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When VISI visited in 2009 : Zachary, Trevyn with Gabriel, Ruby, Julian and Jacob. -
When VISI visited in 2009 : The lounge on the top floor flows out onto the deck to give an unencumbered view of the ocean. The bronze pendant light is by Tobias Grau and the ceramic sculpture by Shirley Fintz. -
When VISI visited in 2009 : Lola, the family cat, suns herself on the kitchen table surrounded by colourful Air chairs by Jasper Morrison. -
When VISI visited in 2009 : Unlike most of the houses along the beach, this home sits high on the dune to ensure that it receives the optimum amount of northern light. The wooden walkway winds down the dune through an indigenous garden to a deck on the beach. -
When VISI visited in 2009 : A 3,5m-high Gregor Jenkin standing lamp made from recycled enamel bowls towers over the main living area and is offset by an antique chandelier from Trevyn’s mother. -
When VISI visited in 2009 : In Trevyn’s office, a vibrant shaggy cushion by Mielie is perfectly complemented by the bright Flowerball light by Heath Nash. -
When VISI visited in 2009 : Informal collections of art are found throughout the house. Here, pebble felt cushions from Ronel Jordaan, an Olvidada lamp from Bd Barcelona, glassware from David Reade, ceramics by Astrid Dahl, Michelle Legg, Katie Bauer and Imiso. -
When VISI visited in 2009 : Zachary’s room is a space odyssey in yellow and black polka dots. -
When VISI visited in 2009 : The white background is punctuated with colourful pieces by Ob Art and Timothy Mlambo, as well as the table, which was the result of a collaboration between Source and Colonial House. -
When VISI visited in 2009 : Gregor Jenkin made the white-topped Cape Table specially for the McGowans. The artwork is a silk screen used by Gregor Jenkin and Steven Tanchel for a project inspired by the school benches at Morris Isaacson High School where the 1976 protests began. -
When VISI visited in 2009 : The home is a celebration of South African art and designer pieces. The guest bedroom features works by Conrad Botes and Barbara Jackson. Traditional pieces such as the African stools and ball-and-claw side table give a modern edge. -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton -
Since the 2011 renovations : PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Lianne Burton
PHOTOS Dook PRODUCTION Etienne Hanekom WORDS Alma Viviers
UPDATE: Trevyn sent us some pictures of the house since the 2011 renovation and, well, we’re gobsmacked. Drool over the gallery above!
JUNE 2014: With design curators Trevyn and Julian McGowan’s exquisite Wilderness house recently put on the market for R25-million, we take a nostalgic look back at our first visit in 2009.
If this was simply a tale about a house, we would tell you of a threestorey black beach house with floating concrete slabs and lofty glass volumes perched high on a dune above Wilderness beach.
We would tell you of the well-proportioned spaces, clean lines and inside-outside connection that flows from the contained garden on one side through to the endless horizon on the other.
The interconnectedness of spaces both horizontally and vertically, the sleek epoxy floors and innovative spatial solutions, such as the scullery and pantry that are hidden away in large bleached saligna cupboards, would most certainly also be discussed.
But this is not only a story about architecture, design and decor. It is also the story of a dynamic couple who are putting many of South Africa’s top design talents on the international map.
South African-born Trevyn McGowan moved to London at 16 to pursue her acting career. However, after gaining experience renovating her own flats and buildings, she eventually started Site Specific, an interior-design company that specialised in converting warehouses and office buildings, as well as retro-fitting the spaces for high-profile clients.
During Trevyn’s almost 20 years in London she also met and married theatre designer, Julian McGowan, and they had two children.
New life
On an annual trip to South Africa to visit Trevyn’s family in 2003, the couple spotted a thatched bungalow on a Wilderness beachfront property that was for sale and decided to buy it.
They initially considered extending the bungalow into a more organic Uruguay-inspired house but, after taking the family’s needs into account, they made the decision to demolish and start from scratch.
So, the McGowans closed down Site Specific, gave up big city living in London and moved to Wilderness to build their dream house. Julian and Trevyn designed the house together and had a draughtsman draw up the working drawings from Julian’s schematics and models.
“When we initially decided to move back to South Africa, I didn’t know what I was going to do,” says Trevyn. “I had visions of raising my kids and doing the family album. But, on one of our trips here, I came across Wonki Ware in George and bought several pieces to take back to London. I really thought that it could do well at The Conran Shop so I contacted creative director Polly Dickens,” Trevyn explains.
“I literally had five minutes in the foyer to show her the few pieces I had and the rest is history.” SoonTrevyn had more than 360 artists and designers on her database with 65 being regular suppliers to international shops such as The Conran Shop, Anthropologie, Bergdorf Goodman, ABC Carpet and Home, Mint and Terrain to name a few.
Since then, the couple have launched Southern Guild (read more here) to promote high-end collectible local design, as well as staged South Africa’s first international design fair, Guild (read more here).
Touching treasures seal the deal
When sourcing new products, Trevyn always looks for something that touches her personally, a philosophy also evident in the couple’s home, which embodies their passion for South African design.
The house is littered with South African designer pieces and works by Mila, Gregor Jenkin, Ronel Jordaan, Hylton Nel, Conrad Botes and Ceramic Matters, to name but a few.
Yet this is no austere art museum but rather a home that emanates warmth and comfort. Although the interior is for the most part kept neutral to ensure that designer pieces and art works come into their own, bold splashes of colour and texture add further visual interest.
Natural materials such as linen, suede and wood are offset by a multi-coloured Heath Nash lamp shade, a shaggy cushion by Mielie and various works of art.
The middle floor is an open-plan living space with a minimalist kitchen flowing over into a lounge-dining room and theatre room.
Trevyn’s office is located on the lower level while the more private spaces, including the bedrooms and another lounge, are situated upstairs. The children have their own section complete with bathroom and playroom.
More space
Since VISI’s visit in 2009, a western wing was added in 2011. Sheathed entirely in glass, the views from the top-storey lounge are a sight to behold. The wing also has a roof garden, rim-flow pool deck, an office floor, and a gym and guest suite on the groundfloor.
On working together
The couple find working together satisfying, although they say it can be exhausting since they both have strong opinions. “It can become fiery but if one of us feels more strongly about a specific point, this normally means that person is right and it results in an extremely resolved design or concept,” says Trevyn.
The introduction to The Way We Live, one of the many books that line the shelves of their home, reads as follows: “When it comes to interior lifestyle decisions, there are more ways than ever to find inspiration. People around the world now seek ideas from other places, other cultures and other times.”
It seems that the McGowans have found their inspiration in South Africa and are exporting it to the rest of the world.
southernguild.co.za, source-sa.com, guilddesignfair.com
To view this R25-millon Garden Route property, contact Lorraine Campbell on lorraine.campell@pamgolding.co.za.
