The buildings had long been allowed to fall into disrepair through mismanagement, lack of maintenance and a lack of understanding of the architectural asset.

The properties had been constructed during the mid 19th century.  The quality and condition of the whinstone walling and sandstone dressings were remarkably good, but the remainder of the building fabric was beyond reasonable salvage. The nature of the project required that all surviving architectural details had to be meticulously recorded to allow faithful pattern reproduction in any restoration scheme. Where details were incomplete historical reference required comparison to Gowans detailing existing within his surviving Edinburgh buildings.

Historic Scotland allowed a completely free design hand in the internal conversion of the property whilst requiring faithful and pattern reproduction of all external doors, fabric components and detailing.

All windows, external doors, joinery components and details were faithfully reproduced from obtained patterns and finished with a historically correct paint system to reflect the statutory listing. The roofs were finished in salvage west highland natural slate with rooflight patterns over the former milking parlour reflecting the original layout whilst allowing the use of modern roof windows.