My nearest and dearest know my insatiable love for the Big Apple, and I still regret not having gone to live there for a bit with my love, pre kids.
Everybody has that one couple they are friends with….the ones who are easy going, go with the flow, are super fun to be around and come with little drama. So, when my Mr and Mrs Super Chilled asked me to be involved with their project and give some design advice, I jumped at the opportunity. Taking a 2 bedroom single story home, to a 4 bedroom double story home complete with splash pool, front and back decks/gardens and a double garage was no small feat, but the result is quite simply breathtaking.
Walking into the space on shoot day, I was once again hit by the tranquil and calming energy the space has; driven in part by its residents, and in part by its careful spatial planning. There truly is an art to simplicity and this home embodies it perfectly.
Unassuming from the road, there are few hints as to what lies behind the big wall, so when you enter the house you are quite taken aback by the immense amount of space this home has. In fact, the front facade makes you feel transported to a farm in the Klein Karoo or Port Albert. The flow of the home works well with en-suite guest rooms at the front, and entertaining at the back with the master suite at the top being something quite special and “spoily” as Mrs Super Chilled would say.
Houses have their own personalities and energies, and so when I was introduced to this grand old lady first time around I was quite taken a back, and then quite simply, could not wait to get my hands on her.
From the street all one sees is a door, and not the prettiest at that, but oh, when you get your first glimpse of the giant ferns in the front garden you realise there is something magical here.
Beautiful wooden floors, and lush jungle like garden in front with subtle detailing throughout, like an inherited string of pearls around her wrinkly neck….getting the picture?
After a decade in retail I love that my career has done full circle, bringing me back to my original passion, interiors and design. It’s a refreshing change for me, for my suppliers to be around the corner and over the hill, rather than a 12 hour flight, 2 trains and a taxi trip away. What I can’t seem to get my head around though is the break ups. You see, retail is a long term relationship, whereas interior design is more like a short fling. Ok, so it’s not quite a “it’s not you, it’s me” scenario, but the eventual heartache is still there.
My client had recently renovated a large section of their home and whilst they loved their new over haul, they desperately needed their bedroom brought to life aesthetically. The shell was complete, but the space lacked colour, texture and softness to make it a sanctuary for them to escape to.
BEFORE
Beautiful wooden pieces already existed but felt old fashioned and heavy and our brief was to modernise the space,
making it look sleek, sexy and contemporary.
INSPIRATION
A slick palette of greys, whites, blacks and yellows were used. By adding a rug, some plants, new throw cushions and reupholstering an existing chaise and ottoman, the space was given a completely different energy and focus. A new central pendant also completed the look and modernised the other existing elements.
The absolute piece de resistance however was the artworks we managed to source from local artist Victoria Verbaan. They truly speak for themselves, picking up on the ombre colour washed effects of the fabrics used, and were perfect to complete the boudoir appeal of the space.
Victoria is incredibly talented, was such a pleasure to work with, and her pieces have a made a simple space, a true masterpiece.
For more information on this incredibly talented artist, go to www.victoriaverbaan.com.
AFTER
Photography by Alex du Toit
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