This month we talk to David and Tokes, the creative couple behind one of the most stylish B&B’s in town. The Brunton Bothy reflects the couples love of good design and is crammed full of found treasures and artfully curated objects. We ask them about their inspiration and where in the city they would recommend visitors and locals alike, to visit.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
We’ve spent several years renovating the property, room by room and have always tried to do as much of the work ourselves as possible. Tokes has a background in design and has been the main driving force in styling and remodelling the property. We have made a conscious effort to showcase as many of the original features as possible – from uncovering fireplaces that had been boarded up to re-instating all the wooden panelled shutters. We love to travel and really enjoy seeking out local art and artefacts to introduce into our home, it’s a great way to create memories of the place we’ve visited and make our home more unique. Dave has a background in animal science and grew up on a farm, we brought in his love of animals and nature throughout the house with various natural history pieces as well as a vast array of plants.
Can you recommend any great interior or homeware stores in the city?
There are a lot of great vintage and antique shops around Edinburgh which we love to peruse. One of our favourites is Friday Street Antiques in Portobello. It’s a small shop but the high turnover of gems and the friendly owner make it a real treat to visit. Bra Bohag on Easter Road offers mid Century Scandinavian furniture and we have got a number of beautiful things from here. Unicorn Antiques on Dundas Street is an Aladdin’s cave in the new town. On Broughton Street we adore Life Story – a Scandinavian inspired homeward store. We recently discovered Georgian Antiques- a huge warehouse full of beautiful Antiques tucked away in Leith.
Tell us about your favourites places to eat and drink in the city?
We love our food and especially enjoy Asian cuisine. Two of our favourites would be Ting Thai Caravan and Kampung Ali. Both offer authentic Asian cuisine in an informal setting. Under the Stairs is another relaxed place for great cocktails and good food. Around the neighbourhood, The Gardener’s Cottage is a truly unique experience with its seasonal local produce and communal dining. Manna House does amazing coffee and cakes. Our favourite watering holes would have to be Joseph Pearce’s and Victoria’s – with their relaxed and cosy vibe. We are lucky to have Cornelius close to home on Easter Road – it has a huge selection of beer, wine and spirits and the staff are always able to help you decide what would go best with your dinner! Ginger Twist Studio is an indie vintage inspired yarn shop that is perfect if you are a fan of knitting/crochet.
Is there anything in the city you haven’t done and would like to do?
We haven’t gotten round to doing afternoon tea at The Colonnades at the Signet Library but have heard it is amazing – it is definitely on our to do list. We would also really like to do the rooftop tour of St Giles cathedral!
And finally what would you recommend to guests staying with you as the perfect day in Edinburgh?
A perfect day that we would recommend to our guests would be to get up early and get up Arthur’s Seat to enjoy the views and tranquility. Then pop into Dovecote Studios for some coffee and cake as well as taking in an exhibition or simply wandering around what used to be Victorian swimming baths. Next stop would be the portrait gallery. Not only does it have some fabulous exhibitions, but the building itself is spectacular. A great place for lunch would be Cafe Marlayne on Thistle street. Amazing French bistro food with awesome wallpaper! To walk off your lunch we would suggest walking along the water of leith from Dean Village to Stockbridge – if it’s a Sunday then have a look around Stockbridge market. You could then continue all the way to the shore before enjoying dinner at King’s Wark and if you still have some energy then check out some live music and have a few drams at The Carriers Quarters.
Check out more from the Brunton Bothy here. For more incredible interior inspiration from the Bothy, check out their Instagram here.
