Caxton magazines staff
This compact Jo’burg bachelor pad has been cleverly upsized by simply opening up the living areas
This compact double storey had an awkward ground floor with outdated cream and terracotta tiles creating an odd visual divide between the open-plan living and dining areas. The kitchen was a separate entity enclosed by two walls, one of which faced a load-bearing column with less than a metre between the two.
Great for entertaining, the patio runs the length of the house and includes dining and seating areas overlooking the pool. The blue and white palette of the interior has been carried out onto the seating area on the covered patio. The sofa, made up by Petite Upholsterers, is covered in a bold stripe, Tellman Natural from St Leger & Viney. The scatters are in Floral Indigo from Lula Fabrics and the sisal rug is from Limaro House.
The walls around the kitchen were broken down opening it up to the living and dining area. Two sets of glass stacking doors were installed leading out onto the covered patio, which runs the length of the house creating a generous balcony for the main bedroom and guest bedroom on the floor above.
It was at this point that decorator Jenna Penny stepped in. She began with the floors, using a fashionable large-scale ceramic tile both inside and out for continuity. To encourage a sense of intimacy, the ceilings were dropped and recessed lighting was installed.
The wallpaper in the guest loo is from Sasi Wallpaper | Upholstered in an eye-catching print, Lula Fabrics’ Clarke Gable Indigo, these armchairs make a bold statement.
Deciding that blue was the safest bet for an accent colour, Jenna added a fun striped navy and white wallpaper in the guest loo and introduced a bold fabric with a bold geometric design into the living area. “It had a suitably masculine feel and has added just the right amount of interest,” she says.
The headboard in the main bedroom is made up in Linara Grey from Romo South Africa | Patterned fabrics give the guest bedroom added personality. The script design, Parle Vous Grey, is from Sugar Textiles and the stripe, Hinton Cranberry, from Romo South Africa.
The bedrooms were decorated with discreet neutral palettes offset either by a striking accessory such as the Nguni hide rug in the main bedroom or, as in the guest bedroom, subtle red accents.
