17 Carlton Terrace, Edinburgh

17 Carlton Terrace is a significant example of an 1821-1825 Edinburgh townhouse designed by William Playfair, constructed in the late 1820s and mid-1830s. It forms part of a long, hairpin-curved terrace of 19 classical townhouses. Nos. 1-4 and 14-19 have rectangular, three-bay frontages, while Nos. 5-13 have wedge-shaped plans with curved four-bay front elevations. The building is predominantly two storeys with a basement and features a balustraded parapet, with panelled sections to Nos. 1, 14, and 17.

The exterior is constructed with droved ashlar on the basement level, polished ashlar on the upper floors, and predominantly coursed squared rubble with droved margins to the side and rear. The west wallhead is rendered. Architectural detailing includes a base course to the basement, dividing bands between the basement and ground floors, and between the ground and first floors. A modillioned eaves cornice is present on the front elevations, and a simpler eaves band on the rear. Raised door surrounds are topped with consoled cornices, and the fenestration is regular, with architraved and corniced windows, incorporating panelled aprons to the ground floor and cast-iron balconnettes to the first floor.

The principal north elevation is slightly advanced, featuring a three-storey and basement design with a panelled parapet above a modillioned cornice. The basement level has a timber-panelled door with a three-light fanlight in the centre bay, flanked by windows. The ground floor has steps and a platt leading to an inlaid marble panel and a two-leaf timber-panelled door with a rectangular fanlight in the right-hand bay. The rear, south elevation is two bays wide, with an additional central window to the attic floor.

The windows are predominantly 12-pane, with 15-pane windows on the first floor of the front elevation. They are timber sash and case windows throughout. The roof is a platform design with a graded grey slate pitched section, incorporating stone skews and skewputts. Stacks are mutually rendered and ashlar to the front; rendered mutually to the rear; all corniced with predominantly circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods are also present.

The front of the building features stone coping with cast-iron railings incorporating dog bars, spear-head finials, and a distinctive circled border, along with a wrought iron lamp standard. A random rubble boundary wall with flat coping defines the rear garden.

The interior ground floor includes a lobby with a pilastered timber screen, a central door with flanking lights, decorative plasterwork, and a compartmented ceiling. A former drawing room on the first floor retains good plasterwork, including a ceiling rose, and a non-original timber fireplace. The stair and stair hall feature a notable oval cupola in a compartmented ceiling, stone stairs with cast-iron balusters (altered on the second floor), and further good plasterwork to the ceiling, landings, and ground floor.