BOHEMIAN-CHIC FAMILY HOME SCULPTED FROM HIGHVELD ROCK, REPURPOSED WOOD AND LIGHT

Discover how this epic, family home renovation in Parkview balances an entertainer’s heart with a Zen state of mind.

Across the continent and beyond, the legacy of the greatly admired South African interior designer Kim Hutton continues in this triple-storey home renovation for a working mother of three.

The interior design project is led by Ehrardt Niewoudt and assisted by Teighan Killassy who takes us through the process of styling an entrance hall.

For this particular home the aim was to draw a contrast between hard and soft. Teighan proceeded to achieve this with distressed mirrors in steel frames offset against the texture and softness of the wood.

Her guideline was to then incorporate natural and soft elements like leafy plants, stylish coffee table books and a selection of candles, vases or decorative items to create a variation in heights and complete the look with texture and personality.

While the client wanted a Zen home with a focus on natural materials and a sense of being close to the Earth, she made sure that it wasn’t a showhouse where children must walk on eggshells.

An old theatre room was revamped and decorated as a chill spot for teenagers with cosy couches, an entertainment system with consoles and extra beds for those sleepovers. The design team picked up on the colours, textures and flooring to link the space back to that of the main house.

The best surprise in the house is a triple-volume staircase which even the best film-set designers would be proud of.

The area, now turned into a marvellous lightwell, contains a huge natural rock that was incorporated into the original home. Ehrardt finished off the feature with a striking chevron-style timber cladding that runs all the way to the top and entices the light all the way down.

To cater to the bespoke needs of the family, Kim H Nieu had much of the furniture in the home custom made. These all picked up on the natural elements of timber, steel and leather so as to once again tie in with the overall theme of the house.

The large lounge and open-plan kitchen blend into one to create a comfy family space for parents and kids to engage while cooking.

Picture white marble tops, navy blue cupboards, art deco pieces and all the modern kitchen appliances you can think of coming together effortlessly in the heart of the home.

The tall cabinetry with its brass hardware lends stature to the whole space while the natural floors keep it from being too formal.

The Parkview house has spectacular views and the design team made sure to capitalise on it. A lot of attention went into creating the ultimate space to lap up the sun and take a swim in the top pool, which cascades down on the main body of water and creates a striking garden feature.

The penguins at the end of the patio look ever ready for a dip and the upstairs pool is just steps away from any bedroom in the house.

Each bedroom was beautifully furnished to the individual taste of the occupant. As for the main bedroom at the top of the home, it’s light, airy and once again capitalises on the views and lovely big windows.

Zen is as Zen does, and the owner actively practices the mindfulness this space was designed for. With that being the case, special attention was put into creating a comfortable meditation and yoga nook.

Where Eastern design and spiritualism meet the spectacle of the great, forest-city of Joburg, one family has struck just the right balance.