Greenpark on Charlotte Street in Helensburgh is one of those rare houses that makes you stop in your tracks and marvel that this property has survived the changing fads of fashion over the decades. The B-listed house is regarded as one of the most significant Art Deco private residences in the country, and its 1930s period detailing is intact, from the walnut-patterned American oak flooring to the original fitted kitchen. You might assume it's contemporary, thanks to its clean, crisp lines.

      "If there's one thing that really stands out throughout the whole house it's that sense of originality," says Craig Latimer of selling agents Savills. "A lot of properties went through renovation in the 1970s and Art Deco detailing like this was lost, so it's remarkable that this house has survived. There are lots of quirky details, like the Votrolite panelling in the kitchen and bathrooms, or the original light fittings in the hallway. It's a fun house."

      Greenpark was built in 1935 by the architect John Shaw Boyd on the site of a house called Balvaird, which had been destroyed by fire three years earlier. As such much of the garden, which extends to around an acre, pre-dates the house, and includes mature trees that help grant the property its feeling of seclusion.

      Charlotte Street is close to some of Scotland's most architecturally renowned houses including Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Hill House and the White House by Baillie Scott, and, viewed against this backdrop, Greenpark's location is only as fitting as this house is an architectural gem in its own right.

      Credit goes here to the previous owner, writer John McNeil who bought the property with his wife in 1989. The couple had been living in Highgate in London when they saw the house advertised and relocate to the other end of the country as a result. It's that kind of property: a place you fall in love with even if you've never considered the area, and the McNeils took its renovation as a labour of love.

      Although the property they have left behind is in immaculate condition, Greenpark certainly wasn't in great shape at the outset of the process. Previous owners had installed damp coursing, but rather then keeping water out of the structure it had trapped it in and caused damage over the years. The damp course was removed and the house left to dry out for eight years before being worked on again, at which point the roof was also replaced and the building repainted.

Likewise, where someone else might have been tempted to rip out the original windows in favour of double glazing, the McNeils appreciated their architectural integrity and retained them as they were.

      "If there's one area that really pays testament to the fact that the McNeils were respectful of the Art Deco aesthetic it's the kitchen", says Latimer. Again, many would have chosen to fit a new kitchen, yet the couple simply added stainless-steel elements that are sympathetic to the original look. Peter Gillespie of Savills, who has been showing viewers around the property, admits that many are surprised to discover that the kitchen dates to the 30s. "It's incredible, it looks so modern," he says. Gillespie readily admits that he has become very fond of the house. "The period hits you as you walk through the door," he says. For example, the hallway's panelling was created by the craftsmen who fitted out the Queen Mary. "This is as close to a museum as you might find, but it's not a shrine, it's a family home."

      The McNeils were committed to sourcing original Deco fittings when replacing those lost through time - like the door handles, for example and would make scouting trips to the Barras in Glasgow looking for pieces. Yet the mood of the house is modern with its palette of subtle wall colours and American oak flooring that together create a warm, natural backdrop. The couple furnished the spaces accordingly, combining modern and classic pieces - such as Marcel Breuer's Wassily chair in the living room or Eames lounge chair and ottoman which take pride of place in the drawing room - with interesting artworks, ceramics and objects d'art.

      It's also a substantial house in scale. The ground-floor hallway leads to the three reception rooms, including the dining room with its French doors opening into the garden, while to the rear, along with the kitchen, there's a large utility area and pantry. There are six bedrooms in all, and the larger two on the first floor have French doors leading onto an interconnecting balcony, with views of the Firth of Clyde. Bedroom six has an en suite, and both this space and the two bathrooms feature the original Vitrolite panelling.

      Considering the rarity value of the house, it's hardly surprising that it's been used over the years for fashion shoots or as a film location. Director Bill Eagles chose Greenpark when filming Beautiful Creatures with Rachel Weisz and Susan Lynch in 2000, and you can find the house listed on Scottish Sreen Locations' web site. Gillespie and Latimer agree that they can see the property appealing to someone with an artistic or keen design eye. Whoever buys it will certainly inherit a home of unique style.