An Edinburgh-based building contractor delivering bespoke homes, high-quality renovations and commercial projects in collaboration with leading architects.
With a legacy of exceptional construction across Edinburgh and beyond, gloss is trusted by leading architects to bring their ideas to life.
From bespoke homes and transformative renovations to commercial refurbishments, we combine construction expertise, architectural joinery and exceptional craftsmanship within one exacting team.
At gloss, we are known for our unwavering attention to detail, ambition and rigour
These qualities define how we approach every project.
As a family-owned construction company established in 2005, gloss understands that outstanding results depend on more than workmanship alone. They require clear thinking, close collaboration and care at every stage.
As principal contractor, we oversee the complete build: coordinating specialist trades, resolving complex details and ensuring the architectural vision is carried through from drawing to finished space.
Craftsmanship beyond compare
At gloss, quality is not simply a finishing touch. It informs every decision from the beginning.
Our builders, joiners and specialist trades work to exacting standards, creating spaces in which the materials, proportions and details feel completely resolved.
Collaboration at the core
The best buildings are created through a shared understanding of the design.
gloss works closely with architects and designers throughout construction, responding thoughtfully to challenges and maintaining the clarity of the original vision.
Sustainability and legacy
We build with longevity in mind.
Through considered material choices, responsible construction practices and careful workmanship, gloss creates spaces intended to be valued, used and enjoyed for generations.
Designers rely on gloss to bring their vision to life
Leading architects and designers choose gloss when the quality of the execution matters as much as the quality of the idea.
Our combination of principal contracting, all-trades construction and bespoke architectural joinery enables us to deliver ambitious projects with precision and consistency.
Spaces we’ve created
From extraordinary private residences and sensitive renovations to contemporary extensions and transformative commercial spaces, the gloss portfolio demonstrates the breadth of our construction expertise.
Each project is different, but the standard remains the same: ambitious design, precisely realised.
Explore our Index to discover the spaces gloss has been honoured to help create.
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![A building with modern, angular pink metal cladding and large windows sits above a brick base. There is a fallen tree lying on the ground in front of the building, and leafless trees are visible in the background against a cloudy sky.]()
Canon Mews
Architect: Pend Architects
gloss collaborated with Pend Architects to build two new individually crafted contemporary mews homes in Edinburgh’s New Town.
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![Living room with large windows, white walls, modern art, and various seating options.]()
Playfair House
Architect: Helen Lucas Architects
gloss was commissioned by Helen Lucas Architects to transform a former hotel into an elegant home in Edinburgh’s New Town. The Grade A–listed Georgian property occupies the lower three storeys of a tenement designed by William Henry Playfair in 1822, part of the city’s celebrated architectural heritage.
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![View of a modern house with large glass windows, stone walls, patio seating, wooden steps, and landscaped garden with grasses, trees, and plants.]()
Limestone House
Architect: Archer + Braun
gloss was commissioned by London-based architects Archer + Braun to transform a listed property in Edinburgh, turning a ground-floor flat into an expansive contemporary residence. The project is carefully integrated into the rich historic character of the building with a new build extension that stands in stark contrast to the vernacular original but equals it in terms of craft and detail.
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![View of a garden patio through open glass sliding doors from inside a house, with a round dining table and wooden chairs visible inside.]()
A-Listed Georgian Townhouse
Architect: Helen Lucas Architects
gloss was commissioned by Edinburgh-based Helen Lucas Architects to renovate an A-Listed Georgian townhouse in a conservation area. The property, spanning three storeys, had been previously divided into two separate homes, resulting in a fragmented layout. gloss’s sensitive approach reunited the spaces, restoring the home’s original grandeur while seamlessly integrating contemporary living elements.
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![Interior of a minimalistic store with wooden shelves filled with small dark bottles, a light wooden counter with a lamp, and a doorway to another room.]()
Aesop
Architect: Four by Two
gloss was commissioned by Four by Two to create a bespoke retail space in collaboration with Aesop’s in-house design department. The 65-square-metre store features three adjoining rooms bathed in natural light. Method designed and crafted the floor-to-ceiling Scottish Sycamore shelving. The space is enriched with textures from reclaimed timber floorboards, handmade limestone sinks, and rough plastered walls and ceilings.
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![Bright dining room with large windows, six wooden chairs around a table, a wooden high chair, white curtains, artwork on the wall, and a patterned black and white armchair with a small side table and candlestick.]()
Garage Conversion
Architect: Reiach and Hall Architects
gloss was commissioned by Reiach and Hall Architects to transform an existing garage into a two-storey mews family home. The project involved the complete demolition of the old garage, making way for a modern, functional residence that blends seamlessly into its urban surroundings, offering a stylish and comfortable living space for the family.
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![Backyard with a red Japanese maple tree, a wooden deck, sliding glass door, and a stone house with dormer windows.]()
Victorian Terraced Cottage
Architect: Konishi Gaffney Architects
gloss was commissioned by Konishi Gaffney Architects to renovate a Victorian terraced cottage, transforming three existing rooms into a spacious, open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area. The design creates a seamless connection to the west-facing garden, enhancing natural light and the flow of the space.
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![Modern living room with a wooden vaulted ceiling featuring exposed beams and a skylight. The room has a glass sliding door leading outside, with furniture including a black hanging chair, a grey sofa, a white dining table with chairs, and colorful decorative items like an orange dog-shaped sculpture and a small elephant figurine.]()
Japanese Retrofit
Architect: Konishi Gaffney Architects
gloss was commissioned by Konishi Gaffney to renovate a 1960s bungalow in Edinburgh, originally designed by LDN in 1964. The couple, retiring from the Far East, initially planned to demolish the house for a new build but opted to retain and extend the existing structure to prioritise environmental sustainability.
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![Bright, modern open-concept kitchen and living room with white cabinetry, large island, dining table with chairs, and floor-to-ceiling windows showing a backyard with a stone wall and trees.]()
Grade-B Listed Family Home
Architect: Somner Macdonald Architects
gloss was commissioned by Somner Macdonald Architects to extend a Grade-B listed family home in the Grange, crafting a spacious family kitchen and living area that harmoniously integrates with the home’s historic character.
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![Black wooden garage door with a small padlock at the bottom center, bordered by orange autumn leaves on the left side.]()
1930s Bungalow
Architect: Studio LBA
gloss was commissioned by Studio LBA for the extension and full modernisation of a 1930s bungalow, transforming it into a flexible family home.
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![Close-up of a wooden staircase with striped black and white carpet runners on the steps, showing part of the railing and the underside of the stairs.]()
Victorian House Attic Conversion
Architect: Helen Lucas Architects
gloss was commissioned by Helen Lucas Architects to carry out an extensive attic conversion of a stone-built Victorian property in Wester Coates. The project featured a fully glazed dormer, adding bedrooms, a playroom, and a bathroom. A full refurbishment of the first floor was also completed, creating a luxurious new master suite.
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![Modern backyard with green grass, outdoor dining table with six chairs, small glass-walled structure with a bed inside, stone and brick buildings in the background, cloudy sky.]()
Self-Contained Garden Room
Architect: Matson Henderson Architects
gloss was commissioned to create a bespoke garden room in the conservation area of Inverleith, providing a self-contained space for family and guests to enjoy.
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![Modern townhouse with a stone facade, large windows, black railing, door, and a rooftop addition under a partly cloudy sky.]()
Zinc-Clad Dormer Extension
Architect: Konishi Gaffney Architects
gloss was commissioned by Konishi Gaffney Architects to create a zinc-clad dormer extension and carry out internal alterations, adding an additional bedroom and hallway office.
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![The image shows the front of a commercial building with large glass windows and a door. There are address numbers 25-28 on the right side, a sign indicating parking restrictions, a bicycle with a child seat parked in front, and a red mailbox on the sidewalk. The building is made of brick and stone with decorative columns.]()
Argyle Place
gloss was commissioned to construct Argyle Place, a modern neighbourhood café, coffee shop, and roastery in Marchmont. The project involved creating a relaxed and inviting space where seasonal, fresh food is served alongside expertly roasted coffee from Mr Eion.
Discover if gloss is available for your project
If you are considering a substantial residential or commercial project, we would be pleased to hear about it.
Our team will review your requirements, ambitions and programme. If gloss is the right fit, we will be in touch to arrange an initial conversation.
