It’s been far too long time since we posted one of our completed projects. Truth be told, 2017 was a fast paced marathon to year end closing, and we started off 2000 and greateen seriously running. When I say running, I’m not talking about a gentle jog through the forest, I’m referring to something out of a horror film where the girl is racing, crying and screaming, whilst being chased by some monster. Get the picture?

I’ve been so excited to post our stage 1 completion of Mr and Mrs North and South’s magnificent home, since we completed last November. The landscaping part of the project is still underway and should be completed end April.

For me, this project truly epitomises why I started LLD and do what I do. Working with interesting clients, with a sense of style, who understand good functional design.

Following on from our last post showcasing our recently completed project for Mr Gone Fishing, http://leilester.co.za/2017/10/before-and-after-mr-gone-fishing-phase1/,here are a few more pictures from this special project.

These bathrooms especially, were some of my favorites ever done…I loved the mix of materials, the old mixed with new and the heavy industrial elements.

In the master suite we teamed the classic metro tile with slick black detailing in the taps, the customised steel shower cubicle, handles and accessories. We even went so far as to the powder coat the aluminium trims for the tiling, to add that final finesse.

The introduction of wood in both the vanity and shelf soften and further enhance the space perfectly.

They say a challenge in life is good.

For some people its running a marathon (or half, or even 5km…no judgies!), for others its going on a strict diet, or taking up a new hobby. For others still, it’s just surviving through the week.

My challenge came one cold wintery and rainy day a few months ago. One of my all-time favourite client’s brother asked if I was busy and if I could assist with a renovation he’s doing? At the time I was spinning (the work kind, not the gym kind), but I offered to come have a look and see if I could assist.

Now if truth be told I have no idea if it was actually raining that day, it was more to set the scene, but what I can tell you is I arrived on site to find….well, nothing. Granted it was a structure in so much as it had a floor, walls and a roof, but that was it….a basic shell but with one hell of a vision behind it.

Every now and again the renovation fairies bless you with a great client and a project that just flows right from beginning to end. Now that’s not to say ALL my clients are superb, wonderful and filled with happy dust, but sometimes the glove just fits perfectly and the schedule of works….well, just works!

Mrs Cool, Calm and Collected contacted me after seeing some of my work through a friend. With a new baby on the way and being the director of a company, she had her hands fairly full and needed some help with a new property purchased.

The property was purchased as a rental investment, and thus we needed to look at what work needed doing with this in mind. The property sits in a gorgeous complex on the slopes of the mountain with views that make you want to #blessed (before you gasp in horror, I didn’t do it, I’m just saying the views make you want to!).

The space desperately needed updating…it felt very 70s, but not in a cool, hip, streets of San Fran kind of way….we talking off white melamine, aging linoleum and dated mirrored walls. We set up reworking the various spaces in a way that made sense, and Mrs CCC’s approach to detail and design helped massively to form the best solutions and decisions along the way. With a great team on board, and problem solving skills to the max, the project flowed with a good rhythm and some serious karaoke tunes drafting through the space thanks to the master tiler (in fairness, I gave him a million metro tiles to space right, if his team wants to sing their way through it, who am I to judge?).

That’s not to say we didn’t face problems along the way…every day we were faced with new challenges to overcome and solve but when it works, it just works, and this project flowed right from start to finish. Having a superb “A team” on site made all the difference, and despite a million and one bank holidays in between, we finished the job in a little over three weeks.  The various design elements pulled together with perfection in the end, giving the space a tranquil flow with modern detailing, and of course, a mid century edge.

The Brief:

Update and transform the recently purchased investment property.

The main areas of concern for updating and renovating being the bathroom, toilet, and kitchen. As well as giving the entire townhouse an all over re-furbed glow, making it fit and sparkling for a new tenant.

BEFORE:

The Transformation:

• Removed wall between dining room and kitchen
• Redesigned and renovated kitchen with new tiles, joinery, fixtures and fittings
• Redesigned and renovated bathroom with new tiles, fixtures and fittings
• Redesigned and renovated toilet with new tiles, fixtures and fittings
• Complete paint overhaul
• Repaired, deep sanding, oiling and varnishing of floors
• Leveling and landscaping of outdoor courtyard, with new pavings fitted and new covered pergola fitted
• New lighting throughout
• New shelving fitted
• New blinds fitted
• New laundry sink fitted to front courtyard
• New decor and furniture elements
• General repairs throughout

Best feature:  Best features would hands down be the new bathroom vanity we restored, and the newly framed film poster in the dining room (so want to steal this, talk about statement art!)

AFTER