Turnaround Style

BY JESSICA KIDDLE

When it comes to interior design, the process is often as important as the result. So this homeowner found it when she moved into her new space.

When this spacious Durbanville abode welcomed in its new owner it was in need of a renovation. And a new look, which was to be a French boudoir style full of dainty detailing and feminine frills. The owner was set on it and set on getting John Jacob Zwiegelaar to be the creative force behind it.

Eighteen months later the home’s classical appearance is indisputably the exact opposite of what was originally intended. However, not only is the owner delighted with the result but the creative process that led them to this point. This may be surprising given the fact that the homeowner in question-Margaret Massie – is known for her business savvy and dynamism but it shouldn’t be, given her long-standing interest in interior design. ‘It’s been an exciting learning curve; she says ‘I always thought you could change a house to fit in with a particular interior style but what I’ve realised is that often it’s a case of changing your style to suit the house.’

So why the U-turn? Faced with what he described as a ‘big barn’ of a house with large rooms and big beams, John Jacob saw that what the house needed was a simple rendering rather than more embellishment. At first his suggestions were not met with tremendous enthusiasm. However, this soon changed as the realisation dawned that one of the most fundamental rules of interior design is to respect the architectural style of a building. ‘It took me a while but once I made peace with this I started to enjoy the process and in fact embraced many of John’s suggestions that I had initially resisted; she says. ‘That mean being true to the house and canning a lot of my furniture.’

‘A certain language is spoken by the architecture and exterior of a house,’ adds John Jacob. ‘The interior has to complement this otherwise you lose its potency. With this house it was not about stripping everything and starting again but removing those elements that said something we didn’t want the inside of the house to say and adding more appropriate decorative layering’. Having invested in classic pieces of furniture with simple lines that would suit the architectural bones of the property, they then set upon the re-rendering process. To enhance the simple but striking aesthetic they were looking to achieve, oversized comice work was installed in the hallway. Now statement columns bring glamour and gravitas to brilliant white walls and black-and-white diamond flooring adds a powerful punch to the space whilst complementing the white cupboards and black worktop in the farmhouse-style kitchen.

Despite the monochrome graphic in this part of the house, pattern and patina abound elsewhere with antiques and homely touches elbowing out overly hard edges of modernity. Ceiling lanterns hang in the main living and dining areas where an antique yellowwood dining table, with mismatched dining chairs, take centre stage. An intimate seating area has also been created with oversized cream sofas nestling beside a large fireplace. The back wall of the living area is clad in a khaki grasscloth that acts as a foil for the portrait collection and the worn Persian rugs that cover the floor. Red-and-oatmeal flock curtains subtly add another layer of pattern into the mix whilst quirky, personal items such as an Alberto Giacometti-inspired lamp and a large foot sculpture- made by a local artist – add a sense of fun.

In a bid to bring the outside in, a trellised entertaining space was created where there was once a soulless patio. The trellising continues alongside the length of the living space where a water feature has been placed that, thanks to clever lighting can be seen as well as heard at night. The feel may now be as welcoming as it is warm but it would seem that the process is not over-another valid lesson learned from working with John Jacob. ‘I used to be impatient and wanted everything ready and perfect in time for guests but I now realise that decorating is a process that can’t be rushed,’ the owner says. ‘A quick fix is not always best because layers and those little details can only be added over time. I don’t look at is as finished but I’ve trained my eye and I am enjoying it being a work in progress.

Read more John Jacob Interiors Magazine features here…