By Marianne McDonald, Project Consultant Lorna Ioakim, Property Coordinator Chantel Spence, Photography Malan Kotze
Anyone who lives in Johannesburg will admit to the fact that, sometimes, the city gets a little overwhelming and that, in order to love the great things about her, an occasional escape to nature and quiet is required. This home owner has eliminated the need for a bush break by creating an everyday sanctuary just 20 minutes from the Sandton CBD – and his friends and family are taking advantage of it, too.
From the moment you walk into this home, you could easily forget that you aren’t out in the bush. The thatched roof, screed floor and rustic furniture lend an air of charm that is both relaxed and carefully curated. The home was renovated over the course of two-and-a-half years, and has undergone what could only be described as an extreme makeover – from a dark home with many small rooms, it is now an open-plan area with a real feel of almost living outdoors.
After owning, renovating and living in homes with a completely different aesthetic of clean-cut lines and chrome finishes, the home owner felt the urge to do a 180-degree turn when it came to the interior design of this home, which he undertook himself. Opting for grand, imported wooden doors from Indonesia, copper, beaten tin, concrete and untreated wood, he has designed the home to embrace visitors. “I don’t invite six people over for dinner; I invite 16. And this is the place I feel happiest,” he says, pointing to the gas hob in the centre of the kitchen, where guests gather for cosy evenings.
The kitchen is just the beginning of the property’s entertaining possibilities. Glass folding doors open out from the main living area onto a generous wrap-around verandah, with cosy chairs and cushions, inviting languid afternoons in the sun and at the swimming pool. A vast expanse of lawn will lead you to enchanting pockets in the garden; one of these is a pagoda sheltering a dining table, set in the midst of foliage and sheltered from view of the rest of the garden. What a perfect place to stage a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party or hold a sophisticated soirée. Other feature areas include a boma and an outdoor covered entertainment area.
“Visitors on the weekend often show up with an overnight bag,” says the owner. It’s not difficult to understand why, as the extra bedrooms have the feel of a five-star lodge, with views of the garden and open-plan bathrooms showcasing huge copper showerheads.
One of the highlights of the bedrooms is the light fittings, designed by the owner himself. Each follows a theme, but each is unique – one made from old milk pails, another from copper pots with the bottoms cuts off and all hung at different levels. You won’t find these in a decor store, and they show the home owner’s true passion for design and innovation.
A striking feature of the home is that there’s not a single burglar bar to be seen. “I would rather live in jail,” explains the owner. “I opted for less intrusive options,” he adds. This approach enhances the open and relaxed feeling of the home, for both guests and the home owner himself.
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