We made it our own

By Esther Moloi, Project Consultant Monique Rankine, Property Coordinator Chantel Spence, Photography Irma Bosch

When a two-year search for their dream home yielded no results, these home owners decided that building was the way to go. But when they eventually found the home they could turn into what they wanted, in the perfect location – an estate in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg – they had no idea the project would turn into a full-time job.

The estate rules added an interesting dimension to their plan. “We had 10 months to build or we would be charged a hefty penalty,” the home owner says. With the time constraints being so great, it was pivotal for the owners to be very involved throughout the process.

“We had a plan regarding the home we wanted, and that changed quite a bit as we were in constant consultation with the architect.”

The brief was fairly simple: the owners wanted a home that had a large entertainment area and also brought the outside in, since the current position of the home enjoyed great views. All of this had to be considered while taking into account the estate rules on the aesthetics of the home – all of the houses in the estate have a unified look.

Because these home owners were building their ideal home, it was important for them to have everything in their home translate as they would like it. “I was very involved. I had to remain present throughout the project; it was the only way we would be able to meet our deadline and still create the home we wanted,” the owner explains.

Areas of interest in the home include the entertainment area, wine cellar and garden. The patio, bar and entertainment areas flow into one another with the aid of stacking doors and an open-plan setup. The owner loves to cook. If she is not preparing a traditional Polish dish, she’s simmering a potjie for her guests to enjoy.

“Another area we love in our home is the wine cellar. We are in there almost every day, enjoying cheese and wine. It’s our space to escape,” she says.

The large garden was brought to life with the help of a landscape artist. It boasts a boma, lush trees and an elaborate water feature. “I love my garden; it just never gets old,” the home owner adds.

Decorating the home also meant spending hours on Pinterest and paging through various copies of SA Home Owner, in order to create a look that was just right. The 10 months of hard work were well worth it. “I love everything about my home,” the owner exclaims.