Interior Design Visualisation | Georgian Townhouse, New Town, Edinburgh

Blending Heritage with Contemporary Design

Interior CGI by Charles Roberts Studios

In the heart of Edinburgh’s historic New Town, a listed Georgian townhouse has been reimagined for modern living. Charles Roberts Studios was commissioned to produce a series of interior design visualisations for this luxury renovation — a project that balances heritage, craftsmanship, and contemporary refinement within one of the most architecturally significant neighbourhoods in the world.

The New Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, is celebrated for its ordered elegance and neo-classical architecture. Conceived in the late 18th century by visionaries such as John and Robert Adam, Sir William Chambers, and William Playfair, it remains one of the most coherent examples of Enlightenment-era urban design. Against this backdrop, the challenge was to preserve the townhouse’s period character while infusing it with the warmth, light, and material quality expected in a 21st-century home.

Balancing Heritage and Modernity

Our client — a specialist property developer working in collaboration with an interior designer — sought to transform the building into a calm yet sophisticated residence. The design concept respected the proportions and detailing of the original Georgian structure while introducing contemporary finishes and a subtle play of texture and tone.

Charles Roberts Studios was tasked with bringing this design vision to life through a series of photorealistic interior CGIs. Each image needed to communicate how historic architecture and modern design could coexist — where original features such as cornicing, sash windows, and high ceilings provide the stage for sleek furniture, sculptural lighting, and natural materials.

A Space Defined by Light and Texture

The dining area, shown here, exemplifies that delicate equilibrium. Flooded with natural light from tall Georgian windows, the space retains its historical proportions while embracing a refined material palette. The herringbone timber flooring and veined marble create a tactile contrast with the soft, contemporary furnishings and brushed-metal finishes.

Our team modelled and lit the scene using physically accurate rendering techniques to ensure each reflection and highlight felt authentic. The lighting was designed to mirror the soft northern daylight that characterises Edinburgh’s interiors, producing a calm and atmospheric effect.

By focusing on subtle tonal transitions — from pale plaster walls to rich timber and marble — the visualisation communicates depth and realism while maintaining a clean, timeless aesthetic.

Visualising Heritage with Sensitivity

Working with listed buildings demands particular care. Every decision, from wall colour to joinery detail, must respect the structure’s heritage status. Our artists collaborated closely with the design team to ensure that the CGI accurately reflected these constraints, while still conveying the client’s modern aspirations.

This sensitivity is one of Charles Roberts Studios’ key strengths. Over three decades, we have visualised numerous heritage projects across the UK, translating the language of classical architecture into contemporary imagery. Our goal is always to honour the integrity of historic spaces while helping clients and stakeholders imagine their renewed potential.

Supporting Stakeholder Engagement

High-quality interior CGIs like this play a vital role in both planning and marketing. For developers and investors, they offer a clear view of material finishes, lighting concepts, and design flow before physical work begins. For heritage officers and architects, they provide reassurance that the building’s essence will be preserved.

In this Edinburgh project, the visuals allowed every stakeholder — from the planning consultant to the end purchaser — to engage with the proposed scheme from an early stage. The renderings became a shared visual language, bridging design intent and tangible experience.

From Concept to Completion

Each 3D interior visualisation was developed through a collaborative process, beginning with CAD drawings and material samples supplied by the interior designer. Our team modelled architectural details from scratch, ensuring that the Georgian proportions — cornices, architraves, and window reveals — were recreated with precision.

We then introduced lighting, furniture, and décor to complement the designer’s specification, refining composition and perspective until the mood felt right. The finished renderings achieve a balance of technical accuracy and artistic subtlety — a hallmark of the Charles Roberts Studios approach.

A New Chapter in a Historic Setting

The result is a visual narrative that celebrates the enduring elegance of Edinburgh’s New Town while embracing contemporary design values. These interior visualisations reveal how history and modernity can coexist beautifully — preserving architectural heritage while creating spaces that feel relevant and lived in.

For Charles Roberts Studios, this project exemplifies the studio’s ethos: using the art of CGI to bridge past and present, architecture and emotion.

Contact

Follow Us

Expertise

Sectors

Studio

Copyright © 1995 -
All rights reserved