featured spaces

I’ve been going through a reflection (aka meltdown) phase recently, really looking at my family, our priorities and focus, and challenging if we are going down the right path. My ‘reflection’ may or may not have been sparked by a 3 tiered dinosaur cake I spent an entire day making, the 100^th piece of miniature lego parts I found that doesn’t seem to belong to anything, or a challenging client that just pushed me one step too far. Its too soon to say, but I am now deep in the throws of a life spring clean.

Too often life overwhelms us and we get swept up into the chaos without taking the time to stop, reflect, analyse, question, and carry on. Time is too often spent on the wrong things, or beautiful moments are missed or ignored because we are distracted or tired. Whilst this is a long trail of thoughts that I am currently boring my loved ones with, this post is really about celebrating the project we completed earlier this year with Mr and Mrs Experience and Conquer.

This is a couple that is fun loving and adventure seeking, yet still meticulous in detail and planning. Both extremely sharp and brilliant at what they do, they are the kind of couple that seeks to find the joy in life and living, and I really admire that. Working with Mr and Mrs Experience and Conquer was just that….a multitude of various experiences, but we conquered their grand old dame in the end!  We were cursed with a number of blows. Walls were brittle and crumbling, floorboards rotten through, and wiring as old as the hills. Being the couple that they are though they were considered in their approach to all elements of the project, making the process enjoyable despite the challenges. They are really the kind of couple you want to get stuck in a lift with, good under pressure, and energising to be around.

They say life works in very mysterious ways…ever heard that? Well, little did I know that one day the massive CUSHTY logo my then boyfriend, now husband, had emblazoned across his H&M bought top when we lived in the UK would one day be the name of the deli I helped design and project manage.

Last year we were lucky enough to work with Mr and Mrs Game Changer on their small food market stall in the Mojo market, in Seapoint, called Raclette. When they asked us to conceptualise and be part of this next project with them, it was hard to say anything but a resounding YES.

After getting a small nibble of the restaurant scene, they decided once again to take a massive leap of faith and open a gorgeous little deli in Greenpoint…a place the neighbours can call home. A place where everyone knows your name, or pretends to anyway. It’s the perfect spot to meet friends, catch up on emails, or just be the nosy neighbour watching the world walk by. Cushty, rather good and pleasing!

This little gem embodies all the passion their owners have for good quality food and ingredients. With a smoothie menu to die for, Eggs Benedict that may just knock your socks clean off, and some deli goods to fill your hipster basket, this is one spot not to miss.

What happens when a creative director, fashion buyer and a sustainability guru all get together? One hell of a lot of creative ideas and one beautiful looking apartment with a shed load of energy saving bulbs!

Mrs Rebels with a Cause was one of my first buyers when I was directing a merchandise team for an online retailer, and when she asked if I would run this project for them, I was more than honored to take on the work. Her sister in law was back from New York and was the perfect compliment to this team to add valuable insight and creative direction to the project.

As a couple, they are the perfect mix between sophistication and surfing, with a creative flair that rides between boho chic and uber NY trends. Their apartment is real estate gold, covering close to 500 sq/m on the Atlantic seaboard, but whilst in good condition, it was dated all the way back to the 80s. Tiled floors, mirrors galore and weird boxing everywhere made the bathrooms and kitchen feel cramped. What they needed was a space that reflected their love of the world, more Bali and less Dallas.

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?).

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.