This late Georgian semi-detached house, in the Edinburgh seaside suburb of Portobello, had been used as a dental practice for many years when it was purchased by a couple looking to create a family home. The entire layout needed to be replanned to meet the requirements of modern living. AGORA proposed the creation of a sociable kitchen and dining space. This was achieved by opening up two adjacent rooms, and adding a small extension on the footprint of an existing lean-to. Large areas of glazing and sliding Iroko doors provide a connection to the garden. A linear rooflight not only brings light into the kitchen space, but into the adjacent circulation space via a high level internal window. A new shower and utility room was created by opening up a number of cupboards and raising the floor level to match the main house. The utility functions are concealed within built-in units, which also provide valuable storage. The master bedroom has a secret ensuite, accessed through a door in the wardrobe. Many original features were painstakingly restored as part of the project, including the drawing room cornice, the stone stairs and iron balustrade, and the flagstone floors to the hall and kitchen, which were hidden under layers of lino and screed. The building fabric was repaired and upgraded to suit modern family life. The project required both planning and listed building consent, as well as a conversion warrant. AGORA provided full architectural services from inception to completion.