Landmark Glasgow building in running for Scotland's Home of the Year

“It takes me hours to get anything done,” sighs John Dawson, who stays in Kirklee Mansions in the West End with his partner Jason Mokrovich and dalmatian Mitzi Belle.

“I go out to cut the grass and Jason knows I’ll be back in three hours, and two hours of that is me standing talking to people passing by who stop to ask, ‘oh, what a lovely building, do you live there, who used to own it…..?”

The couple’s beautiful first floor apartment features in Monday’s (June 19) edition of Scotland’s Home of the Year, and judges Anna Campbell Jones, Banjo Beale and Michael Angus cannot stop raving about it.

Kirklee Mansion in the West End (Image: Scotland's Home of the Year)

“Perfectly put-together”, “elegant and playful” and “gorgeous” are just some of the phrases which trip off their tongues as they explore the property.

“I live near here and I used to walk past this building all the time and see it in rack and ruin and I was overjoyed to see it being brought back to life,” says Anna. “I’ve always wanted to come inside, and it's not disappointing me at all.”

Banjo agrees. “I could happily move in here,” he marvels.

The spacious entrance hallway leads in to a spectacular open-plan living and kitchen area, with barrell-vaulted ceiling, 10 metres of windows and a mix of historic architectural details and quirky finishing touches.

The stunning living room includes a range of original features (Image: BBC Scotland)

Original cornicing has been meticulously preserved, a giant gilt mirror takes centre stage above the fireplace, and the décor is stylish, with denim blue walls and matching sofas complemented by decidedly camp cushions and nostalgic framed family photos. A large portrait of a woman hangs above the dining table but this is no Dawson/Mokrovich ancestor.

The open plan kitchen and dining area (Image: BBC/Kirsty Anderson)

She is Carlotta Valdes, a fictional character from the Hitchcock movie Vertigo, and the story of how this film prop replica arrived in Kirklee Mansion involves the couple’s mutual love of classic films and a chance meeting in a bar in Portland, Oregon, with a Disney employee.

“He had been working on the remastering of the movies and he had this replica of the painting lying about gathering dust,” explains John. “We jumped at the chance to buy it.”

There are two bedrooms: an unusual, octagonally-shaped master with arched windows, and a second with plush, upholstered bed, large en-suite and colourful artworks depicting San Francisco (where Vertigo was filmed).

The octagonally-shaped bedroom is unusual (Image: BBC Scotland)

John, 43, and Jason, 40,  moved in to Kirklee Mansions in 2017 after a laborious couple of years restoring it to its former glory.

“We used to come up here to walk our dogs, but finding a place that’s beautiful and affordable is hard in the West End,” adds John.

“When I walked in to this apartment, though, I just fell in love with it. The building is like something you’d see in London: Holland Park, maybe or Cadogan Square.

“There were so many beautiful details we wanted to preserve, like the mirror, and the ceiling, which is breathtaking. It was a wreck, some windows were broken, fireplace bricks had fallen out, the mirror was smashed,

“We asked the developers if we could work on it ourselves, and they let us.”

Kirklee Mansion was originally three Edwardian townhouses. Its first owner was Sir George Arthur Mitchell, whose portrait also hangs in the apartment.

Sir George Arthur Mitchell's portrait hangs on one wall (Image: BBC/Kirsty Anderson)

“The developers were just going to board up the fireplaces, but we discovered the original owner owned coal mines.

“We just thought – you cannot cover up fireplaces in a building owned by coalmaster, that would have been shocking.”

The SHOTY judges describe the apartment as a “party home” and John agrees, with a laugh.

The beautiful gilt mirror is an original feature (Image: BBC/Kirsty Anderson)

“It is a very social space, that’s what we wanted,” he says. “We’re planning a big 50th anniversary party for Eurovision next year…

“The décor was the most difficult part. We used the darker walls and oak wood to create cosiness, and the sofas surround the fireplace for a comfortable space to sit and chat. The furniture had to be low enough so as not to spoil the view. The windows look on to the trees, so you can celebrate all seasons.”

The photos feature aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents on both sides of the family.

“They make us look like we had a really privileged background, but we absolutely didn’t – I think everyone just dressed up in their finery to have their photos taken in those days,” says John, with a laugh.

“I grew up in Lochwinnoch and Renfrew, Jason’s from Youngstown, Ohio, I work for the NHS, Jason works in health and social care – we’re just a couple of working class lads who have done well.”

John says he is “nervous, excited and proud” that their home features on SHOTY.

“It’s been fantastic to be part of it,” he says. “And now, when people stop me while I’m gardening, I can send them the link to the programme….”

Scotland’s Home of the Year is on BBC One Scotland on Monday, June 19 at 8.30pm and also features a bright bungalow in Kirkintilloch and a Victorian villa in Greenock.

Kirklee Mansion is also on Instagram at @kirklee_mansion