After showing us around their 17^th-century merchant’s house in Leith, Kristin Hannesdottir and Nicholas Groves-Raines share their house style.

You’re happiest at home when…
The family come to visit for a meal or to spend time in the garden.             

How would you describe the interiors of your house?
The interior of a house from 1610 is simple: clean organic shapes and simple materials of wood, plaster, stone. In order to preserve the original character we try to avoid clutter. We also try only to have things that are either beautiful or useful, preferably both.

If you could only save one thing, what would it be?
In case of a fire we would obviously save the family photographs first. Our best loved piece of furniture is a small Florentine pietra dura cabinet bought in the 1930s in an Edinburgh antique shop. Kristin would also like to save one of her own paintings of a large silver bowl. Sorry that is three!”

What was the last thing you bought for the house?
An 18^th-century Dutch secretaire which hides the telly perfectly.

Top three coffee table books?
Vilhelm Hammershoi 1864-1916: Danish Painter of Light

Panorama: A collection of Photographs of Icelandic Landscapes

Highland Retreats: The Architecture and Interior Decoration of Scotland’s Seasonal Houses

If money was no object, what changes would you make?
We would replace the large windows on the ground floor with oak doors suitable for the period of the house. 

You’re having people over for dinner: what do you cook?
A starter of blue cheese, honeyed walnuts and pear salad, then fish soup of monkfish, scallops, smoked cod, langoustines, followed by dark chocolate mousse.

What does a Sunday here look like?
Catching up on housework, correspondence and other chores, unless the weather is good, then the day is spent in the garden.

What are the best things about the neighbourhood?
Leith is a fascinating town with a richer history than Edinburgh. It is a mixed area, densely populated, with excellent restaurants and bars, creative industries, offices including government offices, workshops, and shops. The river (the old harbor) runs through the middle with rich wildlife. And voted recently by one of the broadsheets as the best place to live in Britain.

How long will you be here for?
As long as is sustainable.