31 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh

William Playfair, designed 1825, built 1826-1833. Part of long terrace of 34 classical 3-bay townhouses; originally 2-storey, attic and basement elevations (many have additional later 3rd storeys; 31 Regent Terrace retains its original 2-storey and attic elevation) punctuated by 2 18-bay, 3-storey pavilions with 3-bay advanced sections to each end (Nos 11-16 and 23-28) and with 12-bay, 3-storey section to the western end (Nos 1-4); terrace stepped down at intervals to follow slope of road. Droved ashlar to basement; polished ashlar to upper floors; predominantly coursed squared rubble with dressed margins to rear elevation. To principal elevation: base course; dividing band between basement and ground floor; dividing band and cornice between ground and 1st floors; to 1st floor, continuous cast-iron trellis balcony with Greek key border; band course above 1st floor windows; eaves cornice; blocking course. Doorpiece of fluted attached Greek Doric columns. Regular fenestration to principal elevation; architraved windows to ground and 1st floors; panelled aprons to ground floor windows; predominantly regular fenestration to rear elevation.

SE (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: 2-storey and basement elevation. To basement, to centre bay, timber-panelled door with letterbox fanlight; window to left bay; to right, area beneath platt blocked in by wall with 2 windows. To ground floor, to right bay, steps and platt overarching basement recess leading to timber-panelled and glazed door with letterbox fanlight.

NW (REAR) ELEVATION: 2-bay, 3-storey elevation. Eaves course.

GLAZING etc: predominantly plate glass; 12-pane glazing to basement to front elevation; glazing predominantly in timber sash and case windows. M-roof with central valley and mansard profile to front; graded grey slate; stone skews and skewputts. To E and W, mutual ridge stacks preceded by individual octagonal flues to front; predominantly circular cans.

RAILINGS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: to front, edging basement recess and platt, stone coping surmounted by cast-iron railings with dog bars, spear-head finials and distinctive circled border. To rear, forming boundary of garden, random rubble walls with predominantly flat coping.

INTERIOR: to ground floor: to lobby, good plasterwork, compartmented ceiling, timber-panelled and glazed screen and 2-leaf door; to former dining room, 20th century deep cavetto cornice and stone chimneypiece; to rear room (W), simple plasterwork, timber chimneypiece (possibly not original). To 1st floor: to former drawing room, compartmented ceiling, good plasterwork including to ceiling, classical marble chimneypiece with cherub carvings; 20th century pilastered and corniced architrave to bookcase; to rear room (W), painted classical stone chimneypiece, good plasterwork; to rear room (E), good plasterwork. Stone cantilevered stairs with cast-iron balusters; oval cupola with deep cavetto surround; good plasterwork to stairwell ceiling and landings.