Property Watch: A Hidden Hacienda with California Cool in Edinburgh's Barnton
Mid-century charm, eco credentials, and bold architectural flair — this hidden gem in Barnton brings a slice of SoCal to Scotland’s capital.
Step behind the hedges of leafy Barnton Gardens and you’ll find something totally unexpected: a mid-century modernist masterpiece, brimming with personality and warmed by a laid-back West Coast vibe.
Known as The Hacienda, this one-of-a-kind home was dreamt up in 1980 by architect Gareth Hutchison and his design partner Derek Edgar — whose time in San Diego clearly left its sun-soaked mark. With four bedrooms, sprawling gardens, and interiors that blend retro flourishes with natural materials, this house is about as far from cookie-cutter as it gets.
Designed to Dazzle (and Built to Last)
Originally created as a thermal efficiency show home, The Hacienda was well ahead of its time. With textured white shell render, full-height glazing, and a spiral staircase that looks lifted from an art gallery, it’s a home with architectural gravitas — softened by warm brickwork, timber ceilings and layered greenery throughout.
The living space is made for hosting. A sunken lounge, open fireplace, and cleverly zoned areas for dining, music and bar vibes bring the kind of sociable layout you rarely see in modern homes. Whether you’re throwing a dinner party or stretching out solo, this is a space that just works.
Kitchens That Bring the Fiesta
In the kitchen, handcrafted Mexican tiles, timber cabinetry, and floor-to-ceiling glazing combine with a central island to create a space that feels equal parts practical and joyful. With views out to the garden and beyond, this is the kind of room that turns routine into ritual.
Bedrooms in the Treetops
Upstairs, the main bedroom brings a dose of escapism, with leafy outlooks, Arabesque detailing and an enclosed balcony that feels like it’s floating among the trees. A double-sided fireplace connects the bedroom to a serene dressing area, while a spa-like en suite adds to the sanctuary feel.
A Garden to Get Lost In
Spanning around a third of an acre, the garden is a mix of wild and intentional. Think rhododendrons, ferns, seasonal colour and soft, winding pathways that invite slow strolls and spontaneous al fresco dinners. There are hidden corners for reading, paved areas for hosting, and wildlife-friendly planting that encourages visits from deer and pheasants.
As the sun sets, a motion-triggered LED system illuminates the garden, so you can stay outside well into the evening — no string lights required.
At a Glance
Offers Over £900,000
Four bedrooms
One-third acre garden
Bold 1980s design by Gareth Hutchison
Thermal efficiency features
Architectural spiral staircase
Sunken living space
Treetop terrace off principal suite
Lush, layered outdoor space
Double garage, utility room and attic storage
This is a home that stands apart. Quietly tucked away in a green pocket of Edinburgh, it’s proof that personality, playfulness and sustainability can all live under one roof — with warmth, wit and wow factor in equal measure.