From The Best of Edinburgh, a Hidden Scotland guide

Inside Lifestory: Edinburgh’s Home for Useful, Beautiful Things

A New Town shop of useful, well-made design.

Words by Hidden Scotland

Printed in The Best of Edinburgh, a Hidden Scotland guidebook.

Lifestory is a New Town shop focused on practical, well-made design. Influenced by Scandinavia and Japan, it brings together useful objects, independent thinking, and a clear sense of purpose.

Just off Broughton Street, in a quieter corner of Edinburgh’s New Town, sits a shop that feels deliberate in all the right ways. The light is natural. The furniture is simple. Everything in the space serves a purpose. You don’t need to know much about Scandinavian or Japanese design to appreciate Lifestory—but if you do, you’ll recognise the influence right away.

Susan Doherty opened the shop to bring something different to the city. Her background in law and hospitality, paired with years of interest in interiors and digital retail, gave her the tools to create a place that’s both calm and practical. Lifestory is not about trends. It’s about useful, lasting things—from homeware to jewellery, books, ceramics, and everyday items chosen for their design and function.

For members