By Refilwe Boikanyo, Project Consultant Monique Rankine, Property Coordinator Chantel Spence, Photography Nic Baleta
From its reimagined Prairie-style architecture to its well-considered layout that makes entertaining a breeze, this home has seamlessly married all of the home owners’ requirements for a contemporary and flexible space.
The owner says: “One of my favourite rooms is the open-plan living area downstairs that opens up completely to the patio with stack doors. This connects the outside garden with the interior.”
Set in Lombardy Estate, offering unique country-style living in the city, the location was chosen specifically because the owners liked the layout of the estate and the design of existing and owner-developed sectional title units.
“These residences were designed by award-winning local architect Stefan Antoni, and the unique architecture was reinterpreted from Frank Lloyd Wright’s ‘Prairie’ style.” Established in the late 19th century by a group of architects (the most famous being Frank Lloyd Wright) in America’s Upper Mid West, the Prairie architectural style is characterised by strong horizontal lines, flat-hipped roofs with deep overhangs, the use of indigenous materials and windows that are set in groups, mostly on the corners, creating spaces that are open, light and bright. Many of these characteristics have been incorporated into the design of the house and fused with other elements to give the style a modern update.
Inside, the home has a contemporary open-plan layout that promotes flexible living. Using furniture from their previous home, the owners describe their chosen style as modern retro. “The existing furniture was taken into consideration during the design phase,” explains the owner. ”So, in a sense, we were doing things the other way around. Bulkheads, for example, were designed, taking existing furniture into account.”
The modern retro theme is most evident in the kitchen. The space has high-gloss, touch-sensitive cabinetries that give it a chic and streamlined look, a facebrick wall that lends it an industrial feel, and wooden floors that make it warm and inviting.
It’s this tasteful mix of styles and quirky personal touches that gives the home its unique and natural look, perfectly tailored to the people who reside in it.
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