828 and is the oldest independently owned distillery in Scotland – currently in the hands of the great, great grandson of the original owner. It is unique among Scotland’s distilleries as it is the only one to undertake 100% of the distilling process on the one site, with human involvement at every stage of the process.

Tours are every hour from 12.30pm until 3.30pm, finishing with a dram of Springbank 10 year old. Cheers!

 Image: www.flickr.com/audrey_sel

Clackmannanshire: Dollar Museum

This excellent independent museum occupies part of a former early 19th century woollen mill and has permanent displays about the history of Dollar. It includes Granny’s Kitchen, Castle Campbell, Dollar Academy and the Devon Valley Railway. This weekend has an exhibition of photos and information about famous local people. Explore how the town looked and lived in the past.

Edinburgh: Edinburgh Printmakers

Edinburgh Printmakers was originally a washhouse for the local community. All the public washhouses in Edinburgh closed in 1971 but many of the original features, including the impressive red brick chimney, remain.

With guided tours and studio demos throughout the day, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the history of the Union Street washhouse whilst seeing behind the scenes at Edinburgh’s busiest print studio.

Image: www.flickr.com/digitailwag

Perth & Kinross: Cultybraggan Camp Guard Block and Jail

Cultybraggan Camp (Camp 21) was built in 1941 as a prisoner of war camp and held up to 4000 German Prisoners of War.  After the war, the camp was used as an army training facility until 2004.

This weekend you can see inside several of the 100 Nissen huts and hear about the history of the camp. Highlights include ‘Living the Life of a German POW’ exhibition and a display of WW2 memorabilia including a reproduction Enigma machine and military vehicles.

Edinburgh: HM General Register House and New Register House

General Register House and New Register House make up one of the oldest purpose-built archive buildings in the world. Popular with genealogists, it holds birth, death and marriage certificates. It’s definitely worth a visit this weekend – if only to see the circular chamber of the Dome. It’s 90ft high and has five tiers of ironwork and shelving.  Separate tours of both buildings will be available throughout the day. Tour booking in advance is necessary because places are limited and don’t forget to take along proof of ID.

Image: www.flickr.com/stusmith

Highlands (Lochaber, Badenoch and Strathspey): Nevis Radio

Nevis Radio is the community radio station for Lochaber and has been broadcasting since 1994.

Opening its doors this weekend to let the public see what they do – you might even get a chance to try-out on the radio yourself. No need to book in advance.

Tell us what have been your highlights of Doors Open Days from any weekend in September. We would love to hear your stories and see your photos.

For the full programme of events, visit Doors Open Days

It is a bumper weekend for places to see for free so we’ve made a few suggestions.

Aberdeenshire: Auchtaven Township

Auchtavan is about 6 miles north-east of Braemar. The buildings are a rare survival of a traditional Highland clachan or fermtoun (small village or hamlet). Visitors will have the chance to go back in time to explore how the communities of the past actually lived in the settlement.

Dundee: Broughty Castle Museum

Out and about in Dundee this weekend? Pop into Broughty Castle and hear about the sieges and battles over the years and the interesting military history of the castle, while enjoying the beautiful views of the river and esplanade.

Image: www.flikr.com/neilwilliamson

Falkirk Steeple

If you know Falkirk, you will recognise the Steeple as the iconic landmark of the town, now used as a box office. Stories from the past include a lightning strike which destroyed the spire. One casualty from the incident was “Irn Bru”, a Barr’s delivery horse. During this weekend there will also be the rare chance to explore the two prison cells.

Glasgow

There is a huge array of events in Glasgow this weekend – from talks to walks – so we couldn’t pick just one.

The Briggait

First up, The Briggait. Glasgow’s former fish market is now an arts venue. Visitors will have the chance to take in the building’s stunning and unique architecture, learn more about its fascinating history and take in some fantastic visual art at the same time.

Image: www.flickr.com/michaelgallacher

Wellpark Brewery

If you don’t fancy that, check out Wellpark Brewery (Tennent Caledonian), the largest brewery in Scotland. Take a tour through the brewing process and learn about one of Scotland’s best-loved brands.

Image: www.flickr.com/marcosacchi

The Pipe Factory

The former factory is used by a group of artists, writers & architects. It is Italian Renaissance inspired and features the most intricate and ornate use of brick to be found in the city. Find out about the ongoing restoration plans if you visit this weekend.

Highlands (Caithness): Waterlines Visitor Centre

For Doors Open Days, Waterlines Heritage Centre is teaming up with the “Seafood – See here!” project, which is helping people to enjoy more local seafood. The cafe will add a special seafood dish to the menu and visitors can enjoy a walk from the harbour up the old fish path past the Brethren Well, with spectacular views of the Caithness coast.

Scottish Borders: Borders Family History Society

If you are interested in building your family tree, this is the day out for you. Explore your family history in the Border Counties (Berwickshire, Peeblesshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire). Help will be on hand if your roots are elsewhere too.

West Fife & Dunfermline: Scottish Vintage Bus Museum

Around 180 buses from across the globe in various states, from fully restored to wrecks awaiting lots of TLC. The huge exhibition hall displays artefacts relating mainly to the Scottish Bus Industry. You can also visit the workshop where wonders are worked.

Image: www.flickr.com/craigmurphy

This is just a taste of where you can visit this weekend. Check out the full programme of events at the Doors Open Day website.

This weekend, 12^th & 13^th September 2015, the focus is on Aberdeen City, Central Fife, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Highlands (Easter Ross, Wester Ross, Black Isle and Sutherland), Inverclyde, Midlothian, Stirling, West Lothian, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire.

Here’s where we might be found this weekend.

Aberdeen City: Music Hall

The building has quite a past. If you are interested in architecture, you might be familiar with the local architect Archibald Simpson. If not, go along and what he is famous for. The volume of traffic over the last 30 years – over 4 million visitors and more than 5,000 events and concerts – has taken its toll on the building. Set to undergo a £7 million transformation, take this chance to explore before it closes until late 2017.

Central Fife: Kirkcaldy Town House

This building was started in 1939 but not completed until 1956. It has a Scandinavian influence and has recently been overhauled for 21st century use. It’s particularly well known for the huge stairwell mural by Walter Pritchard so look out for that.

East Renfrewshire: Greenbank House and Gardens

Found in the south side of Glasgow, Greenbank Garden is described as an inspirational and peaceful attraction. Put simply, it’s really pretty and well worth a wander round. You might be inspired to grow some of the more unusual plants in your own garden or just be impressed with what you see there. One that even the locals might not even know about.

Highland (Easter Ross, Wester Ross, Black Isle and Sutherland): Ballone Castle

Ballone Castle was built on the cliff edge above the raised beach, and has dramatic views out across the Moray Firth.  Over the years it has been extended to create a brew house and bakery. There will be guided tours but you don’t need to book in advance and the garden will also be open to make the most of those views.

East Dunbartonshire: Mugdock Castle

The castle sits on a volcanic ridge on the edge of Mugdock Loch. Although mostly a ruin, the castle’s South West Tower has been rebuilt. The lands form part of Mugdock Country Park and the ruins are publicly accessible. The remaining tower has been renovated as a museum so there is plenty to see here.

Inverclyde: Dutch Gable House

The Dutch Gable House is an unusual and well known building in Greenock’s historic William Street town quarter. It has the honour of being the oldest surviving house in the town and promises stories of family history, folklore and sea shanties.

South Lanarkshire: Brownsbank Cottage

Overlooking the Peeblesshire hills, Brownsbank Cottage was the home of writer Hugh MacDiarmid. It has been restored just as MacDiarmid had left it. If you are in need of some literary inspiration, or maybe just a bit nosy, this cottage seems like a good place to visit this weekend. Past writers-in-residence have included award-winning writer and publisher Matthew Fitt and the first Scottish Parliament Writer in Residence, James Robertson.

Midlothian: Old Penicuik House

Penicuik House has undergone a 6 year project. The second phase has now commenced and will involve more conservation and repair of its features, including the Roman Bridge. It’s also a great spot for walking, cycling and horse riding.

Stirling: Stirling Old Town Jail

Hear tales of Stirling’s heroes and villains and take a journey through the grim and gruesome history of crime and punishment in this Royal Burgh. This impressive building was constructed to house prisoners after the Tolbooth was declared the worst jail in Britain. In the new and improved jail, each convict was assigned their own cell, to encourage reflection and repentance, and every effort was made to reform and rehabilitate with a strict regime of solitude, labour, coarse food and discomfort. All sounds quite horrible – not somewhere you would want to stay but sounds like an interesting family day out.

West Lothian: Annet House Museum and Garden

Annet House was originally built by a merchant in the town and the museum tells the story of Linlithgow and its people. Known for its terraced 4-level garden behind the museum, go along to see herbs, fruit trees and bushes which might have been found in the garden of the past.

North Lanarkshire: Stuart House multi-storey flats

Stuart House is the Tallest Multi Storey Block of Flats in Cumbernauld.  The top floor flat has excellent views of the town and surrounding countryside. If you have never been in a multi storey or want to relive your childhood, take this opportunity to visit this top flat before it’s demolished for the new housing.

The full programme of events and more information about what is happening in your area can be found at the Doors Open Day website.

Every weekend in September, Doors Open Days allows the people of Scotland free access to hundreds of fascinating buildings across the country. Some of these wonderful buildings are only open to the public once a year, or even as a one-off. It’s a great opportunity to see more of your local area or explore somewhere else.

This weekend, 5^th & 6^th September 2015 sees; Angus, Ayrshire, East Fife (Sunday only), Highlands (in and around Inverness) and Renfrewshire welcome visitors to historical properties in their areas.

Here’s where we’ll be exploring this weekend.

Angus: The House of Dun

Just 3 miles from Montrose and around 45 minutes drive from Aberdeen, The House of Dun stands majestically above the Montrose Basin. The Georgian house was built for the Erskine family in the 18^th century and has many stories to tell. An excellent opportunity to view one of The National Trust for Scotland’s magnificent properties in a spectacular setting.

Ayrshire: Auchinleck House

Built around 1760 by Lord Auchinleck, and inherited by his son James Boswell, biographer of Dr Samuel Johnson. It was uninhabited from the early 1960s, as rot set in and the building deteriorated rapidly. It was acquired in 1986 by the The Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT), then the Landmark Trust in 1999. The building is a good example of an 18th century villa and has its own grounds, river, ice-house and grotto.  Walk around the extensive grounds and explore this weekend.

East Fife (Sunday only): The Auld Washie / Thatched Studio

Found in the beautiful conservation hamlet of Collessie, The Auld Washie was originally an 18th century agricultural barn, used as the village wash house into the 20th century. Sensitively restored by architect Tom Morton into an art studio in 1995, see many quirky features and a beautiful display of fine Pictish-inspired art.

Highlands (In and around Inverness): Bona Lighthouse

Bona Lighthouse was built around 1815 to designs by Thomas Telford. Inland lighthouses are uncommon in Scotland and the stunning oriel bay window, which once held the light that guided ships from Loch Ness onto the Caledonian Canal in its heyday, remains the focal point of the cottage. The octagonal shape of the building closely follows the types of design Telford used elsewhere for tollhouses. Scottish Canals has recently refurbished the building which can now be booked as a holiday let.

Renfrewshire: Sma’ Shot Cottages

Sma’ Shot Cottages comprise an 18th Century Weaver’s Cottage and Loom shop showing the living and working conditions of a Weaver’s family in the 1750s and a small row of Mill workers cottages from the 19th Century.  The cottages contain many fascinating artefacts and are linked by a 19th Century heritage garden.

The full programme of events and more information about what is happening in your area can be found at the Doors Open Day website. We’ll have another round up next weekend too.

Let’s take a look.

Almondhill Steading, Kirkliston

First up we have a steading conversion in a quiet countryside courtyard.

£1,260 per month.

Alexandra Gate, Paisley

This flat was formerly part of the Royal Alexandra Hospital, designed by well known local architect T.G. Abercrombie.

£375 per month.

East Draffan Farm, Lesmahagow

Is a converted barn more your style? This converted barn on East Draffan Farm is set in a beautiful rural landscape.

£700 per month.

Hallcraig Street, Airdire

And finally, the former Rialto Bingo Hall in Airdire which has been sympathetically converted into 5 retail units and 5 luxury apartments.

£550 per month.

Could one of these be your perfect new home?

Eyre Place, New Town, Edinburgh

Our priciest penthouse is in New Town, Edinburgh. Advertised at offers over £1,100,000 this penthouse looks onto the city from its roof top terrace, has a huge amount of living space and it comes with an integrated home entertainment system.

Belford Road, Dean

Our next penthouse is in Dean Edinburgh. Its two large roof terraces give you a 360 panoramic view of the surrounding area and its unusual shaped rooms make this property a unique living space.

St Andrew Street, Edinburgh City Centre

This Edinburgh city centre penthouse has a New York loft vibe. We love the bright red kitchen but unfortunately you don’t get to keep the current owners artwork which makes this property a colourful living space full of personality. What a great view too…

 Saltire Square, Granton

All we need to say about this penthouse in Granton is hot tub!!! With the view over the water and the on balcony hot tub this penthouse is perfect.

Schaw House, Bearsden

Located in a Tudor Gothic mansion in Bearsden this 1 bed luxury penthouse is an unusual property. Inside the penthouse is modern with high quality finishings but the exterior, gardens and entrance way give the property real historic character.

Do you have a favourite?

The bathroom is one of the most frequently used rooms in the home, but often one of the smallest.  This places great emphasis on the need for good planning and design.

A small bathroom obviously involves some limitations but attention to detail such as re-hanging the door the opposite way, or to open outwards, or replacing an existing door with a sliding one can make a great difference. If there were sufficient ceiling height to allow the floor to be raised to accommodate a sunken bath, this would create an illusion of space. An alternative approach is to consider sitting some of the sanitary ware, elsewhere to create a separate shower room or WC.

Tiny bathrooms are a common breed so manufacturers are responding to the demands for scaled-down fittings.

Planning is the most important aspect of fitting out a bathroom. To optimise your space take advantage of the expert advice and computer-aided design packages offered by bathroom companies.

Design Tips to make the space more efficient.

Choosing sanitaryware.

White ceramic ware is still the most popular; an up to the minute suite with smooth curves will give the smallest bathroom a sleek look.

Try to fit the bath, basin and loo in a line to give as much clear floor space as possible.

For a combined bath & shower, a rectangular bath with a tapered end would provide generous space for the actual shower, creating more floor space.

If you opt for a shower instead of a bath, choose a large enclosure to give it a more luxurious feel. A glass door will prevent it from making the room feel cramped and choose one that opens inwards to save space.

If you opt for a shower instead of a bath, choose a large enclosure to give it a more luxurious feel. (image sienna interiors)

A Wall mounted basin can be fitted to a height suitable to the individual and the matching wall- hung toilet is functional, looks good and leaves a clear floor.

Wall mounted leaves the floor clear creating a feeling of space.

Heating:

A wall mounted towel rail doubles up to give heat and warm towels, however in small bathrooms care must be taken not to site a radiator where it could cause injury – too close to a bath for example.

A space saving solution would be under floor heating which can be electric or attached to your gas central heating system.

Tips to make room look bigger:

• Make efficient use of space with multifunctional items, such as cabinet doors that double as mirrors. A wall-mounted cupboard swallows up toiletries and cosmetics, leaving basin and bath surrounds clear and preventing clutter from killing the sensation of space.

• As well as having a clean, contemporary appeal, glass shelves give a more open look than those made from solid materials and can be supported by discreet brackets that will blend in with the wall.

• Using large-scale furnishings in a small room can trick the eye.

Big tiles seem to enlarge a floor area, while hanging a sizable picture on the wall may also create a surprisingly spacious feel.

• Every bathroom needs at least one mirror; so make full use of their space-enhancing properties. Large mirrors visually expand a small room by reflecting space and light, and placing one along a wall in a narrow room can make it feel twice as wide.

• If you want to fit a large bath into a small space, opt for depth over length. A roll-top bath combines character with a generous bathing area.
• 

Prefer a large bath choose depth over length.

• Fuss free white walls and matching sanitaryware can work like magic in a small room, creating a bright contemporary scheme that really opens up the space. However a dash of colour saves a tiny bathroom from that broom-cupboard feeling

Although light cool colours give the illusion of space, deep warm shades will make the room feel cosier. To enhance the space you have, choose plain shades rather than patterned and balance a deep colour with pale wood or lighter tiles.

A dash of colour saves a tiny bathroom from that broom cupboard feeling.

• Accessorise the bathroom with matching towels and if possible, roll up the spare ones place on a glass shelf for an instant spa look. Besides, it’s much easier to roll than fold tidily.

Have a few large church candles dotted about were you can you don’t have to light them, but if you do want to then it’s much easier to light a few big ones than faffing around with a  100 tealights like they do in the movies.

As well as the pure function of keeping everyone clean, the bathroom maybe the only room where you can be alone for half an hour. Make sure it has flexible lighting, storage to clear the clutter and somewhere to rest a glass of wine. At the end of a hard day this is your sanctuary and you’ll thank yourself for the little etc’s you have managed to plan in.

Images from

http://www.bagnodesignglasgow.com/